My First New York
from the editors of New York Magazine
2010
235 pages
Published by ecco, a HarperCollins imprint
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Note to the FTC: This is my very own copy, bought by me. Note to the rest of you: Boringness ahead.
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I should’ve known better. While I love reading about other places, I don’t like reading about celebrities. Every single essay (or whatever they’re called…many of them were taped interviews that were transcribed), with one exception, is written by a celebrity (actress, p*rn star, filmmaker, model, baseball player, etc). And many of those celebrities I can honestly care less about. And even the one exception, a recent newcomer to the city, is an aspiring actress.
Each essay (or whateveryacallit) recalls the individual’s first experience with New York. My favorite is Yogi Berra’s succinct “New York? It was big.” Others talk about the parties and bars they frequented, the drugs they did, the cockroaches they lived with. I preferred the older accounts, but honestly, none of them really stuck with me.
Oh, well. Ya win some, ya lose some.
If I was really creative, I’d write my own contribution. But I was 14, and it was a one-day whirlwind tour led by my grandfather, and the memories are a blur. What about you all? Does anyone have any first experiences with New York that they’d like to share?
My first excursion was only a few years ago; a fabulously beautiful day in December. Streets were full of holiday shoppers and my friend from Kansas was my tour guide. I was quite lost and it didn’t help that she knew exactly where we were so I didn’t have to pay attn. I felt so brave, though.
My favorite memory was the Charmin bathroom – crazy fun! I actually do need to go visit and be a real tourist. Can’t say I did anything I was *supposed* to other than visit Tiffany’s, maybe.
Care´s last [type] ..Lady’s Maid
I have never been to New-York, though I would like to go someday. Aslo, this book sounds awful and like something that would bore the pants off of me. Sorry to hear that this one was such a mess.
I didn’t realize this was written by celebrities – probably not for me either.
Sorry to hear this wasn’t for you … especially since I bought a copy of this, too. (During BlogHer.) Oh well. As you say, you win some and you lose some.
My first NY? When I was in Girl Scouts and we took a bus trip to see a show at Radio City and the Statue of Liberty. I think I was around 10 or 11.
Melissa (The Betty and Boo Chronicles)´s last [type] ..Have You Got Any College
Boo, sounds like this book was pretty disappointing.
I first visited New York in college. What struck me most was how tall the city was. I remember walking down the streets just staring at the sheer faces of towering buildings all around. I had (and have) never been anywhere quite like it.
Erin´s last [type] ..Review- “The Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger
I am glad you told us what it was really like. I was going to ask for it for Christmas. I won’t bother now.
vivienne´s last [type] ..Monday Mail
Too bad – sounds like such a cool idea!
Amused´s last [type] ..An Excess of Riches
I love the Yogi Berra quote … that pretty much sums it up.
And I’m shallow enough that I would probably love this book. I’m a celebrity junkie.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Various Bits of News … In Quiz Form
I’m with you — not really interested in celebrity reactions. But I know others would be. No judgments.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday 100
Well that’s disappointing!! I was curious about this book. My first visit was a year ago and I LOOOOVED it there!! It’s too much to say but it was an amazing visit! We went back in May for BEA and are going again this December to experience the holiday season there!
Jenny´s last [type] ..Last Night at Chateau Marmont
The first time I was in New York I tripped over a passed out homeless man. I was 14-ish, and it was a wee bit traumatizing.
Cass´s last [type] ..Review- Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Parties and bars and drugs? Well, that doesn’t make New York any different from any other city. I’m with you; I’d rather hear “real” stories that really reflect the city.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Washington- A Life
My first New York experience was in May at BEA. Day one, I arrived with Reagan (Miss Remmer’s Reviews) and we were too early to check in to our hotel. They offered to hold our luggage so we went exploring and found our way to Central Park (insert SSQQUUUEEE here).
After exploring the park we came out at a different part of the park then where we had entered and both agreed that a right was in order for us to get back to the street to get to our hotel. After 30 blocks (no exaggeration) we thought maybe this was not the right way. We made several attempts to speak to someone but we found many people who did not speak English. We finally found a woman who said we had to go the other way. We walked back the 30 blocks and discovered if we would have went 2 blocks (yep – 2) to the left from where we had come out of the park we would have been on our street.
GAH!
(But still… a fun memory.)
Sheila (Book Journey)´s last [type] ..Morning Meanderings… What Would Your Name Have Been
Haha–boringness ahead? Too bad this one was a stinker–it seems like a book that could be really great. I’ve been to New York City twice–3 months before 9/11 and 3 months after. Both amazing and amazingly different experiences. So…it’s been a while. I’m ready to go back!!
Trish´s last [type] ..The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – Kate Summerscale
I’m with you – not that interested in reading about celebrities. I was a senior in high school when I first visited NYC on a band/chorus trip. We took a bus from Maine. We saw Les Miz and went on a bus tour of the city with stops at Rockefeller Center and Central Park. We were really excited about the Broadway show and were thrilling about it later (except for some jaded students who were like – oh so boring Les Miz, I wanted to go see Rent.)
Christy´s last [type] ..Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Hmm, not much of a celebrity hound myself (but will admit to going straight for People magazine when I’m at the dentist … hypocrite?).
My first NY was as an adult about 20 years ago. J kept telling me “don’t look up at all the buildings, you look like a tourist.” We went to Ellis Island on that trip, too … fascinating.
And, I’m of course laughing at poor Sheila getting lost in Central Park! Beth Fish and I can relate to that dilema!
Dawn – She Is Too Fond of Books´s last [type] ..Our new BFFs are Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems