Reviews

New York by Edward Rutherfurd

redheadorganist's review

challenging emotional informative medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Colonisation, Infidelity, Classism, Misogyny, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

Moderate: Slavery, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Gore, Child death, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Animal death, Cancer, Murder, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, War, and Terminal illness

sarahlreadseverything's review

4.0

Honestly I didn't find "New York" as enjoyable as many of Rutherfurd's other novels. The story seemed rather more forced and lacked the intricacies of intertwining generations that is present in "The New Forest" or "London." Instead there was only one family - The Dutch/English Masters - that made appearences through a majority of the book, with other families present for two generations at most. Was also somewhat surprised by the lack of American Indian characters or influence, the novel starting well into European settlement. Many of Rutherfurd's other novels begin much earlier than permanent settlement and Indian settlements did exist in the New York area. Major African American characters also only appeared through the generations of slavery and disappear from the novel thereafter - it would have been interesting to see that story continue as well as/instead of the domination of the merchant-banker 'old money' family.

amandamillerkelley's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

jrjohnson1408's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Slavery

russellcw's review against another edition

adventurous informative 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

4.75

jmronbeck's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-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? Yes

5.0

julieffisher's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

rmarcin's review against another edition

4.0

Sweeping epic historical novel tracing several families in New York from 1664 to 2009. The author did a great job of highlighting various parts of history and how New Yorkers adapted to events. This novel followed these families through highs and lows, wars and peace, joy and sorrow. The novel examined poverty and wealth and some race issues, but didn’t delve into them deeply.
It was a great novel which also shared a lot of history. Putting those events in a novel made them come alive.
Very enjoyable.
#NewYork #EdwardRutherfurd

hollydaze71's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed the history of this book, the last 400 pages more than the first. But I think I liked it because of my love for New York.

aljosa's review

5.0

Although "London" is better in terms of having a more interesting history, "New York" is an interesting book.
Edward Rutherfurd brilliantly shows both the rich and the poor, the Loyalists and the Patriots, the haters and the hated ones. He also wrote about several different Ethnic groups. Native Americans, African Americans, the Dutch, the English, the Irish, the Germans, the Italians, the Jews and the Portoricans... They are all present in this book. Some are rich, the others are poor. Some lost their wealth, the others gained it. You can find the complete history of the USA. (~350 years)