Billy BathgateBilly Bathgate
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1930s New York, Billy, a fifteen-year-old boy from the Bronx, catches the eye of the gangster Dutch Schultz by juggling on the street, and becomes his apprentice. As the gang's power crumbles, Billy is drawn deeper into its world of murder, money and glamour, and falls for Schultz's girlfriend.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. It's a thrilling coming-of-age story.
You'll love it if you liked
Ragtime
The Godfather
The Adventures of Augie MarchGood to know
It's violent, with gangland killings.
By the numbers
- Readers14 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics79 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by E. L. Doctorow
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
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Quick answers
Is Billy Bathgate worth reading?
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. Its Must-Read Score is 64.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Billy Bathgate about?
In 1930s New York, Billy, a fifteen-year-old boy from the Bronx, catches the eye of the gangster Dutch Schultz by juggling on the street, and becomes his apprentice. As the gang's power crumbles, Billy is drawn deeper into its world of murder, money and glamour, and falls for Schultz's girlfriend.
How long does it take to read Billy Bathgate?
About 8 hours (326 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Billy Bathgate won?
NBCC Award (Fiction) winner (1989).
What should I read after Billy Bathgate?
If you liked it, try Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow, The Godfather by Mario Puzo or The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow.