Rating: 
Summary: City of darkness would have been the more appropriate title
Review: When I started to read the novel I know it would be a sad story-the author made that clear from the first page on. However I thought I read a tale about female emancipation and empowerment in early 20th century. In that respect the novel was a total disappointment for me. The main character who started out so promisingly with her visionary views regarding female education and profession, empowerment of women and Afro Americans reveals herself to be a sham. She's not for equality because she's really persuaded of it or because she freely chooses independency and solitude over dependent Edwardian marital life-it's all the mere outcome of a string of unlikely events in her sad life. Laura is in fact far more dependent, (ab)used by others and obsessed with the mere outward appearance than the married women whose allegedly shallow and narrow existence and dependent lot she pities and thrives to better . Pity them for what? She should rather pity herself for she pathetically clings to the past, can't let go and is thus a thousand times more bound than the women whose lives she strives to better. How can she better other people's lives if her own life is in desperate need of repair? Herein lies the novel's irony. Laura's strength is only a façade to hide her fear from life that results in hapless passivity when it comes to her own concerns. Passive victims can have their literary merits because they often prove a certain point and are there for a certain purpose-mostly to reveal rotten social structures-like Anna Karenina for example. However I could not see quite the point in Laura's joyless and repressive existence. It proves nothing more to me than that moral cowardice isn't rewarded in the end. Was that the intention of the author? I somehow doubt it. Anyway the events in the book are too contrived and improbable to really prove a certain point. A more likely situation the heroine was put in would have enhanced the depth of the novel. Furthermore as the novel progressed I got the idea that Laura is not a victim but a quite sordid accomplice in her short fall from grace-regarding how she sees a certain person whose picture she keeps like a shrine on her desk, regarding how she acts in and views a certain situation which she strangely enough never acknowledges it the way the reader does. Despite her cleverness, advanced age and determination in life she inconsistently with her former character shows less resistance than a mere child in the face of a situation which would have required nothing more than some backbone, clear reason and true personal integrity which a morally integer, independent, well educated Victorian woman not in the first bloom of her youth such as Laura should have had. Also the way she so indulgently and understandingly treats that certain person is so beyond normal and credible human behavior that I began to see Laura as co-conspirator rather than victim. She sells her soul, dignity and integrity to the devil when the only thing at stake was outward respectability. This is all the more confusing since her submission could have resulted in even greater disrespectability anyway (and very nearly did). Since she was so clever and educated she could have easily seen that. Yet the allegedly so smart und educated headmistress prefers to take the great risk (for what I asked myself constantly)and be corrupt in private for no higher purpose than to avoid a possible public scandal, not much better than the bigots surrounding her. Her motivation is not wickedness though but cowardice. Understandable it might be, but it hardly endeared that character to me. I would have liked wickedness better. It's a far more interesting quality in a heroine. What makes it worse is that she uses that event as an excuse to keep herself from loving and living fully, she's desperately frightened of everything worthy in life and clings to all the wrong things instead. She does everything only half-heartedly-even her fall from grace is half-hearted. In this way she's indeed a victim obviously long before she is overcome by her past. She's obsessed with outward respectability (which enabled fate to put her in such a predicament in the first place) and keeping people at bay. The way she treats her allegedly beloved goddaughter made me doubt that she's able really to care for and love a person. Even Grace who should be the closest to her after the death of her best friend comes only second after her life as schoolmistress and the compulsive need to keep up appearances. Instead of truly and lovingly care for her she only thrives to salvage her goddaughter's reputation. Unconditional love would have been preferrable IMO. When she deals with people she supposedly likes or loves she always does so with a splinter of ice in her heart-the way she and others appear in public is always foremost on her mind. That might make her a realistic, albeit deeply conventional woman of her time without gumption but it also makes her appear slightly despicable for a proper façade -however rotten things are inside- is obviously everything to her. Was that the author's true purpose? I have my doubts. I rather think she meant that character to be sympathetic and integer, a victim of circumstances . For me however it was hard to understand such a repressed, fatalistic and dispassionate character.
The novel is very well written and researched, however some of the merely fictitious storylines involve real characters who are presented in a shady, unsavory light. Since this is not based on facts it's somewhat dubious to severely tarnish posthumously a reputation in the way the author does. Those historical figures might have successors who feel rightfully offended by that. If the novel has any positive messages I didn't get them. It was a bleak read. But it has wonderful potential for endless discussion therefore I give it three stars.
