I loved the breadth of this book which takes you from the earliest Dutch settlers to the fall of the twin towers. The characters are well drawn and the interweaving of historic events cleverly and seamlessly accomplished--for the first half of the novel. Unfortunately, by the second half, the repeated mash-ups of characters and their decendents seems forced and contrived. By two-thirds the way through, the book sadly becomes quite trite.

Nevertheless, if you are familiar with New York, or its history, you cannot help but be taken in by the fictitious visit to familiar and beloved places and events.

When I selected this novel, reviews made much of the research and historical content--if you place too much stock in those reviews you may be disappointed. The events are barely more than mentioned, and could be supplied by any history buff or reader who follows the events of the day.

I'm glad I read this novel and, in spite of it's flaws, I enjoyed it overall. Just don't ask for too much and enjoy the romp.