Daniel

My first experience with Borges and I finally see why he is constantly referenced. Short stories that I usually read have never come close to the concept and structures present in Ficciones. The referential, highly literary, mindbending stories all mesh together well yet stand apart on their own, each presenting Borges's thoughts on philosophy, writing, mortality, and other hefty concepts. Favorite story would probably be The Library of Babel.

This is the first Doctorow book I've read and I am astonished. He mixes together fact and fiction until they become one in a way that is incredibly readable and nuanced. You question if a character is a creation, or if they are based on an actual figure, but then realize that it doesn't matter; they all serve a purpose in the creation of an American story. The themes presented such as race, class and love are all nuanced and developed, but the true standout is the idea of fiction itself that Doctorow contemplates. By inserting his creations into real events, and pulling real people out of their historical places, he creates a sense of ebb and flow that brings into question the nature of truth as presented in our historical consciousness. The book is situated in a specific era, but it is an era that is key in understanding our present and possibly our future. The fact that Doctorow is able to structure a novel with a myriad of characters and plot threads in a way in which they all intersect and flow together as one is fantastic. The pure enjoyment of the book, stemming from the incredible prose, sense of humor, and engaging story is enough of a recommendation for anybody, the postmodern themes and ideas that underline the novel make it a required read.