Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Huge sweeping novel spanning many family line generations as they live their lives in New York City. Starting literally at the beginning. I really appreciated the nod to indigenous people at the beginning, i took it as a reminder that even the most seemingly "American" thing is not truly ours.
The entire novel follows a few family lines as each group goes through triumphs and tribulations, sometimes with each other. The nods to previous characters from chapter to chapter were really well placed.
I feel like for most people, this premise sounds truly boring, but it was so entertaining and cool. And of course the details that immersed the reader into each time period were amazing! Made me want to time travel back with each of the characters.
The entire novel follows a few family lines as each group goes through triumphs and tribulations, sometimes with each other. The nods to previous characters from chapter to chapter were really well placed.
I feel like for most people, this premise sounds truly boring, but it was so entertaining and cool. And of course the details that immersed the reader into each time period were amazing! Made me want to time travel back with each of the characters.
Follows the history of New York from its early days as a mere trading post town to the events of 9/11 through the eyes of a series of families through the generations, English, Irish, Italian, Jewish. Solid entertainment but it didn't leave me with a desire to learn more.
It can be contrived in the sense that the characters exist to serve history, but then it's helpful to remember that the main character in this book is New York itself. The contrast between describing events in extensive detail and characters who just fall out of the story altogether drives the point home. Nevertheless, an engrossing read.
From the author that brought you the great, sweeping, historical fiction epics of London, Russka, and Princes of Ireland comes his next magnificent tome, New York. While Rutherfurd’s works are fiction per se, he employs so much research and detail that at the end the readers feels as if he or she has taken a course in the history of this particular location. Charting a chronological timeline from the very beginning of this civilization to its present day, using families and telling stories through their eyes, passing from one generation to the next, as the great events are experienced through them; Rutherfurd has truly created his own sub-genre of writing within the world of fiction.
In New York he does all this and more, beginning with the small Dutch Settlement where there was little industry other than trading with pelts and other items with the Native American tribes, the French to the north, while the British build their forces with hungry eyes on the small settlements of what would one day become the eastern coastline of the United States. Rutherfurd then travels forward in time with important events like the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the grandiose times of the Gilded Age, the World Wars, on through the seventies to the catastrophic attack on the World Trade Center; all seen and experienced through the eyes and bodies of New Yorkers of all types, ages, and cultures. At the end, New York doesn’t only serve as a comprehensive history on this unique and possibly most famous city in the world, but also as an article of work on humanity and how it has changed over the centuries, and how we as human beings have changed and adapted to new ways, cultures, technologies and events over time. New York is unlike most cities in the United States, but at the same time it is a symbol of this nation, whether it be with the Indian tribes and Dutch settlement of Manhattan, the influx of cultures and peoples with Ellis Island, or its uniting of a nation on 9/11.
Originally written on September 16 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
In New York he does all this and more, beginning with the small Dutch Settlement where there was little industry other than trading with pelts and other items with the Native American tribes, the French to the north, while the British build their forces with hungry eyes on the small settlements of what would one day become the eastern coastline of the United States. Rutherfurd then travels forward in time with important events like the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the grandiose times of the Gilded Age, the World Wars, on through the seventies to the catastrophic attack on the World Trade Center; all seen and experienced through the eyes and bodies of New Yorkers of all types, ages, and cultures. At the end, New York doesn’t only serve as a comprehensive history on this unique and possibly most famous city in the world, but also as an article of work on humanity and how it has changed over the centuries, and how we as human beings have changed and adapted to new ways, cultures, technologies and events over time. New York is unlike most cities in the United States, but at the same time it is a symbol of this nation, whether it be with the Indian tribes and Dutch settlement of Manhattan, the influx of cultures and peoples with Ellis Island, or its uniting of a nation on 9/11.
Originally written on September 16 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
This book was a little daunting to start since it's approximately 880 pages of dense text. However, once I picked it up, I really got into it. I love historical fiction, but this is a different story because it's about the history of a city. The author very creatively tells the history of NYC from different perspectives over time and loosely follows several generations of one family, which I really enjoyed. I also feel like I got a bit of a history of business and how NYC became the center of business in the US and beyond. I'm looking forward to reading London next.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sweeping historical drama so I naturally loved it. Rutherford had to skip generations, which made the book semi-hard to follow. Still loved it and I can't wait to read more of his work.
So far, this book as been simply written - nothing overly flowery or complex. He spells out every nuance for you. The history value is huge, though, as it covers New York from the Dutch Settlers until after WWII. I am listening to this book and it is over 32 hours long, but the reader is good.
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