I was born in NYC and loved to read about the city's underbelly history
931943
I was born in NYC and loved to read about the city's underbelly history. Alas, font size was itty-bitty! This is such a large body of work, so I understand a small font size was necessary to keep the page count small. Other than that, I recommend it for anyone interested in NYC's history, basically that of Manhattan.
3403968
Unlike this Native Son, I am not nor have I ever been a New Yorker. I go there when I want to unwind.  With each book, Hamill proves his love for his City.  Although I felt I knew this City after starting this wonderful book, I found I didn't know bupkis.  This slim volume packs in so much history about the city itself, its evolution into the greatest City in the world, warts and all.  Most books I tend to sell or give away once read, after taking notes so I don't forget the essence of the writing.  This one, I plan to keep and take with me when I return, using it as a guide to areas I am not familiar with.  Near the end, Hamill describes a scene in which he had tears in his eyes after watching the passing parade and reminising about the rejuvenation of a neighborhood.  Suffice it to say, I was reading that passage through tears of my own.
2565079
Having grown up Jewish in NYC definitely contributes to the fact that I enjoyed reading Dough. This is a memoir about an extremely dysfunctional family told in a matter of fact style that lends a bit of humor to an otherwise sad history. The author portrayed his family in such detail that I felt I knew each family member and could identify with most of them. I loved the nostalgia of revisiting the city I grew up in.
2727980
This was quite an enjoyable read that weaves history and charm into descriptions of dozens of the city's neighborhoods. Baltimore is referred to as the city of neighborhoods, after all, and the author's literal walks through them are fun to follow. It's easy to imagine the settings he describes, especially if you're somewhat familiar with the areas.

It's quite personal, with many stories and leaning on the author's own preferences for restaurant and sight-seeing. Yet the inclusion of many side-characters, who accompany Madison on his walks or whom he encounters in the bars, offer other perspectives - such as Jack, the author's friend, who is the great-grandson of a former mayor of the city.

I'm originally a Michigan native who was interested in learning more Baltimore history, and I got it. It's very much interweaved into the stories, all of which take place in modern times - although the walks themselves also portray a certain moment in history, as 10 years have passed since this was written and things have continued to change. You'll have a bit more appreciation for that change and history as you read this book.
1466085
A comprehensive collection of essays about the famed borough by authors famous and not so.  From Arthur Miller to Spike Lee and many others.  The stories are fascinating; Brooklynites will find it packed with delectible tidbits about the places they commonly take for granted, while everyone else will be given insight and sometimes insider information about many of the great landmarks that they have just heard about.  The chapters are just the right length so that you are not inundated and when the topic is covered, the next chapter will lure you back in.  You can easily binge read because it is hard to put down.
126088
Being a New  York City transplant, I was intrigued with this book when I saw it on my wife's side of the bed. While the storyline noted it was about 3 generations of women living in NYC, it was really the writing that drew me in. Author Sophia Delanner writes beautifully. Her prose is descriptive, inviting and colorful. I felt like I was walking with her while she told this tale to me. Another really interesting part of the book is the dynamics between the main character and her mother. The author captures very well how dysfunctional relationships between mother and daughter could affect someone's life s profoundly. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
1265587
While I enjoyed the mystery aspect of The Silver Gun, what I appreciated most was the way the author wove meticulous research on New York City in the 1930s into the story. While I was reading, I found myself so "there" in Manhattan that I felt like I was right in the City with Lane. It was only when I closed the book and stepped back that I realized the New York I had been inhabiting for the past pages was a historical one. It was fascinating to read about a time when Prohibition was a recent memory and about the gangster culture of the time as well as what life might have been like for a working woman at the time. I would have appreciated having more context around the Depression and the City, but glimpses of it revealed some of its effects on the Manhattan. Well-written historical fiction is the best and most memorable of history lessons, and in addition to being all of that, The Silver Gun was a fun read.
4829308
Helmreich's book was a fascinating read for someone like me who grew up in The Bronx during the 1960s and 1970s and then moved away.  His narrative, bolstered by extensive first-hand experiences walking the city along with his understanding of relevant academic literature, was enlightening.  Nice to know how things have improved in many (but not all) neighborhoods.  As other reviewers have pointed out, Helmreich's book is not about buildings, bridges, subways, etc.  There are plenty of good sources for such topics.  Rather, this book deals with people in relation to their neighbors, their environments, and their histories.  Yes, it would be nice if the pictures were larger, and some topics are dwelled upon while others are brushed over, but all in all I found The New York Nobody Knows a really good read.
3862314
This was a very enjoyable way to learn the history of New York.  The writing was good, the story kept me interested.  I will read his other books on other cities.
2371208
It kept my interest from cover to cover.  It has significant meaning for me since my mother wanted me to stay there when I got my first job in Manhattan in the early '70s.  That place was steeped in history.

The book is well written and really reflects that period in history.  Enjoyable read.
2089915
I love reading memoirs and I love reading about different time periods. Though this is classified as fiction, it is about the author's life growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900's. This book spoke to me and gave me a deeper appreciation for what I have.
1019027
A fascinating book about a city I didn't know had such a complex history.  This is a personal story written from the inside by someone who clearly loves the place.
4598564
Being from Baltimore, I like reading historic books about Baltimore.
3473289
This book was thoroughly fun.  I really enjoyed it, living as I do in Boston, and having lived in New York, and seeing how the subway system was conceived and built n both cities was interesting.  I'm no specialist, so it was readable and interesting without being so detailed that I felt I was plowing through information that just got in the way.  Boston won the "race" by the way.
I also had tine unusual experience of reading the book on the red line of the Boston subway, which was stuck in numerous slowdowns and service delays (and a complete shutdown of the subway due to a blizzard) over the week of January 26th to 29th, 2015.  The lousy service added a full hour (and in one case, two hours) to my commute.  The subways still need a good deal of work, but I'm glad they exist, though reading about service delays in the 19th century while stuck underground in the 21st, was somewhat ironic.
1585302
I love NYC and thought this was the perfect kind of documentary for anyone who wants to know about the history of it. It flows really nicely and not a lot of stuff that drags out too long. One thing that should be mentioned is really this is a documentary about Manhattan and a very small tad of Brooklyn. Not much is made of the other boroughs. Now that is ok and I totally understand it but if there was one thing I'd recommend to the creators if I could it would be to devote maybe one of the dvds to the other 4 boroughs as NYC is more than just Manhattan and a lot of history took place in Brooklyn/Bronx/Queens/Staten Island as well and a lot is there to be shown.
2790000
I moved to Philadelphia in 2014 from Pittsburgh.  I knew very little of Philadelphia and picked up this book.

I learned so much about Philadelphia and also about many other things.  This author had startling access to the mayor's office.  There is no doubt that the things revealed here would be found in a majority of city halls of the past couple generations.  The author shares insights into the effects of housing policy, the plight of the urban poor and working and middle classes.  And it's also a collection of deeply personal stories: workaholics, status-seekers, good priests, grieving families, and a confident mayor at the crossroads of it all.

This book doesn't tell us how to save a city.  It opens our eyes to the reality of what it means to try to do that.
4233996
I was born on Davis St. on the East Side of Buffalo and attended St. Boniface Catholic School on Locust St in the Fruit Belt in the early fifties. I lived in Buffalo for 46 years before moving to Florida. My parents were German and Irish so I spent alot of time in South Buffalo as well where my father's family resided.

The reason for the background is to set the stage for why I so enjoyed reading Mr. Goldman's book about a city that I will always treasure in my mind but regretfully wish sometimes that it had become something more today.

For those that share a Buffalo heritage you should read this book because it will take you back to the days when the city was vibrant and so unique because of it's ethnic diversity.

The book is not only enjoyable because of the history of the city and surrounding areas but Mr. Goldman is a very talented writer.  His style has consistent segways from one topic to another, sometimes reversing in chronlogy, but never leaving you confused by the traverse through time.

I'm finished with the book and intend to send it to my uncle who still lives outside of Buffalo but grew up just off Sycamore St and was a Buffalo firefighter for 40 years.  He knows every street in the city and he will enjoy the trip back through many of those streets as much as anyone else who decides to read this book.