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theratcave's review
4.0
A nice little collection of short stories with a lot of character, introducing readers to the many amusing faces that can be found about Broadway. The present tense narration is very strange at first, but gives a unique extra spice to the stories. I found reading the tales very enjoyable.
Sense of Humour: A humorous start to the collection, with a lot of clever wordplay and colloquialisms which kept me engaged, and introduced me to Damon Runyon’s writing.
A Piece of Pie: I liked this one with its very eccentric characters and clever plot trail.
Johnny One-Eye: My personal favourite of this collection’s stories, I loved the dark atmosphere and tone of it, and ended on a refreshingly positive note.
The Brain Goes Home: The Brain is a very over the top character and the hunt to find a woman who will help him after he is shot is amusingly tense.
Dream Street Rose: I also really liked this one with a kind of spy-tone, felt very much like a satire of a mystery novel. Interesting characters throughout.
The Old Doll’s House: The final punchline is the kicker of this story, gave me a chuckle after reading.
Romance in the Roaring Forties: Likely the one that attached to me the least, quaint but not as unique as the others.
Neat Strip: Another one which sticks out to me and which I really enjoyed, the scene of the burlesque act inside a burning theatre, the whole audience captivated, still makes me laugh.
Dancing Dan’s Christmas: Short and amusing, with a clever punch.
Tobias the Terrible: A funny turn of events for the terribly-fated Tobias Tweeney made this a story rich in Schadenfreude.
Overall, this was an enjoyable little collection with over the top ideas and very stand out expression.
Sense of Humour: A humorous start to the collection, with a lot of clever wordplay and colloquialisms which kept me engaged, and introduced me to Damon Runyon’s writing.
A Piece of Pie: I liked this one with its very eccentric characters and clever plot trail.
Johnny One-Eye: My personal favourite of this collection’s stories, I loved the dark atmosphere and tone of it, and ended on a refreshingly positive note.
The Brain Goes Home: The Brain is a very over the top character and the hunt to find a woman who will help him after he is shot is amusingly tense.
Dream Street Rose: I also really liked this one with a kind of spy-tone, felt very much like a satire of a mystery novel. Interesting characters throughout.
The Old Doll’s House: The final punchline is the kicker of this story, gave me a chuckle after reading.
Romance in the Roaring Forties: Likely the one that attached to me the least, quaint but not as unique as the others.
Neat Strip: Another one which sticks out to me and which I really enjoyed, the scene of the burlesque act inside a burning theatre, the whole audience captivated, still makes me laugh.
Dancing Dan’s Christmas: Short and amusing, with a clever punch.
Tobias the Terrible: A funny turn of events for the terribly-fated Tobias Tweeney made this a story rich in Schadenfreude.
Overall, this was an enjoyable little collection with over the top ideas and very stand out expression.
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