Publication
Delta (2003), 503 p.
Original publication date
1999-05-11
Collections
Subjects
Description
The exploitation of Niagara Falls to generate electricity leads to a murder involving members of Buffalo's ruling class. The heroine is a high-society school teacher who investigates and through her eyes is seen the conflict between industrialists and environmentalists of the day. A first novel.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kasthu
Set in Buffalo, New York, in 1901, City of Light is told from the point of view of Louisa Barrett, a 36-year-old spinster and the headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school in town. She is extremely modern, almost to the point of yawning, and her progressive views on girls’ education and the
This novel was a little confusing. At some points it’s a murder mystery; at others, it’s social commentary; at others the novel focuses more on the technological and political issues of the day. It’s as though the author conducted tons and tons of research on her subject (by no means a bad thing) and she decided that she just had to get it all in. Everything about the use of electricity is detailed, so much so that I became bored by the author’s descriptions of every single little thing.
Another thing I couldn’t stand about this novel is the main character. She’s full of contradictions: she’s modern and progressive and has salons at her home that are attended by all the notables of Buffalo. She’s also concerned about appearances; on the other, she encourages people to think that she’s got a “Boston marriage with her friend.” She’s strong and independent, but she allows something to happen to her that basically makes her a victim in the situation, that basically goes against the character the author created in the first 400 pages.
The plot had a lot of potential, but there were some serious holes; and there were some twists that were interesting but not particularly skillfully revealed (I could see the twist about Grace coming from a mile away). I liked the premise of the book, but there were some major flaws about the book that couldn’t get me seriously interested in the plot or the characters. It’s too bad, because there’s a lot of promise here.
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position of women in society in general got to be wearying after a while. The novel starts with a sensational murder connected to the power plant that’s owned by Louisa’s best friend Tom.This novel was a little confusing. At some points it’s a murder mystery; at others, it’s social commentary; at others the novel focuses more on the technological and political issues of the day. It’s as though the author conducted tons and tons of research on her subject (by no means a bad thing) and she decided that she just had to get it all in. Everything about the use of electricity is detailed, so much so that I became bored by the author’s descriptions of every single little thing.
Another thing I couldn’t stand about this novel is the main character. She’s full of contradictions: she’s modern and progressive and has salons at her home that are attended by all the notables of Buffalo. She’s also concerned about appearances; on the other, she encourages people to think that she’s got a “Boston marriage with her friend.” She’s strong and independent, but she allows something to happen to her that basically makes her a victim in the situation, that basically goes against the character the author created in the first 400 pages.
The plot had a lot of potential, but there were some serious holes; and there were some twists that were interesting but not particularly skillfully revealed (I could see the twist about Grace coming from a mile away). I liked the premise of the book, but there were some major flaws about the book that couldn’t get me seriously interested in the plot or the characters. It’s too bad, because there’s a lot of promise here.
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LibraryThing member Swampslogger
Title: City of Light
Author: Lauren Belfer
The setting for this novel is Buffalo NY, close by Niagara Falls and environs. It is the turn-of-the-century and the huge kinetic energy of the Falls is being harnessed to provide electricity. Buffalo is enjoying robust growth and prosperity due to its
The heroine of the story is Louisa Barrett, headmistress of the private Macaully school for girls. The mysterious death of a world-famous electrical engineer casts shadows of doubt over several prominent citizens of the city. Then another death heightens the drama.
Macaulley girls are given the incentive to be independent thinkers and encouraged to realize their highest potential. Louisa Barrett is very liberated for a lady of those times.It is definitely not a prep school for Stepford wives. The young darlings however are not immune to danger.
Many historical personalities play a part in the story. The emergence of the many uses of electricity and how it is controlled and exploited is interesting to realize in this latter day of advanced electronics.
Several unexpected twist in the plot keep the reader on the edge. I think the story is well-written and enjoyable reading.
Author: Lauren Belfer
The setting for this novel is Buffalo NY, close by Niagara Falls and environs. It is the turn-of-the-century and the huge kinetic energy of the Falls is being harnessed to provide electricity. Buffalo is enjoying robust growth and prosperity due to its
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location at the eastern terminus of Lake Erie. Second only to Chicago as an inland seaport, Buffalo links the heartland of America to the East Coast via the Erie CanalThe heroine of the story is Louisa Barrett, headmistress of the private Macaully school for girls. The mysterious death of a world-famous electrical engineer casts shadows of doubt over several prominent citizens of the city. Then another death heightens the drama.
Macaulley girls are given the incentive to be independent thinkers and encouraged to realize their highest potential. Louisa Barrett is very liberated for a lady of those times.It is definitely not a prep school for Stepford wives. The young darlings however are not immune to danger.
