Susan

What is the ultimate novel set in Manhattan? I keep thinking of Edith Wharton, but want something about the modern city. Not Bright Lights, Big City, but something more grown-up. Please give me you suggestions!

Also, I'd love some sightseeing suggestions for book worms in Manhattan. I understand there is the Library Hotel, which looks incredibly interesting. The room numbers are based on the Dewey Decimal system. It's out of our price range but might be worth a peek. Please give us your ideas. Thanks!

Jess

The Strand bookstore is a good start. "Miles of books" or something liek that is their line. Thousands of disorganized used books. I think the browsing is fun, but probably not if you have allergies.
I can't think of a ny recent great Manhattan based books, but the oldies are goodies. The colletion of short stories, The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, was set in NY publishing. Wharton is wonderful(esp House of Mirth), as is some Henry James. A good part of Valley of the Dolls takes place in NYC, as does the newer Turn of the Century, a rip on the tech markets.
I think Big Onion walking tours might have a literary greats tour, check their website.

Susan

Thanks, Jess. I'll look into these. Any other ideas?

Elfie

Hi Susan. I keep going back to "Catcher in the Rye" as the classic Manhattan novel. Some of the landmarks mentioned in it aren't there any more, but some are.. the skating rink at Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Natural History, GCS, and of course Central Park. It's a really sweet, nostalgic read for me and a lot of others too. A lot of other Salinger stories are set in the city too, "Franny and Zooey" although it takes place almost entirely inside their apartment, and some of the short stories too. I know there are so many others but I'm blank at the moment. I also second the opinion for Wharton, "House of Mirth" and "Age of Innocence" as well as "Custom of the Country".

Susan

Yes, I love the Wharton books too, but looking for something about the city written since 1900! The Catcher in the Rye, good suggestion but I'm sure the members of our group have all read it. Anything else? More sightseeing suggestions?

Elfie, I found the Big Onion website and there is also a book, out of print, with their walks. I will try to find it at the used bookstore.

Anyone read This Is New York by E.B. White, written in the summer of 1948? It's only 54 pages but might be a good "appetizer" book for the group. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Ewwww

I don't know anything about book worms, but I found a worm in my apple this morning.

Diana

Jack Finney's Time After Time:
"A timeless classic tells what happens when Simon Morley is selected by a secret government agency to test Einstein's theory of the past co-existing with the present and is transported back to 1880s New York." Romantic story that talks a lot about what New York physically was like in the 1880's. You might enjoy it.

SEH

Susan, The New York Public Library offers free tours. Check the website: http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/tours.html for more information. The historic building is beautiful and I sure the tour would be interesting.

Also, there's a Library Bar at the hotel "Hudson", it's a little pricey for drinks, but you can go and see it during the day just to have a look.

Book

You must go to the J Pierpoint Morgan Library. In his former home, lovely rooms, the Library itself is one that you can spend hours in, just reading the old music manuscripts is a delight! Then have tea in the conservatory.
The Nanny Diaries
A Love of My Own
A Dive from Clausens Pier
Rosemarys Baby
Books off of the Times Best Seller List that take place in Manhattan and one of my favorites!

Harriett

When my daughter and I were in NYC in May, we did a Saturday-afternoon "literary pub crawl" of Greenwich Village, led by a couple of actors. It was great fun, quite interesting, and gave us a new perspective on writers including Poe and others. Let me know if you'd like more information.

Kris

Rightfully Mine by Doris Mortman. If you love NYC, antiques & and "good read" this book is for you!

Susan

What wonderful ideas! Thanks everyone, and please keep them coming.

I love the idea of a "literary pub crawl"! Please, Harriett, more info.

Kris, we love antiques, that sounds like a goody.

SEH, Book girl, I am making a list of all these places and we'll be sure to hit them. This is just the kind of info I'm looking for. Thank you.

Doug

Not novels, but if you haven't read 84 Charing Cross Road or The Duchess Of Bloomsbury St. by Helene Hanff, you're in for a treat. They're about a New Yorker and her love of London, capturing the atmosphere and contrasts of both cities. I remember her telling about a Londoner in NYC looking for Times Square. She tapped a cop on the shoulder and he turned and pulled a gun on her. "Don't shoot!" she begged. "I just wanted to find Times Square." "Sure, Lady," the cop said. "Okay, go to that corner and turn left, at the next corner, make another left and do the same at the next corner." She faithfully followed his instructions, and ended up where she started-in Times Square. In London, three lefts would put you far away from where you start. She was so intimidated by this that she spent the duration of her time in her NYC hotel room with all of the padlocks on.

LoveToRead

Emma Who Saved My Life (GREAT New York book) can't remember the author right off the top of my head though, ohhhhhh, it's right there, ummmmmm, he's a great author.

Jim

If you want something about modern day New York, try Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities.

Critic

Just would like to say that I do not agree that Bonfire of the Vanities that was btw written a while back, is anything like real life Manahattan.
It takes place in Manhattan but is more a commentary on life and morals in our times/which are past times now.

tweedy

There is the old Pete's Tavern on 18th St. and Irving Place, just a couple of blocks south of Gramercy Park.

O'Neil just to sit and write his short stores sitting at a table looking out the big picture window in the front.

Also the Poetry Society is on 20th St. across the street from Gramercy Park.

Have a great time while you are here.

x

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos is set in New York City, though not in the best parts.
It is, however, a fantastic book that is as much a celebration of words as it is a great story. (Much, much better than the movie.)

suzanne

Diana-
I thought the Jack Finney novel was called "Time and Again". It IS the ultimate NYC novel!

Harriett

Susan --

This is the link for several companies offering various NYC walking tours of all sorts:
http://gonyc.about.com/cs/toursbr/index.htm

The one I used to find the Greenwich village literary pub crawl is www.imar.com -- they also offer lots of types of tours, including 'off-the-beaten-path gourmet shopping," 'Sex in the City," etc.

Specifics on the tour we did: www.geocities.com/newensemble

We've done these walking tours in London & Dublin as well as NYC and they're always fun, informative and a good way to meet some other people. The Greenwich Village one is every Saturday, year 'round, at 2 p.m.; tickets are $15, $12 for students/seniors. This one lasts about 2.5 hours . ..