New York Books

Consiglio il dvd a tutti gli amanti di calcio ed in particolare a tutti i fans di Giorgio Chinaglia! Lunga vita Long John!
Alfonso Rossetti, Roma,Italy.
Lazio's fan.

I've now seen the documentary and read the book, and this is a story that is both fascinating and familiar to sports fans. The film sort of centers around the dream of Steve Ross, president of what became Warner Communications and the Cosmos. It paints him as a selfless and daring pioneer who was desperate to make soccer big in this country. To an extent, he really was that. The book is less charitable to his behavior, painting him as a poor sport who brought Warner to its knees. Ross partied on the company's dime, looked like a playboy genius, fouled things up with a few bad decisions, and got out with an enormous bank account. Hey, wouldn't we all love to do that? Except it cost thousands of people at Warner and Atari their jobs. Many American soccer players' dreams of playing in their domestic pro league were crushed. I hope Major League Soccer executives read this as their bible, and don't let history repeat itself. In the end, you have to feel sorry for the fans and players, who hoped in vain their success would last forever. But those few good years were pretty sweet, and it was entertaining to learn what happened behind the scenes after years of wondering.

You'll be in tears by the third chapter and will likely cry the whole way through. The characters are so engaging you can't help it!

ESPN Classic has been playing the movie made of this book. The two complement each other perfectly.

The story is of the NY Cosmos, a star-laden team that flamed in the late 70s and early 80s. They routinely drew sellout crowds to Giants Stadium, led by such stars as Pele, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia, Alberto. Then a few years later, the team (and the league) disappeared. But what a ride, a hysterical story that is told quite well by Newsham. He interviewed many people (except Pele who reportedly wanted big $$$).

Book is weighed down by Newsham talking about what was happening in the country and world at the time.

But the story is so good. Even if you are NOT a soccer fan, and I am not, it is worth reading.

I am impressed with The New York Review's revival of this unexpectedly non-Jamesian title. A truly unique James choice to bring back to life--it's been done so with a cover so compelling (I'm not a tradional James fan) I opened the book which I found locally in a brick and mortar as they are now called, book shop. The internet cannot do justice to the thoughtful sophistication of this book's packaging. (But I can purchase another copy here more easily!) The publisher's comments about the work were also compelling and complimentary to the cover art. The Other House is a mystery, a detective story, a love triangle with more than three angles--a true page turner--with a timelessly human plot and "modern" characters. Anyone thriller fan would be enchanted with it. And turning every page, holding the book, is a sensory thrill. Paper, writing, art--all representative of what any literary rebirth deserves. If it's worth bringing back--do it with quality, I say! They did--along with a whole marvelous collection of equally intriguing books, with well written new introductions. Good choices--the pieces themselves, the introduction authors and the book artist designers. Truly timeless in all ways!

This book is a novelization of the play by the same name. And you can see the stageplay - the characters are continually coming and going - and there's stage business - all of which I think shows some stiffness - yet about half way through the novel I was startled at how much the characters were real, rounded - I could just about see them - they ached with life - I was always aware of the stage during the novel - the story itself is rather shocking - it's a mystery novel! - it's all very well done - it's short - and it's very psychological

A trusted friend sent me a copy of this new edition of The Other House, insisting that I'd enjoy it. It looked intriguing. I felt obligated to at least give it a try. I still trust the friend! I can't believe this is what is known as a Classic. I thought they were all very boring. I couldn't wait to get back to this plot and I'd never have thought it was written in the uptight Victorian era. It's more like a movie special of the week or one of the top ten best selling novels. Read it then recommend it and impress your friends with your literary depth.

It's hard to believe that James's theatrical turn of the late 19th century ended with his audience "booing" him off the stage. This novelized play reads quickly and delightfully. I've read more than twenty of his novels, and this was the quickest of them all.

