Sharon Pomerantz

A coming-of-age story set in New York spanning 1980-1990. Many times I wondered the point of the discussion, such as the erotia art that Stacia(the mother) had hanging all over the house. Gwendolyn seemed to be the Greek chorus or the social conscience, and would explain people and events that Robert could not understand, then like a chorus she fades. I felt that the beginning of the story seemed like early 20th century, and I had a difficult time adjusting to the Viet Nam Era that seemed to show more arrive suddenly. The story explained the draft process, and the feelings of young men and their families as they waited to hear the numbers revealed. The description of setting and people is done well. Some of the topics such as drugs, suicide, and homosexuality are mentioned, but the topic is not developed. The book was interesting, but not a book that will be remembered. show less

Rich Boy, by Sharon Pomerantz, is a wothwhile ead, and the reader is cognizant that success is a primary concern for the protagonist, Robert Vishniak, as he aspires to gain favors that will allow him to move up in the societal stratum.

Vishniak is from a working class Jewish family who live in Philadelphia. Money is a primary concern for the Vishniaks, and it is apparant from the frugal life they lead. Vishniak is self-indulgent, and with a handsomeness, charm, and superficial exterior. His show more mother, Stacia has continually hammered into him the fact that he needs to make money in order to become a respected person, and in order to move up in society’s ladder.

Pomerantz’s prose is spot on, direct and strong, and she adeptly manages to convey the working class Jewish American experience brilliantly. As a woman, she depicted the men in the story quite well, and they seem to be as authentic as real-life individuals are. She masterfully portrays the characters, and this reader felt that they were realized in every aspect. The wealthy and powerful background of some of them, doesn’t help them succeed as far as their emotional intelligence is concerned.

Rich Boy is an excellent coming of age story, and a novel that emphasizes the journey of one Jewish American man to find identity and acceptance on his own, in a world of social status and extreme wealth. I applaud Sharon Pomerantz for this well-written, poignant and insightful story.
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A good read. The story of Robert Vishniak from his teens to his early forties. He grew up in a poor family in Philadelphia but moved on to go to college at Tufts and meet rich people in and around his Boston school. His entry into the world of money changes him in some ways but also forces him to remember where he comes from. One great love that ends in tragedy makes him gunshy to fall in love again. He appears to marry for money, but cannot regret the product of that marriage - his show more daughter.
Reviews have compares this novel to The Great Gatsby and I can see that comparison in the journey the author takes us on. The writing is not as good as Fitzgerald. Sometimes, I had to stop to figure out which character was being referred to when a pronoun was used. I found that a bit distracting.
Overall an interesting story of the young man's rise to wealth and fall from those great heights. show less

Written by a friend of a friend, I started this with low expectations--really enjoyed it. Engrossing and generally believable characterization. A good read!