John O'Hara: Four Novels of the 1930s (LOA #313): Appointment in Samarra / Butterfield 8 / Hope of Heaven / Pal Joey (Library of America John O'Hara Edition)

Whether you are new to O’Hara or a longtime fan (50 years in my case), this volume is a must. It is valuable to have the early novels in a bunch, as they capture the decade and O’Hara’s diversity and evolution. Mr. Goldleaf’s annotations provide useful information; this is my third reading of Butterfield 8 and I was amazed by the richness of all the now historic references. That novel, by the way, with its poignant portrayal of a victim of child sex abuse, seems all the more compelling in the light of MeToo and other painful revelations. Appointment in Samarra is an essential classic, and Hope of Heaven and Pal Joey brilliantly render the 1930s entertainment scene. Bravo O’Hara! Bravo Goldleaf!

I very much looked forward to reading the Pay Joey stories after reading the earlier Library of America volume of short stories by O'Hara. They did not disappoint.Then I turned to the novels proper; and found them less satisfying. I am inclined to think that O'Hara may always have been more of a natural short story writer and the plotting was not his strong point. The novels hang together in an episodic way, with some episodes being stronger than others, and only in Appointment in Samarra is there a strong central thrust to the narrative. The Gibbsville setting there also helps I think (at least it did for me). O'Hara provides an interesting light on 1930s America; and everything here is quite readable. But I would recommend the short stories Library of America volume plus Pal Joey here, and not, really, the novels, with the possible exception of Appointment in Samarra.