Dreamland

Rating:
Summary: An American classic
Review: This is a great book. It conjures up New York at the turn of the century in the same way that Larry McMurtry brought the Old West to life in Lonesome Dove. In fact, it probably is the most entertaining book that I have read since reading Lonesome Dove some fifteen years ago. And, just in case you think that this is only a "New Yorker's" book, it isn't. I hail from Texas and could not put it down.

Rating:
Summary: No Sweet Dreams
Review: Dreamland is a quick-step Ragtime. They are both novels that become chronicles of New York at the start of the twentieth century.

Dreamland displays an even wider focus than E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed work. Kevin Baker squeezes History and Fiction until it churns and seethes. In the excited, agitated, giant city of New York, colorful characters swirl within a slew of immigrants, all of them coming to a furious boil.

One of them, Trick the Dwarf, tells us at the start what ties the book together. " . . .A young man, the young woman who loved him, and a terrible villain -- A story about a death, and destruction, and fire . . . thieves and cutthroats . . . and a land of dreams."

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: For those of you who are fortunote to have seen Ric Burns' The American Experience documentary "Coney Island," you're in for a treat. Kevin Baker has managed to bring Coney Island, the Lower East Side and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory back to life.The fantastic and the grubbiness of New York is all here. For those who didn't see Burns' work, read the book and try to find someone who has a cpoy of the video. Neither will disappoint.

Rating:
Summary: A Glorious Dip Into the Cesspool of Old New York
Review: Centering around Coney Island's Dreamland amusement park at the turn-of-the-century, this book does a wonderful job of immersing you in the not so savory elements of life among New York's down and out. Prostitutes, pimps, sideshow freaks, and slimy politicians share the page with lowly tenement dwellers just trying to make it through another 18-hour shift at the factory. Anyone interested in soaking up historical atmosphere along with an engaging story will find some well-spent hours here. Also highly reccommended: Low Life, by Luc Sante - a classic of the genre. A non-fiction history of New York's Lower East Side, this book was undoubtably in the research bibliography for Dreamland. At once unbeatably sleazy and educational. Read both!

Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: I bought this book figuring that I'd get around to reading it eventually. I started reading a few pages and then couldn't put it down. I put my life on hold for three glorious days while I read it through. Thank you, Mr. Baker.

Rating:
Summary: Great in many respects
Review:
The drawbacks are that it is way too long, and to bring the reader all those pages and then to end it with a "well, I really don't know what happened to these characters.. who's to know?" is ultimately unsatisfying if not annoying! It does keep you there for all those pages... although at times the author goes a little overboard trying to impress you with his knowledge and facts (too many chapters are not necsry and way too showy... but I give the author credit for keeping the momentum going for..what was it.. 500plus? pages...

Rating:
Summary: Wallowing In Grimitude
Review: I thought reading "Dreamland" would be similar to my experience of reading "Ragtime", except on a much more epic scale, given the novel's length and depth. And it was, sort of. "Dreamland" is what you might get if you took "Ragtime" and made all of the characters really vicious and unpleasant. I always thought I was pretty cynical, but "Dreamland" made me feel positively Polyanna-ish. While I enjoyed the impressive amounts of historical detail and Baker's writing style, the author's preoccupation with the cruelties of life at that time seemed almost self-indulgent. Aside from the romance between Esther and Kid Twist, the reader is bombarded with an unrelenting series of scenes of cruelty, violence, horrific sexual abuse and animal torture, I get Baker's point--he's showing realism--life in New York at the turn of the century, and, in fact, in all of America, was harsh and brutal. People were reduced to their most base instincts to survive. But I beg to differ--a truly realstic portrayal would show both sides of human nature. If things were indeed as horrible as "Dreamland" seems to indicate, how did America ever get anywhere? Why didn't we all stay at a just-above-caveman level of development, stabbing and attacking each other for food, money and entertainment?

I think that the plotline that follows Esther through her involvement in bringing unions and improved working conditions to the women in the garment industries is supposed to show that, but I just kept getting mired down in all of the nastiness going on around her to ever feel encouraged or buoyed up. Don't get me wrong--I'm not the kind of reader who wants some sort of "feel good" novel, where everyone bounces happily throrugh life, la la la. But "Dreamland" goes too far in the other direction. It uses violence and cruelty as a bludgeon to the reader's more optimistic sensibilities until nothing is left but exhaustion and despair.

Then, after having plowed through the book, hoping I would come away with themes more meaningful than "life is bad and people are really mean" (I'd use more forceful language here, but then you'd never see this review!), what happens? The author provides us with one of those "fill in the blank" type chapters and lets the reader use his imagination! Huh? Do some characters get married and live happily ever after? Maybe they do! Or do they meet up with more torment and misery in a real-life historic tragedy? They might have! After all, it's just a story! (Though guess which option gets all the rhapsodic detail).

I think I would have used my time more wisely watching the Coney Island documentary on PBS.

Rating:
Summary: History of Coney Island comes alive...well, sort of.
Review: Kevin Baker's vision of early 20th century New York City is jam-packed with rogue characters in dicey situations: corrupt politicians, street gangsters, underground rat fights, cheap whores, dilapidated tenements, sweat-shop conditions of the garment industry, and side show entertainers of the Coney Island amusement parks. It is easy to be confounded by Backer's dense and lyrical descriptions; it's apparent that he accomplished more than his share of research to write this book. I really enjoyed reading about Esther Abramowitz and her adventures at work, home, and her secret lover on the Boardwalk. The descriptions of her Jewish parents and immigrant neighborhood were also noteworthy.

I truly adore a quality work of historical fiction that makes the past become alive in vivid colors and transports me to a different era. Unfortunately, DREAMLAND fell short of my initial expectations and was an overall disappointment. What attributed to the book's demise is the evident lack of focus; there were just too many subplots that stole the spotlight and distracted the reader. Some aspects appeared unnecessary such as the inclusion of Freud and Jung while others were opaque and off-putting. If Baker trimmed off the excess weight and improved his focus this book might have the potential to be greater than it is in its present state. There are some redeeming qualities in DREAMLAND; it's just unfortunate that you have to dig through so much muck to uncover it.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but...
Review: I couldn't make up my mind if it had no plot or too many plots. As a series of character studies or a glimpse into New York City history, it was a great book. I could've done without Jung and Freud visit America, and still am not sure what they added to the story, but I really got caught up in Esther's story. I have seen the "Coney Island" program by Ric Burns that was mentioned in the sources section, and this kept bringing me back to memories of that show.

Rating:
Summary: A Glorious Mess!!
Review: Read this book if you have eclectic tastes, love saucy descriptions, and want to revel in the work of writers who clearly love their work. It's rare that I read a book by someone and think, "I'd love to meet this guy." This is one of those times.

The historical details of Coney Island, New York, and the labor movement in in the early 20th century are masterful, not only in their (mostly) accurate portrayals, but in Baker's ability to keep it lively, centered, and completely entertaining. I wish this book would have spanned twice the page count.

Only four stars because there are lots of loose ends here and some scattergun artistic license (especially in the end), but I dare you to not have a good time with this book. I know I did, and I can't wait to read "Paradise Alley" next!