50 out of 51 people found this review helpful.
Disappointed in Billy
Date of Review: Feb 4, 2000
The summary I read about Charming Billy really interested me. I was convinced I would love this book. At the beginning, I was enthralled when all Billy's friends and family had gathered to "celebrate" his life. I looked forward to learning more about the characters and the secrets that seemed to want to pour forth.
But, as I got further in the book, it became harder and harder to finish. The author's style was vivid and picturesque. I could picture every scene described where all the events in Billy's life happened; I could "see" the main characters. However, as we weave through Billy's life, (forward and backward and forward and backward) I began to get confused - who was that person? Wait a minute, what timeframe are we in now? Oh, that's it...now go back and read the last 10 pages again since that you have it figured out. Also, it is told from the point of view of the daughter of one of Billy's friends. But, it's so hard to figure that out. So, I admit, the time shifting and the "narration" by a character that is not actually part of the story confused me - guess I need something simpler.
Now on to a brief review of the plot: At the beginning, all the important people in Billy's life have gathered after his funeral. He had literally drunk himself to death. One could see how his early heartbreak might turn him to drink too much. When we find out that his heartbreak, though real to him, was based on a "protective" lie told by his friend, it becomes all the more sad. Seeing all Billy's friends accept his drinking as the "way it is", and generally not consider it at all, you have to wonder. Is Billy's pride more important than his health? Apparently so, for no one tried to really help him - his wife Maive simply cared for him in his drunken stupors. It was the only thing she knew how to do after caring for her alcoholic father in the same way.
All the flowery language could not redeem this book for me. It may be an award winning book, but I simply had to work too hard to get through it, and I had no feeling after completing the book. Sorry, I can't give this book the best rating. Thanks for reading.
