City in Amber

Our book group recently read City in Amber. To a person, all nine of us were awestruck by Jay Atkinson's masterful storytelling talents, even before we learned that he dedicated a decade of his life to researching the context of his story: Lawrence, MA. Clearly, the author's extensive knowledge of this old mill city and its inhabitants for over 100 years inspired him to weave together a compelling plotline and believable characters. It's been over three months since I finished City in Amber. While the reading of the novel engaged me for several days, remarkably, I am still thinking about it. Since the story reveals the interconnectedness of the work and relationships of a few families over several generations, I began to wonder about the unknowns in my own family's history. Never before have I considered that my grandfather's toil on a poor Irish farm may have shaped who I am today, over a century later. Similarly, I wonder how did the New York work lives of my immigrant grandparents-- a merchant, a truck driver, and a textile worker--affect what I have become. Of course, our individual destinies, like those of the characters in the book, are shaped by family, social status, relationships, war, change, work, technology, and our unique "time" Never before reading City in Amber did I consider that I have received much more than DNA from my ancestors. If you want an engrossing book whose impact will remain with you, even months later, read City in Amber.

As a native Lawrencian, I was eager to read this book. The familiarity of the setting added a bit of extra enjoyment, but the real pleasure was in the interesting and vivid characters. The novel alternates between current and historical time periods in the city of Lawrence, MA. The movement between the time periods is flawless. Nothing is lost in the transition and the reader looks forward to seeing what will happen next. A unique and enjoyable read!

A local author, who is passionate about his subject, Jay gives us both a historical and a modern view of the city so close to many of us in New England. The story is compelling...who doesn't love to pick up a book that calls us back to "find out what happens next"? And you are left with not only a sense of how a city came to be, but a feeling that Lawrence is at a tipping point in the next phase of it's rich and interesting history. A must-read for anyone that knows Lawrence, even if only slightly, and all who seek to understand the ups and downs of our towns and cities of New England. An unexpectedly great read.

This is an amazing story, at times heartbreakingly sad and then suddenly hilarious. The characters became very real to me and evoked true emotion. Ultimately I found "City in Amber" to be much more than a chronicle of Lawrence's history. It is as much a chronicle of the human condition; good vs. evil, the choices we make and even the choices we allow others to make for us and of course... the consequences. Once I'd started this book I found myself grabbing every spare minute I could find to read and then thinking, almost obsessively, about the characters and story until I could get back to it again. I loved this book and suspect you will too. Don't wait, treat yourself and buy "City in Amber" now.