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thereadingpotato 's review for:
The Engineer's Wife
by Tracey Enerson Wood
3.5/5. This is the story of Emily Roebling, an independent woman who takes over the building process of the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband, the chief engineer, becomes incapable of doing so. While also connecting with the likes of P.T. Barnum and the women’s suffrage movement, Emily tries to balance her family’s legacy with her own desires.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning the background behind the Brooklyn Bridge, from the design to the build and its eventual opening, including all the ups and downs along the way. I found the characters to be well-developed, despite the writing’s tendency to tell rather than to show. The author was able to incorporate other relevant issues of the time, including the Civil War and PTSD, gender roles, and the fight for women’s suffrage.
I was most disappointed by the fact that the most interesting plot points were fictitious. One of the primary plot lines follows the relationship between Emily Roebling and P.T. Barnum. With P.T. being such a central part of the novel, it was disappointing to hear that there is no evidence of such involvement.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read of NYC in the late 1800s, the complicated process of bridge-making, and the story and sacrifices of the family that made it possible.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning the background behind the Brooklyn Bridge, from the design to the build and its eventual opening, including all the ups and downs along the way. I found the characters to be well-developed, despite the writing’s tendency to tell rather than to show. The author was able to incorporate other relevant issues of the time, including the Civil War and PTSD, gender roles, and the fight for women’s suffrage.
I was most disappointed by the fact that the most interesting plot points were fictitious. One of the primary plot lines follows the relationship between Emily Roebling and P.T. Barnum. With P.T. being such a central part of the novel, it was disappointing to hear that there is no evidence of such involvement.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read of NYC in the late 1800s, the complicated process of bridge-making, and the story and sacrifices of the family that made it possible.