Billy Bathgate is a coming of age novel set in 1935, following the journey of a young boy named Billy who gets involved with the infamous Dutch Schultz gang in New York City. The book delves into Billy's experiences within the gang, his relationships with its members, and his growth from a neglected Bronx teenager to a trusted member of the criminal underworld. The narrative style is described as captivating, with a focus on historical fiction elements and a strong sense of setting that immerses the reader in the world of organized crime during the Great Depression era.

Characters:

The characters are richly developed, each adding depth to the story, particularly the central figures involved in the gangster lifestyle.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines vivid imagery and unconventional grammar to create an engaging narrative that mirrors the protagonist's chaotic inner world.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a young boy's journey as he navigates the dangers of life in a gangster world, experiencing growth and moral dilemmas.

Setting:

The story unfolds in a vividly depicted 1930s New York, steeped in the realities of economic hardship and organized crime.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with an early hook drawing readers in, moments of slower narrative, and ultimately, a compelling flow.

He had to have planned it because when we drove onto the dock the boat was there and the engine was running and you could see the water churning up phosphorescence in the river, which was the only lig...

Notes:

Billy Bathgate is narrated by the protagonist, Billy, recounting his adolescence.

The story is set in 1930s New York, right after Prohibition.

Billy gets involved with gangster Dutch Schultz, who has a significant criminal background.

The novel explores themes of crime, loyalty, and the loss of innocence.

Billy is portrayed as a smart but troubled teenager from a fatherless home in the Bronx.

Doctorow's writing style incorporates run-on sentences and fragments, reflecting Billy's thoughts.

Despite its gangster themes, the novel is described as beautiful, with vivid imagery and character development.

Dutch Schultz is depicted as a father figure to Billy, influencing his life choices.

The book won several prestigious awards including the National Book Critics Circle award in 1989.

The protagonist's love for Schultz's girlfriend serves as a key plot point in the story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book may contain high content warnings due to themes of violence, crime, and moral ambiguity inherent in the gangster narrative.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance primarily expressed through Billy's feelings for Dutch Schultz's girlfriend.

From The Publisher:

To open this book is to enter the perilous, thrilling world of Billy Bathgate, the brazen boy who is accepted into the inner circle of the notorious Dutch Schultz gang. Like an urban Tom Sawyer, Billy takes us along on his fateful adventures as he becomes good-luck charm, apprentice, and finally protégé to one of the great murdering gangsters of the Depression-era underworld in New York City. The luminous transformation of fact into fiction that is E. L. Doctorow's trademark comes to triumphant fruition in Billy Bathgate, a peerless coming-of-age tale and one of Doctorow's boldest and most beloved bestsellers.

Ratings (2)

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Reader Stats (7):

Read It (2)
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Not Interested (1)

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About the Author:

E. L. Doctorow's works of fiction include Andrew's Brain, Homer & Langley, The March, Billy Bathgate, Ragtime, The Book of Daniel, City of God, Welcome to Hard Times, Loon Lake, World's Fair, The Waterworks, and All the Time in the…

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Billy Bathgate

E.L. Doctorow