A classic story of Depression-era New York City filled with flawed characters just trying to get by. Bad luck, poor decisions, and economic realities don't leave many winners in this novel, but you always wish the best for the good ones, even when they're doing something bad. Each phase of the character's life, from youth to adulthood, feels authentic, and when he hurts, the reader hurts too.

It's not perfect, and it's a product of its era, but it's still a classic.