CITY BOY

Gary Makufka (Aug 19, 2017) it was amazing: This story is labeled as a novel. Herbie Bookbinder is real! Why isn't this book considered a classic? I could read this book over and over and never get tired of it. During these uncertain times, nostalgia is so valuable and Herbie Bookbinder and his friends makes the reader feel hopeful again. Thank you Herman Wouk!

Katherine (Oct 30, 2011) it was amazing: With the first paragraph of this coming of age book, the image of Herbie Bookbinder is almost enough to make any group of teenage girls "aw" in choral. A chubby, broken-hearted boy who detests everything about female kind finds love in a red-head named Lucille and spends the rest of the book running through his thoughts and problems in his young adolescent life. I personally quite enjoyed this book from the very beginning. With it's long and complex sentences, Wouk provides enough clarity for each setting and description of character to allow me as a reader to see the world of Herbie's 11 year old life. The use of alliteration in this book is a constant, as seen in one of my favorite sentences "Bulldog, Bulldog" was duly sung in draggy discords."

With the way this book allows you to see into the heart and mind of the main character and his life in the 1920's, I can only say that this is a book that I highly recommend for people of all ages.

Bruce (Oct 16, 2007) it was amazing I read this as part of my "read everything ever written about the Bronx" kick, but found that it also fit into another one of my favorite sub-genres: boy's stories in which the underdog rises above his station and becomes a hero.

The big difference, though, is that most authors in this genre are hacks, while Herman Wouk is a great writer. His main character, Herbie Bookbinder is a fantastic creation, and it takes little imagination to make the jump from the bookish Herbie to an imaginary "Hermie" Wouk growing up in a similar situation. Because of this grounding in reality, Herbie's heroics aren't really reliant on deus ex machinae, astounding coincidences, or the like. Rather, they are completely realistic, and all the more enjoyable for that reason.

Heather (Jul 02, 2008) really liked it: I came across this one at a thrift store in Estes Park. I had never heard of it and didn't expect much, but ended up loving it. It's a funny, coming-of-age story about an overweight Jewish boy going to summer camp and trying to win a girl's heart. Very well-written, with subtle humor and recognizable characters.