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bookdreamer24's review against another edition
5.0
I'm already really enjoying this book. I love that it takes place in Seattle because it's really nice hearing about places I recognize. Plus not many books fictional books take place in Seattle.
sunrays118's review against another edition
3.0
The book was fine. There were some lovely elements. In general, I felt the author tried far too hard to try to convince the reader that it took place in Seattle.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
awesome period piece and really enjoyable story. the writing is crisp and well thought our. best of all it makes new want to read more by Lynch. I really enjoyed the time switches and the story movement they brought along. Clearly the author lives in Seattle and loves the city. his care in detail and history is all over the place, add is his desire to tell an interesting story.
nicksenior's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gma2at's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Goodreads for sending this First Reads book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Interesting "gritty" writing style. I found the book a little slow moving at first. Fairly interesting as it went along. Overall well written, characters nicely developed, even though Helen seemed a tad one-dimensional.
Interesting "gritty" writing style. I found the book a little slow moving at first. Fairly interesting as it went along. Overall well written, characters nicely developed, even though Helen seemed a tad one-dimensional.
wsk56's review against another edition
4.0
This novel, by the author of one of my favorite books, The Highest Tide, combines fictional characters with the history of the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 and politics early in the 21st century. Roger Morgan ("Mr. Seattle") was largely responsible for getting the fair off the ground and had even sketched the Space Needle on a cocktail napkin. A young man with big ideas, he helped raise the funds needed to build the fair and saw to it that everything ran smoothly once it opened. He entertained and led tours of the fair for VIPs, notably LBJ, John Glenn and Elvis Presley, over its six month run.
In 2001, newspaper reporter and single mother Helen Gulano moves to Seattle, where she starts her job at the Post Intelligencer, the now defunct daily that once rivaled The Seattle Times. After a series of routine stories that included an article about the fair for its 40th anniversary, she stumbles upon a big lead. Roger Morgan has announced he is running for mayor of Seattle. After doing some investigating, she begins to uncover graft and corruption in Seattle's history that may be linked to Morgan.
Where these two stories intertwine is the heart of the book. Lynch does a remarkable job with the characters, as well as the factual information about the fair and the corruption that occurred in the city's past. It is not a simple story, but delves deep into the character's motives and faults as well as their feelings toward each other. Lynch, a native Seattleite, hits a near pitch-perfect tone of the city as it was in 2001, after the dot-com bust. He also depicts how desperate newspaper reporters and editors are to compete in light of the fact that newspapers are disappearing and their futures are at stake. What ultimately makes the book succeed is showing the continuity of a city, how the past affects the present and the future, and how the past cannot be forgotten.
In 2001, newspaper reporter and single mother Helen Gulano moves to Seattle, where she starts her job at the Post Intelligencer, the now defunct daily that once rivaled The Seattle Times. After a series of routine stories that included an article about the fair for its 40th anniversary, she stumbles upon a big lead. Roger Morgan has announced he is running for mayor of Seattle. After doing some investigating, she begins to uncover graft and corruption in Seattle's history that may be linked to Morgan.
Where these two stories intertwine is the heart of the book. Lynch does a remarkable job with the characters, as well as the factual information about the fair and the corruption that occurred in the city's past. It is not a simple story, but delves deep into the character's motives and faults as well as their feelings toward each other. Lynch, a native Seattleite, hits a near pitch-perfect tone of the city as it was in 2001, after the dot-com bust. He also depicts how desperate newspaper reporters and editors are to compete in light of the fact that newspapers are disappearing and their futures are at stake. What ultimately makes the book succeed is showing the continuity of a city, how the past affects the present and the future, and how the past cannot be forgotten.
kaylaelspeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
redroofcolleen's review
1.0
My great love for Seattle wasn't enough to get me through this. I kept getting bored and quit halfway.