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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Not as good as his other stuff but still worth a read. I didn't know much about New York's history before this so it was a learning experience too! Unfortunately it got all cheesy around 9/11 at the end but still a good read.
Really interesting historical fiction about NYC and some of the families over several centuries.
Second half was better, but it wasn't really my type of book. I've liked some historical fiction but this one didn't the mark for me.
adventurous
slow-paced
I liked listening to this audiobook, the narrator is pretty amazing and it really made a difference. As much as I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story it kind of bothered me that it focused mainly on a white family with only minor story arcs involving Native-Americans, African-Americans, Italians, Jews, and Puerto-Ricans.
Really wanted to like this but it just never got me going. Not enough NY history, too much on the characters who were not that interesting.
great story - too ethnocentrist though. Phenomenal in colonial, revolutionary war and 19th century history though.
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This novel begins, in 1664, with a tiny Indian village and Dutch traders. It ends shortly after the collapse of the World Trade Center. In between, the story takes you through many of the major events in the history of both New York and America.
While I enjoyed the history (historical fiction is probably my favourite genre) were the parts of the novel that dragged and perhaps too much detail given. Conversely, the more modern history (post WWII) seemed rushed. Considering the huge time span covered - as well as 860 pages of text - there were a lot of characters. Some storylines I thought were great, others didn’t engage as much.
By the end of the novel, the focus was almost entirely on one family and I found myself wondering about what happened to some of the others, so not completely satisfying. That said, it really is an absorbing work of historical fiction: and I’m glad I read it.
While I enjoyed the history (historical fiction is probably my favourite genre) were the parts of the novel that dragged and perhaps too much detail given. Conversely, the more modern history (post WWII) seemed rushed. Considering the huge time span covered - as well as 860 pages of text - there were a lot of characters. Some storylines I thought were great, others didn’t engage as much.
By the end of the novel, the focus was almost entirely on one family and I found myself wondering about what happened to some of the others, so not completely satisfying. That said, it really is an absorbing work of historical fiction: and I’m glad I read it.
I never thought I'd actually make it through a Edward Rutherfurd book, and this one is a good example of why. The concept it so good- sweeping pictures of specific locations over hundreds of years of time. But the problem is, the book has to fit so many years in, it's hard to get invested in the characters. The Vandyk/ Master lads all pretty much blend together, but because they're different, it's easy to lose track of any individual facets of their personalities. Also, this book is cowardly in focusing so acutely on a legacy of upper middle class white men. Yes, there is a short storyline of a slave and his line in the late 1700/1800s, but still swerves quickly after any mention of true tragedy. In fact, it tries to avoid any real suffering. The Great Depression is barely touched, everyone who is invested in characterization wise is safe from the 9/11 bombing, etc, etc. And some characters are simply carelessly abandoned with no closure.
I will grant it, it's fun. It's good for if you're in New York Mood and looking for a novelization of every romantic notion anyone's ever had of New York. But it is remarkably shallow for a 800+ page book.
I will grant it, it's fun. It's good for if you're in New York Mood and looking for a novelization of every romantic notion anyone's ever had of New York. But it is remarkably shallow for a 800+ page book.