Customer Reviews

Greenwich

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Hate to say I wasted part of a Friday evening reading this book. Cardboard characters, the attempt to deal with huge issues in the space of a paragraph--totally unconvincing. I didn't even care whether or not the murder attempt was successful. My favorite scene was in the hospital when, supposedly devastated by his father-in-law's death, the writer was still able to wonder if his wife had had time to peruse his manuscript for the fourth time. I guess deciding not to ask right at the moment was real sensitive of him! And he was one of the good guys! Don't bother.

I really enjoyed several of Howard Fast's other books, but this one is a disappointment. Although many of the characters are interesting, and the setting is of special interest to me (since I grew up in Stamford, CT, only a few miles from Greenwich), the book fails to make the larger point that it is so obviously trying to make. It fails so badly that I'm not even sure what that larger point is. The book is also very clumsily edited. Misuses of words abound. Perhaps the worst example is when the author refers to Sally as a socially inept person who makes many "gaffs" when she speaks. A "gaff" is a piece of fishing equipment. Social errors are "gaffes." Mistakes like this distract from the story. Mr. Fast should go fishing for a better editor for his next book.

The plot is "thin" because Fast's characters are rather plain everyday people. If you thought this book was about the excessiveness of the Hamptons and its lively inhabitants --- forget about it. Howard Fast has spent his career writing about normal people whom become entangled within events that they cannot control or foresee. I recommend this book for readers who are interested about people and how they try to understand human nature without losing hope or faith.

I always enjoy reading Howard Fast. I read everything he publishes. Growing up in Greenwich, I was looking forward to a another good Howard Fast book about town I know. Unfortunately, he missed the mark in his usual writing style. The book never held my attention, It rambled on needlessly and had a very poor plot. It's almost like it wasn't written by him. My wife put it down after 50 pages. After such a wonderful beginning with books like The Immigrants and Second Generation, he should be embarrassed by this work. It ranks up there as one of the worst books I ever read.

While ordering "required reading" books,"April Morning" and "Freedom Road" by Howard Fast for my kids, I noticed Mr. Fast's new novel,"Greenwich", and bought it,too. What a stroke of luck! This is a fascinating thriller and, more importantly,it is a compelling challenge to the reader to examine his own moral and ethical standards in today's society."Greenwich" should be on the "Required Reading" list for every thinking reader!

In the begining when i started reading this book it was easy to read and get into. Then you start noticing the errors in the editing. It went very smoothly and was a quick read. And I found it to be interesting until the ending. The ending was very disappointing for me.

A book that can easily be read in one sitting, Greenwich is the intertwining stories of residents of Greenwich over several days. The characters are predictable, and easily put into their places in the plot. Fortunately, Howard fast makes them likable, or fleshes them out enough o have it all make sense. It moves very quickly and is a great book to sit by the pool and read.

This book was on my list of recommendations and it certainly sounded intriguing. I found, however, it to be completely undeveloped - the characters, the story - it rambled on incessantly and then poof! was over and I was extremely dissatisfied - what a waste of time (and the price of a hardcover!)

This was the first Fast book that I've read. I agree with the majority of the reviews that the story line and characters were thin. I was glad to finish the book so I could read something good by another author.

The novel within this novel deals with the collective guilt of worldwide atrocities, and seems to have a dramatic effect on its readers. Not so this book. It's more like Peyton Place on speed, with everyone self-destructing at the end. "Quick reading" is the best I can say about this novel. It has no weight, and it will probably make a dandy screenplay. I am writing this review within minutes after having finished it, because I am certain that by tomorrow morning I will have forgotten everything about it.