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World's Fair: A Novel [Paperback]

E.L. Doctorow (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Release Date: July 10 2007
"Something close to magic." The Los Angeles Times

The astonishing novel of a young boy's life in the New York City of the 1930s, a stunning recreation of the sights, sounds, aromas and emotions of a time when the streets were safe, families stuck together through thick and thin, and all the promises of a generation culminate in a single great World's Fair . . .

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Product Details

Product Description

From School Library Journal

YA The 1930s was a turbulent time for America: the Great Depression, left-wing politics and the growing concern over the rise of Hitler in Europe. As seen through the eyes of nine-year-old Edgar Altshuler, these events provide a backdrop for the more intimate story of his own family and how they coped while living in the Bronx. They serve a symbolic purpose as well as a historical one. On his first visit to the fair, Edgar is enthralled by industry's vision of the futuresafe, secure and prosperous cities, speedy and cheap transportation and modern invention to make life easier. On his second visit, he sees that the exhibits are constructed of gypsum whose paint is peeling and that the displays are really toys. Reality has altered Edgar's perceptionshe is growing up. Edgar's chapters are randomly interspersed with his mother Rose's recollections and a few by his older brother Donald to give a seemingly simplistic view of life that is actually a rich narrative of history, political and personal values and points for discussion. A remarkable book for perceptive readers. Diana Hirsch, PGCMLS, Md.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

Flat and un-emotive are not words associated with E.L. Doctorow. Unfortunately, they are the prime descriptors of this rendition of Doctorow's recollection of a 1930s' New York boyhood. Lavelle has a well-modulated voice tinged with a minor key, which might work well for this New York story. Yet his slow, even reading is devoid of emotion. For all the interest he shows in the text, he might be clearly enunciating the telephone directory. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Stupid Jun 30 2004
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
My title seems trite and immature, but I am only using a word the author likes to use to describe others. This shows his own ignorance, which is reflected again in his work.
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4.0 out of 5 stars A Fair World's Fair Jan 22 2003
By Catherine M. Dorkin
Format:Paperback
Like a great painting, Doctorow choses his words carefully, depicting the 30s as the dark, mournful era that it was. Written well with the usual description that Doctorow is famous for, I have to say that the synopsis made the book sound more exciting.
The book details the experience that the protagonist and his family have while at the World's Fair in New York City. From the oddities to the fun, Doctorow did his research and what was there. Unlike his other books like Loon Lake or Welcome to Hard Times, I did not feel I was there, at the fair.
Displaying the 30s like it was, this book proves and depicts how far we have come since then. In the primitive times of tea-line-legged nylons and T&A was unheard of, historians and fans of Doctorow will be pleased. I applaud him for his historical essence and truthfulness . . . the excitement factor just was not there.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Mature and insightful Nov 4 2002
By Alan Deikman
Format:Paperback
My dad is the same age as E.L. Doctorow, and although he did not grow up in NYC (visited there at times) he says that this novel is a close description of his own experience. It is about a very peculiar ethnic sub-group, New York jews who are not particularly religious and having "modern" ideas and lifestyle. To me Doctorow's book is one well-preserved verbal photograph after another. Somehow he conveys the scenes in a pre-Ektrachrome feeling, where bright colors are rendered in endlessly subtle shades of grey.

I hope that when I am Doctorow's age I will be able to summon up the wealth of memory detail he does. The images are authentically pressed from a the mind of a child not yet 12 years old. There are things that a child notices that an adult would not, such as how he likes how a particular door latch works or details from favorite comic books.

From there the narrative effortlessly moves to other characters in the story, written in the form of letters to the author. Everything is in place, and all of it wonderful to read.

This should be standard reading for any high school.

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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Such innocence!
This book was very hard to put down once I stared to read it. It's a simple story about a boy growing up in Depression era NYC. Read more
Published on Aug 5 2002 by lou
5.0 out of 5 stars A wistful novel of nostalgia
E.L. Doctorow is probably New York's greatest literary nostalgia artist. While "Ragtime" recalls the city's colorful population explosion of immigrants at the beginning of the... Read more
Published on May 3 2002 by A.J.
4.0 out of 5 stars Another winner by Doctorow
For those of you who read Ragtime and were a little disappointed, then World's Fair is the book you should read. Read more
Published on April 3 2002 by adead_poet@hotmail.com
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the "fair world" found in the pages of this book
I had read Doctorow's "Ragtime" and found it boring. A co-worker had just finished "World's Fair" and urged me to read it. Read more
Published on Oct 22 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!
I don't think I have ever read a book that was so in tune with feelings I had as a child. Not meaning to be sexist, I had to question whether a woman might have written this book,... Read more
Published on Feb 4 2001 by S. Griffin
4.0 out of 5 stars A great trip back to the '30s
A great time travel experience. Doctorow shows the reader New York City in the '30s as seen by a young boy. Brings the reader into a part of America long past. Read more
Published on Jan 26 2001 by Scott Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful evocation of New York in the 1930's
We expect that Doctorow will use some piece of New York City's past as the setting for each of his novels but we also expect that he will give us a story with drama, tragedy or... Read more
Published on May 18 2000 by Doug Vaughn
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
An interesting story of life in New York seen through the eyes of a young child. Not really about the World's Fair, it provides an interesting look at life in the late thirties. Read more
Published on Oct 12 1999 by David Skirmont
4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing tale of an era
An absorbing experience with New York-Bronx life in the '30s. The title is a bit mis-leading in that less than half the book is devoted to the 1939 World's Fair- that being my own... Read more
Published on Feb 11 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
this is a sensually stimulating book. the glories of the times were expertly portrayed.
Published on Dec 20 1998
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