If despair is regarded as the only unforgivable sin, then the characters in Alice McDermott’s Charming Billy seem to have willingly condemned themselves to hell.

On the positive side, Charming Billy offers wonderful nostalgic descriptions of New York City and its Irish-Catholic community. McDermott weaves a story that centers around Billy and the long-term consequences of the loss of his summer sweetheart, Eva. The novel skillfully jumps from one era to another, revealing the far-reaching effects of Eva’s loss on Billy and others.

However, the book becomes increasingly difficult to pick up as its unyielding message is about embracing defeat and celebrating misery. The dénouement itself is the final act in a life resigned to surrender.

The characters are in a state of perpetual anguish and an all-encompassing pathos, which is fueled by self-pity, alcoholism, and religious fatalism. They labor at jobs they dislike, marry people they don’t love, and drink themselves to death. While I don’t deny the cruel vicissitudes of real life, most people strive to improve their unfortunate circumstances rather than wallow in them. There is no joy in McDermott’s world. It is a self-indulgent wallowing in defeat where suffering is spuriously noble. Every gathering is a melancholy affair and a reaffirmation of a life of pain. The most poignant moment of the novel is when someone spontaneously sings Danny Boy at a funeral.

If this sounds like your life, it’s time to move on.

The only character who breaks free from this endless despair is a German shoe store owner. As a descendant of Irish Americans, I felt more empathy with his hard work and his forward-looking attitude. I doubt that Irish sensibilities are as dark as McDermott portrays them. Standing up and persevering is anathema in Charming Billy, and this is hard to bear. I’m no Pollyanna, and I enjoy a tragic tale, but Charming Billy lacks the passion of Romeo and Juliet, the endurance of My Antonia, and the pride of The Scarlett Letter.

I was completely and utterly stunned by this book.

It has been sitting on my to-read list for a number of years, never really near the top. But then, quite accidentally, it fell into my hands recently.

Maybe it's something about the state of the world right now, or perhaps it's something about my own current position in life. But the melancholia that is infused throughout this story truly resonated with the way I feel.

I firmly believe that I could not have fully grasped what McDermott was attempting to convey if I had read this book 10 (or even 5) years ago.

For me, the characters in this story seem so real as we gradually come to understand the various ways in which their choices, beliefs, hopes, fears, and fate all intertwine to shape their past, their present, and, to some extent, their future.

And, in the final analysis, “As if..... what was actual, as opposed to what was imagined, as opposed to what was believed, made, when you got right down to it, any difference at all.”

This thought-provoking statement really makes one stop and think about the nature of reality and perception.

Thoughts I Didn't Know I Shared with Every Other Child of an Irish American Growing Up in the Five Boroughs

As an Irish American child growing up in the five boroughs, there were certain thoughts and experiences that I initially believed were unique to me. However, as I grew older and interacted with others from similar backgrounds, I realized that there were commonalities that we all shared.

One such thought was the sense of pride in our Irish heritage. Despite being born and raised in America, we still felt a strong connection to our ancestral homeland. We would celebrate St. Patrick's Day with great enthusiasm, wearing green and parading through the streets.

Another shared thought was the struggle to balance our Irish identity with our American upbringing. We wanted to honor our roots while also fitting in with the larger American culture. This often led to a sense of confusion and self-discovery as we tried to find our place in the world.

Finally, there was the feeling of community that came with being part of the Irish American diaspora. We knew that no matter where we went, there would always be others who understood our experiences and could relate to our struggles. This sense of belonging was a source of comfort and strength in a sometimes challenging world.

Charming Billy is the result of a random stop at the library. Before registering on Goodreads and having a specific reading idea, you come across a book with an appealing cover. In this case, it has a shiny golden seal proclaiming it as a "National Book Award Winner." It's similar to how I select wine. Every bottle of wine has something to offer, at least alcohol. Similarly, this book has its merits: clean writing, easy readability, an interesting use of the narrator, and a poetry-like repetition of certain phrases and words throughout, along with the theme of alcohol. However, as a hard drinker from a hard-drinking background, I still didn't find the characters to be deeply resonant. Perhaps part of the issue is the unbelievable dialogue. Here's a small sample from near the end of the book, which coincided with my realization that a significant part of what was bothering me about the book was the dialogue's lack of believability. "She chose him, and as far as I can see he fit her to a T. Her old man all over again. Someone to maneuver, to shore up. An alcoholic with a shadow across his heart. An alcoholic because he had a shadow across his heart, the way I see it...I don't begrudge her her tears, of course, but I wonder, too. Would she have known what to do with a sober man, with the full force of the affection of a sober man who'd never loved another?" Do you talk like that? I surely don't. I wish Ms. McDermott would have more trust in her readers to understand her meaning through ordinary dialogue.

The story commences with the solemn funeral of Billy Lynch.

It then centers around a passionate love affair that blossoms between Billy and Eva, a charming young Irish girl who has come to the States for a summer visit after World War II. Billy is deeply in love with Eva and desires to marry her. However, Eva has to return to Ireland first.

From this poignant beginning, the tragic story unfolds. Alice McDermott masterfully weaves together past and present episodes, painting a vivid and detailed picture of their relationship.

As the narrative progresses, we are drawn deeper into their world, experiencing their joys and sorrows. The story is beautifully crafted, with McDermott's prose adding an extra layer of depth and emotion.

We witness Billy and Eva's struggles and the obstacles that stand in the way of their love. Despite the challenges, their connection remains strong, making their story all the more heart-wrenching.

In the end, we are left with a profound sense of loss and a lasting impression of their love that transcends time and distance.

Billy Lynch was an Irish American hailing from Queens, NY. His life was intertwined with numerous family members and friends. As a young man, he was jilted, and the pain haunted him throughout his life. Years later, he drank himself to death.

