The Colossus of New York: A City in 13 Parts

Rating:
Summary: Free Association At Its Worst
Review: People that laud this type of 'work' are the type that can read something significant into anything because they don't want to admit that they don't get it. He tries to paint a picture of Gotham using mawkish free association which comes across as pseudo-intellect at its worst/best. I was really looking forward to this book because it sounded like a very cool exercise and interesting look into the greatest city on the planet. Hardbound pretentious excrement.

Rating:
Summary: The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead
Review: The author begins the book by defining a New Yorker in the
context of reminiscing scenes and occurrences deep in the
past- perhaps 20 years ago or 30 years ago or more. Centenarians
can think back almost 100 years to how the city was at the turn
of the previous century . Native New Yorkers have experienced
the underground subway, Broadway, Coney Island, billboards,
restaurants, famous museums and historic sports events. The
"true grit" New Yorkers can recant the hustle and bustle of the
rush hour and the beauty of Times Square at night-particularly
New Year's Eve.This work is perfect for every reader interested
in the history of New York City and the details of historic
landmarks and milestones.

Rating:
Summary: Colossal!
Review: The observations in this magnificent little volume--and the way they are expressed by the author--are just exquisite. So much has been written about the great city, but this captures its spirit best of all (better even than E.B. White's "Here Is New York"--a great achievement indeed). The writing is pure poetry. I don't know why New York provokes such veneration in a way that few other cities do (certainly not my hometown, London), but for someone who spent a few years living on the Upper West Side, it certainly made me want to return. The book will make you homesick for New York even if you've never been there.

Rating:
Summary: Over-hyped and negative
Review: This book was in the front of every book store this Christmas, with a lot of praise saying that it "captured the soul of New York". In my opinion, it only captures the cliche of New York. Whitehead does not hesitate to lash out at hipsters and yuppies, those unlucky enough to live in Brooklyn (as he does) and any other fool that tries to enjoy a life here--but enjoyment seems beyond his capability. Even a trip to Central Park is something to be endured because his sterotypical neurotic, sarcastic and hyper-critical "New Yorker" alter-egos can't really appreciate the beauty and grace of the city at all. In this book NY only appears and a place that will falsely dazzle you, beat you up and spit you out. Although the first essay is brilliant (the only one that seems to have been edited at all-probably because it previously appeared in the NY Times Magazine) and the moods evoked by the others are quite clear, I was disappointed that the only mood I ended up feeling was disgust. I'm sorry that for Whitehead and those like him that this city is just a town of pretenders, false lives and dashed hopes. It's home to me-more than one long whine.

Rating:
Summary: Over-hyped and negative
Review: This book was in the front of every book store this Christmas, with a lot of praise saying that it "captured the soul of New York". In my opinion, it only captures the cliche of New York. Whitehead does not hesitate to lash out at hipsters and yuppies, those unlucky enough to live in Brooklyn (as he does) and any other fool that tries to enjoy a life here--but enjoyment seems beyond his capability. Even a trip to Central Park is something to be endured because his sterotypical neurotic, sarcastic and hyper-critical "New Yorker" alter-egos can't really appreciate the beauty and grace of the city at all. In this book NY only appears and a place that will falsely dazzle you, beat you up and spit you out. Although the first essay is brilliant (the only one that seems to have been edited at all-probably because it previously appeared in the NY Times Magazine) and the moods evoked by the others are quite clear, I was disappointed that the only mood I ended up feeling was disgust. I'm sorry that for Whitehead and those like him that this city is just a town of pretenders, false lives and dashed hopes. It's home to me-more than one long whine.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Prose Poem
Review: This short work captures in beautifully evocative language the moods amd nuances of daily life in New York City. It is a book that expresses so accurately the feelings that I personally experience in New York that I wish this is the book I had written. Thankfully Colson Whitehead has put these observations and feelings into words and expressed them for all New Yorkers in spirit to savor and reflect on again and again. A wonderful book for current residents, transplanted natives (like me) and visitors who want to get inside the pulse of the greatest city on the planet.