Rating:
Summary: At times compelling but rarely historical accurate
Review: From the prologue, which is written several years after the events the rest of the book will chronicle, you are warned that 700 pages hence, you will not be arriving at a happy ending, although you may still be surprised at how dismal it all turns out. This slow moving story tracks the unlikely adventures of a turn of the century spinster who is head of a prestigious girl's preparatory school in Buffalo. The general form of the book is to present an interesting bit of plot at the tale end of a chapter and then proceed to spend pages on dry historical information which bares little on the story before she manages to work in the next plot point. Examples of this are noting every single person and what they are wearing wherever she goes and it doesn't help that it seems she runs into every character in the book at each social function she attends. She also likes to explain the family relationships of characters who are never directly met by the heroine and have nothing to do with the story and endlessly detail the workings of power plants, which should have been interesting, but yet somehow she manages to drain all interest from the subject matter. About half way through the book the pace picks up although the author still can't restrain herself from such things as having her heroine pronounce right in the middle of suspenseful section that she needs a dark chocolate covered marshmallow bar and then has her head straight to the candy shop where she can spend several pages describing the shop and its contents. You get the distinct impression that the author had just read about candy at the turn of the century and had made a note to work it in. But remove all of the unneeded dull description and you are left with an interesting plot that is marred only by its strange and non-historical underpinnings. For some strange reason she presents a world in which power is supposed to be only for the factories and for the most wealthy and her main character actually believes will never be for the common people. What history books the author read, I have not a clue. Thomas Edison, the father of electricity stated as his public goal in the 1880s "to make electric light so cheap that only the rich will be able to burn candles." By 1900 about the time this book takes place there were already 25 million electric incandescent lamps in use and homeowners had been introduced to electric stoves, sewing machines, curling irons, and vacuum cleaners. While it would another 28 years before the nationwide powergrid was set up and a bit longer before electricity reached all of the rural communities, to suggest that turn of the century business men had an interest in withholding power form the masses is ludicrous. And to have the stories hero threatened because he proposed giving electricity away because it was the only way for the poor to ever get is totally outlandish and in fact has no basis in history. But this isn't the only unlikely plot points underpinning this book. One of the heroines suitors and the father of her god-child is so wealthy that he can afford to donate a million dollars and yet he is the employee of other men? Any man with that kind of money in those days would have been involved in his own ventures. And even worse to build a plot around such a wealthy man being threatened strains credibility. America was not Europe. If you had enough money, you were part of society. Most of the great wealth in America was new money and humble upbringing were the norm, not something to be whispered about once you had arrived. Beyond that she portrayed President Cleveland as a rapist and several other historical figures as the kind of monsters who would willing ruin a respectable young lady in order to secure the favor of a powerful man and then neglects to mention in her afterward what sources she used to arrive at these unflattering portrayals. Thankfully for the author, the dead can not sue her for libel .Leaving aside the dubious history you have a portrait of an unsympathetic women who gave up all of her dreams and goals due to circumstances arranged for her and in the end when she realizes it, she doesn't even care. Oddly satisfying but thoroughly depressing.
Rating: 
Summary: Softspoken but Shocking
Review: I loved this book! Lauren Belfer's novel, City of Light, is a beautiful work of literature. I had looked at this book on the store shelves for months now, and just now picked it up. I wish I hadn't waited so long! If you are doing the same thing, picking it up and putting it back on the shelf, STOP! BUY THIS BOOK! I was amazed at how quickly I was pulled into this amazing book. The story is told through the eyes of a young headmistress, Louisa Barret. She is softspoken, ladylike, and reserved, but her closet is overflowing with skeletons. She soon becomes involved in a series of murder investigations and learns that all is not as it seems in Buffalo New York. The story is amazing with twist and turns around every corner, all told in the quiet, softspoken voice of a turn of the century woman. GET THIS BOOK! IT IS AMAZING!! The last few pages alone are worth the cover price!
