- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Plume Books; Reissue edition (Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452284414
- ISBN-13: 978-0452284418
- Product Dimensions: 13.7 x 1.9 x 20.3 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,939,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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15 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
More style that substance
28 Aug 2003
Format:Hardcover
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here who opine that while Strauss definitely has a way with words, this novel left me wanting a little more. The book presents a fictionalized account of the fighter "Kid McCoy", a bare-knuckles brawler and scam artist from the beginning of the 20th century. I thought the novel would paint a real vivid picture of turn-of-the-century big city life, but ultimately the novel lost steam amid crazy twists and turns of the plot, until its wacky ending.
The scenes of young Virgil starting out his career and assuming his identity (as "McCOy") on a fateful train trip were the highlight for me, as well as his curious first marriage to a poor midwestern girl who never had a clue what made her husband tick. In that respect she was kind of like the reader, since we were similarly in the dark surrounding most of McCoy's motivations. Once McCoy made it to the big time (with his bizarre Oriental side-kick Johnny Gold), I rapidly lost interest.
Had the novel given a better glimpse of New York City at the turn of the century, rather than an occasional reference to Madison Square Garden or a famous hotel, I might have enjoyed it more just for the setting. Instead, while often impressed at Strauss' writing style, I found the book to be a pretty forgettable tale written by a talented author yet to fully hit his stride.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The Unreal McCoy
14 Aug 2003
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Darrin Strauss's second foray into historical fiction is much like his first, (CHANG AND ENG) taking the bare bones of a true story and then totally changing it to comment on other aspects of human nature. Virgil Selby starts out as a young man in search of something more than life is offering him. By taking on the identity of a fighter named Kid McCoy and following the advice of a Chinese flim-flam artist named Johnnie Gold; he sets out to make himself into a great man. The real problem is that Virgil's new life is based on a lie and of course it falls apart. Sort of a rags to riches to rags tale that could have been so much better if Strauss had stayed closer to McCoy's actual life; which fans of boxing history know had more than a few twists and turns to it, or at least skipped the ridiculous character of Johnnie Gold, who is so over the top in his Machiavellian plans that he is seen as blatantly unbelievable. Strauss is most successful at portraying McCoy's love for Susan Fields, an actress, who McCoy is constantly winning back after pushing her from his life with his lies. Strauss does a nice job recreating the rural and urban America of the early twentieth century, but Johnnie Gold and the finish with McCoy's plan for one last score are just so far-fetched they distract from the other pleasures of the novel. An interesting read, but like CHANG AND ENG, the idea for the novel is better than the execution.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Really McGreat
9 Aug 2002
Format:Hardcover
Strauss is seriously talented, possibly the best young writer in America (at least of the writers that I've read). His deadpan style is hilarious and poignant at the same time. His command is evident in every sentence. After Chang and Eng (his last book), I had high expectations, which McCoy surpassed. If Strauss continues to improve at this rate, I think he will become one of the greats.
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