City On Fire

I'm still reading City On Fire, the novel about New York City in the 1970's, leading up to the great black out and riots of 1977. I am enjoying it deeply. So far, I have met our first couple, gay, and our second young man, a skinny adolescent with a pimple on his thigh--can people even get pimples on their thighs, he thinks. 

I'm feeling intimidated. So far, it's really, awfully good. Of course, I'm about one and a half chapters in. 

So I'm trying to give myself pep talks. My novel is just as good, only different. Right? 
God, I hope so. 


Anybody else reading the novel? Want to compare notes?