When I discovered this book in the library I was very excited. After all, I love Levinson movies, and Baltimore was my second home. I visited my father in Baltimore from my mother's home in NYC once a month for about 18 years. Of course, I came of age about half-a-generation after these characters.Unfortunately, the book reads not like a novel, but like a memoir. As Neil quotes Twain in the book (and I paraphrase) "the difference between truth and fiction is that fiction has to be logical". Well this fiction is too logical, too crafted, too contrived. I guess I don't believe that, in a true novel, these characters would have all these unspectacular and predictable misadventures.Some of this reaction stems, I'm sure from knowing Levinson's background and having seen his movies.I look for spontanaiety in a book. This book has no surprises.I give it 2 stars for the Baltimore nostalgia, but overall it is a disappointing read.