Many historical personalities play a part in the story. The emergence of the many uses of electricity and how it is controlled and exploited is interesting to realize in this latter day of advanced electronics.
Several unexpected twist in the plot keep the reader on the edge. I think the story is well-written and enjoyable reading.
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LibraryThing member picardyrose
Annoying character -- every man in the story and even a lesbian fell for her -- but fine job with time and place.
LibraryThing member RPerritt
I liked this book but I did not really love it. For one, it was too long. The terminology in it was a little difficult for me and I am not what I consider a stupid person. I do like that it was based on factual information. It had a surprise ending, which I like in a book. I do not think that I
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would rush out to read another book by this same author. Show Less
LibraryThing member kateiyzie
Historical novel of Buffalo, Niagra Falls, and electricity. Quiet, but always interesting. Strong female headmistress inspired me.
LibraryThing member nycxile
Electrification of Niagara Falls. History, controversy, American ideals in 1901. Morals, community, social conscious
LibraryThing member bruneau
Intriguing. I enjoyed this turn-of-the-century (previous turn) novel for what it really is. Ignore the misleading USA Today review (on the book cover) which claimed it to be a "remarkable blend of murder mystery, love story, political intrigue, and tragedy of manners," as the book could disappoint
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if approached from any of those perspectives. Rather, it works perfectly as a whimsical portrait of life in what was poised to become the greatest modern city on earth (Buffalo), showcasing human nature with all of its foibles. One aspect of the books ends as if the author ran out of paper, but it is irrelevant as a portrait has no beginning or end. Show Less
LibraryThing member samsheep
A nice chunk of historical novel about 19th Century Buffalo and the coming of electricity. It was interesting but good without being great. Perhaps a little overlong and plot a little unsatisfying?
LibraryThing member pascoejm
early 1900s, Niagra power just starting up, women in society. Interesting read, but not a keeper. Plan to share book with others.
LibraryThing member Griff
Being from Buffalo, it was a joy to read about my city at the turn of the century - at the time of the Pan American Exposition of 1901. Familiar names (national and local), familiar landmarks, familiar history. The story eventually brings together that history and the central character, Louisa
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Barrett. The descriptions of the era are well written, allowing me to see and feel Buffalo at the height of its national prominence. The energy and turbulence of the time and place is also well captured. Again, being from the area likely colors my perception, but others will certainly enjoy this solid first novel. I recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member tsisler
This is a very good piece of historical fiction. It's part murder mystery, part intrigue, and a large helping of a tragedy of manners. Being from NY and having a family that loves the falls, I really enjoyed the facts that are incorporated into this novel.SPOILER:The characters are very engrossing
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and the reader is taken on a trip of hope and disappointment with the many female characters. Although feeling anger for and being appalled by the injustice, and as much as I would have liked to see a happy ending, perhaps it's a good that we're reminded of the realities of the past so that we know how far we've come, what that has taken, and the importance of continuing to move forward. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I love novels that are a mix of genres, and the back of this book billed it as a mix of murder mystery, romance and historical fiction--set in the Buffalo, New York of 1901. The story is told by Louisa Barrett, a progressive thirty-something headmistress of an elite girls school for the daughters
The narrative flowed well, and Belfer was good at conjuring up both the opulent wealth and squalid poverty of the Gilded Age. However, I soon found myself irritated by the heavy handed left-wing pieties and platitudes about this period. I rolled my eyes when I hit the passage from Fiske about electricity belonging "to the people" and after that was sure where the so-called mystery was headed. Before many more pages after that I just headed to the back and checked, and I wasn't wrong. Too annoyingly predictable with clanging anvils streaming behind.
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of the wealthy and powerful. She's close to the wealthy Thomas Sinclair, the adoptive father of nine-year-old Grace. (I guessed the so-called secret of her birth and parentage as soon as she was mentioned. I think Belfer would have done better to hang a lantern on it from the beginning rather than endlessly, heavily hint. Well, half-guessed, and the other half is just too ridiculous.) Louisa is quick to suspect Sinclair when a man he argued with is killed. Far too quick--even though she claims to be close to the Sinclairs and there's no good reason to believe the death isn't an accident. Soon her help is recruited by reporter Franklin Fiske. The narrative flowed well, and Belfer was good at conjuring up both the opulent wealth and squalid poverty of the Gilded Age. However, I soon found myself irritated by the heavy handed left-wing pieties and platitudes about this period. I rolled my eyes when I hit the passage from Fiske about electricity belonging "to the people" and after that was sure where the so-called mystery was headed. Before many more pages after that I just headed to the back and checked, and I wasn't wrong. Too annoyingly predictable with clanging anvils streaming behind.
