Ragtime: Amazon.ca: E Doctorow: Books

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Book Description

Doctorow's big bestseller, made into a major movie and now repackaged, was first published in mass market paper by Bantam.

From the Back Cover

The Modern Library of the World's
Best Books

"Ragtime is as exhilarating as a deep breath of pure oxygen....At times, the swift, short sentences suggest the
pristine flicker of silent film; at others, the sharp angles and sardonic deployment of detail in Citizen Kane....The grace and surface vivacity of Ragtime make it enormous fun to read. But beneath its peppy, bracing rhythms sound the neat, sad waltz of Gatsby and the tunes of betrayed promise. History resonates with special clarity here. Doctorow has found a fresh way to orchestrate the themes of American innocence, energy, and inchoate ambition."

--Newsweek --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
In 1902 Father built a house at the crest of the Broadview Avenue hill in New Rochelle, New York. Read the first page

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Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

100 Reviews

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (100 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting and Beautiful, July 4 2004

By

Megan "Megan" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ragtime (Mass Market Paperback)

I delayed reading this book for many years, because it sounded sort of hokey. That was a HUGE mistake. It is one of the most beautiful books that I've ever read. It makes me cringe when people describe a book using the "tapestry" metaphor, but it is really fitting here: the reader watches, spellbound, as a city full of individual lives come and go and interact in surprising ways during a fascinating period of American history.

Everyone is here: the Gilded Age millionaires, the upper middle class suburbanites, the newly-arrived immigrants, the writers and singers and musicians, the protesters. Every thread that still makes up a city appears and lives and works together. We see them all, and we see the world as they see it, even if only for a few moments. The book has some funny moments and some poignant moments, but ultimately it will leave you feeling like you've witnessed some very important events.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, May 27 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Ragtime (Mass Market Paperback)

There's too much happening in this great novel to go into detail, but suffice it to say that if you're even remotely interested in history and/or good writing, this is the book for you. With scenes ranging from hysterical to repulsive (I'm referring to the one with the dead horse) E.L. Doctorow has given us a rollicking good time in the key of turn-of-the-century America, resplendent with all its ills and wonders. I hate to use this phrase, but it applies here: "I couldn't put it down!"

Also recommended: McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood"

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5.0 out of 5 stars always a classic, May 15 2004

By

Katy (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ragtime (Mass Market Paperback)

I first read this book in high school and have since read it again. It's one of my all time favorites. Ragtime captures the essence of the early 1900's in a way that's illuminating without becoming hokey or caricatured. While this portrayal in itself is satisfying, it is only a backdrop for an epic fable of class and love. The weaving together of three seperate tales keeps the reader interested by not lingering too long in any spot. It gets better I've time I read it.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Ragtime: Distant Thunder
When I first heard of Ragtime, it was in the musical form of the book. The musical interested me so much, that I decided to read the book as well. I highly recommend both. Read more

Published on Mar 8 2004 by dave kanter

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and real
This was required reading when I was in college and I wasn't optimistic going in. Then I got past the first two chapters and was hooked! Read more

Published on Feb 6 2004