What do you think?
Rate this book
Metropolis
From bestselling author B. A. Shapiro, a gripping novel that follows six mysterious characters whose lives intersect when a tragedy occurs at the storage facility where they all rent units.
In Metropolis we meet six unforgettable characters who never would have met if not for their rental units at Metropolis Storage Warehouse. When a harrowing accident—or is it an accident?—occurs in the building, each character is forced to consider their life circumstances: Serge, a mentally unstable but brilliant street photographer who lives in his unit; Zach, the storage facility owner and an ex-drug dealer, who purchases Serge’s undeveloped photographs and discovers they contain clues to the mysterious accident. Marta, an undocumented immigrant hiding from ICE in her unit. Liddy, an abused wife and mother, who is responsible for the accident, unless she intended it; Jason, a lawyer who has left his big firm and now practices out of his unit; and Rose, the office manager who takes kickbacks to let people live in the facility and has her own disintegrating family to deal with.
The characters have different backgrounds: they are different races and religions; they’re young, and they’re not so young; they are rich, poor, and somewhere in the middle. As they dip in and out of each other’s stories and struggle to salvage their own lives—as well as discover the truth behind the accident—Metropolis traces how their interlocking narratives connect them and tear them apart. B.A. Shapiro has wrapped an ensemble cast around a mystery that thematically explores the myth of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps” in current day America.
In Metropolis we meet six unforgettable characters who never would have met if not for their rental units at Metropolis Storage Warehouse. When a harrowing accident—or is it an accident?—occurs in the building, each character is forced to consider their life circumstances: Serge, a mentally unstable but brilliant street photographer who lives in his unit; Zach, the storage facility owner and an ex-drug dealer, who purchases Serge’s undeveloped photographs and discovers they contain clues to the mysterious accident. Marta, an undocumented immigrant hiding from ICE in her unit. Liddy, an abused wife and mother, who is responsible for the accident, unless she intended it; Jason, a lawyer who has left his big firm and now practices out of his unit; and Rose, the office manager who takes kickbacks to let people live in the facility and has her own disintegrating family to deal with.
The characters have different backgrounds: they are different races and religions; they’re young, and they’re not so young; they are rich, poor, and somewhere in the middle. As they dip in and out of each other’s stories and struggle to salvage their own lives—as well as discover the truth behind the accident—Metropolis traces how their interlocking narratives connect them and tear them apart. B.A. Shapiro has wrapped an ensemble cast around a mystery that thematically explores the myth of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps” in current day America.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2020
About the author
B.A. Shapiro
10 books921 followersB.A. Shapiro is the award-wining, NYT bestselling author of THE MURALIST and THE ART FORGER, both stories of art, mystery and history with a bit of romance thrown in.
She's also written five suspense novels -- THE SAFE ROOM, BLIND SPOT, SEE NO EVIL, BLAMELESS and SHATTERED ECHOES -- four screenplays and the nonfiction book, THE BIG SQUEEZE.
In her previous career incarnations, she directed research projects for a residential substance abuse facility, worked as a systems analyst/statistician, headed the Boston office of a software development firm, and served as an adjunct professor teaching sociology at Tufts University and creative writing at Northeastern University.
She began her writing career when she quit her high-pressure job after the birth of her second child. Nervous about what to do next, she said to her mother, "If I'm not playing at being superwoman anymore, I don't know who I am." Her mother answered with the question: "If you had one year to live, how would you want to spend it?" The answer: write a novel and spend more time with her children. And that's exactly what she did. Smart mother.
After writing seven novels and raising her children, she now lives in Boston with her husband Dan and her dog Sagan. And yes, she's working on yet another novel but has no plans to raise any more children.
She's also written five suspense novels -- THE SAFE ROOM, BLIND SPOT, SEE NO EVIL, BLAMELESS and SHATTERED ECHOES -- four screenplays and the nonfiction book, THE BIG SQUEEZE.
In her previous career incarnations, she directed research projects for a residential substance abuse facility, worked as a systems analyst/statistician, headed the Boston office of a software development firm, and served as an adjunct professor teaching sociology at Tufts University and creative writing at Northeastern University.
She began her writing career when she quit her high-pressure job after the birth of her second child. Nervous about what to do next, she said to her mother, "If I'm not playing at being superwoman anymore, I don't know who I am." Her mother answered with the question: "If you had one year to live, how would you want to spend it?" The answer: write a novel and spend more time with her children. And that's exactly what she did. Smart mother.
After writing seven novels and raising her children, she now lives in Boston with her husband Dan and her dog Sagan. And yes, she's working on yet another novel but has no plans to raise any more children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
May 24, 2022
“Metropolis Storage Warehouse.One hundred and twenty-three years old. Six stories high. Ninety feet wide. Four hundred and eighty feet long. Almost four hundred storage units of various sizes and shapes; some even have windows”.
In May 2018, thirty-seven-year-old Zach Davidson, owner of Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is in the process of auctioning off the contents of twenty-two abandoned units in the storage facility before ownership changes hands. In January of the same year, an elevator accident resulted in legal trouble that cost Zach his ownership of the storage facility. In the process of the auction, Zach is surprised to find five of the units “staged” in arrangements one would not expect in a storage facility. As the narrative switches between past and present, we find out that unbeknownst to Zach, Rose, who managed the property, had an arrangement with the renters of these units in exchange for an additional fee which she pocketed. The five units in question housed the office of a Harvard educated lawyer, the studio of a photographer, a pied-à-terre of a wealthy socialite who also rented another unit to preserve her children’s room in its exact setup, the living arrangement of a Tufts University doctoral student who due to an administrative mistake is now evading deportation and is being pursued by ICE. In other words, people were living and working out of their rented units!
As the story progresses we discover more about these characters, their backstories and how their stories intersect and about the mishap that occurred in January 2018. Was it an accident, attempted murder or attempted suicide? Were any of the renters involved or responsible for the mishap? Why is Zach being forced to sell the property?
B.A. Shapiro’s Metropolis is a unique and engaging novel. The premise is very interesting and it features a diverse cast of characters. With its well-developed plot with a few unexpected twists along the way, the story hooked me in from the very first page and I could not wait to see how the story progressed. Initially, it took a bit to get used to the multiple PoVs but given each of them had quite distinct voices and engaging storylines, the narrative flowed seamlessly to the end. The author manages to touch upon many important themes such as homelessness, mental health, immigration, spousal abuse, drug trafficking and much more. Marta the doctoral student and Jason the lawyer were my favorite characters and I would have liked it more if the backstory of Serge Laurent, the photographer had been developed with more depth but overall I think the author did a good job of establishing all these characters and their stories and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them.
