Helpful Score: 3
Having lived in NY and NJ all my life, I found this book AMAZING!! NYC's history from the 1600's to the present, along with the Dutch, Irish, Italians, British, Jewish and African American family stories, which span generations are so intriguing you just don't want this book book to end. The story of the African American slavery is not too well known in the early days of New York, and the horrors they endure is heartbreaking.
All is there; the wars, Prohibition, the Garment District fire where so many girls died, the crash of the stock market, building of the skyscrapers and they men who worked it, right up to 9/11. This book is hard to put down until you finish
I highly recommend this wonderful book.
All is there; the wars, Prohibition, the Garment District fire where so many girls died, the crash of the stock market, building of the skyscrapers and they men who worked it, right up to 9/11. This book is hard to put down until you finish
I highly recommend this wonderful book.
Helpful Score: 2
Picked up this book while traveling - needed a big book to keep me occupied. I realized that I had read AND enjoyed Sarum years ago. Now that we have family living in NYC it was interesting to learn more about that huge city!
I sure learned a lot about the history - Rutherfurd is surely this generation's James Michener!!!
Enjoyed the book tremendously - am now looking forward to reading Rutherfurd's other books!
I sure learned a lot about the history - Rutherfurd is surely this generation's James Michener!!!
Enjoyed the book tremendously - am now looking forward to reading Rutherfurd's other books!
Helpful Score: 1
This books starts excellently. A perfect blend of historical facts and fictional characters. As the generations pass, it is more difficult to keep track of who everyone is and from who they came. A family tree updated at the beginning/end of each era would be helpful. If you are going to read this book, I recommend you keeping your own family tree tracking to keep up with what's going on. The book should have stopped in the 60's. After that, not as much depth and less of a historical feel than a sitcom. Plus no resolution for Master's Native American descendants and their connection to his white family. Hi hopes but disappointing in the end.
This sweeping saga encompasses the simple origins 400 years ago to the dynamic metropolis, of the center of the NE USA, and the stories of the men and women and their families in bad times and good. Absorbing and very interesting.
