Rutherfurd, Edward ; New York ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 1 Jan 2015

[Kay Kay]

Karen wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I'm up for Russka, probably sometime in February if ok with you..."

Sounds good. Let me just check my schedule and see when I can get it (book schedule that is..haha)"

I would do that too! I have loved this book!

[Kay Kay]

I just finished Empire. The author writes "Novelists liked to imagine the interconnectedness of things-as though all the people in the big city were part of some great organism, their lives intertwined." Love it!

[Kay Kay]

In Empire (view spoiler)[ I was more concerned about the wampum belt than I was about William. How sad it that? I like him and all, I just didn't want the wampum belt to leave the story! (hide spoiler)]

[Kay Kay]

Finished! I loved it! I would read anything else written by him! It was excellent!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Karrie wrote: "In Empire [spoilers removed]"

I thought that too. In fact at the end I was quite sad about (view spoiler)[ the belt, but at the same time it was a fitting end (hide spoiler)]

[Skandia]

I have finished reading the book. Loved it!

It is amazing how well Edward Rutherfurd ties together actual historical events with fictional characters. While reading and enjoying the story about people and their families from very different backgrounds and social statuses evolving through time, you'll learn so much more about the history of the country and the city.
Rutherfurd's unique style is incomparable and though his stories are very long, it never feels like reading a 900 pages book at all.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I totally agree, Skandia. A well as an enjoyable read you learn a lot about the history of his subject city.

Karen and I are thinking about reading Russka next, probably sometime in February if anyone else is interested.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Russka thread is here. I've put a start date of Feb 8, but happy to change if that doesn't suit

[Skandia]

I would love to join you reading Russka: The Novel of Russia. I'll try to squeeze it in but we'll see how it works out.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I've ordered my copy so that should be fine with me. Thx .

[Kay Kay]

Karen wrote: "Karrie wrote: "In Empire [spoilers removed]"

I thought that too. In fact at the end I was quite sad about [spoilers removed]"

True. I was sad about it too. But it worked.

[Stacey]

I'm almost done. Just finished Brooklyn last night, and I was highly annoyed. (view spoiler)[ First I have to spend the whole chapter with Charlie, who I think will be my least favorite character of the whole book--and he gave the wampum belt away! Then, the Carusos are just gone. Just gone. I also would have like a little more about the Depression and WWII in NY, but we just jumped right over it. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I understand Stacey. That annoyed me to with the belt. (view spoiler)[ It does kind of make sense at the end.
There are a number of parts that just get rammed through, but I suppose the timeframe is just so huge. For example, the killing of John Lennon I would've thought would be iconic enough for NY to get more than a passing mention... (hide spoiler)]