In May 2018, thirty-seven-year-old Zach Davidson, owner of Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is in the process of auctioning off the contents of twenty-two abandoned units in the storage facility before ownership changes hands. In January of the same year, an elevator accident resulted in legal trouble that cost Zach his ownership of the storage facility. In the process of the auction, Zach is surprised to find five of the units “staged” in arrangements one would not expect in a storage facility. As the narrative switches between past and present, we find out that unbeknownst to Zach, Rose, who managed the property, had an arrangement with the renters of these units in exchange for an additional fee which she pocketed. The five units in question housed the office of a Harvard educated lawyer, the studio of a photographer, a pied-à-terre of a wealthy socialite who also rented another unit to preserve her children’s room in its exact setup, the living arrangement of a Tufts University doctoral student who due to an administrative mistake is now evading deportation and is being pursued by ICE. In other words, people were living and working out of their rented units!
As the story progresses we discover more about these characters, their backstories and how their stories intersect and about the mishap that occurred in January 2018. Was it an accident, attempted murder or attempted suicide? Were any of the renters involved or responsible for the mishap? Why is Zach being forced to sell the property?
B.A. Shapiro’s Metropolis is a unique and engaging novel. The premise is very interesting and it features a diverse cast of characters. With its well-developed plot with a few unexpected twists along the way, the story hooked me in from the very first page and I could not wait to see how the story progressed. Initially, it took a bit to get used to the multiple PoVs but given each of them had quite distinct voices and engaging storylines, the narrative flowed seamlessly to the end. The author manages to touch upon many important themes such as homelessness, mental health, immigration, spousal abuse, drug trafficking and much more. Marta the doctoral student and Jason the lawyer were my favorite characters and I would have liked it more if the backstory of Serge Laurent, the photographer had been developed with more depth but overall I think the author did a good job of establishing all these characters and their stories and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them.
March 23, 2022
America runs on Coca Cola. Plenty of caffeine and enough sugar to bounce you off the walls at times.
America also runs on its never-ending storage units that line the landscape in every small town and big metropolis around the country. It's like that sugar bounce from Coca Cola. You buy "stuff" and then you run out of room in your house or apartment. Storage Unit. Then you buy more "stuff" to replace the "stuff" no longer in sight but out of sight. Storage Unit. Then you visit your "stuff" in order to make room for the aging new "stuff". Perhaps.....an additional Storage Unit. The American Never Ending Story.
Zach Davidson invested in one of the largest storage buildings in Cambridge called the Metropolis. It's a monster of a complex. B.A. Shapiro adds a snippet of a detail here. Zach is forced to transfer his building to the new owner. A body was found in an elevator shaft there. Shapiro doesn't put a name tag on the individual quite yet. In the meantime, we readers are dancing around the hole in the ice.
An auction is being held to sell off the contents of 22 abandoned units. Oh, the "stuff" that must be locked away there. Just think of the treasures existing only in the minds of their previous owners. Is that Junk or Junque?
Shapiro has created six characters that will give us whiplash as we follow their backstories and their trail of "stuff". Rose is the office manager who runs a little side business involving the renters. Jason is a lawyer who lost his last job and uses one of the units as his office. Marta is a doctoral candidate at Boston University who is living in one of the units to hide from ICE. Serge is a homeless photographer with a remarkable collection stored there. And Liddy is married to one of the richest men in Boston. Liddy has an ingenious plan to finally break away from the abuse at his hands.
Metropolis reminds us of just how much we are all living in the Zone. The Zone is where your treasures are......what is important to you and what you can't live without. These six characters will shift around and resettle time and time again until a new vision comes to light. They will be forced to prioritize for the first time. Shapiro has them crossing paths intentionally and unintentionally. The results will be one heck of a read. Metropolis is highly creative and original. There's a lot of curious "stuff" in this one, Folks. Unpack carefully......
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Algonquin Books and to B.A. Shapiro for the opportunity.
America also runs on its never-ending storage units that line the landscape in every small town and big metropolis around the country. It's like that sugar bounce from Coca Cola. You buy "stuff" and then you run out of room in your house or apartment. Storage Unit. Then you buy more "stuff" to replace the "stuff" no longer in sight but out of sight. Storage Unit. Then you visit your "stuff" in order to make room for the aging new "stuff". Perhaps.....an additional Storage Unit. The American Never Ending Story.
Zach Davidson invested in one of the largest storage buildings in Cambridge called the Metropolis. It's a monster of a complex. B.A. Shapiro adds a snippet of a detail here. Zach is forced to transfer his building to the new owner. A body was found in an elevator shaft there. Shapiro doesn't put a name tag on the individual quite yet. In the meantime, we readers are dancing around the hole in the ice.
An auction is being held to sell off the contents of 22 abandoned units. Oh, the "stuff" that must be locked away there. Just think of the treasures existing only in the minds of their previous owners. Is that Junk or Junque?
Shapiro has created six characters that will give us whiplash as we follow their backstories and their trail of "stuff". Rose is the office manager who runs a little side business involving the renters. Jason is a lawyer who lost his last job and uses one of the units as his office. Marta is a doctoral candidate at Boston University who is living in one of the units to hide from ICE. Serge is a homeless photographer with a remarkable collection stored there. And Liddy is married to one of the richest men in Boston. Liddy has an ingenious plan to finally break away from the abuse at his hands.
Metropolis reminds us of just how much we are all living in the Zone. The Zone is where your treasures are......what is important to you and what you can't live without. These six characters will shift around and resettle time and time again until a new vision comes to light. They will be forced to prioritize for the first time. Shapiro has them crossing paths intentionally and unintentionally. The results will be one heck of a read. Metropolis is highly creative and original. There's a lot of curious "stuff" in this one, Folks. Unpack carefully......
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Algonquin Books and to B.A. Shapiro for the opportunity.
May 17, 2022
There was a very good premise here: the intertwining lives of six people, all renters at a huge storage facility in Boston, some of whom are living there illegally.
But . . .
The ending was so wildly implausible, it sadly negates some of the decent human drama that's gone on before.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this.
But . . .
The ending was so wildly implausible, it sadly negates some of the decent human drama that's gone on before.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this.
