cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an interesting story! I love dual timeline books and this amazing story takes place in 1913 and 1993 and the center of the story is the Colorado Street Bridge or known as Suicide Bridge in Pasadena California.
Nick Chance is is an aspiring solar Lamp inventor and he has a clairvoyant dog Royo! We follow him as he works at Clawston Ostrich Farm, he rides Mrs Grover Cleveland whose an ostrich. Soon his showmanship creates a following and the sick children adore him. With his riding he meets Reginald Plant. When an incident has him leave the farm and he ends up working as a construction worker on the Colorado Street Bridge. With this job he feels with finally open up an opportunity for him for to use his true passion, which is Solar Powered Lamps and maybe they will use them on the bridge. The story focuses on the Bridge and we see twists and the challenges of the people who work on the bridge and the story focuses on the bridge all they way up to its 80th anniversary. I loved how the author added actual real people to the story as characters. There were a few times I had to look up certain words. I would describe this book a bit quirky and different!! Four stars
Nick Chance is is an aspiring solar Lamp inventor and he has a clairvoyant dog Royo! We follow him as he works at Clawston Ostrich Farm, he rides Mrs Grover Cleveland whose an ostrich. Soon his showmanship creates a following and the sick children adore him. With his riding he meets Reginald Plant. When an incident has him leave the farm and he ends up working as a construction worker on the Colorado Street Bridge. With this job he feels with finally open up an opportunity for him for to use his true passion, which is Solar Powered Lamps and maybe they will use them on the bridge. The story focuses on the Bridge and we see twists and the challenges of the people who work on the bridge and the story focuses on the bridge all they way up to its 80th anniversary. I loved how the author added actual real people to the story as characters. There were a few times I had to look up certain words. I would describe this book a bit quirky and different!! Four stars
crolovr's review against another edition
4.0
Arroyo is the second book I have read by Chip Jacobs. His books are well researched and entertaining with likeable characters. Told in parallel timelines, I liked the pace of this story.
How can you not like a story about a man and his clairvoyant dog! The facts surrounding the construction of "Suicide Bridge" and the people who died on it was interesting. I enjoyed the descriptions of Pasadena, as I have never visited that area of California. I highly recommend this book.
How can you not like a story about a man and his clairvoyant dog! The facts surrounding the construction of "Suicide Bridge" and the people who died on it was interesting. I enjoyed the descriptions of Pasadena, as I have never visited that area of California. I highly recommend this book.
geauxgetlit's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve never been to Pasadena, but in the early twentieth century a bridge was built and locals call it the suicide bridge. This was the story of Nick in his intuitive dog in parallel timelines. Nick was responsible for lighting the bridge however it crashed and killed many. This was very interesting and even though it was fiction, I felt like I received a bit of real history also.
gpg's review against another edition
4.0
There’s some magical realism, lots of fascinating historical detail about Pasadena and southern California, and lots of eating. I got to interview the author for the New Books Network: https://newbooksnetwork.com/chip-jacobs-arroyo-rare-birds-books-2019
lilfirefly's review against another edition
First, I would like thank author for sending me the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All along it felt like a beautiful tribute to the old Pasadena and the Colorado Street Bridge. Given the fact that I don't live in Pasadena or anywhere near it, I had to dig, get my head around the facts and incidents which helped me understand the framework and concept of the book.
Two parts of the book, focusing on the Colorado Street Bridge aka 'Suicide Bridge', so skillfully told that it felt like there were two books inside one. Though I had a hard time in connecting to the narration in the first few pages of the book, I must say that author's storytelling power is promising.
Apart from the dark humour this historical fiction had to offer, the heartwarming relationship between Nick and his dog and their adventures are something that is going to stay with me even when the storytelling is over.
All along it felt like a beautiful tribute to the old Pasadena and the Colorado Street Bridge. Given the fact that I don't live in Pasadena or anywhere near it, I had to dig, get my head around the facts and incidents which helped me understand the framework and concept of the book.
Two parts of the book, focusing on the Colorado Street Bridge aka 'Suicide Bridge', so skillfully told that it felt like there were two books inside one. Though I had a hard time in connecting to the narration in the first few pages of the book, I must say that author's storytelling power is promising.
Apart from the dark humour this historical fiction had to offer, the heartwarming relationship between Nick and his dog and their adventures are something that is going to stay with me even when the storytelling is over.
theocbookgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I was drawn to this book initially because it's set in Southern California and refers to local Pasadena landmarks and history so I was happy to get a chance to read it.
The main character Nick Chance was a likable anti-hero and the interactions with his horny dog Royo were very entertaining as he becomes a morality guide of sorts.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre and this was a fascinating, well researched look at Old Pasadena. The Colorado Street Bridge is the namesake of the novel and I had no idea it had such a dark as deadly history. A quick search told me that over 100 people have sadly ended their lives by jumping off this bridge.
