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professorfate's review against another edition
4.0
When this book first came out, I remember Barnes & Noble pushing it pretty heavily on their Web site. I lived near New York City for 15 years, and in that time, I developed a love for it—I think New York is one of those cities that either inspires love or hate, there is no middle ground. So, after seeing it for a couple of weeks, I decided to buy it and read it. I bought it and it joined the TBR pile (I don’t have a TBR stack like other people: I have too many books to be in a stack without it falling over).
The novel traces the development of the city of New York, from its origins as a Dutch city trading primarily with the upstate Indians to today’s modern skyscraper-filled island. It pretty much follows one family as it traces the almost 350 years that it covers (1664-2009). Other families and famous people weave their way in and out of the story.
One thing that struck me was that you see the development of the “New York” attitude, the “we’re better than anybody else and we are the center of the Universe,” and it’s even ironic in a way given that the original settlement of New Amsterdam was clustered around what is now Wall Street.
Another thing that I found fascinating in the beginning is how places that I know like the Bronx and Yonkers (and even Wall Street) got their names. It adds that little extra touch to the area—“Oh, that’s where that came from!”
Within the family through the generations, you can see in a small way the positions and fights that engulfed the nation during the same time. For example, the head of the Master family (the main characters) is loyal to Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, but his son sides with the Americans. During the Civil War, the wife of the family becomes an abolitionist after reading “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” but her husband, while not liking slavery, feels it’s wrong to force the South to free all of their slaves—mainly because he thinks they will all come North (an early NIMBY drama, if you will).
And, of course, there are chapters on September 11, which I had to get through hurriedly because that day is still burned into my memory and it is hard for me to read about or watch.
All in all, this is a solid historical novel. Some of the coincidental meetings strain credibility, but that’s forgivable in a novel like this, since some historical figures have to show up. It is a dense read, but it does not read like a text book. If you have some time and are interested in the area, check it out.
The novel traces the development of the city of New York, from its origins as a Dutch city trading primarily with the upstate Indians to today’s modern skyscraper-filled island. It pretty much follows one family as it traces the almost 350 years that it covers (1664-2009). Other families and famous people weave their way in and out of the story.
One thing that struck me was that you see the development of the “New York” attitude, the “we’re better than anybody else and we are the center of the Universe,” and it’s even ironic in a way given that the original settlement of New Amsterdam was clustered around what is now Wall Street.
Another thing that I found fascinating in the beginning is how places that I know like the Bronx and Yonkers (and even Wall Street) got their names. It adds that little extra touch to the area—“Oh, that’s where that came from!”
Within the family through the generations, you can see in a small way the positions and fights that engulfed the nation during the same time. For example, the head of the Master family (the main characters) is loyal to Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, but his son sides with the Americans. During the Civil War, the wife of the family becomes an abolitionist after reading “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” but her husband, while not liking slavery, feels it’s wrong to force the South to free all of their slaves—mainly because he thinks they will all come North (an early NIMBY drama, if you will).
And, of course, there are chapters on September 11, which I had to get through hurriedly because that day is still burned into my memory and it is hard for me to read about or watch.
All in all, this is a solid historical novel. Some of the coincidental meetings strain credibility, but that’s forgivable in a novel like this, since some historical figures have to show up. It is a dense read, but it does not read like a text book. If you have some time and are interested in the area, check it out.
thelucyfan's review against another edition
3.0
I loved his book Paris. London was a huge disappointment and New York a mild one. I think I’m done with Rutherfurd.
belleflamey's review against another edition
3.0
this book was a good mix of fiction and history. some parts were not as interesting as others but for my first ER book, I did enjoy it.
heytaytay12's review against another edition
2.0
Started reading and couldn't finish - the way he had the slave speak at the beginning of the novel was dissappointing and felt like an inaccurate representation of slavery.
lkm706's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
riddlemewhit's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book on my second trip to NYC, while at the public library. I love historical fiction and thought this was a great book. It could have been better, yes, but it took me on a real ride through the history of New York. There is so much that it was hard to include everything, but the stories included were great. I learned quite a bit and walked away with a stronger love for NYC.
Some of the stories were better than most (I loved Hudson and his family as well as the Carusos) and some were not as strong. I cried, I laughed, I researched, learned and more. I would recommend this book.
Some of the stories were better than most (I loved Hudson and his family as well as the Carusos) and some were not as strong. I cried, I laughed, I researched, learned and more. I would recommend this book.
expatally's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read by Rutherfurd, almost makes me want to move to New York. It certainly made me appreciate the spirit of this great city.
mccomings's review against another edition
4.0
Edward Rutherford's New York is an engaging journey through the history of one of the world's great cities as told by the families that lived there. From its early history as a trading post, to the tragedy of 9/11, I found myself engrossed in the stories of her residents; their challenges, their loves, their biases, and tribulations. In a work of this length you will naturally gravitate to some characters more than others, but I found Rutherford generally successful in creating engaging characters capable of telling the fascinating stories of New York. It is my opinion that Rutherford misses the opportunity to more deeply tell the stories of some of New York's diverse communities, only lightly touching on these characters that are so much a part of this great city, but I think it's a focused decision to allow for the continuity and flow of the novel. Overall a strong read engagingly telling over 300 years of New York's history. I will certainly be picking up more of Rutherford's work.
lportx's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know why this wasn’t obvious to me before picking up this book, but here was my issue: because the book spans 400 years, you get to know a character for about 100-200 pages then adios. To me, this resulted in a disjointed reading experience which I did not really love. As a result it took me forever to read the book, I kept putting it down and was not motivated to continue to read.
I found the prose a little too simple and straightforward.
However, it was fun to picture New York in its various states of development. I will credit the author with his research and weaving major city events in with the lives of the characters.
I found the prose a little too simple and straightforward.
However, it was fun to picture New York in its various states of development. I will credit the author with his research and weaving major city events in with the lives of the characters.