June 30, 2023
"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal element of all republics." --- UNKNOWN
And that is the epigraph setting the stage for Metropolis. the latest literary fiction from B.A. Shapiro. I loved the unique setting of the novel in that one becomes immersed in the lives of six very different people, and all having some connection to the Metropolitan Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Each of these lives intersect in dramatic ways when someone falls down an elevator shaft at the storage facility setting off a mysterious chain of events. The lives of these six seemingly unrelated people begin to merge as there is a search for answers while many are battling societal forces beyond their control.
The following dispatch from the Boston Globe on January 7, 2018 is as follows:
Rescue workers were dispatched to the Metropolis Storage Warehouse at Massachusetts Avenue and Vassar Street in response to a 911 call at 11:15 this evening. At least one person was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with critical injuries after a fall down an elevator shaft. Details are limited and neither police nor hospital officials identified the victim. Questions were raised about what people were doing at the self-storage facility at that hour, and police are investigating other violations concerning the building.
Making up the six characters at the heart of the story include the owner of the Metropolis for ten years, Zach; the manager of the self-storage facility, Rose; Jason, a Harvard-educated and former corporate lawyer has established an office in one of the storage units; Liddy, an abused wife and mother, having created a getaway haven for herself at the Metropolis; Marta, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, is finishing up her dissertation while hiding from ICE; and lastly Serge, a very gifted photographer has rented a storage unit that he uses as his darkroom for his many negatives taken with his Rolleiflex camera, his subjects primarily of life on the streets of Boston with an artistic bent.
So what could go wrong? This book is a page-turner as many societal issues are explored in the context of human lives and its impact. The diverse characters are interesting as we discover much of their plight in retrospect as the story weaves back and forth. I love the writing of B.A. Shapiro as she has a unique ability to capture our humanity in her stories.
June 14, 2022
4.5 rounded up
If you loved Anxious People, this book is for you. A tale of different tenants inside Metropolis Storage in Boston, whose lives all interconnect. This is my first time reading a book by this author and I enjoyed her writing style. It takes a massive amount of talent to write a book with an ensemble cast (coming up with that many characters and then fitting them all together in nuanced ways must be extremely challenging) and it was done flawlessly. The methodical pace of the book worked because as soon as the plot really started to take shape, the intensity did as well. This is a book you have to be patient with, but all psychological suspense novels should be written this way. If you're more a fan of a shocking twist at the end of every chapter, then this is not your book.
Many thanks to Algonquin Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/05/2022
Publication Date: 05/17/2022
If you loved Anxious People, this book is for you. A tale of different tenants inside Metropolis Storage in Boston, whose lives all interconnect. This is my first time reading a book by this author and I enjoyed her writing style. It takes a massive amount of talent to write a book with an ensemble cast (coming up with that many characters and then fitting them all together in nuanced ways must be extremely challenging) and it was done flawlessly. The methodical pace of the book worked because as soon as the plot really started to take shape, the intensity did as well. This is a book you have to be patient with, but all psychological suspense novels should be written this way. If you're more a fan of a shocking twist at the end of every chapter, then this is not your book.
Many thanks to Algonquin Books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 06/05/2022
Publication Date: 05/17/2022
Read
August 9, 2022Rating 4.65
While I was familiar with her previous books, the plot, characters and engagement of this one are just what the doctor ordered.
Set in Boston, we learn about Zach, a former drug dealer gone legal who purchases a four story storage facility called Metropolis. Run by Rose, mother to several children and for the most part efficient with the business, things get crazy a few years after when several of the tenants use their units to live or do business and in some case, hide.
Married to a greedy billionaire, Liddy is mother to twins who her husband Garrett Haines sent off to a Swiss boarding school. Devious and back stabbing he treats her more like an employee than wife and over time she decides to move from the luxury condo to two of the larger storage units. Parallel, we meet Jason, a former corporate attorney who uses his unit as an office and shifted his direction to immigration law.
Marta, an extremely bright PhD candidate is on the run from immigration due to a misstep she made with procedures. Like Liddy, she hides in a storage unit to work on her dissertation. When the two women meet, an immediate bond forms and desire rises.
Needing to get his way, Haines hires a detective to keep tabs on Liddy while Jason works with Marta on her case. Zach discovers remarkable photography done by Serge Laurent along with his Rolleiflex camera in a unit whose rent is past due. Unable to find him, Zach is shocked by the remarkable photos and discovers countless undeveloped film rolls. Inspired, he decides to take up photography and in the process, develop the films.
Garrett shows up at Metropolis and abruptly barges in on Liddy causing her to go ballistic. As they have a verbal battle in the hallway she shoves him toward the elevator door which swings inward and watches as he tumbles two stories down the shaft. Finger pointing ensues, law suits filed, Rose's 14 year old son is shot during a criminal act and the story spins out of control.
The combination of carefully developed characters, well thought out plot with themes of love, forgiveness and redemption make for a great reading experience. Highly recommended for fans of mystery, drama and happy endings.
While I was familiar with her previous books, the plot, characters and engagement of this one are just what the doctor ordered.
Set in Boston, we learn about Zach, a former drug dealer gone legal who purchases a four story storage facility called Metropolis. Run by Rose, mother to several children and for the most part efficient with the business, things get crazy a few years after when several of the tenants use their units to live or do business and in some case, hide.
Married to a greedy billionaire, Liddy is mother to twins who her husband Garrett Haines sent off to a Swiss boarding school. Devious and back stabbing he treats her more like an employee than wife and over time she decides to move from the luxury condo to two of the larger storage units. Parallel, we meet Jason, a former corporate attorney who uses his unit as an office and shifted his direction to immigration law.
Marta, an extremely bright PhD candidate is on the run from immigration due to a misstep she made with procedures. Like Liddy, she hides in a storage unit to work on her dissertation. When the two women meet, an immediate bond forms and desire rises.
Needing to get his way, Haines hires a detective to keep tabs on Liddy while Jason works with Marta on her case. Zach discovers remarkable photography done by Serge Laurent along with his Rolleiflex camera in a unit whose rent is past due. Unable to find him, Zach is shocked by the remarkable photos and discovers countless undeveloped film rolls. Inspired, he decides to take up photography and in the process, develop the films.
Garrett shows up at Metropolis and abruptly barges in on Liddy causing her to go ballistic. As they have a verbal battle in the hallway she shoves him toward the elevator door which swings inward and watches as he tumbles two stories down the shaft. Finger pointing ensues, law suits filed, Rose's 14 year old son is shot during a criminal act and the story spins out of control.
The combination of carefully developed characters, well thought out plot with themes of love, forgiveness and redemption make for a great reading experience. Highly recommended for fans of mystery, drama and happy endings.
August 15, 2022
Enjoyable interlocking histories of people engaged through the "oldest storage facility in America," located in Cambridge, Mass. While the characters are themselves somewhat black and white, their backstories and resolutions somewhat predictable, there are many surprises in choices that provide intrigue and keep the lively plot churning. I enjoyed this audible rendition, had fun while it unspooled.
June 2, 2022
I enjoyed parts of this book and I’ve always been a sucker for separate but intertwined stories so this one fit the bill. However there was something missing along the way. I didn’t connect with most of the characters and I rarely felt the emotional tug when something bad happened. Somehow along the way the story just lost its heart.
Metropolis follows six people who are bound together through a storage unit rental place called Metropolis. Each one of them comes from a different walk of life (working class to the one percent, male and female, whole range of races etc) and we see how different incidents impact where they end up. The heart of the story is the relationship between abused rich wife Liddy and undocumented immigrant Marta and to an extent the lawyer helping them both, James.
While this threesome have some sweet moments, a lot of it stretched belief and there were some pretty big gaping holes in logic. The bad guy was so bad he was basically a caricature and him getting away with what he did at the end raised a lot of questions for me. Same with the Rose storyline, how it wrapped up felt stretched. The Zach/Serge plot line held absolutely no interest to me. I have no idea what it was trying to show me other than the lesson that we mostly end up where we started. Overall this had a lot of great potential but didn’t carry through.
Metropolis follows six people who are bound together through a storage unit rental place called Metropolis. Each one of them comes from a different walk of life (working class to the one percent, male and female, whole range of races etc) and we see how different incidents impact where they end up. The heart of the story is the relationship between abused rich wife Liddy and undocumented immigrant Marta and to an extent the lawyer helping them both, James.
While this threesome have some sweet moments, a lot of it stretched belief and there were some pretty big gaping holes in logic. The bad guy was so bad he was basically a caricature and him getting away with what he did at the end raised a lot of questions for me. Same with the Rose storyline, how it wrapped up felt stretched. The Zach/Serge plot line held absolutely no interest to me. I have no idea what it was trying to show me other than the lesson that we mostly end up where we started. Overall this had a lot of great potential but didn’t carry through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
https://wendyreadit.wordpress.com/202...
As with B.A. Shapiro's book, 'The Dilemma', this is more of a drama and not a thriller. However, there were a lot of suspenseful and mystery elements to this story about a self-storage building called Metropolis and the owners of many of these units. This story touched on mental illness, homelessness, spousal abuse, illegal alien immigration, a whistle-blower, lawyer, gang violence, and drug use, drug dealers, LGBTQ, and the privilege afforded to the wealthy. The weaving together of all of these elements and people was excellent as was the narration. If you're looking for a typical suspense/thriller, this isn't it, but more of a story about owners of self-storage units, what they are storing, why they are storing it, and how they are using their units.
As with B.A. Shapiro's book, 'The Dilemma', this is more of a drama and not a thriller. However, there were a lot of suspenseful and mystery elements to this story about a self-storage building called Metropolis and the owners of many of these units. This story touched on mental illness, homelessness, spousal abuse, illegal alien immigration, a whistle-blower, lawyer, gang violence, and drug use, drug dealers, LGBTQ, and the privilege afforded to the wealthy. The weaving together of all of these elements and people was excellent as was the narration. If you're looking for a typical suspense/thriller, this isn't it, but more of a story about owners of self-storage units, what they are storing, why they are storing it, and how they are using their units.
April 8, 2022
B. A. Shapiro veers off from her usual historical fiction with this gem of a novel set in a storage facility outside of Boston. An outstanding cast of characters make up this fascinating read, which includes a mystery and a lot of suspense. Who knew that people actually live in storage units? The character development is excellent and the story is interesting and unbelievably unique. This will be a huge hit with fans of both general fiction and suspense.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Algonquin Books and B. A. Shapiro for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Algonquin Books and B. A. Shapiro for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2022
I literally couldn't put this book down. A 4 story storage facility in Cambridge, MA, a cast of characters, an accident? All of these elements make for a compelling read and a page turner. Shapiro's story telling and her character writing are excellent.
April 7, 2022
I love reading books set in Boston and I love mysteries but this was not it. My three biggest qualms with it:
-The writing. Specifically, it's written in third-person present tense which some very skilled writers can pull off, but B.A. Shapiro was nowhere near that level. Instead, the whole narrative comes off as wooden, even (or especially) when the characters are expressing emotion.
-The Zach and Serge storylines. Aside from one plot device at the very end that relates to the rest of the characters, this whole storyline could have been scrapped and basically nothing would have been changed. Most of Zach's chapters are just him developing photos which is basically as interesting to read as a phonebook, and Serge's chapters are basically one giant loose end.
-Marta's dissertation. She writes about the "race of life" in terms of social inequality, a concept that's more or less the most basic building block of sociology. Even the metaphor that she uses is probably taught in every Sociology 101 class, if not in high school. And somehow, everyone acts like she just invented something so genius that they have NEVER considered the fact that American society might not be equitable. Even the black lawyer character has never thought of that! Nevermind that in reality, she wouldn't even be accepted into a PhD program, let alone be encouraged or paid to conduct research on something that is this basic and has been already proven many, many times.
I wouldn't have finished it if it weren't compelling, but man, I really wish this was better.
-The writing. Specifically, it's written in third-person present tense which some very skilled writers can pull off, but B.A. Shapiro was nowhere near that level. Instead, the whole narrative comes off as wooden, even (or especially) when the characters are expressing emotion.
-The Zach and Serge storylines. Aside from one plot device at the very end that relates to the rest of the characters, this whole storyline could have been scrapped and basically nothing would have been changed. Most of Zach's chapters are just him developing photos which is basically as interesting to read as a phonebook, and Serge's chapters are basically one giant loose end.
-Marta's dissertation. She writes about the "race of life" in terms of social inequality, a concept that's more or less the most basic building block of sociology. Even the metaphor that she uses is probably taught in every Sociology 101 class, if not in high school. And somehow, everyone acts like she just invented something so genius that they have NEVER considered the fact that American society might not be equitable. Even the black lawyer character has never thought of that! Nevermind that in reality, she wouldn't even be accepted into a PhD program, let alone be encouraged or paid to conduct research on something that is this basic and has been already proven many, many times.
I wouldn't have finished it if it weren't compelling, but man, I really wish this was better.
July 10, 2022
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. I thought the premise was original (people living in their storage units, and how their lives intertwine). The first half of the book was a solid 4 stars. Then it started becoming a written version of a daytime soap opera. Will Liddy be able to escape Garrett, or will he find her? Will Marta be deported? What lengths will Rose go to in her pettiness? Went right down to a weak 2 stars at that point. The ending was contrived, but right in line with a soap opera theme. Fortunately, this is a quick read.
May 30, 2023
This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and I loved it!The Art Forger was my favorite before reading this one and now I have two favorites! I literally did not want to put this one down because I was so connected to the characters. There are six people whose lives come together and different ways. Metropolis is a unique personal storage building that is at the center of this story. it’s not your typical self storage facility just as these six very different people are not the average tenants. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of the six people and right from the start. They are circumstances and lives begin to enter twine. They each have a secret or a part of their life they would rather keep hidden, but as time goes, walls start coming down. I thought perhaps I would have a hard time, keeping the characters straight in my mind, but the way they were introduced into the story along with the fact that they are all so different from each other, kept it from being confusing. And all of. B A Shapiro’s books. There is an art theme. Street photography is the art form that is prevalent here. I really enjoyed this aspect and also that it takes place in Boston. These characters grabbed me so tightly from the very beginning, and although I wanted to keep reading, and not stop, I also wanted it to keep going. There were several twists. I didn’t see coming that elevated the story for me. This will easily be one of my favorite books of this year.
December 20, 2022
What the heck was this book? First half? So promising. Second half? Terrible. The characters all have no personality, and it seemed the author researched topics she really liked, but then neglected to research things she wasn’t personally interested in.
It was supposed to be a critique on the American Dream but then every storyline tied itself together perfectly…effectively negating the critique on the American Dream…
Wish I could recommend it, but don’t waste your time.
It was supposed to be a critique on the American Dream but then every storyline tied itself together perfectly…effectively negating the critique on the American Dream…
Wish I could recommend it, but don’t waste your time.
November 15, 2022
4⭐
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Contemporary with Light Thriller Vibes ➨ Six people's lives intertwine at an indoor storage facility ➨ An interesting slice of life from Cambridge, Massachusetts ➨ Sapphic Romance ➨ Near death in a faulty elevator
This reminded me of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. It didn’t necessarily have his degree of finesse for storytelling…but it was quite intriguing despite the final reveal being a tad implausible.
Set in a storage facility that has way more going on inside its walls than anyone would ever expect. Everything from tenants staying in the building, to a lawyer who is running a practice out of his storage unit, plus a secretary who is getting paid on the side to let all this craziness go on, and more. It's all rather demented. Especially once someone almost dies by falling down the elevator shaft. Was it an accident…or was it attempted murder?
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️Will Collyer(Zach), Erin Spencer(Rose), Ana Osario (Marta), Hillary Huber(Liddy), Sean Pratt(Serge), & Mirron Willis (Jason) 📣 I loved that this had a full cast.
i>Total Score 7.64/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-7.5 | Atmosphere-8 | Writing Style-7.5 | Ending-7.5 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.5
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Contemporary with Light Thriller Vibes ➨ Six people's lives intertwine at an indoor storage facility ➨ An interesting slice of life from Cambridge, Massachusetts ➨ Sapphic Romance ➨ Near death in a faulty elevator
This reminded me of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. It didn’t necessarily have his degree of finesse for storytelling…but it was quite intriguing despite the final reveal being a tad implausible.
Set in a storage facility that has way more going on inside its walls than anyone would ever expect. Everything from tenants staying in the building, to a lawyer who is running a practice out of his storage unit, plus a secretary who is getting paid on the side to let all this craziness go on, and more. It's all rather demented. Especially once someone almost dies by falling down the elevator shaft. Was it an accident…or was it attempted murder?
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️Will Collyer(Zach), Erin Spencer(Rose), Ana Osario (Marta), Hillary Huber(Liddy), Sean Pratt(Serge), & Mirron Willis (Jason) 📣 I loved that this had a full cast.
i>Total Score 7.64/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-7.5 | Atmosphere-8 | Writing Style-7.5 | Ending-7.5 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.5
May 24, 2022
This is basically a book of several characters who all share a commonality; they all rent storage units at a facility called Metropolis in Boston, MA. This is an intertwined story of all of the characters as they learn about each other and interact with each other on a regular basis.
First of all, I never knew this much activity went on in storage facilities! I personally rent a storage unit, but I haven’t seen my items in so long, I’m sure I’ve forgotten what’s all in there. However, any time I’ve gone, I’ve never seen many people there just lounging around, or many people to do anything other to go and grab a few items, move in, or move out. This story, surrounding 7 unique people, show you how eventful a storage facility can be, and how all the characters together in some way throughout this story.
When the story first opens, an auction is happening with the belongings of people who have not came to reclaim their stuff. As the auction is going on, the owner, comes around secretively to claim a few items that people have left behind; namely an old Rolleiflex camera and all of the developed and un-developed film. As we continue to read on and find out what could potentially be in these unclaimed units, the story starts to unfurl with who actually rented some of these units. We meet Jason, a lawyer who has an office in his storage unit; Mercedes (AKA Marta) who is seeking asylum in the US and pursuing her doctorate degree in Boston, and is using the space as a refuge; Serge, who is the original owner of the Rolleiflex camera and film, and has fallen on hard times; Liddy, the wife of a prestigious real estate tycoon, and unable to part with her children’s things; Rose, the storage facility office manager, who is trying to keep her family together and make some extra cash on the side to keep things afloat financially; Zach, the owner, who bought the facility by potentially illegal/sketchy means.
As you meet all of the characters, we get to see how all of their lives unintentionally and intentionally converge and intertwine with one another. All of them will be forced to do something outside of the box (literally and figuratively), and prioritize what is important and what needs to be given up.
Very voyeuristic novel, as a reader, you are literally the fly on the wall as you read this book, transporting you into a space similar to a mystery game/movie-like feel, sort of like “Clue,” where you are piecing together puzzle pieces trying to find out who did what, and what actually happened to them all.
Shapiro’s writing was very imaginative, vivid, and eye-opening as they tackled many topics in today’s modern world:
- Domestic violence
- Narcissism
- Poverty/Homelessness
- Socioeconomic status
- Citizenship
- Privilege
- Politics
- Inequality
- Survivorism
- Feminism
- Mental illness
The book slowly unfurled each POV, and it came together with such a vengeance that I couldn’t put the book down after I made it half way through. A truly unique and original story that will surely keep you entertained and guessing throughout the story. 4 stars.
Thank you to Algonquin Books, and the author B.A. Shapiro for this book in exchange for an honest and fair opinion.
First of all, I never knew this much activity went on in storage facilities! I personally rent a storage unit, but I haven’t seen my items in so long, I’m sure I’ve forgotten what’s all in there. However, any time I’ve gone, I’ve never seen many people there just lounging around, or many people to do anything other to go and grab a few items, move in, or move out. This story, surrounding 7 unique people, show you how eventful a storage facility can be, and how all the characters together in some way throughout this story.
When the story first opens, an auction is happening with the belongings of people who have not came to reclaim their stuff. As the auction is going on, the owner, comes around secretively to claim a few items that people have left behind; namely an old Rolleiflex camera and all of the developed and un-developed film. As we continue to read on and find out what could potentially be in these unclaimed units, the story starts to unfurl with who actually rented some of these units. We meet Jason, a lawyer who has an office in his storage unit; Mercedes (AKA Marta) who is seeking asylum in the US and pursuing her doctorate degree in Boston, and is using the space as a refuge; Serge, who is the original owner of the Rolleiflex camera and film, and has fallen on hard times; Liddy, the wife of a prestigious real estate tycoon, and unable to part with her children’s things; Rose, the storage facility office manager, who is trying to keep her family together and make some extra cash on the side to keep things afloat financially; Zach, the owner, who bought the facility by potentially illegal/sketchy means.
As you meet all of the characters, we get to see how all of their lives unintentionally and intentionally converge and intertwine with one another. All of them will be forced to do something outside of the box (literally and figuratively), and prioritize what is important and what needs to be given up.
Very voyeuristic novel, as a reader, you are literally the fly on the wall as you read this book, transporting you into a space similar to a mystery game/movie-like feel, sort of like “Clue,” where you are piecing together puzzle pieces trying to find out who did what, and what actually happened to them all.
Shapiro’s writing was very imaginative, vivid, and eye-opening as they tackled many topics in today’s modern world:
- Domestic violence
- Narcissism
- Poverty/Homelessness
- Socioeconomic status
- Citizenship
- Privilege
- Politics
- Inequality
- Survivorism
- Feminism
- Mental illness
The book slowly unfurled each POV, and it came together with such a vengeance that I couldn’t put the book down after I made it half way through. A truly unique and original story that will surely keep you entertained and guessing throughout the story. 4 stars.
Thank you to Algonquin Books, and the author B.A. Shapiro for this book in exchange for an honest and fair opinion.
February 11, 2022
A review with an observational caveat:
I read this book - due to my own constraints on time due to my other commitments and football season - over the course of three weeks. I think that greatly affected my enjoyment of the book, and it should be read - and certainly can be - a lot quicker.
As it stands, I was drawn in by the premise; people living and working in a storage facility outside of Boston, and I really enjoyed the writing. The characters were multi-dimensional, and the hints dropped within the non-linear flashforwards were spot on, neither wrecking the suspense not being more interesting/dangerous than the unfolding "current time" narrative. That said, the multiple plotlines - Liddy & her tyrannical husband, Marta and her immigration and research, Jason and his practice, Serge and his photos, Rose and her family, Zach and the repercussions and discoveries - while forming a loose partnership and flat-out intersecting in service of the story - never became a tight braid for me, just a loose weave, which while enjoyably interesting, was not compelling. Only at the very end did I make stupid decisions in terms of my time to finish this book.
The "twist within a twist" was more believeable than in a lot of suspense books I've read, and that made it satisfying, but also predictable. Overall, this was a solid read, and I think if I had been pushed in any way - by myself, or by Shapiro - to finish it faster, I would have felt it more, and enjoyed the journey more as well.
I read this book - due to my own constraints on time due to my other commitments and football season - over the course of three weeks. I think that greatly affected my enjoyment of the book, and it should be read - and certainly can be - a lot quicker.
As it stands, I was drawn in by the premise; people living and working in a storage facility outside of Boston, and I really enjoyed the writing. The characters were multi-dimensional, and the hints dropped within the non-linear flashforwards were spot on, neither wrecking the suspense not being more interesting/dangerous than the unfolding "current time" narrative. That said, the multiple plotlines - Liddy & her tyrannical husband, Marta and her immigration and research, Jason and his practice, Serge and his photos, Rose and her family, Zach and the repercussions and discoveries - while forming a loose partnership and flat-out intersecting in service of the story - never became a tight braid for me, just a loose weave, which while enjoyably interesting, was not compelling. Only at the very end did I make stupid decisions in terms of my time to finish this book.
The "twist within a twist" was more believeable than in a lot of suspense books I've read, and that made it satisfying, but also predictable. Overall, this was a solid read, and I think if I had been pushed in any way - by myself, or by Shapiro - to finish it faster, I would have felt it more, and enjoyed the journey more as well.
June 28, 2022
2.5 rounded down.
I have really mixed feelings about this book which is set in a multi-story storage facility, The Metropolis. The story is told from the multiple points of view of the various renters of the units, some of whom live and/or work within their spaces, and others including the manager and the complex owner. This various mix of people bring with them a variety of issues including illegal migration, domestic violence and more. Consequently, there are a lot of back stories. There is also a murder, resulting in a predictable twist, so there is a lot packed into the 350 plus pages.
I really liked the premise, but the characters felt a little wooden. I failed to connect with many of them and given their importance to the success of this novel, that was a problem for me. Perhaps there was just too much going on so that although there were links between these protagonists, both in their association with the building and the relationships they formed, there was an overwhelming lack of depth and emotion for me.
I have really mixed feelings about this book which is set in a multi-story storage facility, The Metropolis. The story is told from the multiple points of view of the various renters of the units, some of whom live and/or work within their spaces, and others including the manager and the complex owner. This various mix of people bring with them a variety of issues including illegal migration, domestic violence and more. Consequently, there are a lot of back stories. There is also a murder, resulting in a predictable twist, so there is a lot packed into the 350 plus pages.
I really liked the premise, but the characters felt a little wooden. I failed to connect with many of them and given their importance to the success of this novel, that was a problem for me. Perhaps there was just too much going on so that although there were links between these protagonists, both in their association with the building and the relationships they formed, there was an overwhelming lack of depth and emotion for me.
October 24, 2022
Great tale of human nature and the paths that humans take to survive. I wouldn't call this much of a mystery as it only was a small portion of the novel, although a catalyst for the rising action.
I do think that there were a few too many characters that the author wanted to explore, which in turn left some not as developed. For instance, we need more about Serge. Why was Rose so complacent with Vince?
The writing was beautiful, almost poetic without being overly so.
One nuance I found is her descriptions of people of color. They seemed a little forced and even a bit offensive. For example, one character who was not even necessary to the story was described as having "skin so black he's almost blue". Why was such a description necessary for needless character. I recommend a sensitivity reader.
I do think that there were a few too many characters that the author wanted to explore, which in turn left some not as developed. For instance, we need more about Serge. Why was Rose so complacent with Vince?
The writing was beautiful, almost poetic without being overly so.
One nuance I found is her descriptions of people of color. They seemed a little forced and even a bit offensive. For example, one character who was not even necessary to the story was described as having "skin so black he's almost blue". Why was such a description necessary for needless character. I recommend a sensitivity reader.
May 15, 2022
Put a diverse cast of characters in an unusual setting, and you’ve got a page-turner!
This s a voyeuristic look at these characters’ lives, memories, and, well stuff. But there is a mystery at hand! Written from several perspectives, it gives off a modern Clue-like feel. I enjoyed getting to know each of these characters and seeing how their lives intersected.
Shapiro's writing is vivid and creative, making this story come alive for me.
This s a voyeuristic look at these characters’ lives, memories, and, well stuff. But there is a mystery at hand! Written from several perspectives, it gives off a modern Clue-like feel. I enjoyed getting to know each of these characters and seeing how their lives intersected.
Shapiro's writing is vivid and creative, making this story come alive for me.
June 25, 2022
Metropolis is a completely unique novel, with its creative setting, dual timelines, and diverse characters, and I enjoyed it as much as I hope that I would. It is told through multiple points of view, and still it flowed easily and built the tension keeping it taut and clear and engaging. I loved that each of the characters brought with them some very important themes, creating a story that was far more meaningful than I expected.
May 10, 2022
Not what I would typically pick up. I really became interested in these characters and how they all came to be at this storage facility and how their lives became entwined. Short chapters and multiple views keep the story moving quickly and make for an easy read.
July 24, 2022
He’s ready to hold his Rolleiflex, to use the viewfinder the way an astronomer uses a telescope discover unseen life. The inner life of the storage stage sets. Like the astronomer, he’ll use the dark and light to describe the invisible.I’m still mulling over all of these characters and wish I had the leisure to reread the whole thing. Most of the characters are real and have emotional weight, and the plot can literally be said to wander all over the building. The mysterious Serge was the best of all, and his story thread turned out quite moving; almost everyone else “gets what’s coming to them” in various interesting and appropriate ways. I had a quibble about Rose, who seems to be less a person and more a plot device to push things along. The book could also have used a good solid edit for repetition and some odd descriptions of some secondary characters who also seemed to be nothing more than plot devices. As it stands, it would make a great Nerflix series with the right casting. I’d enjoyed only one of this author’s earlier books and couldn’t get into some of the others, but this seems to be a standout for me, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more. 3 1/2 stars
June 1, 2023
A literary thriller, Metropolis follows six intersecting characters all tied to a storage unit facility in Boston. I really enjoyed both the pacing and the writing- Shapiro handles the nuances of the different POVs and makes us sympathize with characters from disparate backgrounds, connecting them in unexpected and fun ways.
The only issue I had was with the POV of a Latina character and perhaps getting too in the weeds of differentiating the POVs through dialogue, but other than that, the mystery was engaging, and Shapiro did an excellent job of making us feel for each of the protagonists, with special attention going to housewife Liddy and struggling Metropolis manager Rose.
The plot moves quickly, but you feel swept along in the currents of the mystery, and the need to find out what happened at Metropolis and skill with characterization outweighs everything else.
Definitely recommending this to anyone who likes thrillers, mysteries, or books with interlocking characters.
The only issue I had was with the POV of a Latina character and perhaps getting too in the weeds of differentiating the POVs through dialogue, but other than that, the mystery was engaging, and Shapiro did an excellent job of making us feel for each of the protagonists, with special attention going to housewife Liddy and struggling Metropolis manager Rose.
The plot moves quickly, but you feel swept along in the currents of the mystery, and the need to find out what happened at Metropolis and skill with characterization outweighs everything else.
Definitely recommending this to anyone who likes thrillers, mysteries, or books with interlocking characters.
May 27, 2024
3.75⭐️ great characters and the book has a very unique premise. This is a story about a storage facility and following many of the characters that rent from the facility and how their lives fit together. The ending felt a bit too rushed for me or it would’ve been 4.25
May 30, 2022
What I like most about these photographs is that they each contain a story...A mystery you want to figure out...Who are these people? Why these things? Why this place?
Metropolis
B.A. Shapiro
•
Where can you find a book with well drawn characters you care about and cheer on, a great city setting and a page turning plot? In a storage unit in Cambridge, Massachusetts of course! Thank you to @wacoreads for putting Metropolis on my radar and thank you @algonquinbooks for this #gifted copy!
•
I'll start by saying that I've loved Shapiro's other books because, as you know, I am always on the hunt for art-themed novels, and that is normally her wheelhouse. But Metropolis is really a study of people. And although it does have a "subplot" involving photography, at its core it is an examination of the reality that we each have our own stories, often hidden to the world, and many times they do not match the facades we wear.
•
As a native Bostonian, the setting of Metropolis was so much fun. Harvard Square, the Esplanade, the Commons, the Gardens, Downtown Crossing, the Red Sox -- setting is a character here and it was a great addition to my reading experience to picture the places I know so well as they crept up on the storyline.
•
Metropolis is incredibly well drawn psychological suspense - there is mystery behind every character and the fact that Shapiro chose to set this in a storage warehouse was a stellar metaphor for the secrets we hide. The story unfolds as each chapter peels back the layers of the lives of these very different people who are interconnected by circumstance. Shapiro is masterful at first building the characters and setting and then letting it take off into a page turner. Metropolis would be a great vacation/beach read, because it allows you to become invested in a story and then it doesn't let you go.