The story is told from the perspective of Billy's cousin Dennis' daughter, which makes it rather confusing. It's not until at least halfway through that the reader begins to make sense of it.

Interestingly, both the description on Goodreads and the one on the back cover of the book seem to differ from my perception. It's almost as if the person who wrote those descriptions hadn't actually read the book!

Despite this, I found the writing to be beautiful. I have a penchant for flowery prose. However, the story was all over the place. At times, the narrative voice would change, leaving me re-reading sections, feeling like I was missing something crucial.

Based on the book cover, I had expected Billy's friends and relatives to take turns sharing stories about his life, each with their own unique perspective. But the story skipped around so much that it was difficult to follow.

I'm truly sad because this book had so much potential. It had ethnic flare, family dysfunction, and lovely prose. But the way the story is told just doesn't quite measure up, leaving the reader feeling a bit unfulfilled.

I almost gave up on this particular piece.

There were just too many narrators, and the plot seemed rather random as the relatives mourned and recalled memories after Billy's burial.

However, things took a turn when the focus shifted to a single narrator.

McDermott's skillful storytelling then came to the fore, enhancing the reading experience and making it a truly worthwhile endeavor.

This work is the winner of the National Book Award in 1998.

An interview with the author is included at the end of the audio, which provides additional insights into the creation and inspiration behind this remarkable piece of literature.

It's a testament to McDermott's talent that despite the initial challenges, the story ultimately manages to engage and captivate the reader.

Overall, it's a book that is well worth the read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of human emotion and the power of a well-told story.

Billy Lynch was a romantic Irishman who recently passed away. His friends and family are now looking back on his life.

They are considering whether his romantic nature, which led him to excessive drinking, ultimately caused his death.

The story jumps around in time, and the overall narrative isn't very engaging. However, the details within the story are quite pleasant.

We learn about Billy's charming personality and his love for the finer things in life.

Despite the flaws in the story's structure, it still manages to paint a vivid picture of Billy Lynch and his life.

Perhaps his story will serve as a reminder to others about the dangers of excessive drinking and the importance of moderation.

Overall, while it may not be the most exciting story, it does have its moments of interest and charm.

I discovered this remarkable book on a clearance shelf at a local bookstore. It was truly the best $2 I've ever spent!

The author begins by introducing us to Billy just after his funeral. From there, the story of his life unfolds, written in a beautiful and poignant style that is both haunting and captivating. McDermott masterfully evokes a specific time and place, with the lives of the characters entwining in complex ways. We see hopes dashed, lies told, love found and lost, and drinks downed.

When I reached the end of the book, I couldn't bear to let the story go, so I immediately reread the first chapter. This is the kind of book that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Don't miss out on this hidden gem. Pick up a copy and let yourself be transported into the world of Billy and his unforgettable story.

Judging from the reviews on Amazon.com, readers' opinions about this book are rather polarized.

Some really liked it and gave it a full 5 stars, while others didn't like it at all and gave it only one or two stars. I, for one, belong to the former camp.

Those who didn't like the book criticized it as being "confusing". They complained that the narrator, a minor character, directs her discourse to her husband who hardly appears in the book. They also claimed that it lacked a proper plot and a strong story line.

To some extent, I agree that here and there it was a bit confusing. However, I found that the novel still managed to move along and hold my interest. Even though the broad outline of the story is revealed early on, what unfolds over time is a detailed portrait of two generations of a large New York Irish family and their friends.

Charming Billy's life, as well as that of his life-long cousin and friend Dennis, is vividly sketched out through various means such as observations of others, direct conversations, remembrances, intuitions, facts and opinions, and even gossip.

In the end, what the reader is left with is a lyrical, sad, and sometimes funny description of ordinary life, with all its ephemeral joys, triumphs, and inevitable disappointments. It's a book that offers a unique and engaging perspective on the human experience.

A Terrific Novel

This is truly a remarkable novel that offers a deeply moving and comprehensive portrayal of various aspects of life. It delves into the complex dynamics of families, the power of love, the beauty and challenges of friendship, the depth of sadness, and the grip of addiction. The author has done an outstanding job in creating characters that are not only well-developed but also highly relatable. Even the minor characters are brought to life with such vividness and insight that it is impossible not to form some sort of connection with them. Reading this book is like taking a trip down memory lane, attending those warm and chaotic Sunday dinners during my childhood in the diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. It is a truly great read that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

Charming Billy is a remarkable novel that has won the National Book Award.

In this captivating work, McDermott constructs the entire narrative around the remembrances following Billy's funeral. Billy Lynch is a complex character. He is hopelessly alcoholic, deeply rooted in Irish Catholicism, and hopelessly romantic, with a particular fondness for Yeats that he has been able to recite since childhood. What's more, he is beloved by all.

Despite the fact that much of the world around him is less than inspiring, Billy personally never loses hope. However, his influence on others is profound and far-reaching, both generous and needy.

I have a special affinity for the Irish characters and culture that McDermott presents. Through the many unspoken stories or re-created views of what should be done rather than what is or has been, the reader is introduced to this rich and vibrant world.

As Billy is quoted while describing two elderly sisters, the words are descriptive of many in these tales. They "should have wisdom enough to know that passion gone cold, gone way beyond its prime, was a pathetic thing." Later, Billy is remembered to have said, "[it was] because one (you might say) had given too much and the other had given too little. That was it--all that remained of their lovely idyll in this lovely place. Faith inspired by anger outstripping any inspired by affection."

Nonetheless, upon finishing this book, I felt a sense of happiness at having known and welcomed such a giving and loved--and yes, charming Billy.