Scott County Readers discussion

Please join us in person on October 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Scott County Public Library or virtually here any time to discuss E. L. Doctorow's novel of the two (crazy) hoarding brothers of New York City. Based on a true story.

I so wanted to clean my house after reading this! But I have to say some of Langley's ideas were rather fascinating. There is something to be said about a mind that just works differently.

I'm fascinated by the Hoarding trend on reality, or semi-documentary television, so I think I would enjoy reading this. I fully understand it is a compulsion of sorts, so I appreciate your statement about minds working differently. If the author is Doctorow, is Langley a character in the book?

Yes - he's one of the two brothers; the other one (who was blind) is the narrator. The real Collyer brothers are fascinating in a sad/creepy sort of way but Doctorow has made them understandable and their relationship touching. Once you read this check out some links on youtube about them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cS8u6...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=465Bnw...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWP0rd...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMvH_W...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64NjdF...

Have fun!

What interesting videos! I especially liked the old footage of the removal of the items from the house. The interview with Doctorow definitely has me intrigued to read his interpretation. I wonder if there is a term for the specific hoarding of information, like in newspapers, magazines, and books...

I was hoping to use Overdrive to loan this, but it looks like I'll have to check out one of the paperbacks - how fitting!

Oh very! We have plenty of copies - Langley would be so happy!