•
I don't read a lot of suspense but when I do, finding a book like this makes me want more of it. This would be 4.5 if that were an option!
Metropolis
B.A. Shapiro
•
Where can you find a book with well drawn characters you care about and cheer on, a great city setting and a page turning plot? In a storage unit in Cambridge, Massachusetts of course! Thank you to @wacoreads for putting Metropolis on my radar and thank you @algonquinbooks for this #gifted copy!
•
I'll start by saying that I've loved Shapiro's other books because, as you know, I am always on the hunt for art-themed novels, and that is normally her wheelhouse. But Metropolis is really a study of people. And although it does have a "subplot" involving photography, at its core it is an examination of the reality that we each have our own stories, often hidden to the world, and many times they do not match the facades we wear.
•
As a native Bostonian, the setting of Metropolis was so much fun. Harvard Square, the Esplanade, the Commons, the Gardens, Downtown Crossing, the Red Sox -- setting is a character here and it was a great addition to my reading experience to picture the places I know so well as they crept up on the storyline.
•
Metropolis is incredibly well drawn psychological suspense - there is mystery behind every character and the fact that Shapiro chose to set this in a storage warehouse was a stellar metaphor for the secrets we hide. The story unfolds as each chapter peels back the layers of the lives of these very different people who are interconnected by circumstance. Shapiro is masterful at first building the characters and setting and then letting it take off into a page turner. Metropolis would be a great vacation/beach read, because it allows you to become invested in a story and then it doesn't let you go.
•
I don't read a lot of suspense but when I do, finding a book like this makes me want more of it. This would be 4.5 if that were an option!
August 2, 2022
Every character in this book makes an impression.
Zach owned a storage facility, the Metropolis. He purchased it in 2008 for $2 million which was an incredible deal with 384 units. He was rolling in cash…until the accident. Rose was the office manager, perhaps not to be trusted. She had the master key and she was a bit devious. Liddy had a husband that used his money and influence as a successful attorney to control her emotionally and physically. She wanted out. Marta was hiding from ICE with the fear of being deported back to Venezuela where her father was executed. Jason was a kind lawyer who wanted to help people get out of bad situations. Serge took it all in as a street photographer with his beloved Rolleiflex.
The characters were tied together at the building, the Metropolis, and caught up in the drama of an accident in the elevator – some liked more than others. When Libby heard this: “I’d rather you dead than with someone else,” it made me instantly hate this person. My favorite character was the photographer who was skilled at capturing real expressions of people and images of life. This story was original. Every detail was delivered carefully with a suspenseful plot. The chapters were short with an exciting ending that made you want to turn the pages quickly.
There was a lot to think about in this book. When storage companies are making millions, it makes the reader wonder about the craziness this is with stacks of things people have stored like furniture, books and antiques. In many cases, the bins have boxes of stuff that will never be looked at for months or years or until it’s auctioned off.
Zach owned a storage facility, the Metropolis. He purchased it in 2008 for $2 million which was an incredible deal with 384 units. He was rolling in cash…until the accident. Rose was the office manager, perhaps not to be trusted. She had the master key and she was a bit devious. Liddy had a husband that used his money and influence as a successful attorney to control her emotionally and physically. She wanted out. Marta was hiding from ICE with the fear of being deported back to Venezuela where her father was executed. Jason was a kind lawyer who wanted to help people get out of bad situations. Serge took it all in as a street photographer with his beloved Rolleiflex.
The characters were tied together at the building, the Metropolis, and caught up in the drama of an accident in the elevator – some liked more than others. When Libby heard this: “I’d rather you dead than with someone else,” it made me instantly hate this person. My favorite character was the photographer who was skilled at capturing real expressions of people and images of life. This story was original. Every detail was delivered carefully with a suspenseful plot. The chapters were short with an exciting ending that made you want to turn the pages quickly.
There was a lot to think about in this book. When storage companies are making millions, it makes the reader wonder about the craziness this is with stacks of things people have stored like furniture, books and antiques. In many cases, the bins have boxes of stuff that will never be looked at for months or years or until it’s auctioned off.
May 27, 2022
It took me a little bit to get into METROPOLIS, but once it got going I couldn’t stop turning the pages! Told through a few different characters having to do with the Metropolis Storage facility, this is a story of intersecting lives with a touch of mystery.
Some of the characters were hard to like and some were just so lovable. I liked getting their different viewpoints of each scenario that played out. There was some mystery as well, which added to the intrigue and it’s what kept me hooked.
There are a lot of social issues presented in the book, such as homelessness, deportation/ICE, and the advantages/disadvantages between social classes. It was so interesting to see how each character used their unit in the building and how they came to be there.
Serge is a character who will hold a special place in my heart. The reader doesn’t get to know him as much as you’d like, yet his story is the most intriguing and mysterious. I was a little teary-eyed for him by the end.
Ultimately this is one that’ll stick with you because there is a lot to digest and reflect on when you’ve finished.
Some of the characters were hard to like and some were just so lovable. I liked getting their different viewpoints of each scenario that played out. There was some mystery as well, which added to the intrigue and it’s what kept me hooked.
There are a lot of social issues presented in the book, such as homelessness, deportation/ICE, and the advantages/disadvantages between social classes. It was so interesting to see how each character used their unit in the building and how they came to be there.
Serge is a character who will hold a special place in my heart. The reader doesn’t get to know him as much as you’d like, yet his story is the most intriguing and mysterious. I was a little teary-eyed for him by the end.
Ultimately this is one that’ll stick with you because there is a lot to digest and reflect on when you’ve finished.
January 6, 2022
Metropolis by B. A. Shapiro The flow of the story seemed unusual at the beginning.....present day to future day either that or I got it turned around. All the characters were interesting in their own unique way. Even the building had an interesting story with all the different storage units and Serge's photographs. Serge's photography art was easy to visualize with the author's descriptive narrative. That would be a artist's showing that I would definitely be wanting to see. Marta and Liddy appeared aloof and hard to related to. Jason, Rose and Serge's stories seemed to be more realistic. Zach was a surprise. The mystery was resolved in an interesting way. Kept reading far longer into the night than had intended. My first read by Ms Shapiro and will be looking into her back list and forward to her future books.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews