In the following excerpt from an essay based on an interview with Boyle, Stanton discusses Boyle's education and provides an overview of his career up to the publication of East Is East.

Godwin is an American novelist, short story writer, and critic. In the following review, she praises Boyle's "virtuoso language" and "cross-cultural insights" in East Is East.

Benedict is an American novelist, short story writer, and critic. In the following review of If the River Was Whiskey, she praises Boyle's humorous, satiric treatment of contemporary society as entertaining but finds his somber stories more rewarding.

Moore is an American short story writer, novelist, educator, and critic. In the review below, she remarks favorably on the stories in Without a Hero but laments Boyle's inability to go beyond sarcasm.

In the following review of If the River Was Whiskey, Kakutani contends that Boyle, now depicting yuppies rather than hippies, has here used his "disparate talents" to produce "showy, but shallow effects."

In the following review, Conant disparages East Is East's plotting, characterization, and prose as superficial.

Towers is an American educator, novelist, and critic. In the following excerpt, he observes that, although Boyle's satire is "more farcical than witty," East Is East is a funny book, particularly in its portrayal of the protagonist, Hiro Tanaka.

An American critic and journalist, Eder received the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1987. In the following review, he contends that the stories in If the River Was Whiskey are flawed by Boyle's awkward plotting and maintains that novels provide a better vehicle for Boyle's talents.

In the excerpt below, Bull comments on Boyle's The Collected Stories, nothing the opposition between body and reason and the prominence of such motifs as water and alcohol.

Rosenheim is an American novelist and critic. In the following review of East Is East, he praises Boyle's vivid, humorous style.

Below, Ulin favorably reviews If the River Was Whiskey.

In the following review of East Is East, Hymes asserts that Boyle's characterization and plotting serve short stories better than novels but notes that his wit prevents the book from becoming tiresome.

Below, the critic presents a favorable review of Without a Hero, and Other Stories.

In the following excerpt, Mort comments favorably on Without a Hero, and Other Stories.