Tc Boyle

T. Coraghessan Boyle

T.C Boyle, was born Thomas John Boyle on December, 2 1948 in Peekskill, NY. After graduating from Lakeland high school in New York, he attended State University of New York at Potsdam, where he earned a BA in English and history in 1968. He was accepted into the Iowa Writers workshop and served as editor for the Iowa Review. Boyle earned his MFA in Fiction in 1974 and his Ph.D. degree in British literature in 1977. He has been a member of the English Department at the University of Southern California since 1978, and lives with his wife and three children (Utley). Boyle's first novel, Water Music (1982) is loosely based upon a Scottish explorer and an English con-man, and introduced him as an important American humorist. Budding Prospects (1984), his second novel, concerns a depressed teacher, who then grows marijuana to earn money. The book is noted for its one-liners and clever similes (Gale). The Tortilla Curtain (1995) has enjoyed immense success and talks about issues illegal immigration and poverty. T.C Boyle writes comedic novels and short stories on a variety of issues. “Chiefly known for his irreverent and satiric humor, Boyle is often described as an energetic, clever writer who is not afraid to take risks in plot and style. His plots are known for their surrealistic and unexpected twists, often involving historical situations, violence, sexuality, popular culture and the inability for men and women to communicate” (Gale). His books deal with issues such as racism and xenophobia. He has also been criticized for repeating that man is a foolish creature (Gale). Overall his work has been widely praised for his “energetic writing, imaginative plots and accurate recreation of accents and speech patterns” (Gale). Critics also say that his works are “superficial and lack depth” (Gale). He has been widely acknowledged as an accomplished humorist. Eva Hoffman writes, “Boyle possesses a rare and redeeming virtue--he can be consistently,...