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Rutherfurd, Edward ; New York ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 1 Jan 2015
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Ah, Karen, just think about all those points, LOL.
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Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado
(last edited Nov 18, 2014 01:42AM)
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Seriously... that is the only thing giving me the push to do this... my friend gave me the book back in April to read :o
She has good taste, but always gives me gigantic books. So embarrassing to see her and keep admitting I still haven't started...!
I'm not even sure I've read a book that's over 1000 pages before
I've read a few of his English based ones and the Paris one. They are epic family dramas with the history thrown in. I enjoyed them.
Karen wrote: "lol!Seriously... that is the only thing giving me the push to do this... my friend gave me the book back in April to read :o
She has good taste, but always gives me gigantic books. So embarrassing..."
There are some editions which are less than 1000 pages Karen if that's any consolation.
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Good to hear Lisa, she does have those also, but she gave me this one to read first. I think because at the time we were talking about how I had just read and enjoyed Orphan Train and that I don't usually read US historical fiction
Ooooh...I would love to join in for this one!
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I'm trying to stretch this out and discuss it with you all. I'm not that far along reading it now and so far really liking it!
I read this one not so long ago and liked it. There are lots of descriptions of historical events and places, but the book doesn't feel long, if that makes sense. And I learned a lot of new stuff :).I hope you guys enjoy it!
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I'm going to give myself a challenge and attempt to read this book in a month. It may take me more though.
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I will do this one if I can get if from the library in time!
I'm going to start this tonight. I'm curious how long it will take me to get through it. I may have breaks and read some faster paced books in between.
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I'll go ahead and commit myself, too. I started Sarum a long time ago, and while I like it...I would read it more often if it were a BR. I have New York, so I'll read a little each day and eventually it will be finished.
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Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado
(last edited Jan 01, 2015 01:37AM)
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I wasn't expecting it to go back so far in time, but I guess the book is so huge that makes sense. I also know very little about American history so I'm finding the Dutch settlement in NY and the maps at the front quite interesting.
Dirk is a fascinating character.(view spoiler)
O.O I haven't started yet. I am looking forward to it. I will read some oh this huge hardcover book. It's so heavy!
I'm definitely going with the ebook. I can't be lugging that hardcover around.
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I prop it up on a cushion on my lap ;)
I've finished New Amsterdam and New York - pg 139.I'm finding it really interesting finding out the history of such well known places in NYC. (view spoiler)
You're ripping through this book really quickly.
I'm having a break now, going to start the Fantasy BOM. I'll be back in a few days.I do enjoy Rutherfurd's style though incorporating the family story with historic events and famous people.
I started with this book a month ago, read a couple of chapters and put it aside to wait for a BR to start.I'm picking it up now again and so far I have very much enjoyed the early history of the Manhattan Island.
I have read París by Rutherford last year and after starting New York book now, I can say, I'm a big fan of his historical sagas. So good thing I got London for Christmas :)
Karen wrote: "lolI prop it up on a cushion on my lap ;)"
Good idea, Karen! Thanks for help. I'm reading a hardcover copy and it's pretty heavy.
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Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado
(last edited Jan 02, 2015 01:34PM)
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."
Gives us a chance to catch up to you :)
(gulp) I just got this from the library, so I'm going to give it a go. I imagine it will take me a good while, but from what I've heard so far, the author will make it interesting. Will start Monday, so will see you all after that. :)
I've started this book and I'm finding the style of the author very good. His style makes reading the book really easy and interesting.
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I'm finding it really interesting finding out the history of such well known places in NYC. [spoilers removed]"
Yes I agree, and the origin of Wall Street and the Trinity Church was also really interesting to me!
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Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado
(last edited Jan 03, 2015 06:44PM)
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(view spoiler)
and "The Philadelphia Girl" 1741
(view spoiler)
Karen wrote: "Not really Zara... the one she gave me is just over... eek!Good to hear Lisa, she does have those also, but she gave me this one to read first. I think because at the time we were talking about h..."
I loved Orphan Train!
I am on the first chapter. I like that the author seems to be telling the story of New York through fictional characters. I was scared it would be a list of facts. I have read books like that and find them very difficult! So far I really like it. As for the size, if I like the characters I don't let the size through me. It just means I can spend more time with them. I hope that will be the case here.
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I agree about getting to know characters, although so far this seems to be following a family through the ages so you are with different characters over generations. Which I actually think is a very interesting way to do it! I'm not finding the book hard going at all, I'm quite enjoying it
Karen, this is the style in all of Edward Rutherfurd's books. The London one I really loved.
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I haven't read that one yet. Buddy read, LOL?
I'm going to finish Sarum: The Novel of England before starting New York. Then I think I'll read the Dublin Sage. It's 2 books, and my library has both of them. The Princes of Irelandand The Rebels of Ireland. I think that will be a fascinating read.
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haha
sure! I'm really fascinated with Russian history and I absolutely loved it when I went there a few years ago. A February read?
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Good one Karen. Yes, we'll pencil it in for February. I am overdosing on Buddy Reads in January, argggh. I went to St Petersburg last year. The Imperial architecture was amazing. And we went to the Ballet which was something to see.
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Once we have done with this book I'll set up something for Russka :)
Wow! You guys are well traveled! I am up to the second chapter and I am loving the book. It is hard to put down. I am glad that the author relates the history of New York through the characters! I have had to stop several times to reference the maps because I have never been there. I thought Manhattan was on Long Island! I didn't realize there were two islands. Well, more I guess.
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[spoilers removed]"
Yes I agree. I hadn't expected famous characters like that to pop up
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(view spoiler)
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Before I had my son, my husband and I decided to have one last big trip and of all the "bucket list" places we had, we both had Russia in the top 3 so that is where we went ;)
I like the maps too, especially in the earlier section to see where the Dutch were living. It is hard to imagine New York with so few people!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Russka: the Novel of Russia (other topics)Russka (other topics)
Russka: the Novel of Russia (other topics)
New York (other topics)
New York (other topics)
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What is a Buddy Read?
This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.
Book synopsis
The bestselling master of historical fiction weaves a grand, sweeping drama of New York from the city's founding to the present day.
Rutherfurd celebrates America's greatest city in a rich, engrossing saga that showcases his extraordinary ability to combine impeccable historical research and storytelling flair. As in his earlier, bestselling novels, he illuminates cultural, social, and political upheavals through the lives of a remarkably diverse set of families.
As he recounts the intertwining fates of characters rich and poor, black and white, native born and immigrant, Rutherfurd brings to life the momentous events that shaped New York and America: the Revolutionary War, the emergence of the city as a great trading and financial center, the excesses of the Gilded Age, the explosion of immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the trials of World War II, the near-demise of New York in the 1970s and its roaring rebirth in the '90s, and the attacks on the World Trade Center. Sprinkled throughout are captivating cameo appearances by historical figures ranging from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln to Babe Ruth.
New York is the book that millions of Rutherfurd's American fans have been waiting for. A brilliant mix of romance, war, family drama, and personal triumphs, it gloriously captures the search for freedom and prosperity at the heart of our nation's history