The plot is simple enough (at least for James): two houses, apparently back to back, in Wilverley, a small English village, set the scene. One contains a widow, the other a young married couple. The young wife widows the young husband, and he becomes Wilverley's "most eligible bachelor," except for the fact that he promised his dying wife that he would never marry again, at least not during the life of his child. So somebody has to kill the child, right?

Enter James's genius for character. There's Paul, the huge, infinitely imperturbable son of the wealthy Mrs. Beever; the diminutive and impetuous Dennis Vidal; Tony Bream himself, a remarkably good-natured but insensitive fool; and the powerful Mrs. Beever, whose awful determination cows every one else before her. Like James's best writing, his characters become interesting on their own; his fictions become an opportunity to satisfy curiosity. I think that's what makes this book a "page-turner"; the characters are interesting enough that I want to know what's going to happen.

In the end, I suppose, what makes this book succeed is what would have made the dramatic version fail: James's endless fascination with the workings of the human mind must have become either painfully boring or just incomprehensible to a theatrical audience. However it came about, I recommend it unequivocally.

Selecting 54 outdoor sculptures that are of personal and aesthetic interest, the author takes you on a guided tour of Manhattan starting from the Statue of Liberty in the south all the way north to El Cid by Anna Hyatt Huntington.

An easy read for all, each essay gives a brief introduction into the sculptures stylistic elements. It also compares them to how they could have been different and what that would have done to the artwork's meaning. The author also provides background information on the sculpture and its subject to further enhance our appreciation.

Of course when it comes right down to it, Durante shows us through sculpture great minds at work (artisan and innovator) who have accomplished much in their pursuit of values.

Manhattan's streets and parks are packed with historic monuments, and some fifty of them are included in OUTDOOR MONUMENTS OF MANHATTAN: A HISTORICAL GUIDE, which offers up background history, surveys of American sculptors, and analysis of each sculpture, its influences, and its history. A 'must' for any Manhattan resident or library seeking background information on the area's best outdoor monuments to use as either a take-along travel tote or a study.

As a native New Yorker, at one time or another I've passed by and gazed at every one of the 54 sculptures listed in this excellent book. What I learned was how great each one is. Several of my favorites are mentioned (Columbus, Washington, Hamilton) as are some less publicized gems, like Verrazzano and Dr. James Marion Sims. By breaking down the categories of About the Sculpture and About the Subject, one can learn so much about these outdoor gems in the city. Dr. Durante's style of writing is very clear and she gives a practical guide in "how to read a sculpture" with an objective basis.

Pick your style of heroism and you'll find it here. Whether it's celebrating a job well done (Washington in Union Square) or charging into the battle of a new project (El Cid up in Harlem) or refusing to submit to defeat in the face of death (Nathan Hale in City Hall Park) you are sure to be uplifted.

Every New Yorker should own this book, as it will give them a chance to fill their lives with inspiration by simply traveling to a location simply mapped out in the book. As for non-New Yorkers, this is yet another reason to come here and enjoy the greatness of this magnificent city.

Apart from Ayn Rand's own work in esthetics (The Romantic Manifesto---and several other articles outside of it) and Dr. Leonard Peikoff's Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, Dr. Dianne Durante's Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan is the first published work to apply some of Miss Rand's revolutionary esthetics to works of art. This is a MAJOR achievement.

In order to shape a culture dominated by by a rational philosophy, the Objectivist ethics is THE most important idea to get into the culture. And a number of outstanding philosophers have each, independent of one another, done admirable work in this area.

The second most important idea essential to changing our culture is Miss Rand's esthetics. Dr. Durante opened the door to this with her criticism of the thoroughly reprehensible exhibition in New York's Central Park of Christo's Gates. She stood firm against invective. Now she is offering more details as she applies Miss Rand's esthetics to Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan.

Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan is a clever organization of facts and commentary. It is also a welcomed introduction to important ideas that offer the reader rational guidelines to better appreciate and understand art in general and the outdoor monuments of Manhattan in particular.