Rating: 
Summary: GENERALLY COMPELLING, WITH A SUSTAINED "FLOW":
Review: I really enjoyed the narrative style of this book, which albeit somewhat overly-descriptive at times, nonetheless succeeded in sustaining my interest throughout. I do believe a few of the many "players" could have been eliminated without detracting from either the essence of this story or its "flow." Keeping up with SO MANY characters as they materialized, "faded to black," and then reappeared some pages "down the road" became both confusing and challenging, particularly when coupled with the myriad sub-plots -- perhaps I SHOULD HAVE jotted down some names and brief descriptions of them as they were introduced. In terms of the depiction of the times and locale, Ms. Belfer did a comprehensive, effective job. Her main character, while generally interesting and introspective, is by turns equally naive and "weak" as concern mustering up the courage of her convictions in nearly each instance where such opportunity presents itself. However -- one must visualize the era, the "place" of women during same, and hence the inordinately high standard mandated by "society-at-large" for being deemed "socially acceptable" (eg., as a woman). Operating within such parameters, it seems quite plausible that the main character -- (given her station)-- would function precisely as she did. My PRIMARY quibble lies with the wrap-up of issues in general, and subsequently WHY the author opted to go that route. While I have to admit that her scenario "makes sense," yielding a logical finale, I PERSONALLY would have enjoyed something more satisfying here. I now apply the brakes for the sake of those who may be interested in reading this book, or haven't yet completed it.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and well written
Review: A delightful fiction based on American history. Excellent portrait of turn-of-the-century life in an industrial and politically prominent city, and a surprisingly easy read too. Always rich in details, has a slow but steady rhythm, unconventional in the fact that most surprises happen in the middle and not in the end of the book. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring,boring, boring
Review: I gave up on this book after sloggingthrough the first two hundred pages.I simply couldn't bring myself to careabout the self-righteous heroine and her problems. The pacing was glacial,even the details about the developmentof electricity at Niagara Falls weredull, and I just didn't care.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Historic facts...not enough plot to hold interest
Review: City of Light is a LONG book..684 pages long to be exact. I began to wilt around page 265. Too many characters, too many confusing sub-plots, controversies and injustices by the score, and not enough interaction between the main characters all add up to a disappointing read. This is not a mystery though that is what I had thought it to be when I bought it. I gave the book three stars because the author must have had to really delve into the research to learn everything she offered in the story. Major effort there. The main character is intriguing at first and the storyline seemed to be leading up to some interesting chapters...when the author seems to be overwhelmed by the historical events of this era and decides to drop each and every one of them into the story..much to a readers dismay. I read it to the end (truthfully I skimmed the last 200 pages) and then felt relieved when it was done and I could get rid of it. After all of the effort it took for me to finish the book the ending did not even tie up some loose ends. The main character was very ineffectual and weak. Wish it had been different.
Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: We read for book club. Quick read with a bit of interesting history of electricity. Most liked the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: If you're looking for a plot-driven, not-so-realistic murder mystery, this may not be for you. But if you love terrific writing, don't miss City of Light. The author captures the times perfectly, and gives a lot of interesting history, besides. The characters are well developed and 100% human (hence a "strong woman" is allowed to be vulnerable, too). This is one of the best new novels I've read in ages, and I can't wait for her next one. Don't let some of the negative comments here scare you away from this excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointment as big as Niagara Falls
Review: Lots of stories combine love, mystery, historical events and social commentary. Some even do it well.City of Light isn't one of them. Our heroine, Louisa Barrett, is supposed to be a strong-willed woman ahead of her late Victorian time. The men of Buffalo treat her with high regard, if not equality, attending her weekly "salon." This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that Louisa is a simpering twit who can't seem to put two and two together and come up with four. Her strength is nothing more than an ability to keep her composure - even at times when she should go after people with claws bared. Louisa's big secret is so obvious it's almost painful to watch the charade continue for pages on end. But the biggest disappointment is that each plot line: Louisa's future and her past, the future of her goddaughter, Grace and Grace's father, Tom, the mystery surrounding the deaths of two key people building the Niagara Falls power plant, all fizzle out. Our "strong-willed" heroine lets a murderer get off scott free and has almost no reaction to to revelation all that has happened to her for nearly the past decade has been through the machinations of the men she thought treated her with respect. Frankly, I would have preferred if she had kicked, cried and screamed. Instead, I just about threw the book against the wall. In short, don't waste your money.
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