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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Started out so good, ending felt like it was slapped together. Such a disappointment.
Alice Hoffman's writing style is so natural and eminently readable. There were quite a few reading sessions when I found myself exceeding the time I had planned. I would not say that I bonded with the main characters, but they are quite likable. But for that, I would have given it five stars. I enjoyed the surprising detective mystery element to it and the novel's function as a time capsule of the early 1900s in Brooklyn/New York City. Quite a lot of beauty to some of the passages and scenes.
So good. hard to put down. dreamt about the characters. love how she utilized history to set the stage. amazing.
Excellent book. Wow. I loved every minute. I listened to it on audio book so it was a little different experience. I thought the story was entertaining. The characters were believable. And the historical accuracy was fascinating.
I struggled to get into the narrative, but I was very interested in the time period, the Triangle Factory Fire, and Coney Island. I read the last 200 pages in one stretch as the excitement picked up and the story came together. I preferred The Red Garden to this book of Hoffman's, but I will continue to read her other novels because I find her writing to be smooth and even.
Beck had told me to destroy his house when he was no longer in our world. He said that the Manhattan he knew would be gone when he was, and perhaps he was right in that. The villages that lined the highlands of upper Manhattan had already begun to drift into each other as the city moved the northward. Soon there would be sidewalks in the last patches of the woods, and buildings to house families, and skyscrapers and highways. No one would know that deer had made their home here once, and that coyotes were spied in the dark, or that there had been wolves that had ventured down the river on those rare occasions when it froze solid in the most brutal winter months.
Unsurprisingly, my favorite part of this book was its setting: early 20th C New York. I have always been fascinated by all things old New York, and Hoffman writes about the city with that sense of ownership and pathos that all longtime New Yorkers seem to have in common. I found that aspect of the novel very moving (as a lifer myself). I also found the characters quite interesting and appealing, and the relationship between Coralie and Maurren especially so. I didn't find the prose itself particularly stunning -- Hoffman is an engaging writer but I often find her writing quite stilted, as though it's trying to hard to be "literary." This struck me here even more so than prior novels of her's; the shifting between narrators, and then the shifting between first person and third person within each narrator, felt unnecessary -- as did the "mystery" of the story. I felt this would have worked as a solely character- and/or place-driven novel; the addition of a mystery felt a bit heavy-handed. Still, a satisfying, enjoyable read.
Unsurprisingly, my favorite part of this book was its setting: early 20th C New York. I have always been fascinated by all things old New York, and Hoffman writes about the city with that sense of ownership and pathos that all longtime New Yorkers seem to have in common. I found that aspect of the novel very moving (as a lifer myself). I also found the characters quite interesting and appealing, and the relationship between Coralie and Maurren especially so. I didn't find the prose itself particularly stunning -- Hoffman is an engaging writer but I often find her writing quite stilted, as though it's trying to hard to be "literary." This struck me here even more so than prior novels of her's; the shifting between narrators, and then the shifting between first person and third person within each narrator, felt unnecessary -- as did the "mystery" of the story. I felt this would have worked as a solely character- and/or place-driven novel; the addition of a mystery felt a bit heavy-handed. Still, a satisfying, enjoyable read.
I'm giving this book 3.5 stars (rounding up to four). I'll read everything Alice Hoffman writes. This story doesn't disappoint. I love learning the history of New York along with the story of two people's lives before and after their paths cross.
2,5 stars. I could't connect with any of the characters, so it was difficult for me to read on.
The italics for 15 page backstories was a killer for my eyes, while the story was semi-interesting. My poor eyes were not having it.
If I would list my "favorite" subjects of NYC history, it would be 1.) the immigrant experience, 2.) Coney Island history, and 3.) The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory/labor history - throw in mermaids and you have all the makings of what should be my favorite book. (I realize this list is quite odd - though it perfectly matches the book description - but I actually spent a lot of time studying these three subjects in college.) This book just did.not.do.it. It took me much too long to finish and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I'm disappointed as I own a couple of Hoffman's books and I've heard wonderful things. (This is only the first I've read.) I'm not giving up on her and am especially interested in [b:The Dovekeepers|10950924|The Dovekeepers|Alice Hoffman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306253903s/10950924.jpg|15868401]. However, if you're particularly interested in this subject matter, as I was, I would steer you towards [b:Dreamland|92862|Dreamland|Kevin Baker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347776211s/92862.jpg|839384] for a much better, more in-depth and fascinating story line (though, probably a bit more out there...).