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book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Odd, disjointed and chaotic - not unlike a fire. The exposition on math and music is distracting. Not really recommended.
melohpa's review against another edition
3.0
I'm torn about how I feel about this book.
See my complete review at https://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2021/01/by-katharine-weber-monopoly-book.html
See my complete review at https://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2021/01/by-katharine-weber-monopoly-book.html
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
From the front cover to the last page of this book, I found surprises. For example, it took me a couple of glances to see the cover (there are buttons) in the way the author would want me to see them.
In the body of this novel, I found the major characters to be fascinating. We have Esther who survived the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, her granddaughter who is a genetic counselor, her lover who writes amazing music and a pain-in-the-neck feminist. I was amazed that anyone could make any story with these people.
Katherine Weber makes a wonderful story, as I said, with plenty of surprises. How she brings these disparate parts to tell the whole - with an unexpected ending is something only a good writer could ever do.
In the body of this novel, I found the major characters to be fascinating. We have Esther who survived the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, her granddaughter who is a genetic counselor, her lover who writes amazing music and a pain-in-the-neck feminist. I was amazed that anyone could make any story with these people.
Katherine Weber makes a wonderful story, as I said, with plenty of surprises. How she brings these disparate parts to tell the whole - with an unexpected ending is something only a good writer could ever do.
angiedkelly's review against another edition
4.0
Knowledgeable back story to the Triangle fire of 1911. First time I have read this author and really enjoyed the story. I especially enjoyed the switching of perspectives in the chapters.
mirable's review against another edition
4.0
SLJ review:
Adult/High School-The 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City killed almost 150 people. Weber blends that fact with an interesting and believable fictional premise in this novel about Esther Gottesfeld, the oldest living survivor of the disaster. How did she survive while her fiance and twin sister, Pauline, perished? Esther's granddaughter, Rebecca, and Rebecca's partner, George, are caught in the middle of a battle of wills as Ruth Zion, a Triangle historian, shows a dogged determination to uncover the truth about that fatal day that sends her beyond investigative journalism into obsession. George is a renowned composer whose works are based on science, like the molecular sequences of an individual's DNA. Triangle is a series of complex, multilayered, triangular connections with links as tight as the threads in a shirt-Esther, Pauline, and the fiance; Esther, Rebecca, and George; Rebecca, George, and Ruth-the permutations go on and on. Branching off into music theory and chemistry, this is a challenging and somewhat esoteric read that should appeal to mathematically and scientifically inclined teens as well as those who enjoy the mystery of the human heart and its relationships.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Adult/High School-The 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City killed almost 150 people. Weber blends that fact with an interesting and believable fictional premise in this novel about Esther Gottesfeld, the oldest living survivor of the disaster. How did she survive while her fiance and twin sister, Pauline, perished? Esther's granddaughter, Rebecca, and Rebecca's partner, George, are caught in the middle of a battle of wills as Ruth Zion, a Triangle historian, shows a dogged determination to uncover the truth about that fatal day that sends her beyond investigative journalism into obsession. George is a renowned composer whose works are based on science, like the molecular sequences of an individual's DNA. Triangle is a series of complex, multilayered, triangular connections with links as tight as the threads in a shirt-Esther, Pauline, and the fiance; Esther, Rebecca, and George; Rebecca, George, and Ruth-the permutations go on and on. Branching off into music theory and chemistry, this is a challenging and somewhat esoteric read that should appeal to mathematically and scientifically inclined teens as well as those who enjoy the mystery of the human heart and its relationships.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
19paws's review against another edition
3.0
A beautifully written book, this should and could have been a 5-star read for me, but there were too many negatives that had me debating between 2 and 3 stars. The biggest was the story of George Botkin’s musical compositions, which felt like a constant interruption. I like a nice metaphor as much as the next person, but this one really dragged the story down for me. By the end, I was kind of skimming through these portions of the book.
The character of feminist historian Ruth Zion, while amusing at times, was so completely over-the-top that she came across as a parody, rather than just the insensitive, unlikeable person she was meant to be. Finally, although I think it’s fine when a novelist chooses not to tie everything up into a neat package at the end and leaves the reader with unresolved issues for discussion and speculation, there were way too many unanswered questions in this story and it felt incomplete.
Despite all of these complaints, the heart of the book was wonderful. Esther Gottesfeld,, the last living survivor of the Triangle Factory fire, was loosely based on the historical figure whose trial testimony was instrumental in acquitting the factory owners. The defense attorney has her repeat her story over and over making it sound memorized and rehearsed. But sixty years later, researcher Ruth Zion uses the same tactic—-repetition—-in an attempt to discover discrepancies and learn what really happened to Esther and others before and during the fire. Esther’s memories of the fire and the mysteries behind those memories made for a compelling story.
The character of feminist historian Ruth Zion, while amusing at times, was so completely over-the-top that she came across as a parody, rather than just the insensitive, unlikeable person she was meant to be. Finally, although I think it’s fine when a novelist chooses not to tie everything up into a neat package at the end and leaves the reader with unresolved issues for discussion and speculation, there were way too many unanswered questions in this story and it felt incomplete.
Despite all of these complaints, the heart of the book was wonderful. Esther Gottesfeld,, the last living survivor of the Triangle Factory fire, was loosely based on the historical figure whose trial testimony was instrumental in acquitting the factory owners. The defense attorney has her repeat her story over and over making it sound memorized and rehearsed. But sixty years later, researcher Ruth Zion uses the same tactic—-repetition—-in an attempt to discover discrepancies and learn what really happened to Esther and others before and during the fire. Esther’s memories of the fire and the mysteries behind those memories made for a compelling story.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
Based on actual events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, the author really captured the terror and heartbreak of that day as the events are related by Esther Gottesfeld, the last remaining survivor. I enjoyed the mystery element, too, since Esther’s story seems inconsistent, and there seems to be a secret that may never be revealed. The details of factory conditions, especially for immigrant women, were a powerful reminder of recent history.
--Recommended by Connie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Striangle+weber__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
--Recommended by Connie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Striangle+weber__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
ehmatthews's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. The historical aspect is a big part of what I enjoyed simply because the Triangle shirtwaist factor fire was something that always interested me in my Women's Studies classes. One character, though, the 'feminist historian' gives all feminists a bad name in my opinion. Not a really deep book, but a fun interesting read nonetheless.
sheilabookworm3369's review against another edition
3.0
I highly recommend the first 11 pages of this book. After that, it kind of goes all over the place, then reigns itself back in, then goes all over the place, and so on. I wish I could put into words... it has all the ingredients for something great, but it doesn't seem to know it.