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pleasureyourshelf's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rampaginglibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I am both an anglofile and a lover of Michener--so this was the perfect book which i devoured until i hit the end and somehow i dropped off at the great fire~i can't remember why because it wasn't boredom, but i don't remember ever finishing it. I'll have to revisit this one someday...
If you are a fan of sweeping historical novels of places more than (say romances or things of that nature) this is for you...
If you are a fan of sweeping historical novels of places more than (say romances or things of that nature) this is for you...
jackalope_tale's review
4.0
I read Rutherford's novel, New York, several years ago and greatly enjoyed it so when I found a copy of London in the Little Free Library by my place I was excited to read it. I was not disappointed either! Just like New York, London is incredibly well researched, the accuracy of the historical timeline and descriptions are rich and thorough. Not that this book reads like a tedious middle school textbook, far from it. The richness of the historical details serves as the perfect backdrop for the interweaving tales gof family lines that go back thousands of years.
I found the earliest years (pre-Elizabethan Era) to be the best in terms of narrative storytelling. This is probably due to there being comparatively recorded details which would dictate how these versions of London and Londoners would have looked and behaved. Rutherford had the freedom to imagine the scenes of this time, and he does a beautiful job of both painting rich literary pictures of the people and their relationships from these early centuries.
This does not mean that the later time periods (beginning with the Elizabethan Era) are lacking in narrative energy, instead, while Rutherford's characters and events will probably become more familiar to readers, the author leverages the increase in historical knowledge in order to create longer and more complex storylines.
As with anything of this scale, there are areas of weakness. Certain periods (different time periods tend to span one chapter, although there are some exceptions with some periods, such as the Elizabethan and the Victorian, which span more than one due to the breadth of content) come off s formulaic. For example, the characters of the Georgian period/chapter are little more than tropes and the storyline seemed rather reminiscent of a romance novel at times. There all only about 2 or 3 periods or segments that read this way, as if they are included for the sake of continuity and historical accuracy, which is impressive for a project of this size.
While almost all of the characters are crafted so that a reader can recall them when coming across pieces of their lives in a later chapter, perhaps the greatest character of all is fate. No matter the action, no matter the reasoning, no matter class, nationality or race, it is clear that in Rutherford's world all actions will bring an equal or opposite reaction whether the next day, the next year, or the next generation. In London, the reader is taught that fate misses nothing and we would all be smart to remember she is a very clever and patient arbitrator of both justice and revenge.
I found the earliest years (pre-Elizabethan Era) to be the best in terms of narrative storytelling. This is probably due to there being comparatively recorded details which would dictate how these versions of London and Londoners would have looked and behaved. Rutherford had the freedom to imagine the scenes of this time, and he does a beautiful job of both painting rich literary pictures of the people and their relationships from these early centuries.
This does not mean that the later time periods (beginning with the Elizabethan Era) are lacking in narrative energy, instead, while Rutherford's characters and events will probably become more familiar to readers, the author leverages the increase in historical knowledge in order to create longer and more complex storylines.
As with anything of this scale, there are areas of weakness. Certain periods (different time periods tend to span one chapter, although there are some exceptions with some periods, such as the Elizabethan and the Victorian, which span more than one due to the breadth of content) come off s formulaic. For example, the characters of the Georgian period/chapter are little more than tropes and the storyline seemed rather reminiscent of a romance novel at times. There all only about 2 or 3 periods or segments that read this way, as if they are included for the sake of continuity and historical accuracy, which is impressive for a project of this size.
While almost all of the characters are crafted so that a reader can recall them when coming across pieces of their lives in a later chapter, perhaps the greatest character of all is fate. No matter the action, no matter the reasoning, no matter class, nationality or race, it is clear that in Rutherford's world all actions will bring an equal or opposite reaction whether the next day, the next year, or the next generation. In London, the reader is taught that fate misses nothing and we would all be smart to remember she is a very clever and patient arbitrator of both justice and revenge.
kelpish's review against another edition
5.0
I first read London a few years back, but I have to say I enjoyed it even more this time around since my interest in archaeology and history has grown. This is truly an epic work and mirrors the city itself: layers upon layers of stories, bloodlines, artifacts, architecture, and history.
