New York Books

Paul Bowles's collection of travel pieces dating from 1950-1963 reveals a love of solitude and the unfamiliar road in a time when American influence began to dominate the post-war world. Seeking refuge from growing American conformity at home, Tangier, Morocco became Bowles's permanent address in 1947. Tangier made an ideal jumping-off point for Bowles, who visited Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1950, Cape Coromin, India in 1952, Istanbul, Turkey in 1953, and made frequent trips into Morocco and the Sahara, where he documented and recorded its music and musicians.

His travel writing can be at once witty and withering. Many of his observations are about the discomforts and disappointments of traveling; reading the more sour reports one might wonder why he put himself through all the trouble. Bowles obviously relished his role as the cultural outsider, and enjoyed writing about drugs, sex, and traditions the West found taboo. The people he describes are individuals, sketched boldly and without reserve. A trip to Ketama, "the kif center of all North Africa," becomes a chance to provide an extensive description of Morocco's drug culture.

His willingness to describe the whole of his experience makes Bowles's writing more than mere reporting -- from an unexpected swarm of flies, to the unrelenting sun, to the cool desert night and the noisy neighbors in an overcrowded hotel. He was blunt about writing these pieces for pay (and published in American travel magazines) but the result remains an engaging and entertaining collection.

Unable to write a review of the above title; the book was given to someone as a gift. The book was chosen because the author is a favorite of the person who received it.

Bought as a gift. Have not read it, though I will eventually

I must disagree with the review written by T. Ross. The essays on travel are not dated any more than Paul Bowles wonderful prose is, which borders on the poetic. Certainly these essays were written in the fifties, but Bowles portraits of North Africans (and European settlers) are so vivid one can almost feel them breathe. The essay concerning Mustafa, a male Muslim and his beliefs should be required reading for the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Administration. As a poet and writer I appreciated Bowles style and his skill in presenting physical, philosophical and emotional landscapes. I highly recommend this book.

I like this book better than some of Mr. Bowles' longer fictional efforts. He is good at relatively short accounts, where his rich life experiences are related through highly descriptive prose. Bowles captures the abnormal psychology of the planet itself moreso than that of the individual, which is better left to Camus or Faulkner. Also, he is able to find some humor and meaning in the Western-Arab relationship, which helps relieve some of the strain of our current showdown, which Mr. Bowles foresaw. Especially funny to me is an account by Bowles of finding a filthy rag at the bottom of a pail of murky water he and his Arab travelmate had been using for drinking water. They up and left the "hotel" (and town) that day.

Also of interest are chapters on Ceylon.

Bowles seems to be more capable writing about real people and events than he is when functioning in the only slightly altered world of his fiction. I think it has something to do with him being an emotional loner. Like Sartre, he is more of an observer, more of a thinker, than a writer, so his fictional characterizations are, like Sartre's, often wooden and unconvincing (to me at least). To this viewpoint, he would strongly object I think. But, notice I refrain from calling him a moralist or a philosopher. If he were a painter, I would classify him as a post-impressionist like Matisse (great colorist, intriguing designs, romantic, but limited by "decorative" priorities.) And, like Matisse, he never really shocks me like a true Fauve because, no matter how gruesome the details of the narrative, his narrative voice is always too cultivated. He can't help it; he's from New England. For his fictional style to match the content, his manner would need to be cruder, like Kirchner or Vlaminck. And he is really not a portrait artist like Dickens, Joyce or Faulkner either. Or, maybe it's that his portraits capture places and milieus moreso than individual psyches. In this book, it doesn't matter because he is truly in his element: he travels wildly, observes meticulously and remembers creatively.

Sandra Scoppattone knows how to create her mysteries with a special talent of always providing her readers with ample interest to turn the pages. Her subtle humor always conforms to the adventures of her characters. Her themes are focused with style keeping a reader in the same neighborhood. I like books that can be put down in the middle of a read, and you can pick them up again knowing where you left off. That's a good book in my book. If I strugle with books for more than 50 pages I throw them out.. "Too Darn Hot" is on our book club list. What more can I say!

i really enjoyed the 2 books (so far) in this series. filled with atmosphere and quirky 40's speak, they are a pure joy to read and faye is a most likable main character. the mystery itself is a little week, but that's okay. there's so much else here to enjoy.