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LibraryThing member horomnizon
Didn't pass the 100 page test for me. Sat it down and had no desire to pick it back up. The 'murder mystery' aspect didn't even sway me.
LibraryThing member pdill8
Was so enjoying the descriptions of the setting that I could have ignored the cliché characterizations if it weren't for the embarrassingly silly plot twists. I wanted to like it so much but I just couldn't.
LibraryThing member pennsylady
The setting is 1901 in Buffalo New York
Hydro-electric power development at nearby Niagra Falls and the grand Pan-American Exposition are backdrops in this historical drama-mystery.
Louisa Barrett is our focal character.
It is interesting how with the resolution of one situation, new "secrets" seems
4* good read
Hydro-electric power development at nearby Niagra Falls and the grand Pan-American Exposition are backdrops in this historical drama-mystery.
Louisa Barrett is our focal character.
It is interesting how with the resolution of one situation, new "secrets" seems
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to evolve.4* good read
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LibraryThing member MystereityReviews
Read this a few years ago and enjoyed it, a well crafted mystery and a familiar setting for me.
LibraryThing member memccauley6
Although the writing was technically perfect, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was reading an almanac or tourist guide of Buffalo, New York made into a novel. Add to that the first person narration by a character I found to be unsympathetic and unrealistic… let’s just say that I was not
The very detailed rape scene at the hands of a former president (confirming the painfully predictable plot) was the final straw… I could not make myself finish.
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enthusiastic about finishing.The very detailed rape scene at the hands of a former president (confirming the painfully predictable plot) was the final straw… I could not make myself finish.
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LibraryThing member LauGal
City of Light is a journey back in time in Buffalo at the turn of the century. Buffalo was the 8th Industrial city at the time. A time of promise and the future and all things possible. (not in 2008). This story combines issues of women, immigrants, new technology and the magic of simple but
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promising times.A worthwile read. Show Less
LibraryThing member christinejoseph
very good historical fiction. A little slow and an unbelievable ending
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
As a 36 year-old spinster Louisa Barrett is the headmistress of a well-to-do boarding school and she harbors a dark secret. While she is trusted and beloved by her community she is a contradiction in character. It's this contradiction that makes her human and extremely likable. She worries about
City of Light is one of those books I like to call a "location" book. It brings the sense of a particular place to reality. For City of Light that place is Buffalo, New York and its famed Niagara Falls. Set in the early 1900s this is a period piece. A time when women barely held a place in society beyond practiced restraint and stiff decorum. City of Light is also an environment versus science debate as the development of a hydro-electric plant threatens to drain Niagara Falls of its rushing waters for the sake of lighting Buffalo and beyond. Set against the political and environmental debates of the era City of Light is also a mystery as two men are found dead under suspicious circumstances. It is hard to ignore they were both prominent men, connected to the power plant. Yet, no one can prove with absolute certainty they were murdered. Finally, City of Light is a nontraditional love story. Louisa learns the best way to love is to let go.
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propriety and yet goes out of her way to create confusion about her personal life. She's modern and yet knows her place in society when dealing with members of the opposite sex. At the height of Louisa's tenure as headmistress Buffalo, New York is going through a metamorphosis. The husband of her late best friend owns a power plant that, by using nearby Niagara Falls, promises to light the entire region. Environmentalists are up on arms over the draining of the falls and suddenly people start dying. Somehow, Louisa finds herself in the middle of the mess. It's her secret that has her tied to the drama.City of Light is one of those books I like to call a "location" book. It brings the sense of a particular place to reality. For City of Light that place is Buffalo, New York and its famed Niagara Falls. Set in the early 1900s this is a period piece. A time when women barely held a place in society beyond practiced restraint and stiff decorum. City of Light is also an environment versus science debate as the development of a hydro-electric plant threatens to drain Niagara Falls of its rushing waters for the sake of lighting Buffalo and beyond. Set against the political and environmental debates of the era City of Light is also a mystery as two men are found dead under suspicious circumstances. It is hard to ignore they were both prominent men, connected to the power plant. Yet, no one can prove with absolute certainty they were murdered. Finally, City of Light is a nontraditional love story. Louisa learns the best way to love is to let go.
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LibraryThing member nordie
Enjoyable story, not only about the building of the new Niagra falls power station, the racism and sexism dealt towards people, but also a detective story surrounding the deaths of several of those involved in the power station
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780385337649
Physical description
503 p.; 5.2 inches
Other editions
City of Light by Lauren Belfer (Digital audiobook)
Pages
503