A landmarked midtown Manhattan address. Carnegie Hall and Central Park at your feet. Three hundred units. Thirty-two full-time employees. Five hundred neighbors. You’ve hit the big time. Joined the elite. But what do you know about them, the neighbors? Have you ever met them? Really engaged with them? Or do you gaze down in the elevator, the same way you do on the subway and the street?Oh sure, … street?
Oh sure, you’ve heard a famous writer lives on the fourteenth floor, a retired US senator on the eighteenth. You’ve witnessed so many Broadway impresarios glide through the lobby you’ve lost count. But what about your real neighbors – the couple in 7H, for instance, or the family in 8B? Did you know they once harbored the most wanted fugitive in America?
No? It was in the papers for weeks; nearly tore the co-op apart. Even that famous writer on fourteen got involved. And all because an M7 bus side-swiped a resident-shareholder while turning down Seventh Avenue.
You’re busy? Oh, I’m sorry. Just thought you should know something about the co-op’s history. And buy more insurance, lots more; I’ve got a friend named Stanley.
FROM THE PREFACE:
It is perhaps unorthodox to declare a story which transpired 6-8 years ago in the country’s largest metropolis historical fiction but labelling it otherwise would be a deception. The election of a bilious talk show host to the world’s highest office, the NSA-sponsored surveillance, cataloging and storage of millions of Americans’ phone logs and recordings, the petulant, self-imposed withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU, the global contagion of anti-immigrant nationalism – no pundit could have predicted these developments in 2013. And no one would have believed him.
I intended this book as a work of contemporary fiction. It described, I think accurately, the city and world I lived in. Just six years have elapsed since its completion, but I might as well have described ancient China. The world and New York City of 2013 no longer exist. I hereby present, for better or worse, the world’s most contemporary historical novel.
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“Cooperative Lives” by Patrick Finegan begins when the city of Manhattan is hit by a huge power failure. One of the residents, who is already down on his luck, finds himself locked out of his apartment because of his dependence on technology. Glimpses are given in the lives of others who reside there during this time. As the story evolves, connections are made and there is a greater understanding of how the main characters are linked.
Each person has his or her own story to tell, and these stories reveal a great deal of their imperfections. As the author takes us further into the main plot, the links between the characters tighten even further which adds to the intrigue. The residents range from a famous romance novelist, to a lawyer, to a recently fired IT specialist whose wife was a friend of the CIA. The drama really takes off when an elderly investor’s error on the account of one of the resident’s is discovered. He assumed to have committed fraud. The stakes go even higher when the woman’s million-dollar account is emptied. Coincidences link two of the key players in this novel to the fraud. When the story goes public, it becomes even more convoluted because the men are immediately judged to be guilty by their peers in public, not in a court of law. One of the men works behind the scenes to clear their names. Their personal relationships also continue to be heavily impacted. This creates a great deal of tension in between the walls of this old building.
If you are looking to sink yourself into a good novel, “Cooperative Lives” would be an excellent choice. The author, Patrick Finegan, has done an amazing job of creating a complex contemporary story full of intrigue and suspense. The characters are eccentric and delightfully flawed. Their interactions are fascinating to view because they come from a variety of backgrounds, yet their lives all lead them to be living together in this building at this particular moment in time.
I have often driven by huge high rises in New York and wondered about the people who live inside them. Finegan helps feed my musings, because his people are very real, and their motivations are all strikingly different from each other. Secrets from the past reveal many truths that would be better off left unsaid in the real world, however, in the world of fiction, they make for a great story!
I highly recommend reading “Cooperative Lives” by Patrick Finegan. I also recommend doing so slowly as the timelines flow out of order, so you have to pay attention. The author does this intentionally to tell his story – pay attention so you don’t get lost! “Cooperative Lives,” will stay with you long after you put it down.
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
27th July, 2019
TITLE: Cooperative Lives
AUTHOR: Patrick Finegan
Star Rating: 5
CATCHY QUOTE
‘A literary work of art. A look at life and how it was; how, in many ways, it still is. Very enjoyable.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
This novel is a rich tapestry, strong on character – and range of characters – and almost as strong on plot. Set in New York only a few years ago, it is a story written with a gold-tipped pen; a story full of complex characters, many, if not all of them, inherently imperfect and distrustful of others. And, I must say, I enjoyed it very much.
The reader is introduced to a large number of characters – you will have to work a little to keep on top of who is who – and a cleverly written, complex plot. All of the characters, even the secondary, jump off the page. So much so, I was sympathising with many and rooting for the rest. The plot looks at many different topics, from family secrets to love, from loss to the agony of divorce. It is a story of sentiments and feelings; a story of how what we do can effect so many others.
Is there a plot? Yes, there is. It’s in there. But if you are looking for a plot-driven story, this is probably not for you. But what you will find is a host of splendidly-developed characters that will not only fascinate you but will also force you to think. There’s a lot of commentary hidden in here, on how the world works or, indeed, how it’s not working. But the author’s sly and has such competent writing skills, he can put over his message without the reader ever feeling overwhelmed.
The author, Patrick Finegan, works particularly well with setting. He understands how important it is not to just simply describe the setting but, rather, have the characters interact with it in a natural and unobtrusive way. There’s a lot of imagery here as the author, very successfully, helps the reader to get to know the New York setting.
So, to sum up, do I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely! If you enjoy a ‘thoughtful’ tale, the sort of story that keeps you guessing, a story populated with well-constructed characters, then this is for you. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I’m now going to recommend it to my husband.
I so love it when I discover a new author to enjoy!
Editing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
To Sum Up: A gripping, character-driven novel.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
http://www.thewsa.co.uk