Friday, 05 August 2005
The Waterworks
E.L. Doctorow is an author I have heard of, but I previously knew nothing about his books. So when Simon told me he had, as he described it, "a gripping mystery" by the author that he was willing to give me in return for one of my unwanted books, I eagerly agreed to the swap. He also gave me "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, so I look forward to reading that in the near future - expect a review here when I have!
Back to "The Waterworks" - the title of which is, in my opinion, the weakest thing about this novel. I understand why it was chosen, but this understanding did not come until close to the end, and I prefer to feel the title encompassing the whole story as I read. But that is only a minor niggle which did not disrupt my reading pleasure.
The book is set in New York in the 1870s, and the history of the city is well detailed, but not so that it detracts from the plot. The writing style reflects the murkiness - bleakness, even - of the city back then, with starving street children and shady deals behind everything. I would not call Doctorow's writing style particularly vivid, and yet some scenes are deeply imprinted in my mind's eye.
The story is told through the eyes of Mr McIlvaine, a newspaper editor who is some years older now than when the events actually took place. He thus has the freedom to give the reader bits of information that he did not have at that moment of the story, without giving too much away. This has the effect of drawing the reader deeper into the plot.
McIlvaine's favourite freelance, Martin Pemberton, goes missing after claiming to have seen his dead father, and our narrator becomes impelled to follow in the man's footsteps and find out the truth behind the whole matter. Be prepared to be shocked.
Doctorow's voice can be heard in the narration, leading the reader to his verdict of life in New York at this time, but not in an intrusive manner. The story comes first and foremost and is masterfully told, as several strands are woven together into the main plot. History and mystery combine to make a powerful story, and Doctorow knew how to stir the ingredients together for the perfect mix.
The eventual discovery of the full truth is an explosive adventure, which society then neatly tucks away to present a happy ending. Read for yourself for your own verdict.
I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning there were times when I would reread some bits to fully understand what was being said, although I am not saying it was wilfully obscure. This is probably more to do with not having the time to read it in as big chunks as I would have liked to. As I read on and became immersed in the story this was no longer an issue. The plot thickened and the pace quickened to an electrifying speed towards the end. A thrilling ride through 1870s New York!