I read this in one sitting. I laughed out loud. The NYC setting in war time was perfect. And the mystery had me going. I read a lot of mysteries and I kept thinking I had it figured out and then there'd be a twist. I can't wait for the next one in the series.

I was initially drawn to "Too Darn Hot" by an interest in World War II and its New York setting. While the historical setting plays a prominent role, it is Faye Quick who will capture your imagination. A private eye with a keen eye understanding of the human condition, and a jaded urban sense of humor, she is a natural at her proffession. Just as all "naturals" must, she works hard to perfect and hone her trade. It is extremely clear that without the war transporting men overseas, Faye may have never gotten her shot to move from secretary to private eye. A young twenty-six, Faye is able to navigate the demanding and at times unaccepting waters of the male dominated NYPD. (Law enforcement officers were exempt from military service) Faye has a maturity beyond her years. There is a freshness to her youth, however, as she attempts to sort out her relationship with both her family and a love interest who is uncomfortable with her profession. While completely at ease in her private eye role, her youth is apparent when her insecurity is on display during her first venture to the 21 Club. The dialogue accompanied by her inner thoughts are extremely funny, and maintains the pace of the book.

If your trying to quit smoking, this may be a rough read. Its the price of historical accuracy.

This is a home front story set in the New York of 1943. Back in 1940, Faye Quick had been hired as a secretary for a one-man PI agency. Now, while her boss is in uniform, Faye is keeping the business going. It's the era of the hard-boiled detective and Faye, to her own surprise as much as anybody's, fits in just fine.

Refreshingly, and quite unlike two books on which I've commented recently, author Sandra Scoppettone creates a convincing mid-War New York. But the New York she creates is not, I think, the one that actually existed on the Hudson River. No, her New York is the one that appeared in glorious black-and-white in double features on the screens of neighborhood Bijous, Rialtos and Roxies right across the continent.

Imagine PI Faye Quick as a young Joan Blondell. Here is the way she speaks:

"Yeah, it was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. I never could understand why people said that. Did somebody fry one then eat it? Who'd wanna eat a fried egg from the sidewalk? Especially in a city like New York. Maybe I'd try it. Not the eating part, the frying. But then people would think I was more a screwball than they did already....

"I'd had two murders since last spring, solved them both. The first one was prime and it got a lotta attention in the fish wrapper, so I had a bunch of clients for a while. Just cause people saw my name in the paper they figured I was the best (which I might be) and they hired me for everything from finding a dog to solving another murder. Not bad for a twenty-six-year-old gal from Newark, New Jersey."

Faye's words may or may not reflect the speech patterns of New York's Forty-third Street between Seventh and Eighth--her office address--but they are absolutely, authentically pure examples of the brassy, RKO B-picture, big city, tough girl, sub-dialect of the American language. That is the way Blondell talked, the young Lucille Ball, too, and even Ginger Rogers (before Astaire polished off her rough edges.) I love it all.

I think Scoppettone loves it and Hollywood, too. In fact, I suspect that she wrote this book with a big grin on her face. How could she not, considering the names she chose for her characters? Here is a partial list: Arden, Cagney, Collier, Cooper, Cummings, Davis, Duff, Duryea, Glenn, Grahame, Jory, Kilbride, Ladd, Lake, Lupino, Mostel, Powell, Ritter, Ryan, Sidney, Stanwyck, Swanson, Turner and Widmark. If those names mean nothing to you, then rush to your TV set, strap yourself in, and hunker down for a month of remedial study with the Turner Classic Movies--or at the very least, wear a hair shirt during your next visit to your local video store.

The mystery of this book, such as it is, is straightforward and pitched appropriately at the level to be found in the B-movies of the period. The sly Scoppettone (perhaps with a twisted little grin) is fully aware that we in our time are a little more sensitized to some things than Faye Quick might have been in 1943, so we readers are led to draw certain conclusions before Faye does. Part of the amusement of the book arises from wondering when and how she'll catch up.

This is a breezy, brassy book that honorably upholds the traditions of its models from the 1940s. It is true to itself and successful on its own terms. That justifies five stars as far as I am concerned.

This book reminded me much of how people who don't have, are grateful for the little things. What joy to know when one can bring home a small Christmas Tree who can't afford to purchase it. To decorate with what is available and be SO thankful and happy with just the meager existence is a truly thankful heart. I didn't see the envy of what wasn't available. Money and things do not buy peace in the heart.

