So many interesting components for a three star read. A favorite was reading about Grand Central Terminal. Built in true Vanderbilt style, what a remarkable building ~ so much more elaborate than an ordinary train station. A city within a city and all, of course, beautifully designed. We'd expect nothing less!! It's kind of sad to learn that it's the last building remaining commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt. What a legacy to leave tho. As so many books do, it inspired a look at online images to get a better feel of the books setting. I was not disappointed.
Another unique component of the book involved 'Manhattenhenge" ~ an ingenious word coined after the infamous Stonehenge monument. Twice a year the sunrise & sunsets align perfectly to stream thru the walls of NYC skyscrapers just as it would thru a splice in a standing stone. I was aware of the phenomenon thru news coverage but it's not something widely talked about (at least to my knowledge outside of NYC.)
Finally the aspect I initially thought would be most appealing about the novel was the time travel element. But can it really be called that? I honestly don't know what the correct word is for someone who is dead but NOT? I don't think "paranormal" is right and time travel between the realms of life and death doesn't seem quite correct either? It's intriguing to ponder the notion that someone could exist in what Nora termed a nebulous kind of "grey area" and have the ability to be resurrected under optimal circumstances. I'm still trying to decipher my thoughts about that...
Despite these elements, the story was only okay for me. I honestly didn't care for the relationship between Joe and his sister in law and the ending was less than satisfactory. I understand the authors angle because of the long term impossibility of Joe and Nora's relationship but as a love story the resolution seemed drastic and one sided.
A light, fast read just nothing stellar.
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