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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This book follows one particular fictional family lineage, plus others, from the Dutch/English settlement of New York through the 21st century. This book certainly wasn't "4 stars" all the way through, but I did really enjoy it overall. Often times the plot was clunky as the fictional Masters family encountered non-fictional people in history. Some of the encounters seemed very forced as a way to ensure coverage of some certain historical event. I really like that it personalized a lot of the history that we learn in school - particularly the Revolutionary and Civil War eras - and that it puts it in a geographical context. I do think that I wouldn't have enjoyed this book nearly as much if I didn't have a pretty decent knowledge of NYC and Hudson Valley geography, as that plays a big role in the book. Overall for a 900 page historical fiction, I really enjoyed it.
It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the history. However, I thought the repeated interactions with families of completely disparate backgrounds a bit unbelievable.
‘New York is the true capital of America.’
This novel begins, in 1664, with a tiny Indian village and Dutch traders. It ends in 2009 with an epilogue. In between, the journey through the generations of the fictional families Mr Rutherfurd has created traverses many of the major events in the history of both New York and America.
From New Amsterdam as a Dutch trading settlement, through the period of British colonisation, and the War of Independence, the creation of the American nation, and the Civil War: these were the parts of the novel that held my attention most closely. This novel is about the evolution of New York, and the various families, characters and historical figures are important because they illuminate places, issues and times. This is not a history of New York, and some inaccuracies may aggravate those who spot them.
While I enjoyed the novel, I found the characters less engaging towards the end. The earlier parts of the novel were well served by Mr Rutherfurd’s focus on the lives of families living through the historical events. By the end of the novel, the focus was almost entirely on one family and I found myself wondering about some of the others and the resolution of the issues they had been facing.
I think that this novel primarily depicts the historical development of New York from an economic and political perspective, and this makes sense when looking at a city over a period of nearly 350 years. An absorbing work of historical fiction: I’m glad I read it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This novel begins, in 1664, with a tiny Indian village and Dutch traders. It ends in 2009 with an epilogue. In between, the journey through the generations of the fictional families Mr Rutherfurd has created traverses many of the major events in the history of both New York and America.
From New Amsterdam as a Dutch trading settlement, through the period of British colonisation, and the War of Independence, the creation of the American nation, and the Civil War: these were the parts of the novel that held my attention most closely. This novel is about the evolution of New York, and the various families, characters and historical figures are important because they illuminate places, issues and times. This is not a history of New York, and some inaccuracies may aggravate those who spot them.
While I enjoyed the novel, I found the characters less engaging towards the end. The earlier parts of the novel were well served by Mr Rutherfurd’s focus on the lives of families living through the historical events. By the end of the novel, the focus was almost entirely on one family and I found myself wondering about some of the others and the resolution of the issues they had been facing.
I think that this novel primarily depicts the historical development of New York from an economic and political perspective, and this makes sense when looking at a city over a period of nearly 350 years. An absorbing work of historical fiction: I’m glad I read it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Edward Rutherford is a masterful storyteller and you should read his work…but start with Paris. New York was good but there definitely some moments I was bored along the way - fair enough in a book over 850 pages. Maybe I’m just less interested in the history of this financially driven city than I was in the romance of Paris
This was my first Rutherfurd book, and while it probably won't be my last, I'm not in a big rush to read another one. As a New Yorker, I wanted to love this, and it started really well. I adored the first third or so. But as the Masters became truly embedded in "old money" society, their family's story started to lose my interest. I almost wish that the author had gone for a more episodic approach - each chapter leading to a different person or family - rather than following one family the entire time. This wasn't "The Masters", it was "New York", and the book didn't do justice to the diversity and complexity of the city.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
New York history, expansive, audio book, flat characters. This book tried to cover too much history and in doing so, became too flat. Too bad, there was obviously a lot of research put into this book, and Rutherfurd is a good author. This book is just a miss for me.
I was very hesitant about reading this book a) because it was over 1000 pages and b) because it was a historic fiction. Yet surprisingly I really did enjoy it. I mean sure, at some points I got lost in the politics and what not, but I loved reading from each generation to the next and seeing how the family trees all interwove with one another.
New York is one of those books that sticks with you, even after you've finished it. The synopsis is that it follows the history of New York, but in actuality it follows one family, through the different generations. Do not let the length of the book dissuade you. It's worth every minute you spend reading it, and then thinking about it.
A great book, with lots of stories that are loosely related, but together tell a history of NY from the point of view of actual fictional characters. My father was from NYC, so I knew a bit about it, and have visited and even worked there one summer. I learned a lot from this book, and gained more of an appreciation for the city.