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tiixtai's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up at a book recycling stall in a shopping centre some years ago and only got round to reading it now. I had no idea who the author was or what the book would be about - there wasn't even a background blurb - which was a rather refreshing way to start reading a novel. But even if I had had expectations, I doubt I would have been disappointed.
The writing seemed effortless, which is not a given with experimental or stream-of-consciousness styles, and was generally a pleasure to read. (apart from when the content was not so pleasant, naturally, but that's rather different.) Not everything was explained and no doubt I missed some finer points and/or connections, but the book didn't need explanations or assurances of the significance of any given scene. If I have to analyze it, I'd say its method was flowing rather than making arguments.
(Plus I have a soft point for American 20th-century hopelessness.)
I was not quite sure whether the poems thrown in here and there were intended to be bad, written in the character Warren Penfield's name as they were, but either way they had their moments, and even in their less-of-a-moments managed to provide a spark and a change of pace, rather than being a mandatory bore inbetween the prose.
While writing this review, I had to change my rating from 3 to 4 stars, because I only just realized that I did "really like" this novel.
The writing seemed effortless, which is not a given with experimental or stream-of-consciousness styles, and was generally a pleasure to read. (apart from when the content was not so pleasant, naturally, but that's rather different.) Not everything was explained and no doubt I missed some finer points and/or connections, but the book didn't need explanations or assurances of the significance of any given scene. If I have to analyze it, I'd say its method was flowing rather than making arguments.
(Plus I have a soft point for American 20th-century hopelessness.)
I was not quite sure whether the poems thrown in here and there were intended to be bad, written in the character Warren Penfield's name as they were, but either way they had their moments, and even in their less-of-a-moments managed to provide a spark and a change of pace, rather than being a mandatory bore inbetween the prose.
While writing this review, I had to change my rating from 3 to 4 stars, because I only just realized that I did "really like" this novel.
smcleish's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in December 2001.
One of Doctorow's more experimental novels, Loon Lake presents a bewildering collection of different techniques: traditional narratives, stream of consciousness, poetry. It is also a novel which continually reminds the reader of others, possibly an easy way for an author to put himself in the tradition of the great American novel; among those which are brought to mind are [b:The Grapes of Wrath|4395|The Grapes of Wrath|John Steinbeck|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352912927s/4395.jpg|2931549] and the [b:U.S.A.|261441|U.S.A. The 42nd Parallel/1919/The Big Money|John Dos Passos|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309200622s/261441.jpg|6503267] trilogy.
Loon Lake, a retreat for millionaire industrialist F.W. Bennett in the 1920s, is the central setting of the novel. Young hobo Joe turns up there, entranced by a woman seen through the windows of a private railway carriage. There too is poet Warren Penfield, Bennett's pensioner; as the novel follows Joe's path after he meets Bennett and leaves Loon Lake, so too in parallel it describes Penfield's journey there. (The mixed up chronology contributes to the experimental feeling of the novel.)
A difficult read, with even the most traditional parts of the narrative flipping between first and third person, Loon Lake is also atmospheric and interesting for a reader prepared to make the effort.
One of Doctorow's more experimental novels, Loon Lake presents a bewildering collection of different techniques: traditional narratives, stream of consciousness, poetry. It is also a novel which continually reminds the reader of others, possibly an easy way for an author to put himself in the tradition of the great American novel; among those which are brought to mind are [b:The Grapes of Wrath|4395|The Grapes of Wrath|John Steinbeck|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352912927s/4395.jpg|2931549] and the [b:U.S.A.|261441|U.S.A. The 42nd Parallel/1919/The Big Money|John Dos Passos|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309200622s/261441.jpg|6503267] trilogy.
Loon Lake, a retreat for millionaire industrialist F.W. Bennett in the 1920s, is the central setting of the novel. Young hobo Joe turns up there, entranced by a woman seen through the windows of a private railway carriage. There too is poet Warren Penfield, Bennett's pensioner; as the novel follows Joe's path after he meets Bennett and leaves Loon Lake, so too in parallel it describes Penfield's journey there. (The mixed up chronology contributes to the experimental feeling of the novel.)
A difficult read, with even the most traditional parts of the narrative flipping between first and third person, Loon Lake is also atmospheric and interesting for a reader prepared to make the effort.
kathleenitpdx's review
3.0
This is a challenging novel to read. It changes characters, points-of-view, places and times without warning. It drops into unpunctuated stream-of-consciousness now and then. But it is an interesting tale that follows a young man, Joe, from working class New Jersey as he tries to find his way during the Great Depression. He runs up against organized crime, the wealthy, a circus, union unrest, and "Okies" making their way to California. His story is interwoven with the story of a derelict poet and World War I vet, Penfield, who aids him and demonstrates some of the pitfalls that he should avoid.
If it is an allegory of the American Success story, I suppose its lesson is keep trying and be brash if you wish to succeed.
I have a couple more of Doctorow’s novels in my “to-be-read” pile and I am looking forward to them.
If it is an allegory of the American Success story, I suppose its lesson is keep trying and be brash if you wish to succeed.
I have a couple more of Doctorow’s novels in my “to-be-read” pile and I am looking forward to them.
alanfederman's review
3.0
As a fan of Doctorow's other work (especially Ragtime) I wanted to love this one too. It came along with great review and I was up to the challenge of the experimental nature of the book (shifting narrators and points of view, random poetry, stream of consciousness), but it never lived up to the hype. It was a bit all over the place and tried hard to find its footing, but never really did. It's like the "weird" album every band releases - sometimes it's a "Sergeant Pepper" and sometimes it's not.
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