The author is very capable wordsmith and I had to look up more than a few words... bugaboo, iconoclast, photovoltaic. Satire is not something I always understand so there was probably deeper meaning that I missed. However I enjoyed the quirky characters and the detailed look back through time.
The main character Nick Chance was a likable anti-hero and the interactions with his horny dog Royo were very entertaining as he becomes a morality guide of sorts.
Historical fiction is a favorite genre and this was a fascinating, well researched look at Old Pasadena. The Colorado Street Bridge is the namesake of the novel and I had no idea it had such a dark as deadly history. A quick search told me that over 100 people have sadly ended their lives by jumping off this bridge.
The author is very capable wordsmith and I had to look up more than a few words... bugaboo, iconoclast, photovoltaic. Satire is not something I always understand so there was probably deeper meaning that I missed. However I enjoyed the quirky characters and the detailed look back through time.
chelz286's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is a dual story line, 1913 with the clearing of land and construction of the Colorado Street Bridge, also more known by its nickname Suicide Bridge, and 1993 after large renovations and construction is completed on it. Nick, an ostrich riding and racing fellow works his way to being able to be a part of the 1913 structure. He has always wanted to use his light prototype and here is the chance to prove himself, and do something he loves. Nick quickly integrates himself with the contribution works on the bridge, and sees a while different working world.
An explosion occurs and a dog saves Nick, this becomes his new best friend and the two venture around the construction of the bridge while mingling amongst some of the elite- Busch gardens, and other tycoons of the time who had influence; Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Fletcher Lummis, and Upton Sinclair. Although there was all of this influence, the bridge being build was very controversial at the time, and 1993, eighty years later with the reconstruction it still is. There were lots of unexplained incidents and mysterious happenings.
The “Colorado Street Bridge has many myths and legends tied to it that still resonate on the lips of tourists and visitors today and Nick took us through the adventure of how this came to be. I learned quite a few historical things about this novel, and had no idea about how popular the ostrich farms and racing were. This novel was mostly focused in 1913, and does then end with the Nick of 1993, for the eightieth celebration. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite.
An explosion occurs and a dog saves Nick, this becomes his new best friend and the two venture around the construction of the bridge while mingling amongst some of the elite- Busch gardens, and other tycoons of the time who had influence; Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Fletcher Lummis, and Upton Sinclair. Although there was all of this influence, the bridge being build was very controversial at the time, and 1993, eighty years later with the reconstruction it still is. There were lots of unexplained incidents and mysterious happenings.
The “Colorado Street Bridge has many myths and legends tied to it that still resonate on the lips of tourists and visitors today and Nick took us through the adventure of how this came to be. I learned quite a few historical things about this novel, and had no idea about how popular the ostrich farms and racing were. This novel was mostly focused in 1913, and does then end with the Nick of 1993, for the eightieth celebration. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite.
pageturnersandsweettea's review against another edition
4.0
Arroyo is a book I wasn’t sure I would like, honestly. It’s a debut novel and it’s set in two different time lines, one 1913 and one in 1993. Those kinds are sometimes hard for me to get into. But, I pushed through it all, and by the end, I was left with my jaw on the ground because what do you know? I loved it! It was well written and definitely captivating!
Jacobs creates a story that is filled with wonderful characters that will make you happy to follow them on their journey. He fills the story with vivid details of the Suicide Bridge in Pasadena, California and it helped me to feel as if I was truly there, walking beside Nick and his pup Royo, and all the other amazing characters along the way.
This is a fast read, one that will keep you hooked until the end and leave you wanting more of Jacobs’ talented writing. For a debut, alternate timeline novel, I was pleasantly surprised and definitely recommend this book to all! Grab a copy for yourself and see if Royo, Nick and the other characters don’t grip your soul and make you feel a part of the story! Well done to Jacobs!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Jacobs creates a story that is filled with wonderful characters that will make you happy to follow them on their journey. He fills the story with vivid details of the Suicide Bridge in Pasadena, California and it helped me to feel as if I was truly there, walking beside Nick and his pup Royo, and all the other amazing characters along the way.
This is a fast read, one that will keep you hooked until the end and leave you wanting more of Jacobs’ talented writing. For a debut, alternate timeline novel, I was pleasantly surprised and definitely recommend this book to all! Grab a copy for yourself and see if Royo, Nick and the other characters don’t grip your soul and make you feel a part of the story! Well done to Jacobs!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing book, well written and engrossing.
I loved the mix of fact and fictions as much as I liked the quirky cast of characters and the storytelling.
The style of writing is excellent and I think is one of the plus of this book.
An excellent read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the mix of fact and fictions as much as I liked the quirky cast of characters and the storytelling.
The style of writing is excellent and I think is one of the plus of this book.
An excellent read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.