above average historical fiction

Although a little grisly in places for my taste, this is the kind of historical fiction that transports the listener to the world of the story. The writing is much above average for the genre,and the packed historical detail is fascinating without getting in the way of the story. The narration is excellent, too - both author and narrator seem to have made the wise choice that, since neither the prose nor the delivery is REALLY going to imitate 1845 New York, then make both sound modern and let the story, character, setting and appropriately chosen period vocabulary paint the images of the story world. I wade though a large amount of historical fiction flotsam to catch a few like this that really work - a good dense story, likeable characters, and, as a bonus, a social conscience without being hamfisted preachy.

56 people found this helpful

A wonderful book

If you could sum up The Gods of Gotham in three words, what would they be?

Atmospheric, intelligent and engaging

What did you like best about this story?

This story is beautifully written, replete with descriptions of New York in the mid-1840s - what it looked like (sometimes gorgeous, more often dark and dreary), what it smelled like (smoky and rancid), and what it sounded like. Several themes run through a story that is about murder and mayhem, science and religion as well as the plight of women and children in an uncivilized place birthing itself from the depths of poverty and squalor. There are characters I wanted to know better - and hope that Lyndsay Faye will tell us more about Timothy Wilde, Bird Daley and the kinchins in the future. A most delightful element in this book is the way in which Timothy, who has been given a job as a ``copper star`` in the newly formed police force, uses his talent as a listener and observer of people and as an artist to become a detective - truly a problem solver using all of his gifts to understand `who did it`.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favourite scene was the one in which Timothy, beaten and discouraged, returns to his room above the bakery. Once home, he takes out his onionskin and begins to write down phrases that he has heard over the course of his inquiries, drawing pictures of what he has seen and, finally, piecing together an entire picture to make sense of the `crimes``. I also loved the scene where Timothy and his brother, Valentine, come to know a very dark truth about their family. The scene bristles with horror and is infused with compassion.

Who was the most memorable character of The Gods of Gotham and why?

While Timothy Wilde will stay in my mind for a long time, it is Mercy who I will remember. In her, the author has created a heroine tragically ahead of her time, deeply flawed, selfless and selfish, and for whom this female reader, while shuddering, can only feel compassion.

28 people found this helpful

Don't miss this one!

This is the kind of book that grabs your attention and doesn't let it wander. I always know how much I'm enjoying a book by the number of times I have to hit the 30 second rewind button and it didn't get much use during this book.

22 people found this helpful

Couldn't put it down!

Fascinating story and a great narration.
Even though there were some gruesome parts,
I enjoyed every word from beginning to end.
I'd love to find other 4-5 star books like this,
Ones you can't put down till the end, and
then wish it wasn't quite over just yet.

17 people found this helpful

Great story, needs editing and better reader

Any additional comments?

First and foremost, I found the story itself to be riveting, well constructed and not overly predictable. The characters had depth, especially Timothy Wilde who showed wonderful growth through the arc of the story. None of the primary characters were one-dimensionally good or evil. The historical sensibilities felt real, if sometimes a bit overdone. I feel that some tighter editing would have eliminated some of the unnecessarily wordy passages that seemed to be self consciously showing off for effect of atmosphere. It took a while to get the hang of the slang, making it necessary to listen with full attention to get the context. My major complaint is of the reader. Particularly in the first half of the story, the reading was very monotoned without clear distinction between characters. I had to back up several times in conversations between Tim and Val to sort out who said what. As the pace and intensity of the story picked up in the second half, the reader seemed to get into the characters more completely, bringing me into the story with more conviction. I give the story very high marks. For some it might be better to read than to listen. Try the sample first.

16 people found this helpful

Gangs of NY, NYPD Style

Fast-paced and atmospheric, this historical murder mystery is set in the NYC of 1845 at the inception of the NYPD. Numerous historical details about what life was like in mid-19th century NYC enrich the story; in particular the author employs the virulent anti-Catholic/anti-Irish sentiments so prevalent at that time as the backdrop for what appears to be a series of vicious ritualistic murders.

I debated between 3 and 4 stars for the story, as it really is quite enjoyable and the narration is excellent. However, for all the author's attention to period detail, the sensibilities of her characters are thoroughly 21st century--which might make them more accessible to a modern audience but which doesn't really fit them into their historical setting. This is a quite common phenomenon in current "period pieces" whether of literature or film and probably a minor quibble for most readers with a murder mystery which is otherwise a great read.

13 people found this helpful

VERY DISAPPOINTING

I bought this book because I had been blown away earlier this year by "Dust and Shadow" by the same author. But this book is tedious with flowery language that seems at odds with the subject matter. It took HOURS of back-stories using way too many prose-like sentences for the action to really get started. Plus the characters are just plain unlikeable, a flaw that comes from poor character development. Irish people come off as corrupt, criminal, lazy, and sexually exploitive of young unfortunate Irish children. The main thing that is so crappy about the writing is Faye's systemic use of the Irish slang term "kinchin" (young street urchins) throughout the book. Not once that I noticed did she ever use the word "children". All kinchin are children but all children are not kinchin so I don't get it. All the women are prostitutes or wannabe whores. It also appears that the same is true of all the Irish children, girls AND boys. Why?

