Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote is a must NYC read (in my mind).

LoveToRead --Emma Who Saved My life? Eva Hathaway. I loved that book, read it years ago and had forgotten about it. Coincidentally i only bought it because I love the name Emma and the authors name is Eva :)

Not Manhattan, but Brooklyn ... "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" <BR><BR>and "Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand

Isn't "The Alienist" about NY in the early 1900's?

Suzanne, you're right about the title of Finney's novel. Thanks for the correction, in case anyone tries to look for the book--a very good read.

Helene Hanff also did a NYC celebration called "Apple of My Eye." Though lesser-known than her London/New York tomes, it is a a delightful (though short) look at a few of the things that make NYC great.<BR><BR>Sadly, Hanff died a few years ago, alone and in virtual poverty.

NYIBC. Stands for New York Is Book Country. The 24th annual celebration of the city and the book is from Weds., Sept. 25th through Sun. the 29th.<BR><BR>The best day, though, will be Sunday, when 5th Ave. will be lined with 200 booths of publishers, booksellers and whatever. Rain or shine, too!<BR><BR>There are a lot of other celebrations with the event. Go to http://www.nyisbookcountry.com/ for more details.<BR><BR>I've, shamefully, never been to it. But I've heard it's just an awesome celebration of the book in general--not really NYC books. The title says it all: New York really IS Book Country!

Oh! George, we will not be there in September. A shame, that sounds great, but thanks for posting it for other book worms in the big apple.<BR><BR>I knew there had to be many, many books that would fit the bill here. This is a great thread of info. Thanks to all and any more?

From the chic lit genre - there's Shopaholic Takes Manhattan. Its not that great a read but its light and has funny moments and is contemporary too.

When I was Puerto Rican and Almost a Woman by Esmerelda Santiago. Set in both Brooklyn and Manhattan and very good reads.

ttt

The early Lawrence Block novels with protagonist Matt Scudder focus on Hell's Kitchen ( pardon me Clinton) while his Burgler series focus on the W Village.<BR><BR>

Thanks, topper! Great info, please keep it coming.

Can't believe no one mentioned the Algonquin Hotel, site of the famous Round Table. I seem to recall that it is a reasonably priced place to stay these days and recently refurbished?<BR><BR>Have a memorial toast at the White Horse Tavern in the Village -- the place where Dylan Thomas drank himself to death.<BR><BR>And here's another vote for Jack Finney -- I loved the book. Didn't he write a second one as well or am I confused this morning?

A site that requires further investigation is http://www.literature-awards.com/new...ty_library.htm . Though obviously oriented to NYC non-fiction, there might be some treasures here.<BR><BR>I notice that Barbara Cohen is among the award judges. She was the prime proprietor of the late, lamented New York Bound Bookshop. About which someone else has observed, "Another nearby victim of the 'upscale thing' is the major bookstore selling new and out-of-print books, maps and vintage photographs featuring New York City. The New York Bound Bookshop and its neighboring newsstand were eliminated so that the lobby of 50 Rockefeller Plaza could sport a brighter space, a new decorative wall, and a new concierge, whose major early work was presumably telling people that the bookstore had disappeared." That comment was from 1997.<BR><BR>