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A review by timnorman
New York by Edward Rutherfurd
3.0
Rather unremarkable. It's basically a collection of short stories held together by a family lineage and that it takes place in New York City.
Some chapters are better than others; the early chapters when it's a Dutch trading post, the city during the revolution, and during the Gilded Age were my favourite sections because you could see the city grow and change over time, but after that it just stagnates and the book focuses too much on the personal life of one character (who is probably the least interesting of the main characters.)
It ends on a weak and fluffy note. Considering how the author took a balanced view writing earlier sections and didn't just parrot legends of American exceptionalism I was disappointed to see how the ending was a bit of a lazy cop out.
It was an "alright" book, it's strength is in the beginning and middle where you can see the origins and developments that made the city what it is today. Once the book moves away from how the characters see and live in the city it loses steam and finishes weak.
Some chapters are better than others; the early chapters when it's a Dutch trading post, the city during the revolution, and during the Gilded Age were my favourite sections because you could see the city grow and change over time, but after that it just stagnates and the book focuses too much on the personal life of one character (who is probably the least interesting of the main characters.)
It ends on a weak and fluffy note. Considering how the author took a balanced view writing earlier sections and didn't just parrot legends of American exceptionalism I was disappointed to see how the ending was a bit of a lazy cop out.
It was an "alright" book, it's strength is in the beginning and middle where you can see the origins and developments that made the city what it is today. Once the book moves away from how the characters see and live in the city it loses steam and finishes weak.