E.L. Doctorow
1989
Around 325 pages
I'm not the biggest fan of gangster stories, so this was kind of a snore for me. E.L. Doctorow is kind of a snore in general actually. I think that's the price of including so many real people in his stories. It doesn't exactly hold up as evergreen prose.
Billy Behan is an impoverished fifteen-year-old living in The Bronx with his mother. One afternoon, Billy is present when infamous Jewish mobster Dutch Schultz arrives to inspect a shipment of illegal beer. When Billy demonstrates his skill at juggling, an amused Schultz calls him a "capable boy" and tips him. Billy is later accepted into the gang. Isn't this just The Bronx Tale?
The Bronx Tale actually came out in 1989 as well, so that's a weird coincidence. Women in mob stories don't really have a lot to do, but I still enjoyed Drew Preston, the rich socialite and love interest for Billy, as a character.
Still one more Doctorow to go, sigh.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Interesting Facts:
Runner-up for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize.
UP NEXT: London Fields by Martin Amis
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