book discussion

our book group met last night to discuss e.l. doctorow's the book of daniel. we all agreed that if you could stomach the first quarter of the book without throwing it across the room or being offended beyond redemption, it was a well-written, politically challenging read. he is a superb writer, but his ability to push the envelope gets difficult to gloss over. while the character of daniel, despite his misogynistic & abusive behavior, fails to be truly redemptive, he is explainable as his story unfolds via transitions between first & third person narrative and the past & present. i don't think our group got a final conclusion as to the full significance of the biblical reference to the book of daniel or the name issacson.... but we identified it as probably relevant. the historical context was fascinating & appropriate as times don't seem to have changed all that much from mccarthy's era and the country's need to find the enemy or at least have a political one.