Set in the New York City of the early 1930s, "North River" is the story of a struggling family doctor whose wife walked out on him years before. His unpredictable daughter, who married a Mexican socialist, abandons her 2 year old son on his doorstep so she can gallivant around the world trying to find her own missing husband. Dr. Delaney needs help, so he hires Rose, an Italian immigrant who seems competent to be given primary responsibility for the care of a his suddenly acquired grandson. He has also saved the life of an old friend from the Great War, who is now a gangster - making other gangsters put him in their sites if he can't tell them where his friend is.

This was one of those books that I mostly enjoyed up to the very end, when it disappointed. Primary reason: the whole saga of the gangsters was, in the end, just pointless filler. Pull it all out and you would have a much shorter book telling exactly the same major story. I kept expecting an exciting culmination of the gangster element to wrap up the novel, but that story just puttered quietly to a stop.

The real plot is the s-l-o-w-l-y developing romance between Dr. Delaney and Rose. Both are extremely cautious about allowing the blossoming of any relationship other than doctor/granfather and his hired nanny/housekeeper.

Read Hamill's "Snow in August" instead. ( )

Never read a Pete Hamill novel before. Liked it, but not exactly my usual kind of book. Made depression-era lower Manhattan seem a little more real. ( )

North River🍒🍒🍒
By Pete Hamill
2007
Little Brown

Dr Delaney, haunted by memories of war, is a devoted and compassion physician, ministering to many who can not pay, gangsters, prostitutes and gang members.
Living alone after is wife Molly disappears, he returns home one day to find a baby in a basket on his doorstep. A note reveals it is only daughters son, Carlito, she is unable to take care of. Delaney hires a Sicilian woman, Rosa to help with the baby. Carlito and Rosa warm this lonely, sad man into a new vibrancy and love.
This takes place is 1930s New York, during the great depression, a time of Roosevelt and Tammany. His setting are so beautiful and sweeping, it was my fave part of the book.
I really like Dr Delaney, too!!
Although I loved Delaney and the dramatic setting, I found this a bit dry and lagging in place.
Recommended with a So-So rating. ( )

Delaney is a Doctor in NYC during the depression years. He served in WW1 and was injured. He said if he survived he would only work with the very needy and poor. His wife drowned in the North River, his daughter left to chase a loser and left the 3yr. old for him to care for. That is the basis of this story. I will read more from this author. ( )

North River🍒🍒🍒
By Pete Hamill
2007
Little Brown

Dr Delaney, haunted by memories of war, is a devoted and compassion physician, ministering to many who can not pay, gangsters, prostitutes and gang members.
Living alone after is wife Molly disappears, he returns home one day to find a baby in a basket on his doorstep. A note reveals it is only daughters son, Carlito, she is unable to take care of. Delaney hires a Sicilian woman, Rosa to help with the baby. Carlito and Rosa warm this lonely, sad man into a new vibrancy and love.
This takes place is 1930s New York, during the great depression, a time of Roosevelt and Tammany. His setting are so beautiful and sweeping, it was my fave part of the book.
I really like Dr Delaney, too!!
Although I loved Delaney and the dramatic setting, I found this a bit dry and lagging in place.
Recommended with a So-So rating. ( )