The author of this book: Thomas Wolfe
Summary of the book: It's the 1980s - a time when Wall Street ruled, Park Avenue was the place to be, and the Bronx was seen as the 'darkest' section of the city. The Bonfire of the Vanities, manages to combine these two vastly different sections of New York with a tale of infidelity, racial and social/class divide, and a justice system that leaves the reader with more questions than answers about the final verdict.
This type of book is good for: Lovers of thrillers, drama (crime), and Thomas Wolfe
I especially liked: The characters. Their stories and lives. One thing about Wolfe is his ability to paint each character in ways that make you either identify with them, or make you 'see' them before you. You are right there in their situations, wanting to see what happens next and how things go from there. The dialogue seems to jump out at you, every injection, accent and emotion is definitely felt.
I did not like: The ending. It almost felt rushed and I was a bit confused as to what really happened to the main character - Sherman McCoy. We see his 'demotion' from Park Avenue/Wall Street son or rather 'Master of the Universe' - to a struggling man trying to escape the clutches of incarceration.
This book made me feel: Enlightened. The setting might have been in the 80s, but some of the issues talked about are still prevalent today. Racial tensions between black and white, the unfairness of the justice system, and the unscrupulous way the press will go for a story...no matter what it takes.
Final comments: As mentioned above, it will show you just how society operates on not just a macro scale, but in your very living room. It takes one into the mindset of the rich and famous, how superficial their lives are - of the black community, run by a man who seems to put his political agenda first than his own people...anything to be popular. Or a district attorney, who only cares about his image and less about his clients - all these elements bring about an explosive story that makes one see how this book could have been a national best seller.
