Customer Reviews

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found myself immediately intrigued by the relationships of the many characters populating the book's locale, Brooklyn's Park Slope, a neighborhood of nineteenth century brownstones, whose exterior sameness Jennie Fields contrasts with the unique individuals that inhabit them. The dilemma of Zoe, the book's main character, torn between her commitment to her severely depressed husband, and her deepening attraction to her reciprocally smitten next door neighbor, drives the novel forward. And skillfully interwoven subplots, including Zoe's recurring struggle with her own irrational demon, kleptomania, made me feel as though I'd been allowed inside the characters' brownstone homes -- and at times even into their bedrooms -- to witness the hidden turmoil of their lives.

This book was a read that I accidentally came across because I was looking for Joy Fielding, but I thought I would give this book a try.

Boy was I not disappointed that I did. This is a story dealing with the struggles of the heart. Just becuase its wrong may be what makes it so right. A true love story,is it better to stay faithfull or live out your true desires. This book is filled with characters that you connect with instantly and you feel thier pain through each and every description that Jennie Fields gives you.

Even though I was late in getting my hands on this book, still a great read. I will definitely look for more of Jennie Fields work

I have to admit that I purchased this book 1) because my best friend from high school lived in Park Slope 2)because it has Brooklyn in the title and that's where I grew up 3) I felt nostalgic just looking at the cover. What a surprise it was to me when I finally got around to reading it. A thoroughly enjoyable love story with terrific descriptions of living in a "neighborhood" and all that that brings with it. It ended up to be one of my top 10 picks of the year.

This book was so unexpectedly beautiful and touching. A few of my friends had mentioned liking it, but I'd never heard of the author so I wasn't sure if I'd like it. Turns out the writing is poetic and sensitive, and the characters were so real to me, I couldn't put the book down. I cried at the end. What more could you ask for from a novel. I loved the theme of neighborhood and continuity too.

Jennie Fields does a great job of showing, rather than telling, this story; her artful writing draws in the reader and reveals everything gradually. I genuinely felt for the main character, Zoe, who has had a lifetime of hardship and pain, and who is still managing to cope gracefully. Reading about the budding romance between Zoe and Keevan filled me with anticipation -- it was absolutely delicious! Fields does an excellent job with the setting -- the descriptions are so vivid and accurate that they matched perfectly my memories of having lived in the same neighborhood. The story's subplots, too, were expertly woven. When I finished this book, I found myself thinking it would make a terrific film, if handled sensitively.

I bought this book for all the wrong reasons. #1. Because my best friend from high school lived in Park Slope, the setting of this book. #2. Because it had Brooklyn in the title. #3. I felt nostalgic just looking at the cover. What a surprise it was to me when I finally got around to reading it. A thoroughly enjoyable love story (not gushy at all) with terrific descriptions of living in a "neighborhood" and all that that brings with it. It ended up to be one of my top 10 picks in '98.

Like in her last book, Jennie Fields creates wonderful and interesting characters and involves the reader in their lives. What I didn't like were the sex scenes who were a little too explicit and of which there were too many. It kind of gave the book a trashy element which for me didn't fit this otherwise very moving novel.

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry is a great book for anyone who cares about neighborhood and continuity. It is set in Park Slope in Brooklyn, but its theme is universal. Jennie Fields has the knack for capturing the beauty of the neighborhood and the importance of its history. There is also some pretty sexy writing-- it is a love story, too.

I picked up this book because the story sounded interesting and its themes -- working class woman, the loss of child, caring for a depressed husband, the struggle between duty and love -- seemed compelling. What a disappointment!

The author threw so many issues that she made me wonder whether it was all a[n]... attempt to be chosen as a... [book club] book. Kleptomania, depression, illicit love, divorce, class issues, bigotry, death, the holocaust, emotionally abusive parents, self-esteem...All that and the kitchen sink, I mean, really! She also managed to trivialize almost all of the issues she attempts to tackle. For example, a chronically depressed husband who finds no help through doctors, medications, and even shock treatments suddenly wakes up from his worst depression yet when he realizes that his wife may be having an affair. Please, don't insult me.

And the worst thing: the love scenes are written so awkwardly that it made me embarrased for the author.

The only thing I did like was the descriptions of the neighborhood and some of the incidental characters that are mentioned only in passing. That being said, there are so many better books out there. Don't bother with this one.

Jennie Fields may know Brooklyn but she failed to do her research on her characters' backgrounds making the rest of the book totally unbelievable for me. Zoe, the main character, states in one chapter that she met her husband when they were students at the University of Southern California, but later says that they met in the library at UCLA when they were both students there. As Zoe is not portrayed as a compulsive liar, I can only assume that Jennie Fields doesn't know the difference between the two schools and didn't bother to check. This makes me wonder what else in her story is suspect. I realize that this book is a novel, but even novels must contain verisimilitude. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Ms. Fields' characters also failed to engage me; the dialogue was unnatural and the characters' motivations unrealistic.