Rating: 
Summary: New York in microcosm
Review: I've seen several movies and read several books about life in New York around this time, but none of them are as full of life and wonder as Kevin Baker's "Dreamland".Baker's description of turn of the century New York and Brooklyn, as well as the people who populate them, is full of color, intrigue, and emotion. All of the people he describes are fully realized individuals, from Trick the Dwarf and Gyp the Blood (don't you love those names?) down to Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, who did indeed visit the US around that time for a series of lectures. My personal favorite in Baker's collection of characters is Big Tim Sullivan, one of the high muckety-mucks in New York's Tammany Hall political machine - and boy, does he have character. To be sure, Baker's description of him is full of a lot of the old Irish stereotypes - but you still can't help liking the guy, for the simple reason that his heart is in the right place (well, most of the time, anyway). The only flaw in Baker's tale is his description, toward the end of the book, of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. That lacked much of the emotion and punch of the rest of his story. I'm eagerly looking forward to Baker's next book.
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: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Not at all disappointing...but fascinating!
Review: This was an incredible book, filled with fascinating details of the early 20th century and set in lower Manhattan and on Coney Island. All the characters were intriguing, from the cruel Gyp the Blood to the romantic but cynical Trick the Dwarf to the stoic yet ill-at-ease-in-America Freud. The stories were different and yet similar, starting off apart and weaving together in time. Yes, the book was long, but I wish it could have been longer. Kudos, Kevin Baker!
Rating:
Summary: Dreamland is a fun and frightening novel
Review: With key characters named Trick the Dwarf, Kid Twist, Gyp the Blood and the Mad Carlotta, it is tough not to become enthralled by this book. The author does an outstanding job of placing you in New York at the turn of the last century and the sights, sounds, and smells of lower Manhattan, Coney Island, and the Bowery make this book come to life. Several key chapters are so compelling, I read them over and over to ensure I got every last nuance. The introduction of historical fact as part of the story is an interesting device that worked well and led me to do further reading on early theme parks, gangland life in New York, and the origins of the labor movement. This is one of the better works of fiction I have read lately and I am not the least bit disturbed that a film adaptation is already in the works.
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