Having read a few of this author’s books, and finding some to be better than others, I had a little bit of trepidation when approaching The Bowery Slugger. Turn of the last century America is one of my favorite periods in history, and I am always wary of accuracy in historical novels.
I am happy to report that Mr. Borstinski does an admirable job of creating the atmosphere of the NYC Bowery in the early 1900s. This gritty look at the immigrant experience should not be missed.
I was drawn into the story almost immediately, as I thought the immigrant experience and the tenements of the Bowery were especially well-described. The whole story had a “Gangs of New York” feel to it, and it kept me turning pages. Some people may find the brutality to be a bit much, but it is definitely realistic to the time and place of the story.
I particularly liked the balance that Alex tried to achieve. Even as he was working his way up in the organization, and brutally so, he still had a bit of his “Old World” self that he tried to embrace as he became more interested in his neighbor, Rebecca.
I also found the author’s treatment of the rise of unions, exploitation of immigrants, and the corruption of Tammany Hall to be well-done. I appreciated the way that he wove historical facts into his narrative. His research for this novel is admirable.
This was by far the best of his books that I have read, and I look forward to the next installment in the Alex Cohen series, out in the spring of 2020 (hopefully!)
Thanks so much x