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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
A tour of the history of New York City, as told through the eyes of a few families. I would have liked more focus on the immigrant plight post 1900 and less on the ultra blue blooded Dutch, but that's just me speaking as the child of immigrants (Am I still allowed to say that even if my grandmother holds a masters and my other set of grandparents own a share of a sailboat?) and a lover of Brooklyn. When I reached the end, I paused and said "And then what happened?" before realizing that the book ended in August of 2009, and that I, in January of 2011, was already living the "and then."
I couldn't finish it, even though I had it on audio. I just lost interest in it. Cardboard characters, predictable behavior. Sorry!
Wow! I struggled between giving it four stars (it's not "The Historian") and five stars, but I had to give Rutherfurd props for naming two minor characters Vorpal and Bandersnatch. Well played, Mr. Rutherfurd, well played.
Also a fantastic view of colonial New York and its usually understated role in the Revolutionary War.
Also a fantastic view of colonial New York and its usually understated role in the Revolutionary War.
This book was very good. I sometimes felt as though the author dwelled a lot on certain periods and entirely skipped others - maybe there could have been a slightly better balance in that regard. I also would have loved to see more exploration of the daughters of the family - I understand that the point was to follow the Master line, and that women don't traditionally pass down the name as men do; however, I was often interested in personalities and decisions of the daughters, but they did not nearly get enough time in comparison. As a whole, though, I thought this book was really wonderful and really reminded me of why I love history - and why I love New York City.
First disclosure: I did not read this book, but heard it as an audio book. I am very glad I did not waste time reading it. This is not really a novel--much more a series of short stories very vaguely intertwined with a highlights of New York history here and there. Rutherfurd's New York is Dutch and English, with the vaguest nods toward other groups. He seems to make a decent effort at dealing with the earliest African Americans, but they disappear entirely by the end of the book. Even Jewish people are barely represented by a single character. More importantly, this is not a serious book about what a city like New York is really about--instead it's just a pastiche of cardboard characters experiencing famous moments in history.
I'd skip it.
I'd skip it.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Great read! For 850 pgs it was a fairly quick read. I found it interesting that the book was published in 2009 yet the politics, racial divide, the ambition, the spirit the author captures is all the more relevant for today. The summations the author made struck a chord with me...as if he wrote the book to address the problems we face today. The Draft Riot during the Civil War..."they are taking our jobs"....where have we heard that phrase of late!?!
It was an insightful, entertaining beautiful, sad, happy, cover gripping book.
It was an insightful, entertaining beautiful, sad, happy, cover gripping book.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated