What makes — or doesn't make — this novel feel like a New York novel to you? Did it bolster or contradict any of your opinions or beliefs about New York City?

Most of the novel takes place in and around New York City — the Plumb family grew up on Long Island, and three of the four Plumb siblings made Manhattan their home. A 9/11 sub plot also weaves its way throughout the novel. What makes — or doesn't make — this novel feel like a New York novel to you? Did it bolster or contradict any of your opinions or beliefs about New York City?

The NEST itself is what kept this novel together. It effected all of them, they had that money waiting for them and they relied on it make decisions in their life. In a way, it held them back. Once the money was gone they all had to move on, make decisions. It actually made them all grow up by not having the money to rely on. It changed everything. Leo was so dishonest to his siblings, but in the end he even seemed to find himself. I love that they rallied around Stephanie and took responsibility for her daughter.

New York novel? Frankly that term isn't one that means anything to me. Is that like a Seattle novel? A Los Angeles novel? Am I out of touch, here?

I felt the novel definitely had a New York feel in that it provided the setting and also because of the 9/11 sub plot - also because the crux of the novel was The Nest - and New York often symbolizes big money or wealth. In a sense, it revealed the side of New York that is relevant to most readers life - the fact that this situation takes place in families in every city and state of the U.S. In this way it provided a more realistic look at New York, reminded me that the daily life of most of the people in that city are doing what I do everyday - whether we/they realize it or not.

The use of NYC as a part of the story was not really on my radar - which was disappointing to me since I have lived and worked there and adore the city. It didn't ever feel like a NYC novel to me at all.

I didn't think the locale mattered at all. It was a story of people, not place. What does that mean- New York City novel? It was set in New York, but so what?

I didn't think the locale mattered at all. It was a story of people, not place. What does that mean- New York City novel? It was set in New York, but so what?

Although there were some elements that made the novel "New York", it could have been set anywhere. It's a universal theme about families anywhere.

The Nest does not feel like a New York novel at all. Other than mention of Central Park and the Twin Towers, the thought of New York as a setting was merely incidental to the story.