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North River
North River
Author: Pete Hamill
One snowy New Year's Day, in the midst of the Great Depression, Dr. James Delaney--haunted by the slaughters of the Great War, and abandoned by his wife and daughter--returns home to find his three-year-old grandson on his doorstep, left by his mother in Delaney's care. — Coping with this unexpected arrival, Delaney hires Rose, a tough, d...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780316007993
ISBN-10: 0316007994
Publication Date: 6/4/2008
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 46

4.1 stars, based on 46 ratings
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed North River on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I absolutely loved this book. It's what I call one of my "comfortable" books. So well written and descriptive of the wonderful characters. I think that some books are just 'overdone'. The authors go on and on to the point where you are skipping many paragraphs out of pure boredom. I never felt this way reading "North River". Loved the beautiful characters and especially the Grandpa and his special little grandson sharing simple experiences that I still think about.
minipennie avatar reviewed North River on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
My new favorite author! Being a New Yorker it's refreshing to read about NY in a time that I could only imagine. You'll be transported there.
jscrappy avatar reviewed North River on + 59 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Dr, James Delaney wakes up one morning to discover his infant grandson, left by his estranged daughter, in a baby carriage on his doorstep. The sudden appearance of this baby in Delaney's life pulls him abruptly out of the sad routine of his life in the grim Depression world of 1934 Brooklyn, and into a world of new possibilities.

This is a quiet little story, full of details about the vanished world of 1930's-era New York City. I liked it, but didn't love it--the conflicts resolve a little too easily, and the characters are a little flat, especially the character of Delaney's daughter, who makes an unsatisfying appearance at the end of the book.

What IS appealing is the author's obvious love of the era and the city, and his portrayal of a grandfather and grandson getting to know each other.
Read All 10 Book Reviews of "North River"


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