I live in NM and will move to upstate NY some day. My son and wife have a home in Windham, and I want to explore all the area and, hopefully, sometime meet Ms. Katz.

Have taken watercolor - I like her method of combining it with other media.

Judy Katz has written a stirring fieldbook to some of the most beautiful areas of the Hudson River Valley. As though she were uncovering a lost Arcadia only three hours from Manhattan, Judy takes us by anecote and picture to a series of her favorite nooks and vistas. Judy's words have been compared to Whitman's, evidencing a colloquial simplicity and grace. Her artwork is similarly simple and elegant, with a paucity of embellishment and a clean, representational line. Those who know her work already love this book -- those who do not yet, will.

Judy Katz has written a stirring fieldbook to some of the most beautiful areas of the Hudson River Valley. As though she were uncovering a lost Arcadia only three hours from Manhattan, Judy takes us by anecote and picture to a series of her favorite nooks and vistas. Judy's words have been compared to Whitman's, evidencing a colloquial simplicity and grace. Her artwork is similarly simple and elegant, with a paucity of embellishment and a clean, representational line. Those who know her work already love this book -- those who do not yet, will.

Judy Katz has written a stirring fieldbook to some of the most beautiful areas of the Hudson River Valley. As though she were uncovering a lost Arcadia only three hours from Manhattan, Judy takes us by anecote and picture to a series of her favorite nooks and vistas. Judy's words have been compared to Whitman's, evidencing a colloquial simplicity and grace. Her artwork is similarly simple and elegant, with a paucity of embellishment and a clean, representational line. Those who know her work already love this book -- those who do not yet, will.

The book does a really good job of telling parents about some of the best public schools in NYC. The author also lets you know about the differences in philosophies, facilities and programs, to help figure out what would be best for your child. I hope it gets updated soon!

I used this guide when looking at schools for my five year old daughter. I found the descriptions very accurate--the author really understands the essence of these schools and appreciates the intricacies of NYC schools. If you're looking for a public school in NYC, this book isn't a luxury, it's a necessity!!

As a NYC K-12 educational consultant, I frequently listen to parents' worries about entrusting their children to the New York City public schools. This is unfortunate, because some local public schools are excellent. Hemphill's book is extremely valuable because she identifies top schools and demystifies the admissions process for zoned and out-of-zone students. She also explains admissions to gifted and other special programs. eglickman@abacusguide.com

My family is planning to return to New York City, and we need to find a school for my elementary aged child. This book has provided a good background of information, and answers all of the basic questions, i.e. test scores, class sizes, school philosophies etc. I do wish that is was updated (this is from 1997), and that there was an introduction that gave the reader some context of the New York City public school scene. I'd also like to see a ranking of ALL of the city's public schools so one has the option of seeing how their local public school stacks up against the ones profiled in this book. Despite those criticisms, I found this very helpful, and find myself considering some of the schools described in the book.

No park has been so exhaustively researched, photographed and documented as this 843 acre oasis. So in saying this book stands out, I'm really saying something. This history of this park is just fascinating and the photos are just wonderful, Mr. Rosenzweig does fine research and it shows, his love for the park is evident in his writing and it makes the book all the more enjoyable. Central Park is the heart of the city, and to understand New York you really need to understand the history of the park. A New York without a Central Park is just unimaginable. I highly recommend this book.

There are several good books about Central Park, but this book, along with Sara Cedar Miller's "Central Park, An American Masterpiece" are among the very best.

"The Park and the People: A History of Central Park" is an exhaustive study, without being exhausting. Generously peppered with wonderful illustrations, the book will entice people who had never visited the 800+ acre park to see it. And it will intrigue those people who use the park every day, to look at it with a more insightful eye. This beautiful park has now gotten a beautiful narrative to complement and compliment it. And take Amazon's advice and purchase Miller's book along with this one!

Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points

"The Park and the People" is an exquisite work of scholarship. I've read much about the park but nothing approaches the depth of knowledge and insight contained in this extraordinary book. It's provocative, exciting, extremely well written, and downright readable. I learned something new on every page and simply could not put it down.

This is not just a wonderful study of the park itself but a wonderful route into the social world of 19th century new york....one of the points of the book is that the park's boundaries were never natural, however naturalistic the winning design, but were, in the broadest sense, political. What remains today in the park was always fought over and contested.

I bought this book about 20 years ago - It was a favorite of my then young children. TO this day, my daughter, son and I remember the great stories and pictures. They are now 24 and 26 years old. I have given this book for a gift as well. You can't beat this one!

Beautifully illustrated and written. The colors only enhance the beauty of the original black and white drawings. This book will spark interest in African American history, especially that of the Gullah people.

"The People Could Fly" has it's roots in Angollah and the "Gullah" people. Tradition among the US slaves said that the "powers" of the Gullah people were very strong. How do I know this? I learned it from the comments at the end of the book.

After I read this, I remembered that Jonathan Green grew up in the Gullah culture. I LOVE his artwork, so I thought I'd do some research and find out if my memory was correct.

I found out that not only was he Gullah, but that from his birth, Jonathan Green was considered a special child because he was born with a caul which indicates "that the child is touched by uncommonness and magic that will bring inordinate grace to the community". As a result Jonathan was "deferred to and taught many things about his people, their traditions and their beliefs."

All this I learned because I read, "The People Could Fly". Buy this book for your children. And also buy the collection of stories by Hamilton entitled "The People Could Fly". The illustrations in the collection of stories are black and white and every bit as beautiful.

The death of author Virginia Hamilton in 2002 was a blow to the world of children's literature, no question. Hamilton was an extraordinary writer, creating complex fantastical books for children that seamlessly integrated contemporary interesting situations with aspects of African-American culture. Heck, one of the first ways I learned about the Underground Railroad was through her "House of Dies Drear". I hadn't read her collection of black folktales entitled "The People Could Fly" though I intended to. I was a little confused, therefore, when a brand spanking new "The People Could Fly" was published in 2004. I soon learned, though, that the book had taken one of the stories from the original collection, in a beautiful retelling of the amazing title story. This is a book that is beautiful to look at and a joy to read and reread.

For you see, they say the people could fly. Long ago in Africa there lived people who had beautiful bright black wings and who could soar in the sky. When they were captured by white slavers, the people shed their wings in the tight confines of the slave ships and forgot how to soar. They were sent to work in the field under the whips of the "masters" and overseers. One day, a woman and her babe were suffering too much to go on much longer. With the ancient words of the old man Toby, the woman and the babe remember how to fly and soared away from the farm. The story recounts how the people who knew how to fly learned to do so again with the help of old Toby and how the slaves who did not know how to fly watched them escape and retold the story to their children just as this book tells it to you.

It's a lovely story, all the lovelier due to the illustrations of Leo and Diane Dillon. The Dillons have illustrated the covers and books of Ms. Hamilton for years, so it is not surprising that they should do so again here. I've always been a huge fan of the Dillons, and this latest effort of theirs is as beautiful as anyone could hope. Even its endpapers are gorgeous, all matt black with shimmery feathers floating down the pages. What "The People Could Fly" does best is introduce children to the concept of slavery within the context of a folktale. Through this story kids understand the horrors of enslavement, rejoice in the escape of some, and understand that most slaves remained trapped and unable to fly. What really set this book apart for me, though, was the use of Editor and Author's Notes. Some great picture books (such as "Ellington Was Not a Street") are beautiful and interesting but never set their story within any context and leave you feeling very confused. "The People Could Fly", on the other hand, tells you everything you need to know about Hamilton, the origins of this tale, the various interpretations of flight (and how you can find a similar idea in Toni Morrison's excellent "Song of Solomon"), and the degradation of slavery.

All intelligent dialogue aside, this book is just a great read to kids. It'll capture their attention with the beautiful pictures, and the words will give them the additional thrill of wondering what it would be like to fly with wings. It's written with slightly older children in mind. Those kids who still like picture books but may want something a little more sophisticated than your average "Horton Hears a Who". With all the folktales out there, it's sometimes difficult to find African-American tales that aren't ALL based on Brer Rabbit. Fortunately, we now have this story to read to all the children we can find. This is a gorgeous addition to any collection and should be adored for as long as it exists.

The story, prose, and illustrations of this book are beautiful and timeless.

We checked this book out from the library and it became an immediate favorite--we didn't want to give it back! I'm buying my own copy for our collection.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

PERCH, MRS. SACKETS, AND CROW'S NEST is a fiction novel set in a small town in upstate New York - West Carthage - and is told through the eyes of ten-year-old Andy, who has just lost his dad to a terrible illness; and his best friend, Anthony, who moves to Colorado. Andy's mom decides they both need a change to cope with all that's happened, so they leave Minnesota for the summer to head to Grandma's.

This story flows with warm images from the author's own childhood, of family time spent on Grandma's front porch, peeling apples that had fallen from the apple trees and were wormy, bruised, and smushed. But, this story's not about the apples...it's about Andy and how he adapts to all that has happened to him.

At first he's bored - he's a city boy, after all, and he's used to having lots of things to do. Grandma soon puts him to work doing chores - picking up the fallen apples, visiting with Mrs. Sackets who is busy catching the sunshine through her windows and sending mysterious notepaper back to Andy's mom, who sends it back again to Mrs. Sackets through Andy each day. He finds out that his mom's relationship with her good friend from childhood, John, could be turning into more than just a friendship . . . can Andy cope with this? John takes him fishing and Andy breaks down about missing his father. John offers sage words of comfort to Andy, and they soon haul in a record catch of perch.

Andy adapts to the slower pace of life in Grandma's world and flows with the changes going on around him. He soon makes friends with a fellow soccer player - a girl! Then, one day, he discovers that his friendship with Anthony isn't really over after all.

Although this story isn't really about the apples, the author supplies a delicious recipe from her youth - crow's nest! You must read this book to learn how to make it. [...]

I found this book to be compelling, gentle, flowing, and woven with the rich memories of the past melding into the present. I highly recommend this book for kids that want an interesting book to read with lots of neat ideas in it, and for parents, who want their kids to read a REALLY GOOD BOOK with no violence, swear words, or anything objectionable. Best of all, a portion of all book sales is donated to charity. This is a must read!

Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow's Nest is a novel for young adults about a ten-year-old boy visiting his grandma for the summer. He dearly misses his deceased father, and his best friend Anthony has moved away. But it turns out that even a sleepy little small town can be a haven for summer fun! An enjoyable adventure of discovery ensues.

Sometimes a good little book goes unnoticed by the reading public. It would be a shame if great children's books like "Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow's Nest" were lost on some bookstore shelf gathering dust because it is a very worthy book for any young reader to add to their book collection.

Author Karen Pavilicin weaves a gentle story that slides in some very good messages without being too blatant. Her story and plot are aimed at young readers - although a young minded adult might enjoy reading it as well. The characters are well defined and interesting. The book will capture the attention of both boys and girls.

If you are a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle or just someone who has a special young person in their life then this would make a great gift. No batteries or instructions are need - just place the book in their hands and they are ready to roll.

I am on my 6th week with this book from my local library. I can't get enough. I have read many books and magazines and this book is well organized and has great clearity and easy access for plant descriptions. I highly recommend getting a copy from your library and checking it out for yourself. I hope these reviews will help bring this book back around for the gardeners who want a good book to add to their collection.

I have this book and keep it handly for reference year round. It gets a lot of use in the spring & fall, when I need a quick brush up on what to move or divide and when. I have recommended this book to many of my gardening friends. I hope at least some of them got a copy. I know many more who want a copy.

Actually, I have't read this book because book stores don't carry it. It is out of stock and nobody can get it. I know it's a good book, though, because it is part of The American Gardening Guide series. I have the Annual Gardening book in this series and it is very well organized and informative. I would dearly love a copy of Perennial Gardening. I hope a book distributor will read this, and due to the fact that it just so happens they still have a copy in stock, they contact me at my email address below.

Perennial Gardening (American Garden Guides) is one of my favorite garden books. It is concise, accurate, extremely well illustrated,and does not confuse the reader with excessive information. I am a horticulturalist and the Head Grower for a 60 acre wholesale container nursery. I have been responsible for growing perennials for over 20years. Often I am ask to speak to retail customers or the general public. This is my most highly recommended book for people first starting to develop a perennial Garden.

Gloria Deak's Picturing New York provides a lavish history of New York covering a range of topics; from immigrant waves and their influences upon New York culture to the rise of politicians and establishment of religion and culture. A chronological arrangement of chapters allows for a fine historic overview, while the arrangement of information also lends to browsing. A recommended pick for any collection strong on New York City history and culture.

This is a wonderously enaging book that immerses the reader in the City's 400 year history by means of a related series of sparkling essays and a vivid fabric of images. Gloria Deak boldly engages the entire humanistic adventure that is New York in a way that has not been attempted since John Kouwenhoven's 1953 Historical Portrait.

Picturing New York will open up the City to readers interested in the personalities and events that made and continue to reinvent New York.

Here at The Philadelphia Print Shop, we have been eagerly awaiting Gloria Deák's Picturing New York. Known for her lively and insightful prose, Deák has produced some of the best publications on American prints and maps available to print dealers and collectors. The reader should not think that this handsome new publication is a print reference book like I.N. Phelps Stokes' Iconography of Manhattan Island (1915-36) or Deák's Picturing America (1988). Rather it is a very readable history of New York City where Deák's knowledge and understanding of graphic illustrations adds greatly to the prose narrative. The book is filled with images of prints, photographs, watercolors, drawings, maps, etc., and these images resonate strongly with the text. The city's history is not presented in the usual chronological manner, but instead Deák gives us a new slant on the story of New York by presenting the history in fourteen chapters each with a different theme. This includes considerations on the naming of New York, its religious, seafaring and mercantile history, different sections of the metropolis, its culture, sports, architecture, and so forth. Each chapter can be read as separate entity, but this is also a book that rewards a reading from cover to cover. Deák's style is vivacious, and the book's interesting format and the breadth and depth of Deák's knowledge ensures that this book will provide new insights for all readers. And though not really a print reference book, the publication does include an excellent bibliography and a scholarly documentary listing of all the illustrations used. This is a publication that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in New York.

Deak combines a wealth of photographs of New York City (a majority featuring Manhattan) with an an especially well-written narrative which traces 400 years of colorful history. She organizes the material within 14 chapters, focusing on such diverse subjects as Manhattan's origins, its "multireligious destiny", its emergence as a world-class seaport, its "merchant princes", its multi-ethnic demographics, the ascent of its rich and the struggles of its poor, the metamorphosis of Broadway, the settlement and development of the other four boroughs, its "politicians for all seasons" (ie insightful profiles of Peter Stuyvesant, Thomas Dongan, Fernando Wood, and Fiorello LaGuardia), its triumphs of architecture and urban engineering, its emerging role as a world-class center of the creative and performing arts, the national and international impact of its communications community, and its passion for competitive sports.

All of us have images of New York (most of them of Manhattan and many of them the result of films and television programs anchored there) and many of us know at least something about the city's colorful history. This book both enables us to experience New York in the hundreds of photographs and to learn more about its establishment and subsequent development. Although the volume may seem to be another "coffee table book", don't be misled. While being a window to our nation's most dynamic city, it is also a mirror of our nation's history. At least once a week, I take it in hand and feast upon its contents. So will you.