The tree and the story live on to help us remember to be thankful even in simplicity.

My mom likes this book. Although she hasn't finished reading it yet, she finds what she has read to be really interesting and heart warming. So far it has been good readings for her. She can't wait to finish reading it.

The Tree Nobody Wanted: A Christmas Story is a short novel for young adults that truly embodies the holiday spirit. Set in a poverty-stricken area of Brooklyn the year after the end of World War II, The Tree Nobody Wanted tells of an eleven-year-old boy assigned to pick a Christmas tree from the few leftover trees no one wanted, and bring it back to the apartment where his Nanny has looked after him since he was a baby. Charmingly illustrated with soft, grey-and-white artwork A gentle, heartwarming tale about the true spirit of Christmas and the depth of family bonds.

I used to try to read A Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve, and now I have two options for all of the Christmas Eves to come. With The Tree Nobody Wanted: A Christmas Story, Tom McCann has written a wonderful, touching story that truly runs the gamut of emotions. At 39 pages, the story is not a long one, but its message is as big and significant as life itself. This is not a children's story, as I do not think many children will fully understand its underlying meaning. You need to have the perspective that only adulthood can bring, especially a nostalgia for Christmases past, in order to appreciate the breadth of feelings that McCann condenses so effectively in what he refers to as "part fable, part remembrance, part miracle."

Eleven-year-old Thomas and his grandmother have each other and that's about it. Unable to afford a tree, Thomas goes out on Christmas Eve night to search for one among the unsold trees that had been left out on the lots. His choices are quite limited, and he ends up returning home with an ugly and misshapen one -- yet somehow he knows that this particular tree is special. Waking up on Christmas morning, the tree is a beautiful sight to Thomas - despite the fact that he had to rig a stick to the top of it in order to hang the star, the only ornaments are a handful of little personal family mementoes, and there is not a single present to be found underneath it. Poor they may be, but this boy and his grandmother spend a wonderful Christmas day together--but the story doesn't end there. Thomas loves the little tree so much that he can't bear to throw it out, and that sets the stage for the real miracle of the story.

This is really a heart achingly beautiful story. Carrying the tree home, Thomas thinks about how it must have felt to be chopped down so early in life, carried off far away from home, and subjected to repeated rejection by potential customers. That's the kind of beautiful sentiment that runs throughout this precious little book. It's painful to think of this little boy and his grandmother having to live in such poverty, yet it's incredibly touching to realize that this little family has a more joyous and meaningful Christmas in their tiny Brooklyn apartment than the richest of Manhattan families ever will. There aren't many books that can make you cry and smile at the same time, but The Tree Nobody Wanted is definitely one of them.

"Part fable, part remembrance, part miracle" -- that's the way the dust jacket aptly describes this miraculous little book. This perfect gem of a story puts one immediately in mind of "The Greatest Gift" which was adapted into the Christmas movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life." It's a warm and moving story to read to the family -- a wonderful book to wrap for someone you really like -- and just the thing to read quietly by yourself when you need reassurance that good things, miraculously, do happen to good people.

I tried, and failed, using a variety of techniques for 'value' or 'fundamental' investing; then I stumbled upon this book which really opened my eyes to the fact that playing the stock markets really is (for amateurs, at least) gambling or speculating. And yet, it is possible to make money. Not by trying to predict where markets will go; but by reacting quickly to market moves and by practicing effective money management to limit losses.

This book has been a big influence on my trading style, and was one of the key inspirations behind the writing of my own book.

Tony Loton -- author, DON'T LOSE MONEY! (in the Stock Markets)

An excellent book for the beginning trader because it does away with the misleading ideas about the marketplace that most beginning traders fall victim to. I wish I had read this book prior to my first trades because if I had, I probably wouldn't have gone through all the "fundamentals" nonsense and other hype that doesn't mean squat in terms of making money.

A good book to accompany Darvas first book.

This book is no way near as good as the first. It is mostly the same material told in a less engaging way. He uses the metaphor of Wall Street as Roulette Game in a Casino which cheats it's clients. If you like Darvas's first book it is certainly worth reading to gain little insights on his method which youdon't get in the first. There a few new anecdotes and a chapter which explains his method but on the whole the book is not as amusing a read and lacks the freshness of the first, nor do I think it takes his story much farther than where the last ends. I would love to know what happened to Darvas in the late sixties and early seventies but not in this book.

I spent $150 on this book with no regrets. After reading over 70 books on stock trading and studying the greatest stock traders of all timen in my opinion Nicolas Darvas is the greatest stock trader who ever lived. No one that I am aware of ever made so much money in such a short amount of time with such a small starting point. Darvas started with a few $2,000 in stock, his 1st stock quadrupled in a few months. With in a few years of trial and error he had turned $8,000 into $100,000 then finished out his final 18 months turning that into $2.4 million dollars. He then removed his money from the market due to no stocks meeting his criteria and avoided the bear market of the early 60's. On his journey he never lost any of his own money, only losing previous winnings.
I love this book and his previous one because he gives specifics, with dates and amounts of stocks he purchased and when he sold. His books are text books for stock traders. In this book he discusses how brokers and tip services make money off each generation of suckers in Wall Street and how to keep from being ripped off. I agree with his point that if your broker or the tip service were so great they would be following their own advice and making a killing in the market instead of working and selling you services and information for a few dollars. It is very important to be very careful in the Wall Street casino and not getted ripped off.
This book goes into much more detail than his other book and explains exactly how to use his techno-fundamentalist system.

His method of stock investment:
TECHNICAL-
Only buy stocks that have established solid price boxes and have moved through them consistently.

Buy stocks that move into higher boxes on increased volume.

Only buy stocks breaking into all time new highs after coming out of a previous solid price box.

Set on stop buy orders to enable you to buy the stock as it breaks out of the box into the next one. This is where the big moves happen.

FUNDAMENTAL-
Trade stocks based on there capitalation. This will determine proper volume and price movement due to number of outstanding shares.

Buy stocks in strong industry groups.

Buy stocks that have the greatest expectations of future earnings.

Even though this book has not been recommended by Willim O'Neal it is an excellent companion book for followers of the CAN SLIM method of stock trading. Darvas encourages us to bet on the fastest horse with the best record not to worry so much about the kind of hay it eats or spectators opinions. I have made $1,000's of dollars using these methods and you will to. This book is a jewel in the ocean of stock trading books.

This book continues from where How I Made 2,000,000 left off. Nicolas refreshes the reader on his sound methods with his box theory and stop-loss. What i liked alot about this is book is how he actually draws in a great comparison on how Wall Street is much like Las Vegas! (Go figure)... Darvas gives us the realities to investing; its gambling! But dont worry, you can learn to clean the house in no time with the help of this book. Accept the facts, trust your instinct and gamble with confidence baby! But other then the gambling aspect, Nicolas repeats himself frequently throughout the book, which is the only downside. I would definetely recommend this book to anyone interested in what Wall Street really is!

This was a very professionally written account of the lives of 15 very diverse people who also happen to be professional lacrosse players. The book really makes you view these athletes as interested in their sport, valued members of their community, and very different from the multi-million dollar primma donnas who play other professional sports. I definitely recommend this book.

After the Duke Lacrosse scandal, it was refreshing to see an upbeat well-written book about lacrosse. These players truly honor their sport, and make the casual observer want to learn more. The stories were interesting, and it was a good overview of the NLL, and the players who make the league work. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more books like it.

This book was interesting, insightful, and sometimes even funny when explaining the lives of 15 "ordinary" people who have jobs, wives, kids, and play professional lacrosse on the weekends. It makes you realize how different pro lacrosse is from other pro sports. (And I mean that in a good way.) The writing was clear and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

It was great to finally read a good book on professional lacrosse. The writing was interesting and insightful, and provided a good mix of lacrosse history combined with people who play the game. I would definitely recommend this book for the lacrosse fanatic, or even the casual observer. I enjoyed it!

This book is filled with stories of professional lacrosse players. The players are atypical from other professional sports players, who are often filled with self-admiration and greed. Yet, they are not exactly everyday people either. The players do have full time jobs and families, but many of them are in noble fields such as teaching, law enforcement, the armed forces, fire fighting... Of course, it takes a noble character to be devoted to such an underpaid and under-appreciated sport. The players sacrifice their bodies, time, and some family commitments for the love of their sport. The writing is clever, and the author gives good insight about the players' individuality, achievements, reminiscences, and dedication.

I had the honor of knowing Suzanne. She's an extraordinary human being, and I'm glad that someone else found her as special as I did. This book is simple, haunting, and beautifully written. Blessings on Suzanne, wherever she may be.

The book came in the maximum amount of time I expected - 2-14 business days from the notice I received from the seller that the item had been shipped. The quality of the item was high, much higher than expected for a used book. It looked brand new and I was very pleased with the item.

This book was a excellent book in the matter that it protrayed another perspective of Jean-Michel Basquiat and let us in on the life of one of his most enduring muses in his short and unfortunate addictive lifestyle and life. The books poetic writings give Jean-Michel and Suzannes life together a hard tragedy instead of a glamorous protrayal (tragedy is the actual matter of fact). Jean-Michel and Suzanne's relationship was truely bizarre and not understanding to the everyday person. People who know or know of Jean-Michel probably never knew the side of him that Suzanne saw, and it is refreshing and wonderful that we were allowed to read such intimate details of their life together. I titled this review "Hearts and Tracks" because the book is full of heart and the heroine abuse of Suzanne and Basquiat (including a discription of his unfortunate death).

This is a surprisingly light read of a heavy topic that gives a unique, inside view of life with the artist, Jean-Michael Basquiat. It is an even better book when read as a success story of a woman who ultimately left an unhealthy relationship. Since it covers her childhood as well as her relationship with Basquiat and her attempts to move away from him you get a little bit of insight as to why she would be attracted to this type of person. When you finish the book you will have learned about the sensationalized artist but you will also learn a story about a very successful woman who wasn't quite as interesting to the public only because she was strong and overcame adversity instead of wallowing in it. She is probably not as famous as her ex-beau because she didn't die of an overdose, but such is our culture.

I have been a fan of Basquiat for a long time. I am an artist as well. I have always been intrested in his life and have a lot of books on him and his art and his life. I found this book to be about a totally different perspective. Not only a womens persepctive but a women who was a muse to him. This book does not paint a glorified Picture of him...or a star struck tragic picture of him. It is about Susan and her plight with life, and him being a big part of it. The book is extremely poetic, very dark, sad, melancholy...but above all MOVING. I read it in less than 24 hours. I applaud Jennifer Clement

The history of the WTC is traced from black and white photos and simple text regarding its design and architecture through the chilling events of 9/11. I have to say that the color photos of 9/11 capture the events totally and will leave you breathless.

I have purchased 6 copies of this book for family and friends and think it is the best WTC book out there.

I proudly keep a copy on my coffee table and leaf through it often and remember the beautiful buildings I once marveled at and loved.

As a native New Yorker who formerly had a beautiful view of the World Trade Center, and now avoids looking at the painfully flat skyline every day, I have this fabulous volume to treasure instead. .............. While disappointed with the flood of tributes to the still unfathomable tragedy of 9/11, this book was a must have the moment I thumbed through for a quick cursory look. I was immediately impressed with all the gorgeous shots of the WTCs depicted in all the ways that I loved them. Shimmering in golden sunrise yellow, blinding in midday platinum steel, glowing in the ominously blue-violet dusk, and sparkling with the thousands of tiny lights that made the New York City skyline, the awesomely spectacular sight that so sadly, won't ever be the same. ................. The most wonderful thing about this book, is not only the terrific pictoral contents, with several posters included, but the informational text that accompanies it as well. If you are interested to know the complete history of the WTCs and New York City, you will see the city before the towers were built, how and by whom they were planned, the way they were built, when and why. Also covered, their effect on New York City, as well as their role in the media and Hollywood movies. Finally, you will get the brutally shocking photos of their horrible demise. Look no further for a truly complete tribute. Every single chapter goes into wonderful detail, and is accompanied by the most breathtaking photographic treasures ever seen, of these iconic masterpieces of lost architecture. Not only is this the absolute BEST book I've seen for anyone who wants to keep their memory of the WTCs alive forever, it's also one of the most reasonably priced. This volume offers a tremendous return for your dollar. It's all printed in sharp color, on thick gauge, glossy paper. There is not one page in here that will waste your time with filler. Author Pete Skinner, British born, but a longtime resident of Greenwich Village, had, like me, watched the birth of the World Trade Center, built and completed in 1973, and like me, watched it die. People all over the world felt the pain of this unprecedented loss, but those of us who were lucky enough to live among the Twin Towers for their retrospectively short lifespan, will treasure this book. ................... If you are looking for a book about the entire gamut of events that took place in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, you may not find all of what you're looking for here. However, if you are like me, a person who will forever mourn the loss of these twin icons of prestige and success that defined the great soaring spirit of New York City, as well as the tragic loss of many wonderful hard-working New Yorkers who loved to work at the World Trade Center once upon a better time, then you have found the perfect tribute to a symbol of New York that will remain, forever in the American heart.

As a native New Yorker who formerly had a beautiful view of the World Trade Center, and now avoids looking at the painfully flat skyline every day, I have this fabulous volume to treasure instead. .............. While disappointed with the flood of tributes to the still unfathomable tragedy of 9/11, this book was a must have the moment I thumbed through for a quick cursory look. I was immediately impressed with all the gorgeous shots of the WTCs depicted in all the ways that I loved them. Shimmering in golden sunrise yellow, blinding in midday platinum steel, glowing in the ominously blue-violet dusk, and sparkling with the thousands of tiny lights that made the New York City skyline, the awesomely spectacular sight that so sadly, won't ever be the same. ................. The most wonderful thing about this book, is not only the terrific pictoral contents, with several posters included, but the informational text that accompanies it as well. If you are interested to know the complete history of the WTCs and New York City, you will see the city before the towers were built, how and by whom they were planned, the way they were built, when and why. Also covered, their effect on New York City, as well as their role in the media and Hollywood movies. Finally, you will get the brutally shocking photos of their horrible demise. Look no further for a truly complete tribute. Every single chapter goes into wonderful detail, and is accompanied by the most breathtaking photographic treasures ever seen, of these iconic masterpieces of lost architecture. Not only is this the absolute BEST book I've seen for anyone who wants to keep their memory of the WTCs alive forever, it's also one of the most reasonably priced. This volume offers a tremendous return for your dollar. It's all printed in sharp color, on thick gauge, glossy paper. There is not one page in here that will waste your time with filler. Author Pete Skinner, British born, but a longtime resident of Greenwich Village, had, like me, watched the birth of the World Trade Center, built and completed in 1973, and like me, watched it die. People all over the world felt the pain of this unprecedented loss, but those of us who were lucky enough to live among the Twin Towers for their retrospectively short lifespan, will treasure this book. ................... If you are looking for a book about the entire gamut of events that took place in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, you may not find all of what you're looking for here. However, if you are like me, a person who will forever mourn the loss of these twin icons of prestige and success that defined the great soaring spirit of New York City, as well as the tragic loss of many wonderful hard-working New Yorkers who loved to work at the World Trade Center once upon a better time, then you have found the perfect tribute to a symbol of New York that will remain, forever in the American heart.

This book is the one to get, if you want fantastic photos, interesting prose, and just an overall great pictoral commemoration of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11.

With the War on Terror continuing, sometimes it is good to be reminded of why we are fighting and what it's all for. This book will bring the memories (and the resolve) flooding back.

An excellent tribute at a great price. Five stars!

I live in the Midwest (have never visited NY) but saw a review of this book on a website. I just had to have it so I ordered the book from Amazon.com. I received the book late yesterday afternoon. The pictures and information contained in the book are truly amazing. It is amazing to see what Lower Manhattan looked like before the WTC was built. The pictures of the various models of WTC that were built. There are pictures of the construction of the twin towers. The book has some very nice posters of the WTC and New York skyline. There are many pictures taken on September 11th and in the days following. This book is a must-have for those who are interested in the World Trade Center. It's truly a remarkable book.

This commemorative photo book of the World Trade Center is a must have for all Americans. Remember these spectacular symbols as well as the hope they inspired in New York City and around the world. From the moment they are constructed to how the New York skyline looks today, we view the World Trade Center from every angle. We are not bombarded with images from September 11th, but instead are given the ability to remember these grand buildings at their most beloved state. The photographs in The World Trade Center Remembered are remarkable and no words can describe their passion and splendor. This five-star celebration of the World Trade Center is a must-buy.

This book was reviewed as part of the Lane ESD Book Review Program. To view the rest of our reviews please visit www.lane.k12.or.us/bookreview

Beautifully done. This book has a unique, high-quality collection of photos of the trade center and a well-written introduction about the architecture of the towers and its meaning, as well as the changing public attitudes toward the towers over the years. Recommended.

The pictures contained in this book offer a stunning tribute to the memory of the World Trade Center towers. The photos are taken from many different locations and angles and give the reader a well-rounded viewpoint of the buildings. All of the photos in the book portray the towers as they existed before their destruction, which makes the book particularly poignant. Additionally, there is a remarkable essay by an architechture critic which adds depth to the book. My only complaint with this book is that it is soft-cover. Of course, I knew this when I ordered the book, but oversize books of this quality are generally in hard-cover. Regardless, this is an amazing book.

I feel these books of stories and photos of the people who experienced this tragedy first hand is important for all of us.
The people who lived through it get to see what the rest of the world saw. A look of what they went through which can help them validate the emotions they are feeling.
The folks that witnessed it from a distance get a closer look of what our fellow americans went through.
All of it is a healing process that we need and looking at it through pictures or written stories of our friends will help us understand our human bond living in this beautiful country.

A beatiful book and a a very touching tribute to the World Trade Center. The pictures are stunning,unique and very moving. The dramatic pictures are from every vantage point in and around Manhattan. I know I will turn to this book again and again to remember how beautiful and majestic the World Trade Center was.

I purchased this book the morning I left a week-long business trip from NYC back to midd-of-no-where, USA. My two year old son has never been to a big city, and I'm sure had no idea about where Mommy was, so this book was perfect for showing him where Mommy had been.

I knew he'd like the book because he loves the "No! David." series by David Shannon that only have two words or so on each page with big, bright illustrations. They give the reader a chance to make up a different story each time they read it, which keeps the book fresh for both the kid and the reader...even after months of reading it every single night.

Although my little man has had the book for several months, it is the first one he wants every night before bed. He points out all the dogs (there is one on each page somewhere) and works on naming what he sees (bike, stroller, bus...)in the illustrations. It is also the first book he has ever asked for by name.

If I knew how to contact the author, I would send him flowers in a heartbeat and a big "Thank You" card. My son, and family, are big fans.

Wow. Great Book!

This extra-large book has just two words on every page, but so much going on in the pictures that you can pore over it with your baby, toddler, or preschooler as long as you like. Our six-month-old boy enjoys it just as much as our three-and-a-half-year-old girl. Really worth the investment, you can tell that a ton of energy and love went into making this book.

Every child should own this book...it immediately bacame my son's favorite and we read it virtually every night. We now have two copies...one for our son and one as a coffee table book. Wow City! along with Wow America, Beasty Bath and Courage of the Blue Boy are now my standard new baby gifts. I'll buy any new book Robert Neubecker puts out - he's an amazing talent!!!

Wonderful! We could not put this book down and our grandchildren are hooked. Izzie is our new hero! We can't wait to see where she leads us next.

People groan and moan all the time about celebrities suddenly waking up and writing children's books one day without any prior experience. Less groaning and moaning is done in the name of professional illustrators. Let's take Mr. Robert Neubecker as our example. Now here's a fellow who prior to the publication of "Wow! City!", had never attempted a children's book before. So should we just assume that he's got what it takes? From the evidence presented in this, his first picture book, the answer has to be "yes". Long on visuals, short on verbal cues, "Wow! City!", is a love letter to hustling bustling New York City. Zeroing in on the unceasing exuberance of a small child, Neubecker attempts to blow us away with crowds, confusions, and a cacophony of orderly chaos. This book isn't going to thrill that many non-New Yorkers, and the words leave a bit to be desired, but if you're looking for simple picture books with flashy pictures, cease your search and pick yourself up a copy.

Says the book, "Izzy was a mountain girl. She lived up on the top of the world. One day she came down..." From here on in, the rest is self-explanatory. Curly-headed Izzy and her hipster father are taking a trip to the Big Apple. What we hear from here on in, are Izzy's cries of delight as every new experience becomes wildly grand and crazy through her eyes. Right off the plane her first words are, "Wow! Airplane!". Outside the airport she gleefully exclaims, "Wow! Taxi!". Izzy likes to cut to the chase. Having somehow mysteriously sent their bags to their hotel, the pair immediately go about an exciting day of sightseeing, public transportation, museums, parks, and a parade. By the end, the two relax in their hotel room (wihich has, perhaps, the best view of the city ever conceived of in a children's picture book) and a still completely-wired Izzy in pajamas gives a final cry of, "Wow! City!".

Neubecker has a weakness for fingerprints. Presumably his own. Should Robert Neubecker wish to steal some worldly goods from his friends and neighbors, he'd better make sure to wear gloves. Cause after reading this book kids and parents alike will be familiar with every curve and whorl found on that man's thumbs. They pop up in tons of his illustrations at the oddest of moments. If you look very carefully, you'll even see one front and center on the cover, giving a bit of depth to Izzy's upper jawline. Kids reading this book have two things they can perpetually try to find. They can locate Izzy and her goatee sportin' pop in the crowd scenes and they can scan the pages for additional thumbprints. They'll have more luck with Izzy, granted. And as they flip through the pages, children will becomes easily infected by Izzy's non-stop delight. Neubecker, for his part, fills each and every page with as much information as humanly possible. He isn't afraid to show the crowds of New York as they are, though being a resident of Utah he has a very quaint view of the subway system. Handles to hold onto in the subway cars? That's adorable, if completely absurd. An odd detail that makes me doubt the last time Neubecker took a step into the city that never sleeps. Also, he's skimpy on the African-Americans. They exist in this book, but the illustrator seems to believe that white people are a lot more prolific than they truly are.

With crazy dizzying angles, likable characters, and a constantly shifting point of view, "Wow! City!" is ideal for those tiny tots that need great heaping jolts of color and crowd stimulation for their daily storytimes. The book is in the shape of a large square, allowing Mr. Neubecker the chance to fill every corner of every page with light and life. There's even a poster of 11 of the scenes in this book that kids can color in themselves included in the back. All in all, I didn't feel that "Wow! City!" was the most touching or exciting book I'd ever read, but it certainly is infused with vitality. Definitely take a gander at it before deciding whether or not to purchase it. I liked it. For the short-attention-span crowd, Izzy's just the kind of kid to rope 'em into a good book. Wowie-zowie, indeed.

Aaron Frankel, who has directed more than 100 plays, loves the stage, especially musicals. He brings his genius to Writing the Broadway Musical by formulating an organized book, which is easy to use both as a reference and as a guide.

He fills the text with pertinent examples -- plenty of them --like chocolate chips in cookies. Frankel's book is full of encouragement for the dreamers, while it outlines the practical aspects of taking a musical play from a dream to a full-fledged production.

This book gives a good foundation for basic elements of a musical script. I bought this wanting to write a musical script but not necessarily the lyrics/musical score and am a complete novice - was a bit lost on the different musicals it quoted. However another book that is quite "meaty" in terms of how to write a compelling gripping story/script for theatre is "The Writers Journey" surname is Vogler. What Frankel says is that the book or story needs to be written first before appropriate lyrics/musical score can be created. So I would have gone straight to this book first. Good as reference but can borrow from library, not a must have.

Frankel's concise, clear volume on writing large-scale musicals is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to understand how this peculiar theatrical genre works-- when it does. By focusing on two artistically successful, well-known pieces in the canon-- "My Fair Lady" as a well-executed classic musical with linear plot, "Company" (my personal favorite) as a well-executed plotless musical whose songs move character forward--, Frankel can support his intelligent teaching points with concrete yet familiar examples. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.

Many of today's top talents in musicals on and off Broadway have studied with Aaron Frankel. Now anyone can learn the ropes from this honored director and instructor in a step-by-step guide that makes for good reading whether you are a writer, composer, or simply an avid theatergoer. I enjoyed the previous edition and found this revised and updated one an even more interesting read.

In only 192 pages, Frankel presents writing for the musical theatre from the perspective of the book writer, lyricist and composer -- and how each contributes to the whole. Enough specifics for each to gain a better appreciation of the others' unique contributions. The book would be an excellent introductory text for a musical theate workshop. Most examples from My Fair Lady are illustrative and excellent; other examples from Company were less helpful (as that show was less successful). Highly recommended for those working on musical to keep near at hand.