Excellent Novel and History Lesson!

rjfarrell · 01-10-2010, 08:34 AM

Excellent Novel and History Lesson!

New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherford

Most enjoyable Novel which contains factual information about the founding of the United States as told thru the biographical stories of the common people.

I am listening to this one thru Audible, but it is available thru the Sony Store as well. The narrator in the Audible version is just excellent.

I highly recommend this book.

lilac_jive · 01-10-2010, 08:39 AM

That's great to know. I bought it for my Sony when it dropped to $9.99. Sounded like it was right up my alley. How long did it take to read? That's been my only stopping point, it looks awfully big.

neilmarr · 01-10-2010, 09:17 AM

Sheer coincidence, RjFarrel ... I just recommended Rutherford (and Michener) to Lilac in another thread. You read his amazing *London*? Neil

lilac_jive · 01-10-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Sheer coincidence, RjFarrel ... I just recommended Rutherford (and Michener) to Lilac in another thread. You read his amazing *London*? Neil

You did? I must not have seen it yet.

neilmarr · 01-10-2010, 11:11 AM

Read *London* in harback and got a copy in French for my wife, Lilac. Again, it's linked short stories following the generations of a group of families from ancient times to the present, so your fiction-fix is there while Rutherford drips in the 'real' historical elements. You come out feeling satisfied ... then suddenly realise you're also a heck of a lot better educated than you were when you cracked the spine.

I've read all Rutherford's stuff (except *Dublin* [high on the list]) and all of Michener's. Without even trying, I'm now something of a history buff.

I'm pretty catholic in my reading tastes, but if I was forced to name a preferred genre, I think I'd have to go for historical fiction/faction, legely because of these two excellent and honest authors ... but also because of many other tremendous researcher/story tellers who specialise in this fasncinating field.

Cheers. Neil

rjfarrell · 01-10-2010, 03:16 PM

Yup, this New York Novel is in the same genre. Historical fiction in linked short stories following the generations of a group of families! Well Said, Neil. That is it!

I believe I may be hooked on Rutherford as well.

I am listening to it thru Audible, so I am not sure of the reading time. But it is a 40 hour audible read, which is a good long book in the Audible world. I imagine about the same reading time as Atlas Shrugged....

neilmarr · 01-11-2010, 04:25 AM

Sold! Thanks for the heads-up, RJ. Yup, all of Rutherfurd's and Michener's novels tend to be pretty hefty tomes. I guess they must be to cover such extended family sagas. Well worth the investment of reading time, though. You come away with so darned much. Cheers. Neil

Ea · 01-11-2010, 05:53 AM

I thought 'Sarum' was okay, but that his writing had improved a good deal in 'London' and 'The Forest' - both which I recommend. If you liked 'London' you'd like 'The Forest'.

I was deeply disappointed with the first of the 'Dublin' books, and barely made it through it. He has a tendency to 'over-explain', which was kept in check in 'London' and 'The Forest', but here's it's been given free rein again and it's much worse than Sarum. I'm not going to read the second book. 'New York' is still not for sale in Europe (I think), but I might try out a sample. After the 'Dublin' disaster I won't spend more money until I find out if it's worth it.

neilmarr · 01-11-2010, 09:05 AM

the Dublin work's the only Rutherfurd apart from New York that I've not tackled yet, Ea. Sorry you were so disappointed. Rutherfurd actually went to live in Ireland for some years to research the books. I guess he found it tough to resist the temptation of displaying what he'd learned. I agree -- that's a bad trait in an author. Hope he manages to curb his enthusiasm in future books and reduces the information load so that he explains only what's necessary to the story and the characters that populate it. That's plenty for most readers to be going on with. And I also agree that Sarum wasn't his best writing. You must admit, though ... it wasn't a bad start. Cheers. Neil

Ea · 01-11-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

the Dublin work's the only Rutherfurd apart from New York that I've not tackled yet, Ea. Sorry you were so disappointed. Rutherfurd actually went to live in Ireland for some years to research the books. I guess he found it tough to resist the temptation of displaying what he'd learned. I agree -- that's a bad trait in an author. Hope he manages to curb his enthusiasm in future books and reduces the information load so that he explains only what's necessary to the story and the characters that populate it. That's plenty for most readers to be going on with. And I also agree that Sarum wasn't his best writing. You must admit, though ... it wasn't a bad start. Cheers. Neil

Exactly. Sarum wasn't a bad start, but I thought he'd keep up on the level of London and The Forest. I wonder if he's had a different editor. The Princes of Ireland was definitely below Sarum in quality.

neilmarr · 01-11-2010, 12:17 PM

I know from experience, Ea, that fiction involving factual input really does need a pretty ruthless editorial hand gripping the blue pencil.

An author writing fiction based on rigorous research -- and about which he becomes passionate -- must be dissuaded from telling (rather than showing) what he knows.

One of my own authors, for instance (no names, no pack drill) has an incredible personal history, speaks several languages fluenty, lectures and writes on political topics ... and my first job is to slash and burn his raw mss by at least 50% to even start making the work readable.

In a nutshell, an author tells a story and populates it with fascinating characters. Facts should merely support the scribe's offering, not become intrusive.

(Mind you, I'm a fact miner and don't really mind too much as long as I'm not expected to turn the full glare of the lesson onto my innocent readers.)

Hoots. Neil

Ea · 01-11-2010, 12:29 PM

I agree completely, Neil. I've wondered whether 'The Forest' and 'London' felt that much better because they'd had a more ruthless editor. That's also why I'm still wiling to give 'New York' a chance since it's a single volume book.