Also I don't appreciate the cavalier way the author added in the interaction between the Irish and free blacks, while never talking about the other NYC ethnic groups - like Italians and Jews especially - who considered the huge influx of Irish famine refugees as America's "new niggers". As a black person, I felt as if the only reason the author threw in a few scenes with blacks was so the Irish characters could able to call the blacks "niggers" for absolutely no valid reason! At that time in history, the Irish were lowest in this country's pecking order - even blacks looked down on the Irish as poor white trash! I'm not at all sensitive to actual racism in literature but Faye seemed to have lost her way and figured that some unnecessary, poorly developed name-calling might add some spice to a faltering story line. She even tried to LYNCH the only black man in the book!! A well-spoken skilled working man who had done nothing wrong, as if the story took place in Mississippi. The black man wasn't even guilty of the age-old KKK allegation of the "reckless eyeballin'" of a white woman! Was that a secret fantasy of Lyndsay Faye???? This book is awful on so many levels. What a disappointment!!

7 people found this helpful

Looking forward to the next audio book by Faye

Lyndsay Faye does a lot of things right in Gods of Gotham.

Characters, though not fully three dimensional, are colorful and consistent while retaining the ability to surprise us. The central mystery is gruesome and fascinating, and if the solution does not come as a stunning surprise, we don't really mind since the process of knitting together all the loose threads is so satisfying. A host of minor characters create a rich mixture of the comic, bizarre and chilling in a progression of events which moves along at a very nice pace.

Finally, the historic NYC setting is vividly rendered, an unsavory feast for the senses with a wealth of telling detail. This is crime fiction in an historical setting done to a fare-thee-well. I was sorry to come to the end, and I look forward to more from this author. When it comes, I hope it is narrated by Steven Boyer. He did a nice job of establishing the right energy for a story which demands a kind of fresh naivete in its presentation in order to capture us completely. Nice work!

7 people found this helpful

A Turbulent Time

I downloaded The Gods of Gotham because I really enjoyed Lyndsay Faye's previous novel, Dust & Shadow. That account of Holmes and Watson pursuing the notorious Jack the Ripper was riveting and if anything, Faye's latest is better. The characterizations are vivid, the plot twists unexpected and the story moves along at a crisp pace without ever feeling rushed or contrived.

The Gods of Gotham, set in 1845, tells the tale of Timothy Wilde, a former bartender who finds himself a reluctant member of New York City's newly-founded police force. Wilde finds himself embroiled in a grisly mystery in a city that not only has some resentment towards the police (dubbed "copper stars" because of their copper badges) but is beset by corruption and racial tension as irish catholic immigrants pour into the country, compelled by the great potato famine to look for a new start in the U.S.A. It's a rich background for a mystery story and the author brings the period to life.

Faye is on a roll and I can't wait for her next book.

Regarding the reading: when I began listening, I wasn't sure if Steven Boyer was going to be a good fit for the material but he quickly won me over. He deftly brings the characters and events of Faye's novel to life for the listener.

7 people found this helpful

If Jack Kerouac and Joseph Campbell had a daughter

Would you listen to The Gods of Gotham again? Why?

Yes. Which is quite rare for me. The characters and language are nuanced enough that I may get new insights from a second reading, and the turns of phrase are so good that I hope to be influenced by them.

What other book might you compare The Gods of Gotham to and why?

As the review title suggests, strong flavors of Jack Kerouac and of Joseph Campbell.
Timothy Wilde is not the sort of self-conscious intellectual Sherlock Holmes is, but his deductions are as subtle while often being more realistic.

Which character – as performed by Steven Boyer – was your favorite?

Timothy Wilde's voice feels to me exactly consistent with the writing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

"Birds chattering nonsense to each other" (setting up a deceptively cheerful sunrise).

There is a bit where a pastor, a wise and kindly man, not a bigot, describe Irish Catholics as a devout New York Protestant of that generation would have seen them. The author seems neither to endorse or condemn this perspective, but allows that character to be naturally himself. Characters are presented from their own perspectives, which has always been my favorite aspect of Quentin Tarantino and Shakespeare. We are not told what to think of them, even when the point-of-view character has strong opinions.

I have enjoyed Ms. Faye's excellent Sherlock Holmes pastiches, but she has made a qualitative leap with this book, and I am sure I will read everything she writes.

Any additional comments?

People who prefer the terse, journalistic style of Hemingway or Cormac Mccarthy may find Fay's style a bit rich. Her prose is as smooth and sweet as cherry cordials, with a thoughtful aftertaste which is for savoring, rather than meat and potatoes to be devoured in a businesslike way before returning to one's daily tasks.

6 people found this helpful