Liked it; didn't love it as I'd hoped to. There was something slightly flat in aspect. I know Doctorow's a straight-ahead storyteller and not necessarily known for high dramatic tension, but the plot seemed to want a bit more mounting dread. It touched that in places, but the psychological horror that I wanted was missing. I realize that's more about my expectations than the writing, which is quite good.

Maybe it's a matter of form following function: Otherwise innocuous and even beautiful writing, all amassed in one place until it suddenly, unexpectedly, falls down on us. I guess I just hoped for a little more edge. Still -- very worth reading, and well done.