City Boy

I've read this book at least 'more than' 15 times. I don't know where I got it, as a birthday gift, I believe, but wherever, I took to it as I have to few books in my life. I was unathletic as a kid, though not as smart as the fictional Herbie, so that helps. The book is dated, though not in a bad way, one can say it just increased its attractiveness as a historic reference. Hard to say how much Mr. Wouk is recalling his own childhood, but one can tell he loves the characters, and it shows.

Readers of Herman Wouk are readily familiar with his incredible ability to capture the essence of humanity in the development of his characters. Not since my second reading of Huckleberry Finn have I looked at life through the eyes of a young boy. While reading "City Boy", I was Herbie. Wouk is able to create images of Herbie's feelings of joy, despondance, jealousy, puppy love, and more, that draw the reader into a world that is fresh and opens up under the scrutiny of an inquisitive and intelligent young boy. Herbie journeys through the depths of despair when he fears he is losing his heart's desire to his arch rival and nemesis, to feelings of incomparable delight when his wildly successful development of a thrilling ride at summer camp make him the envy of the entire camp and temporary master of the world!It is not the description of Herbie's experiences that captivate the reader so much as Wouk's ability to allow you to share the feelings and emotions that Herbie undergoes in anticipation of an event, or resultant of an unexpected outcome. This little book is a jewel that is sure to delight both those young readers who would enjoy from their youthful vantage point,"Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn", and those older readers with the benefit of experience who may wish to experience once again, the exaggerated emotions of innocent youth.

This is one of those books which would be ruined were it translated to film. There really is no plot, just a lot of situations, yet Herman Wouk's descriptions of people and places, and the "dialogue" which takes place not only in words but in the imaginative Herbie's mind, are so hilarious that I can read this book annually (as I have since the 1960s) and laugh aloud each time.Herbie is, to borrow Wouk's words, a "facile fictioniser," whose elaborate tales become reality in his mind as he ponders or shares them. Though many of Wouk's "side comments" show sophistication, everyone is actually presented according to Herbie's point of view, with evil in this world "traced mainly to adults or Lennie Krieger." This is actually far more accurate a depiction of an adolescent's mind (as also offered in the Tom Sawyer to whom Herbie is often and well compared) than one would see today. Those who would find the adult characters to be unbalanced in presentation must recall that Herbie would see only their main influence on him.Though Herbie's crush on Lucille Glass is the source of much of the far-fetched action in this novel, this is not actually a romantic book. The reader, who can see through Lucille all too well, can enjoy Herbie's glorified version of her. One regular theme in this book, and one very true, is that the highly intelligent Herbie is so lost in dreams and ideals that those far less intellectually gifted (Cliff, Elmer Bean come to mind) actually have a far deeper grasp of the situations.Though this is not a children's book, it certainly is suited for kids' reading. I would caution anyone who passes it on to a youngster not to ruin the book's delight by using it for "a talk" or to explain differences between "then and now." Herbie's version of life, entirely his own self-centred and humorous creation, should not be muddied by Mrs Bookbinder's lack of career opportunities; whether he sees the girls only in relation to his own dreams (what 11-year-old would not?); or whether his bizarre midnight ride violated safety rules. (No parts of this plot are intended to be taken this seriously.) And anyone, in the context, would see Herbie's having to deal only with a spanking, not years behind bars, when he is... beyond naughty as a welcome substitute. The continuing theme in the book is that Herbie, like all children, never considers consequences for any action, and gets the message that such can exist - don't spoil the impact with a discussion of 1990s attitudes towards corporal punishment.The characters are memorable, the camp settings a happy fiction of songs, shows, and remarkable freedom, and the school scenes enough to make anyone laugh in recognition. I, who am not a fan of Herman Wouk, count this as the funniest book on any of my many shelves.

I first encountered Herman Wouk through The Winds of War and War and Remembrance in the late 1970s. These started me on an odyssey through all of his books. The hardest one to find was City Boy, but the effort to find it was certainly worthwhile! I have read this book at least a dozen times, have worn through two copies and am looking for my third. I have read so much of it out loud to my husband and kids that they all know the story as well as I do. Herbie Bookbinder is a character that rings so true, you instantly identify with him, whether or not you are a boy, or Jewish, or from New York City, or lived your childhood in the 1920s. I am none of those things, but I love Herbie just the same. His feelings, experiences, self-doubts, triumphs, family troubles and foibles strike a chord in us all. If you haven't read this one, give it a try! You won't be able to put it down.

What a delight to see so many others who love Herbie too! I bought this book through the Scholastic Bookclub many years ago and have read it to tatters. Lovesick Herbie and his Walter Mitty-ish fantasies come to life with such grace and humor! Clever Sam and his antics still make me laugh out loud. A book to savor.