North River

Pete Hamill has written a wonderful book about New York City during the depression. Dr Delaney's wife has disappeared, his daughter took off to pursue the notion of being a revolutionary, and he has been left to deal with his patients and the lives he can save as well as those he cannot. And then one snowy day, his daughter leaves her son in Delaney's vestibule while she goes off in search of her husband who may be in Mexico or Spain or somewhere else entirely. So Delaney is left with the job of caring for his grandson who does not know him, is 2 years old, and scared at having been abandoned by his mother. Delaney hires Rose, a Sicilian woman, to care for Carlos, his grandson, so Delaney can continue ministering to his patients. What happens to Delaney and his newly formed little family forms the basis for the rest of this well-written book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about New York City and how things were during the depression. Hamill provides a history lesson without ever seeming to be the instructor in a classroom of New York City history. He also captures the hopelessness and helplessness of that time when there was no work but people got sick anyway, and men's frustrations often took themselves out on their wives. There's also a love story in North River as well as illustrations of loyalty and what that meant during the uncertain times in NYC's history. There is no huge fanfare in North River; just the continuing evolving story of Delaney and those in his world of mob connected individuals, prostitutes, policemen, and the never ending stories of the sick who always need his help. I loved Pete Hamill's observations on the city of NY and those who inhabited it during the 1920's. It's a very good story, very well told. It's a keeper.

I've always enjoyed Pete Hamill's writing and his ability to mix love, ambition and conflicts in a specific area or historical time. In this wonderful novel, we are in New York City during the Depression. People are poor, struggling, ill and seem to be waiting out these difficult years, The main character, Dr. Delaney, is dedicated to helping all who are ill, including gangsters and those who cannot pay the doctor but do not hesitate to call him to make a house call. Dr. Delany's wife, Molly, seems to have left him. She was filled with anger and depression and he could not please her. His young daughter, Grace, leaves her young boy in her father's vestibule for him to nuture until she can satisfy her immediate goal to find her errant husband. So starts the story of young Carlito, Dr. Delaney's grandson, the woman who cares for him and how this young boy inspires Dr. Delaney to improve his own health and balance his life. Pete Hamill's Dr. Delaney is smart, reads the classics and is more street-wise than one would believe, he can move through both worlds of the Irish and the Italians, The reader can feel his altruism from his morning patient care to his afternoon house calls. I did wonder why his wife and daughter did not appreciate his efforts which should have outweighed their anger at Delaney's enlistment in the war when Grace was an infant. We learn about how the Depression brought about depression in all aspects of daily life. This a love story, a history lesson and an upclose reality that the "good old days" were anything but.

Pete Hamill's writing is a joy to read. Sometimes you need to read a book where there is a happy ending. His descriptions of New York City during the Depression actually outshine his characters and his charaters are really portrayed magnificantly, especially his main characters. This is a good read, no high brow stuff here, meat and potatoes love story New York style. But it is a love story of many people on different levels, not just two people in love. This is one of the few books I read as I was reading it there was an actual picture in my mind of what was going on. Many books you read you would rather not have a picture of the action. Again no great revelations here but a heart warming love story, on many different levels. Read it.

In the 1930s Dr. James Delaney lives in Greenwich Village still suffering from battle fatigue syndrome as a medico during WWI. His life has recently been further shattered by the disappearance of his wife and their daughter Grace leaving for Mexico. Grace left behind her toddler Carlito so he hires illegal alien Sicilian Rose to care for his grandson. Meanwhile he provides medical treatment to his indigent neighbors; many of whom cannot pay him in cash so he accepts whatever they can remit including meals or in some cases just a thank you. When he saves the life of gangster friend Eddie Corso, another hood Frankie Botts makes it clear that the general practitioner made a big error. Delaney knows Botts cannot threaten him directly, but can hurt him through Carlito and Rose, the two people who have made him feel human again. On top of that the FBI demands he hand over Grace, who he has not been seen or heard from since she dumped her son on him. Soon life will become even more complex for James with a family reunion. NORTH RIVER is a terrific historical fiction that brings to life the Great Depression through predominantly the flawed James, who eighteen years after the Great war ended still suffers from the conflict. The story line is fast-paced and quite vivid as the audience can picture the impoverish masses living near the NORTH RIVER (New Yorkers' nickname for the Hudson). Pete Hamill is at his best with the deep look back at a bygone era starring a protagonist who learns to live again through the love of his grandson and the child's caretaker. Harriet Klausner

Because I have a huge "to read" pile, thanks in part to one-click ordering, I seldom reread books, but I have to make an exception with this one. The story and setting are both important and interesting, but the characters are what truly make this a memorable book. The two central ones, a doctor and a woman who comes to care for his grandson, are real people you want to believe in. You learn of their past, understand their present and hope for their future. In addition, there is a charming three-year-old boy, quiet and confused, but the catalyst to bring them together. This book is set in the city that Hamill knows so well, in a time before he was born, but it is nevertheless a story he creates with what must be his unique knowledge of the period in history. He never disappoints, and this is certainly one of his best. Incidentally, it would make a great movie, particularly if Martin Scorsese directs!