920 O'Farrell Street: A Jewish Girlhood in Old San Francisco (California Legacy Book)

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly charming, engrossing read of old San Francisco
Review: What an incredible find this book is for anyone who is in love with San Francisco. Harriet Levy was born in The City in 1867 and lived at 920 O'Farrell Street until about 1904. Those readers who are familiar with the sights and sounds of San Francisco will be equally pleased with the unfamiliar: "Near the corner of Polk Street stood the cow barn of old man Waller, to which the anemic children of the neighborhood, glass in hand, hurried in the early morning hours to receive warm milk fresh from the cow." (3) About one-third of the chapters are named for rooms of her house. The rooms are described in great detail only to flow into some memory of an event that occurred there. For instance, before reminiscing about her sister Addie's beautiful singing voice and the songs she sang, Levy describes the room itself: "...the ceiling of the music room a lattice of bamboo intertwined with garlands of tea roses and autumn leaves, and burnished birds of copper ! and blue winging their flight..." (106) Levy's vivid description puts you right there, eyelids drooping. Familiar names also pop up, like Alice Toklas who was a friend and neighbor. This book is an absolute treasure!

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly charming, engrossing read of old San Francisco
Review: What an incredible find this book is for anyone who is in love with San Francisco. Harriet Levy was born in The City in 1867 and lived at 920 O'Farrell Street until about 1904. Those readers who are familiar with the sights and sounds of San Francisco will be equally pleased with the unfamiliar: "Near the corner of Polk Street stood the cow barn of old man Waller, to which the anemic children of the neighborhood, glass in hand, hurried in the early morning hours to receive warm milk fresh from the cow." (3) About one-third of the chapters are named for rooms of her house. The rooms are described in great detail only to flow into some memory of an event that occurred there. For instance, before reminiscing about her sister Addie's beautiful singing voice and the songs she sang, Levy describes the room itself: "...the ceiling of the music room a lattice of bamboo intertwined with garlands of tea roses and autumn leaves, and burnished birds of copper ! and blue winging their flight..." (106) Levy's vivid description puts you right there, eyelids drooping. Familiar names also pop up, like Alice Toklas who was a friend and neighbor. This book is an absolute treasure!