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Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Escaping the narrow, wealthy life she led in Manhattan, Zoe Finney moves her family to Park Slope, Brooklyn, an area of beautiful old brownstones where working-class families have lived for generations.A poor girl who married into money, Zoe finds comfort in the close-knit neighborhood.She hopes the change will reinvigorate her profoundly depressed husband and provide a happy place for her small daughter, Rose, to grow. But her arrival there alters the lives around her, especially the handsome schoolteacher next door, Keevan O'Connor, who is deeply drawn to her. Despite Zoe's initial hesitation, they begin to fall in love. Rose is thrilled, recognizing in Keevan the warm, fun-loving father hers could never be. But when Zoe's husband wakes from his depression to see his wife slipping away, Zoe is torn between her love for two men.
- GenresFiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
5 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Fields
8 books286 followersWhen I was child, bookstores and libraries were sanctuaries, my invitation to adventure, escape, satisfaction. Wanting to be a part of the action, I wrote my first 'novel' when I was six. Years later, my first real book arrived in bookstores.
But it's taken me until my fifth novel to tackle a topic that's always called to me: women in science. My mother was trained as a biochemist at the University of Chicago during World War II, and remained at the University afterwards, researching cures for cancer. But as was typical in that era, when she married, she gave up her career to be a wife. She spent the rest of her life aching for science. As a result, science flowed into her cooking, cleaning, our healthcare. She measured, she weighed, she considered, she hypothesized.
My mother's best friend was her cousin Jean. Walking together to campus each day, they discussed everything. But no matter how many times she asked, Jean refused to tell my mother a single detail about what was going on at the 'Metallurgical Laboratory' where she worked. As it turns out, Jean was a clerical worker for the Manhattan Project and stayed true to her oath of secrecy until long after the atom bomb was dropped.
That story of silence stuck with me. And my research revealed there was one female physicist involved in those early Chicago years of the Manhattan Project: Leona Woods, the youngest member of the team. Atomic Love is in no way based on Woods' life. Still, her presence at that critical time and place in history allowed me to create my main character, Rosalind Porter, a female physicist who is asked to risk love and limb to protect her country.
Adventure. Escape. Satisfaction. I hope you will find these things and more in Atomic Love.
http://jenniefields.com
https://www.facebook.com/jennie.field...
But it's taken me until my fifth novel to tackle a topic that's always called to me: women in science. My mother was trained as a biochemist at the University of Chicago during World War II, and remained at the University afterwards, researching cures for cancer. But as was typical in that era, when she married, she gave up her career to be a wife. She spent the rest of her life aching for science. As a result, science flowed into her cooking, cleaning, our healthcare. She measured, she weighed, she considered, she hypothesized.
My mother's best friend was her cousin Jean. Walking together to campus each day, they discussed everything. But no matter how many times she asked, Jean refused to tell my mother a single detail about what was going on at the 'Metallurgical Laboratory' where she worked. As it turns out, Jean was a clerical worker for the Manhattan Project and stayed true to her oath of secrecy until long after the atom bomb was dropped.
That story of silence stuck with me. And my research revealed there was one female physicist involved in those early Chicago years of the Manhattan Project: Leona Woods, the youngest member of the team. Atomic Love is in no way based on Woods' life. Still, her presence at that critical time and place in history allowed me to create my main character, Rosalind Porter, a female physicist who is asked to risk love and limb to protect her country.
Adventure. Escape. Satisfaction. I hope you will find these things and more in Atomic Love.
http://jenniefields.com
https://www.facebook.com/jennie.field...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 12, 2016
Attention anyone who sat in the movie theatre, watching Bridges of Madison County and the scene where Meryl Streep sits in the truck, her hand reaching for the handle... Will she jump out and run off with Clint Eastwood or will she stay? And for those of you who sat, screaming silently, “GO! GET OUT OF THE CAR! GO WITH HIM! TO HELL WITH IT! GO!!!”
To those of you who wished for the fairy tale, alternate ending: read this book. Read it in good health.
It was great. OK, even I admit that some of the complicated situations get tied up and fixed up a little too easily.
Sometimes, I’m just in the mood to read a story where it all works out all right. I loved it. What really did it for me were the the vivid and nostalgic descriptions of the tight-knit, lovably-nosy neighborhood; the likeable and believable characters; and face it, some of the SEXIEST writing I’ve ever read.
It was yummy.
To those of you who wished for the fairy tale, alternate ending: read this book. Read it in good health.
It was great. OK, even I admit that some of the complicated situations get tied up and fixed up a little too easily.
Sometimes, I’m just in the mood to read a story where it all works out all right. I loved it. What really did it for me were the the vivid and nostalgic descriptions of the tight-knit, lovably-nosy neighborhood; the likeable and believable characters; and face it, some of the SEXIEST writing I’ve ever read.
It was yummy.
October 2, 2014
Book Review by Carinya 2014
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Jennie Fields
This is a novel very easy to read. Characters with traumatic pasts such as the heroine Zoe with her dour, poor ex-Jewish parents too fearful to love again after their years of horror and loss, Jamie, in deep depression after a mistake made as a young man dented his fragile being to the point of breaking and Keevan the delightful young fellow next door who has grown up without parents.
The fabric of this street community is made up tinted by their anguish but held together by their need of each other.
This novel was extremely readable but the detailed and explicit sexual encounters somewhat marred my enjoyment of the romances and were a deterrent to my recommendation of the novel.
Carinya
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Jennie Fields
This is a novel very easy to read. Characters with traumatic pasts such as the heroine Zoe with her dour, poor ex-Jewish parents too fearful to love again after their years of horror and loss, Jamie, in deep depression after a mistake made as a young man dented his fragile being to the point of breaking and Keevan the delightful young fellow next door who has grown up without parents.
The fabric of this street community is made up tinted by their anguish but held together by their need of each other.
This novel was extremely readable but the detailed and explicit sexual encounters somewhat marred my enjoyment of the romances and were a deterrent to my recommendation of the novel.
Carinya
June 27, 2007
This book was fantastic. I found it in the library of a cruise ship I was on and I was so glad I did. It was a great story of "normal" people and how they deal with every day and not so everyday life challenges. Beautifully written and deserves much more acclaim then it is given!
May 25, 2015
shit lit hid under underworld's (delillo) cover
December 18, 2015
3+ stars if you haven't been to Park Slope, 4 stars if you have been there and perhaps higher if you live there. A "guilty pleasure".
January 24, 2025
I had some doubts about this book when I started, since it has so few reviews here (with most of those being unfavorable), but after I came across the description, I just knew I had to read it. Among other reasons, I know someone who moved to a tiny, ultra-expensive apartment in Park Slope a few years ago, so I was really interested to find out what the neighborhood was like before it was gentrified. The answer: surprisingly like a small town in North Dakota, just with much better architecture. But the close-knit community, where everyone knows everything about everybody, felt much the same.
I’ve seen some complaints here about the explicit sex scenes, which some readers think are gratuitous. I found them all to be important to the storytelling and revealing of character, but if you’re not into that kind of thing at all, be warned. And even if you are into that kind of thing, these are very specific sex scenes for very specific tastes. I liked all of them, except for one that kind of grossed me out, but I was able to put it out of my mind quickly. Your mileage may vary.
So this book definitely isn’t for everybody, but I found it to be just what I needed at this particular moment in time. Also, it completely rekindled my dreams of living in NYC one day, but I think I’m at least 40 years late to the dream of having my very own brownstone. (Well, unless I happen to inherit about $10 million!)
I’ve seen some complaints here about the explicit sex scenes, which some readers think are gratuitous. I found them all to be important to the storytelling and revealing of character, but if you’re not into that kind of thing at all, be warned. And even if you are into that kind of thing, these are very specific sex scenes for very specific tastes. I liked all of them, except for one that kind of grossed me out, but I was able to put it out of my mind quickly. Your mileage may vary.
So this book definitely isn’t for everybody, but I found it to be just what I needed at this particular moment in time. Also, it completely rekindled my dreams of living in NYC one day, but I think I’m at least 40 years late to the dream of having my very own brownstone. (Well, unless I happen to inherit about $10 million!)
August 18, 2019
This is not a good book! I wanted more character development and less graphic sexual encounters. The story certainly didn’t need them. And by the way someone needs to tell the author the difference between love and lust. I bought this book used for a dollar. Glad I didn’t spend any more than that.
February 28, 2025
Zoe, the things you do for love.... sometimes it is the sticking it out that hurts the most.
Keevin, his patience goes on and on, a real keeper.
Rose, sometimes you have to put it all out there to get what you want.
Three people who get their happily ever after.
Keevin, his patience goes on and on, a real keeper.
Rose, sometimes you have to put it all out there to get what you want.
Three people who get their happily ever after.
July 9, 2018
I read the book by mistake, I stole an e-book with the cover of DeLillo`s Underworld and I got this romantic story, too simple to review I guess.
October 23, 2021
Very enjoyable in interesting setting of Brooklyn.
December 17, 2024
mama cooked with this one (but also kinda meh?)
January 17, 2016
It was difficult for me to give a star rating to Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Jennie Fields. I thoroughly enjoyed the first portion of the book and give it 4 stars. I especially appreciated the author's use and description of the overall setting, a street lined with brownstone homes in Park Slope, Brooklyn,NY. I almost checked realtor web sites for available homes in the area, because it was painted so beautifully! In the beginning of the book, the storytelling was strong, I felt sympathetic to the characters, and the individual storylines wove together well. Now, for the 2nd part of the book. I would give it 1.5 stars. The characters became whiny, self-indulgent and very unlikable. I even disliked a child, which is hard for me! There was no storytelling for the most part, but mainly descriptions of sexual encounters, and the thoughts that characters were having about sexual encounters. Sure, sex is a part of human relationships, but this book went from a strong story line to a weak bodice ripping romance with little to no plot. And it dragged on and on and on. So, I give it 3 stars somewhat reluctantly, almost went down to 2 stars.
September 18, 2009
this book was ok... I read it because I read one of her other books.
This story centers around people living in Brooklyn and all of the problems in their lives (ironically all of their problems sort of connect).
There is Zoe, whose husband is severly depressed. She and her daughter Rose try go on with their lives while their husband/father is not amoungst the living.
Then there is Keevan, a single teacher, who falls madly in love with Zoe.
Then there is Patty, Keevan's sister-in-law, who is actually madly in love with Keevan.
The story is not one of my favorites.
This story centers around people living in Brooklyn and all of the problems in their lives (ironically all of their problems sort of connect).
There is Zoe, whose husband is severly depressed. She and her daughter Rose try go on with their lives while their husband/father is not amoungst the living.
Then there is Keevan, a single teacher, who falls madly in love with Zoe.
Then there is Patty, Keevan's sister-in-law, who is actually madly in love with Keevan.
The story is not one of my favorites.
April 1, 2008
This book, while at times had nice writing, was really void of any substance. I didn't really sympathize with the main character - and perhaps that is where my problem lies with this book. There were many sex-scenes in this book - not written in a beautiful, literary way, but in a smutty, cheap romance novel kind of way.
I guess it comes down to the fact that I just really didn't enjoy this book.
I guess it comes down to the fact that I just really didn't enjoy this book.
September 3, 2008
Eeeech! This was a chore. I'm surprised I finished it- but it was really hot outside, I was low on gas, and I didn't feel like leaving the house. Could be a hit movie on "Lifetime: Television for Women".
January 18, 2008
I don't think I could ever give a book with adulterous characters more than 3 stars, no matter how sympathetically they are written.
May 23, 2014
Love this book! great read by co-worker, Jenn
August 6, 2011
very interesting book
October 4, 2013
a great read, thoroughly enjoyed it!
June 5, 2015
Don't judge a book by its cover. I chose this because I liked the cover- painterly photo of two brownstone doors. That still was my favorite thing about this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews