'The Adventures Of Augie March'

One detail that Saul Bellow never includes (at least, I overlooked it) is Augie March's age.

There's a broad and varying amount of happenings for March as he comes of age and, yet, we really don't know how old he was when he was stealing books, training an eagle to catch lizards in Mexico, working for a union, working for the Einhorns or volunteering for the Merchant Marines during World War II.

There are hints throughout how much time elapses. We can gather relatively accurately how much time elapses between stages in March's life. We just don't know how old he is, and I think that's important. Chances are, it was entirely on purpose: Age maybe not putting March's personal philosophy in the right context. However, a 21-year-old March running down to Mexico is different than a 29-year-old March running down to Mexico. I think.

Really good book. The fact that all these women are falling over themselves for Augie March makes it a perfect fiction.