The Secret of New York City Revealed: Being the Autobiographical Fragments of the Then Recently Married Thomas Howard Chronicling His Numerous Discoveries in the City of That Name

Rating:
Summary: Thomas Howard Takes Manhattan
Review: Anyone who's seen the film "Out on a Limb" probably remembers the part where Shirley McLaine is in an occult bookstore and books fly off the shelf, as if urged by an unseen hand. I don't know if librarians can continue in this way to suggest reading selections from beyond the grave, but if I were a spirit so inclined, I would bonk people on the head with this book. Why? Because unaided, it has so much against it. Who's Thomas Howard? Why a book about New York? If it's a real book, why doesn't Amazon even have a picture of it? I found it in a bookstore in Pennsylvania by happenstance, but had an unseen benefactor brought it to my attention by shoving it off the shelf, I'd be thanking them now. This ranks with On Being Catholic among Thomas Howard's best books, and it suffers from the same problem: that casual readers may find it difficult going (see my solution to this problem at the end of my Thomas Howard Guide). Apart from that, this collection of essays ranges widely,while yet retaining the Howardian touch. It also manages to bridge between the musings and casual ruminating of his earlier books (like Chance or the Dance) and the insight and excitement in his later books (Charles Williams, Lead Kindly Light, On Being Catholic). In some ways it hearkens back to his delightful column in The New Oxford Review. Lacking the hands-on approach of a literary poltergeist, my persuasive powers are limited to words. But if you like Thomas Howard, don't miss this intriguing and visionary book. Consider yourself bonked.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful introduction to Howard
Review: This was the first book from Thomas Howard that I read. And what a wonderful start it was.
Last summer, I was in New York City for almost two months, doing volunteer work in the Sout Bronx, and I bought the book, telling myself I should read it before I trek up North for the summer. The book arrived, and I read it within a few days, and was enlightened for having done so. Howard has a perspective unlike any other, but one that we need. Which is why I'm glad he writes books, for through his books, we can share, in a certain sense, his perspective.
Anyways, this is how I explained the book to those who were curious about it's point: The secret that Howard alludes to in his title is quite basic, but quite forgotten by many. The point is that things like restaraunts, and ballet, and opera, and museums, and what not, are all quite wonderful. But, they all have their place. Life is kind of like a kaleidoscope, and God ought to be at the center, around which EVERYTHING ELSE revolves around. Yes, even family, even friends, and, for those thespians out there (of which I would like to include myself), even theatre. This harks to mind the wonderful wisdom from Christ: Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven.
This book is short, but it is also sweet. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for literature.

Joe Muir