"New York, 1868: Beatrice, a young Irishwoman, is a 'hot-corn girl', selling corn-on-the-cob to passers-by, and picking their pockets into the bargain. 'Georg', a German Immigrant arriving in Manhattan on the run from a scandal - or perhaps a crime - back in his native Hamburg, becomes a stableboy, tending circus-owner Barnum's menagerie, until he is framed for an arson attack and finds himself once again on the run.
He falls into the hands of the Whyos, Beatrice's gang, with whom he is reborn as an Irish Labourer before being led to take a job as a sewerman, unaware of the part in crime the gang have in mind for him. As he begins to fall in love with Beatrice, whom the Whyos have selected to teach him to pass as an Irishman, all seems well, until the gang's leader chooses Beatrice as his First Girl and their criminal plans begin to become clear..."

Again, another book I had nearly bought when I first saw it but could justify at the time. I tried to read 'The Gangs Of New York' after I had seen the Francis Ford Coppola film, but found it too heavy going. This novel, I hope, will fill in some gaps in my education of American History - even if it is fiction! Another 99p bargain from Oxfam :)

I think they used to call this kind of story 'a sprawling epic'. It was a good read, the characters were really alive and the plot - complicated at times - did flow well. Every scrape the main male protaganist got himself involved with I was wondering 'how on earth is he going to walk away from that?!' not least a fall from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge whilst he was employed in building it!
A feel a ring coming on....

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to thegoaliegirl in Seattle, WA, USA as a RABCK. It's on her wishlist.
Happy Travels not-so-little book and Enjoy Mandi :)

Book arrived while I was in Mexico. Can't wait to start reading it!

What an amazing book. At first I was daunted by the size of the book, but then found that I couldn't put it down. I really felt like I was there in NY at that time period. I loved it! I would highly recomend this book to anyone and everything. Thanks for shating with me! I loved it! This was just wonderful!

Would like to turn this book into a book ray. I'm trying to make an effort to keep those books moving, esp those that I didn't register. I really enjoyed this book and would like the chance for other people to enjoy it as well.

To help ensure that things run smoothly (or that is the plan anyhow), I've put together a few rough guidelines for this one. I know that some people take longer to read a book (busy, got a bunch of books to read before, work, etc)...

1. Please try to have this book read within 3 weeks. I know this isn't possible, but if you make an effort to try that is all I can ask.

2. Please journal when you receive the book.

3. When about halfway through, please contact the next person on the list for their mailing address.

4. Please journal again when you've read the book and it is on its way.

5. Have fun! Reading is supposed to be fun!

6. To the last person in the ray: Please keep this book moving... RABCK it, give it to a friend, etc... just please keep it moving once you're done reading it. Thanks!


Sending order:
livingbooks, Canada (US/Canada) *skipped*
perryfran-MD (International) **towards end**
WestofMars-PA ***last*** <---book is here

If interested, please PM with your location and shipping preferences. I'll PM back. If you don't hear from me after a few days, then I didn't get your PM. My computer isn't set up yet due to lack of space in my current location, so I have to check my email at work. If you don't hear from me right away, please be patient. Thanks!

Book went out today to perryfran to start this ray.

Received today - looking forward to reading this. Thanks for including me in this bookray. I have a couple of books in front of this but hope to get to it soon.

---

Update 11/23/07: Started reading this today. Very good so far!

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel of 19th century New York. It was very Dickensian and reminded me a lot of Oliver Twist -- Undertoe was very similar to the menacing character Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist and he like Bill received his just desserts in the end. I did have some difficulty buying into the way the gang communicated through singing or "Whyoing" -- a little hard to believe. But otherwise, I really thought the author captured the feel of old New York and the story was obviously well-researched including Barnum's entertainment, the city sewers, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the gangs. She also based many of her characters on real-life people including Elizabeth Blackwell who was a professor at the radical Women's Medical College. A very enjoyable read - I was sorry to see it end.

Sorry it took me a while to get to this. I had a few other bookring books in front of it. I have Westofmars' address and will get the book in the mail tomorrow.

RELEASE NOTES:

In the mail tomorrow to WestofMars in Bradfordwoods, PA

Enjoy!

USPS DC# 0306 1070 0005 5934 2238

Ooh, it's here and I'm excited. I wish I could say I'll read it now, but I've got a few ahead of it, so unless it comes on vacation with me, it'll be here awhile, I'm afraid.

I'll do my best.

Thanks, everyone!