Each chapter, while set in the same familiar setting, feels like the different eras and voices you can see in London today. Roman walls, medieval guild halls, Shakespeare’s poetry, Christopher Wren’s monumental buildings, the echoes of the Industrial Revolution: it’s all there if you just stroll down a street and keep your senses keen. The city holds such a dear place in my heart and it is a truly remarkable process to read about the generational changes through its two millennia of large-scale habitation.
Each chapter, while set in the same familiar setting, feels like the different eras and voices you can see in London today. Roman walls, medieval guild halls, Shakespeare’s poetry, Christopher Wren’s monumental buildings, the echoes of the Industrial Revolution: it’s all there if you just stroll down a street and keep your senses keen. The city holds such a dear place in my heart and it is a truly remarkable process to read about the generational changes through its two millennia of large-scale habitation.
erboe501's review against another edition
5.0
I love the structure of Edward Rutherfurd's sweeping historical novels. I read his book Paris while abroad in London two years ago, and of course once I found out there was a London novel, I snatched it up. It's taken me awhile to start, however, because of its immense length.
Starting with a boy in pre-Roman London, each chapter of the book follows a new generation of this boy's descendants, with other families introduced through time. It's rather sobering to see the fortunes of one generation result in the economic decline of the grandchildren. But the personalities and attributes of the families maintain somewhat constant. It's like a puzzle to connect family lineage and marriages through each chapter.
Rutherfurd does a pretty good job of including both male and female perspectives, even though the large historical players in most of these historical moments were men. The women in the stories have roles as important, if not more oftentimes, then their men.
Of course, I also learned a good deal about London's history, which is one of my favorite things about historical fiction. Eventually, I want to read Rutherfurd's other histories. If you can set aside enough time for this chunkster, I would recommend you do.
Starting with a boy in pre-Roman London, each chapter of the book follows a new generation of this boy's descendants, with other families introduced through time. It's rather sobering to see the fortunes of one generation result in the economic decline of the grandchildren. But the personalities and attributes of the families maintain somewhat constant. It's like a puzzle to connect family lineage and marriages through each chapter.
Rutherfurd does a pretty good job of including both male and female perspectives, even though the large historical players in most of these historical moments were men. The women in the stories have roles as important, if not more oftentimes, then their men.
Of course, I also learned a good deal about London's history, which is one of my favorite things about historical fiction. Eventually, I want to read Rutherfurd's other histories. If you can set aside enough time for this chunkster, I would recommend you do.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a solid three stars. I liked it for the most part, but it was long. I actually noticed that after page 544 the book began to struggle, and that wasn't even halfway through. The story, or stories as it really is, was good. The history is well researched and plotted out. In fact, the plot seems to be well placed around the historical aspects and not forced.
The book really is novellas strung together linked by family. I like this technique, which was also used in Sarum. I also liked that some of the Sarum characters passed through this book. I think what separated this from New York, the Novel, which I loved, was that less families were intertwined in that book, and it was more focused.
I noticed that the audio version, advertised in the back, was abridged and only six hours, I think I would have liked that version better.
The book really is novellas strung together linked by family. I like this technique, which was also used in Sarum. I also liked that some of the Sarum characters passed through this book. I think what separated this from New York, the Novel, which I loved, was that less families were intertwined in that book, and it was more focused.
I noticed that the audio version, advertised in the back, was abridged and only six hours, I think I would have liked that version better.
harry_leggs's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? No
5.0
What an amazing book - one of my favorites ever.
estherrosedq's review against another edition
Too long and slow to finish in library time, will return!
rita_reads_cda's review against another edition
I mistook this for a nonfiction book. Sheesh, that was disappointing.