brock111's review
4.0
I found this book interesting. I enjoyed reading about this time period in American history. I had never given much thought about the advent of electricity and the threat to the environment. I found this book had connections to what is going on in our country today in this election year: women fighting to keep their rights, the decline of unions, and the constant concern with protecting our environment.
katewutz's review against another edition
4.0
My love of this book has a LOT to do with my love for Buffalo -- Buffalonians have a deep appreciation for the city and its past that is hard to understand if you're not from there. I thought it was well-written, if a little slow and confusing sometimes, and the story was good enough. Honestly, would I give this book five stars if it wasn't about my hometown? No. But since this book basically embodies Buffalo and can help people understand what the city used to (and could still) be, I'm willing to overlook some of its flaws.
suzydunk's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tonya_d's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the Buffalo history and reading about the city around the time of the Pan Am festival but that was it. I almost stopped reading it completely but 11 months after starting, I'm finally finished.
hillarycopsey's review
2.0
This was an interesting concept failed by an overstuffed plot and meandering writing. I liked the setting -- Buffalo at the beginning of the 20th century.
snowmaiden's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book way more than I expected to, and I can't believe it has so many lackluster reviews here. I think the disappointment might be because it doesn't hold up as a mystery novel, but in my opinion it was never intended to be one, no matter what the marketers think. Instead, it's a great piece of literary writing, equally full of tantalizing historical detail (who even knew there was a World's Fair in Buffalo?) and exquisitely lyrical passages. Louisa Barrett, the narrator, was a comforting voice in my head for the last three weeks, and I will be very sad to see her go.
(One quibble: the hardcover U.S. edition, the one that I read, has possibly the worst cover for a book called "City of Light" that I could imagine. True, it features a time-period appropriate photograph of Niagara Falls, but the contrast is so slight that the impression is of a solid charcoal-grey background. If you come across this edition at your local library, please don't let that put you off!)
(One quibble: the hardcover U.S. edition, the one that I read, has possibly the worst cover for a book called "City of Light" that I could imagine. True, it features a time-period appropriate photograph of Niagara Falls, but the contrast is so slight that the impression is of a solid charcoal-grey background. If you come across this edition at your local library, please don't let that put you off!)
imabrunette23's review
3.0
Cover blurbs are too intense- I did not think the mystery was particularly gripping. The book is full of Louisa explaining the etiquette and subtext of upper class society at the turn of the century, which is really helpful for understanding, but can get to be a little much. Also, since I (kind of) know Buffalo, I spent half the book just trying to orient myself in the city as Louisa wandered around making house calls. I did enjoy learning about the electrical development and the Pan- Am exposition, both things I did not know much about.
My real problem with the book was that I did not find it particularly suspenseful or gripping. Basically, Louisa came off as kind of nuts. All that explaining and examining and constantly keeping everyone at arms length to hide her secret- I kept thinking "this woman must be exhausted!" Never being able to get anything off her mind or unburden herself to anyone- no wonder she is suspicious of every single interaction she has with another person.
My real problem with the book was that I did not find it particularly suspenseful or gripping. Basically, Louisa came off as kind of nuts. All that explaining and examining and constantly keeping everyone at arms length to hide her secret- I kept thinking "this woman must be exhausted!" Never being able to get anything off her mind or unburden herself to anyone- no wonder she is suspicious of every single interaction she has with another person.
susanatwestofmars's review
3.0
"Gripping!" The cover shouts at me. "Suspenseful!" and my favorite: "Romantic!"
Well... I'm not sure if we're reading the same book or not because those are not words I'd use to describe this book. I got about halfway through before deciding DNF was the way to go.
"Meandering. Leisurely. Pleasant." Those are the words I'd use here. Those aren't bad words, and they aren't necessarily bad qualities in a book, either. But when you get a little over halfway and you're still not sure where the book is going, well... that's not a problem with the words you use to define the book. It's a problem with the book itself.
I tapped out when they went to the lecture arguing about using the Niagara to power the electric plant. At this point, I was tired of reading the same thing, over and over. And, of course, with a plot that's still hiding (over halfway through)... I mean, how is this mystery ever going to be solved if no one's trying to solve it? Are they just going to stumble over the killer, shrug, and go about their lives? And what's this romance about? Really? There's a building romance here? If so, get the man (or woman, although Louisa insists she's not "like that") on the page already!
Maybe it's because I just finished an action-packed trilogy while this sat and waited for me, but when I picked it up again, I decided it's not worth the investment for something that's merely okay.
DNF just over 50%.
Well... I'm not sure if we're reading the same book or not because those are not words I'd use to describe this book. I got about halfway through before deciding DNF was the way to go.
"Meandering. Leisurely. Pleasant." Those are the words I'd use here. Those aren't bad words, and they aren't necessarily bad qualities in a book, either. But when you get a little over halfway and you're still not sure where the book is going, well... that's not a problem with the words you use to define the book. It's a problem with the book itself.
I tapped out when they went to the lecture arguing about using the Niagara to power the electric plant. At this point, I was tired of reading the same thing, over and over. And, of course, with a plot that's still hiding (over halfway through)... I mean, how is this mystery ever going to be solved if no one's trying to solve it? Are they just going to stumble over the killer, shrug, and go about their lives? And what's this romance about? Really? There's a building romance here? If so, get the man (or woman, although Louisa insists she's not "like that") on the page already!
Maybe it's because I just finished an action-packed trilogy while this sat and waited for me, but when I picked it up again, I decided it's not worth the investment for something that's merely okay.
DNF just over 50%.
carolynlynlyn's review
3.0
Interesting look into the early 1900's. For a first novel, this book is very ambitious! 700 pages!! The book was okay, it kept my interest. Never trust anyone!
quinci's review against another edition
5.0
omg literally the best book I've ever read I Love it it made me cry ok but also the pacing was off and there was a lot of info dumping