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fruhjahr's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
geektastically's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This would normally not have been a book I would have picked up had it not been for my library's book club. I like to jump into the books without looking into what they're about or anything and just experience them.
My usual complaint about historical fiction is the balancing act of what's real and what's embellished from the author can make me stop and start googling rather than enjoying the story. The structure of this story caught my interest from the first chapter. Andrew Haswell Green became a real person that could have walked across the street from me as I read the rest of this story. But the author also makes other characters in the story feel just as acce sible. While it may not be their "real" stories or experiences, I don't think that's the point of reading a book like this. You start to look at non-fiction history in a different light considering what could be behind these people that we memorize facts and dates about.
The emotions and memories of Andrew's life and jumping back and forth between the events of his death and the life that made him the man that he was were my favorite dynamics of the book. The relationship between himself and his family, Mrs.Bray and Samuel is something I think most people can find a way to relate to.
The writing was succinct with a sense of irony and a smirk behind it. It didn't labor on details endlessly and was a fast read.
My usual complaint about historical fiction is the balancing act of what's real and what's embellished from the author can make me stop and start googling rather than enjoying the story. The structure of this story caught my interest from the first chapter. Andrew Haswell Green became a real person that could have walked across the street from me as I read the rest of this story. But the author also makes other characters in the story feel just as acce sible. While it may not be their "real" stories or experiences, I don't think that's the point of reading a book like this. You start to look at non-fiction history in a different light considering what could be behind these people that we memorize facts and dates about.
The emotions and memories of Andrew's life and jumping back and forth between the events of his death and the life that made him the man that he was were my favorite dynamics of the book. The relationship between himself and his family, Mrs.Bray and Samuel is something I think most people can find a way to relate to.
The writing was succinct with a sense of irony and a smirk behind it. It didn't labor on details endlessly and was a fast read.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
When I started "The Great Mistake," I thought Andrew Haswell Green must be a fictional character--how could one person be responsible for so much of what makes New York great? The public library, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum were all developed by this man, who began life as a New England farm boy. Even though his achievements are mind-boggling, Andrew Green is best known for having been shot on the front steps of his home in 1903 by a Black man looking for "Mrs. Davis." Did Andrew Green know her? Who was she? Who was he for that matter?
I found the most intriguing part of this story the unlikeliness of this man's rise to fame. Unloved at home, sent to New York to apprentice at a general store, skinny, shy, attracted to men, uneducated, what did he have that rocketed him to the pinnacle of New York society?
Jonathan Lee balances Green's unlikely rise and surprising murder at age 83 nicely. Who was this man, companion of attorney and presidential candidate Samuel Tilden ("companion" is the right word--their relationship consisted of secretly holding hands or gentle shoulder touches) who reimagined the New York we know today?
"The Great Mistake" can be a little slow, but the story is so surprising that you'll stay with it. Thanks to Knopf and Netgalley for access to this title.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader.
I found the most intriguing part of this story the unlikeliness of this man's rise to fame. Unloved at home, sent to New York to apprentice at a general store, skinny, shy, attracted to men, uneducated, what did he have that rocketed him to the pinnacle of New York society?
Jonathan Lee balances Green's unlikely rise and surprising murder at age 83 nicely. Who was this man, companion of attorney and presidential candidate Samuel Tilden ("companion" is the right word--their relationship consisted of secretly holding hands or gentle shoulder touches) who reimagined the New York we know today?
"The Great Mistake" can be a little slow, but the story is so surprising that you'll stay with it. Thanks to Knopf and Netgalley for access to this title.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader.
antoniaklmt's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
djr100's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars. Loved this surprising historical novel. I had no previous knowledge of Andrew Harwell Green or his significant impact on New York public spaces and on the formation of NYC itself. What made this so enjoyable was the telling of this story while giving us a great character study of the man wrapped in a murder whodunnit.
akepps's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
schlotte's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dale_in_va's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting bit of history about a historical person that I didn’t know much about. It was mildly engaging but I kept feeling as if much was left out due to the perspective the author decided to take.
Frankly I enjoyed the peripheral characters more than the main character and the story left me wanting to know more about Cornelius Williams and Hannah Elias than about Andrew Haswell Green.
Part of me wonders if Jonathan Lee would have written this book a bit differently post the “Black Lives Matters” movement. Because while Green’s goals to have Central Park and other NYC institutions accessible to people of all classes was very altruistic, it is well known that the construction of Central park displaced traditionally black settlements. I guess it just highlights how nothing is quite black and white when it comes to public policy and politics.
Frankly I enjoyed the peripheral characters more than the main character and the story left me wanting to know more about Cornelius Williams and Hannah Elias than about Andrew Haswell Green.
Part of me wonders if Jonathan Lee would have written this book a bit differently post the “Black Lives Matters” movement. Because while Green’s goals to have Central Park and other NYC institutions accessible to people of all classes was very altruistic, it is well known that the construction of Central park displaced traditionally black settlements. I guess it just highlights how nothing is quite black and white when it comes to public policy and politics.
o_htz's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5