Acton reviewed Billy Bathgate by E. L. Doctorow
Review of 'Billy Bathgate' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This was captivating coming of age novel that takes place in 1935. Billy Bathgate is an unusually bright teenager, but he's also a neglected, poor child from the Bronx who needs attention and someone's approval. He finds this in a dangerous place, becoming involved with one of the most violent gangsters in New York City. How he manages to stay on the right side of a dangerous man and avoid serious trouble makes for a good read. This is written in Billy's very credible voice, and is well-paced.
This was captivating coming of age novel that takes place in 1935. Billy Bathgate is an unusually bright teenager, but he's also a neglected, poor child from the Bronx who needs attention and someone's approval. He finds this in a dangerous place, becoming involved with one of the most violent gangsters in New York City. How he manages to stay on the right side of a dangerous man and avoid serious trouble makes for a good read. This is written in Billy's very credible voice, and is well-paced.