I wrote a little fan fiction story last year, where I wanted to show a little slice of life of possible viking age yule celebration. I know a lot about that time, but of course I ended up telling far too much. I've recently read it again - euch! I kind friend said it read rather like history channel.

drofgnal · 01-11-2010, 02:25 PM

I liked Russka the best of Rutherford's novels. Perhaps because I've spent a little time in Moscow and understand a bit of the culture.

01-10-2010, 08:34 AM	#1
rjfarrell Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 142 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Arizona (USA) Device: Sony PRS-505, Iphone, Ipad	Excellent Novel and History Lesson! Excellent Novel and History Lesson! New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherford Most enjoyable Novel which contains factual information about the founding of the United States as told thru the biographical stories of the common people. I am listening to this one thru Audible, but it is available thru the Sony Store as well. The narrator in the Audible version is just excellent. I highly recommend this book.

01-11-2010, 09:05 AM	#9
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	the Dublin work's the only Rutherfurd apart from New York that I've not tackled yet, Ea. Sorry you were so disappointed. Rutherfurd actually went to live in Ireland for some years to research the books. I guess he found it tough to resist the temptation of displaying what he'd learned. I agree -- that's a bad trait in an author. Hope he manages to curb his enthusiasm in future books and reduces the information load so that he explains only what's necessary to the story and the characters that populate it. That's plenty for most readers to be going on with. And I also agree that Sarum wasn't his best writing. You must admit, though ... it wasn't a bad start. Cheers. Neil Last edited by neilmarr; 01-11-2010 at 09:11 AM.

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01-10-2010, 08:39 AM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	That's great to know. I bought it for my Sony when it dropped to $9.99. Sounded like it was right up my alley. How long did it take to read? That's been my only stopping point, it looks awfully big.

01-10-2010, 09:17 AM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Sheer coincidence, RjFarrel ... I just recommended Rutherford (and Michener) to Lilac in another thread. You read his amazing London? Neil

01-10-2010, 11:11 AM	#5
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Read London in harback and got a copy in French for my wife, Lilac. Again, it's linked short stories following the generations of a group of families from ancient times to the present, so your fiction-fix is there while Rutherford drips in the 'real' historical elements. You come out feeling satisfied ... then suddenly realise you're also a heck of a lot better educated than you were when you cracked the spine. I've read all Rutherford's stuff (except Dublin [high on the list]) and all of Michener's. Without even trying, I'm now something of a history buff. I'm pretty catholic in my reading tastes, but if I was forced to name a preferred genre, I think I'd have to go for historical fiction/faction, legely because of these two excellent and honest authors ... but also because of many other tremendous researcher/story tellers who specialise in this fasncinating field. Cheers. Neil

01-10-2010, 03:16 PM	#6
rjfarrell Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 142 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Arizona (USA) Device: Sony PRS-505, Iphone, Ipad	Yup, this New York Novel is in the same genre. Historical fiction in linked short stories following the generations of a group of families! Well Said, Neil. That is it! I believe I may be hooked on Rutherford as well. I am listening to it thru Audible, so I am not sure of the reading time. But it is a 40 hour audible read, which is a good long book in the Audible world. I imagine about the same reading time as Atlas Shrugged....

01-11-2010, 04:25 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Sold! Thanks for the heads-up, RJ. Yup, all of Rutherfurd's and Michener's novels tend to be pretty hefty tomes. I guess they must be to cover such extended family sagas. Well worth the investment of reading time, though. You come away with so darned much. Cheers. Neil

01-11-2010, 05:53 AM	#8
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I thought 'Sarum' was okay, but that his writing had improved a good deal in 'London' and 'The Forest' - both which I recommend. If you liked 'London' you'd like 'The Forest'. I was deeply disappointed with the first of the 'Dublin' books, and barely made it through it. He has a tendency to 'over-explain', which was kept in check in 'London' and 'The Forest', but here's it's been given free rein again and it's much worse than Sarum. I'm not going to read the second book. 'New York' is still not for sale in Europe (I think), but I might try out a sample. After the 'Dublin' disaster I won't spend more money until I find out if it's worth it.

01-11-2010, 12:17 PM	#11
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	I know from experience, Ea, that fiction involving factual input really does need a pretty ruthless editorial hand gripping the blue pencil. An author writing fiction based on rigorous research -- and about which he becomes passionate -- must be dissuaded from telling (rather than showing) what he knows. One of my own authors, for instance (no names, no pack drill) has an incredible personal history, speaks several languages fluenty, lectures and writes on political topics ... and my first job is to slash and burn his raw mss by at least 50% to even start making the work readable. In a nutshell, an author tells a story and populates it with fascinating characters. Facts should merely support the scribe's offering, not become intrusive. (Mind you, I'm a fact miner and don't really mind too much as long as I'm not expected to turn the full glare of the lesson onto my innocent readers.) Hoots. Neil

01-11-2010, 12:29 PM	#12
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I agree completely, Neil. I've wondered whether 'The Forest' and 'London' felt that much better because they'd had a more ruthless editor. That's also why I'm still wiling to give 'New York' a chance since it's a single volume book. I wrote a little fan fiction story last year, where I wanted to show a little slice of life of possible viking age yule celebration. I know a lot about that time, but of course I ended up telling far too much. I've recently read it again - euch! I kind friend said it read rather like history channel.

01-11-2010, 02:25 PM	#13
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,228 Karma: 7838248 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I liked Russka the best of Rutherford's novels. Perhaps because I've spent a little time in Moscow and understand a bit of the culture.

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