The Lightning Keeper
by Starling Lawrence
published
2006
(first published 2007)
edit
isbn
description
dramatic, historic tale of pre-WWI industrial development - more fun and interesting than it sounds
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 42)
Read in August, 2008
This is a wonderful historical novel, set around the time of World War I in northwestern Connecticut. It combines a lifelong unconsummated love affair with a realistic story of industrial progress and struggle, revolving around the Bigelow Iron Company, a maker of railroad wheels, which eventually is transformed into an experimental electrical research outpost of the General Electric Co.
The author, Starling Lawrence, is editor in chief of W.W. Norton, and his sophistication and eruidition ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
I picked this up at the library after reading the book description that the character Toma came from Montenegro around 1910. Both of my parents emigrated from other Balkan countries as children with their families at about the same time. This book tried to link the story of an invention with a love story. It seemed to follow thw pattern of Erik Larson's Thunderstruck. The problem is that the two stories simply never gelled. For me this book was a disappointment.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
I was hopeful that this would be an interesting tale of invention and characters at the turn of the century, and it started out to be. The beginning suggested that there might be a build to something, but it kept switching gears from one failed invention or relationship to another. In fact, the book seems to be more about the characters failings than their successes. Still, it seemed far to slow, and ended rather disappointingly.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in August, 2007
I learned about this book through a favorite bookstore up in Manchester, Vermont, as it was highlighted in their monthly reviews. It sounded interesting as it's about an immigrant from Montenegro living in NYC in the early 1900's, but I found it got bogged down in engineering details that didn't interest me. Loved the old photos throughout though!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Cleverly written and beautifully conceived, this tale is, at once, an epic love story and a perfect evocation of industrial genius in the era of Edison.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
Interesting historical fiction, but the love scenes are awkward. It would be better without them.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I searched for this at the library because it had gotten a good review in the Washington Post, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. It was just interesting enough to keep reading, but I can't think of anyone I would recommend it to.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2008
this book was not the greatest, it kind of had a story that took awhile to get anywhere, even then it was a nothing to say. wouldn't reccomend.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended from Bookmarks, but marked it as a maybe. slow....
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
