Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on 9/3/2009 + 813 more book reviews

A Jew writing a novel about an Italo-American is rather neoteric. Wait! He goes to work for immigrants who are trying to run a grocery in a run down neighborhood. Their grammar reminds me of Shelly Berman relating his upbringing in New York. Italo is a down and outer who in a prior life must have been a tomcat for he seems to have as many lives in this one. First he abets a holdup of the grocery then, feeling guilt, he repays them by working there for room and board. Despite his profession of honesty he eventually ups his hand in the till on a regular basis. He falls in love with the grocers daughter, but has a strange way of showing it by climbing up the dumbwaiter to spy on her in the bathroom. Before it ends he pulls several more gaffs. This goy is a real piece of work! While I did not like the ending, this is my favorite of Malamuds novels.

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