Homer And Langley

 E. L. Doctorow is the author of Homer and Langley, a fiction novel set on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park in New York City. His novel is based on two brothers, Homer and Langley Collyer. The author changed the birth order, which brother played the piano, and had them live thirty years longer than they actually lived. The Collyer brothers were famous for being reclusive hoarders. In the story Homer is a intuitive piano player. He went blind at an early age but managed to navigate the streets using his good hearing. He taught piano. He even played piano at the movie theater before movies could talk. One of his students sat by his side on the piano bench and would whisper information to him such as "a man rides a horse down a city street" or "the lovers embrace and kiss" or "three policemen chase the robbers across a park." Langley went to World War One and came back with poor lungs due to exposure to mustard gas. Langley came back changed. He started hoarding newspapers because he planned to write a newspaper that would cover all situations. He brought a Model T car into the dining room in order to create electricity. One by one the house keepers, butler, and cook, servants they had from their parents, left their employ. Although they had money in the bank, they refused to pay their electric bill, phone bill, water bill and mortgage. The author imagined what life was like for these two eccentric brothers who lived. All of it is speculation. I loved the story. I loved that he gave Homer and Langley some good times, moments of excitement, and great memories.