Rating: 
Summary: Don't drag yourself through it...
Review: First off, it's amazing how polarized these reviews are! I guess you either love this book or you hate it. I started Charming Billy with an open mind. However, it is the only book I have had to FORCE myself to finish. It took such effort to drag myself to the end of it. It's also one of the few books I wish I had never bought. Though I respect everyone's opinion, I honestly can't understand some of the other reviewers' fascination with the prose or characterization. To me, the book seemed so awkwardly written, like something I had written in creative writing in college (believe me, I am NOT complimenting myself :) The prose is very self-conscious. I couldn't lose myself in either the characters or their story because I couldn't get past the facade of the words. Why on earth did McDermott write this book from the perspective of the daughter of one of the main characters? It takes a while to figure out who is speaking and when you do know who it is, you never find out WHO SHE IS. You never get to know her at all. She barely speaks to the other characters, rarely interacting even in the group scenes. Her distance from the story creates distance for the reader. Without some connection to her as the voice of the story, it's hard to care about what she's telling you. (And - most awkwardly, I must say - at times she seems to be directing the story to her husband. Why? Does anyone have an opinion on this?) To be fair, I thought the story briefly lit up during the scenes describing Sheila and Daniel's courtship, mainly because the narrator faded into the background during those scenes. Unfortunately, throughout the rest of the story, I was unable to get past the narrator's odd presence to enjoy it. One last comment. It seems like a lot of the readers who gave this book 5 stars think that those of us who didn't like it don't read often or are confused by the shifting time line. That's not it! I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about this one. I must say I've enjoyed reading these reviews of Charming Billy far more than the book itself.
Rating: 
Summary: Helped redeem my faith in contemporary fiction!
Review: I can only imagine that those who found this book "boring" are accostomed to something with more plot. By that standard it's true: not much happens. Just life. This book spoke to me on so many levels: as an Irish-American, as a wife, as a daughter, as a mother, as an American! To me, it is a true mark of talent when a writer can take a story in which not much happens in the way of drama and make it impossible to put down.
Rating:
Summary: The truth about "Billy"...
Review: I have to say that I am aghast at the few reviews on here I've read for "Charming Billy." I'm not even sure where I should begin. I guess I should start off by saying that it was a bit of school pride that prompted me to buy the book in the first place. Ms. McDermott teaches at my university, so when she won the National Book Award, of course it was great and wonderful news. Though, when I got the book, I read a little, but placed it aside, mainly because my workload at school was a little overwhelming. That, and I knew I wanted to give my full attention to the world of "Charming Billy" because even from the beautiful, supple prose of the opening scenes at the bar, I knew that reading this book was something I did not want to do half-heartedly. And how glad I am that I did that! "Charming Billy" is a perfect piece of a book. It's so wonderfully written -- phrases repeating throughout that accentuate the daily routine of life; elegance and restraint in the descriptions of even the tiniest quirks and personality traits; a insightful and ingenious examination into the way we live and the way we live off (both the positive and negative connotations) of others. To read a review on here where the reviewer said something to the effect of "Oh, well, I just can't like a drunk character," well...quite frankly, it bothers me. Yes, Billy was an alcoholic, and his death was a consequence thereof, but calling Billy a drunk is missing the point of the story. Reading "Charming Billy" means opening yourself to a magical experience. If you read it correctly, it will stay with you always.
Rating:
Summary: IT's not what you think! (Don't be fooled)
Review: I read the novel Charming Billy, for my sophmore honors english class, and in anonymous vote, we agreed that this book was not good at all. McDermot, tried to make the novel to complex, when it didn't need to be. All the characters weren't necessary. I'm not saying that I wouldn't read another one of her novels, because I believe that everyone deserves a second chance.
Rating:
Summary: It stinks
Review: Ummm. this book is a waste of time to read. Unless you have about 20 hours of fre time to interpret this book and anyalize every page, go for it, but it is reall not worth your time. It is confusing and irrevelant.
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe I just wasn't in the mood -
Review: So, it's a few weeks before Christmas. I sat down to read Charming Billy and just couldn't get into it as much as I'd hope. I love to read and figured this book would be a good one. Maybe, just maybe, my mind is preoccupied with Christmas frenzy stuff? I thought the book more or less predictable. It is hard for me learn to love a character that is a drunk. All these charming little tales of Billy - but how much havoc ran rampant with his family and friends due to his drinking? It's hard for me to be compassionate here.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming Billy review
Review: The book "Charming Billy"is written by Alice McDermott. This book has recived a national award. Alice is known for her great use of words. This story takes place in a small remote bar in the Bronx. In the after gathering of the fureral for Billy. Here friends and family share stories about theur beloved Billy. In only 243 pages you read numerous stories about Billy, Eva, Dennis, Mauve and many others. The title of the book "Charming Billy"gives a brief discription of what Billy is like. Billy is a kind and conciderate man that suffers from the consequences of drinking. A portion of the book takes place on the Long Island coast, which is also probably related to the picture that is on the cover. A quote from the book that is exceptionaly good is "Or, if they didn't think to call it beauty-they said courage." This line was used to describe Billy's wife at the after gathering of the funeral. I personaly would give this book a 3 out of a 5. I believe that this book is more suited of an adult reader than a juevenal reader. A adult reader will be more able to relate to this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most overrated books that I have ever read
Review: When I first saw this book in the store, I thought that it looked great....little did I know what was lurking inside of the cover. When I read Charming Billy, I did not find what I had hoped. What I found was a long-winded, depressing, confusing and highly uninteresting piece of literature. In short, I do not recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: How could this book win an award?
Review: I found the characters and the writing style boring, disjointed and unfeeling. Had to force myself to finish it.
Rating: 
Summary: A lovely and engrossing novel
Review: I'm not sure what the negative reviewers below were looking for, but I'll tell you that if you're looking for a wonderful evocation of certain past times, places, and people, this book is it. Ms. McDermott creates a Long Island of the 40s and a Queens of the 80s that are so real that you can hear the characters speaking in that New York Irish brogue. I read passages aloud and found myself wanting to read it that way. This is a sad, beautiful novel, about the loss of hopes and dreams, the resignation to a certain path in life, about the pain of self- medication, about the ties that truly do bind, about the need for ritual...I could go on, but I won't. I recommend the book heartily.
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