A gossipy, entertaining peek into a glam world.
After giving the inside scoop on life in the Hamptons in Philistines at the Hedgerow (1998), Gaines now offers a cook’s tour of tony Manhattan addresses.
Gaines’s primary interest lies in the apartments that line Fifth Avenue, the so-called “best addresses.” Historically, these homes have housed the bastion of Society: those listed in the Social Register, those who might populate an Edith Wharton novel. Turning his attentions to the complex etiquette that governs posh Manhattan real estate, the author reminds us that the prestigious San Remo turned away Madonna in 1985; they worried that her recent photo shoots in Playboy and Penthouse would reflect badly on the building. Barbra Streisand was rejected by another Fifth Avenue co-op board because the residents thought that she’d host too many parties. In this neighborhood, it makes news when Tommy Hilfiger is allowed to buy into 829 Fifth Avenue. After all, his money is not only new, it was made selling urban gangsta clothes to teenagers—how déclassé! Gaines introduces readers to the powerful personalities behind the scenes of New York real estate. The most entertaining chapter features Linda Stein, so-called “broker to the stars,” who represents the likes of Donna Karan. We also meet Alice Mason, a real estate mogul whose 60-person dinner parties are legendary, and 78-year-old Betty Sherrill, a dowager who rules the roost at One Sutton Place South. Sherrill is chair of the building’s board of directors; thanks to her sharp eye, the board is known as “one of the most difficult” in New York. (For example, Sherrill tends to turn down singletons—overnight guests might tarnish the building’s reputation—but made an exception for Bill Blass.) Those with new money need not despair. Real estate done by the social register, Gaines implies, may be a thing of the past. His last chapter focuses on a new breed of Manhattan brokers, those who are solely interested in racking up sales.
A gossipy, entertaining peek into a glam world.Pub Date: June 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-316-60851-3
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2005
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s...
Music journalist and musician Wald (Talking 'Bout Your Mama: The Dozens, Snaps, and the Deep Roots of Rap, 2014, etc.) focuses on one evening in music history to explain the evolution of contemporary music, especially folk, blues, and rock.
The date of that evening is July 25, 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, where there was an unbelievably unexpected occurrence: singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, already a living legend in his early 20s, overriding the acoustic music that made him famous in favor of electronically based music, causing reactions ranging from adoration to intense resentment among other musicians, DJs, and record buyers. Dylan has told his own stories (those stories vary because that’s Dylan’s character), and plenty of other music journalists have explored the Dylan phenomenon. What sets Wald's book apart is his laser focus on that one date. The detailed recounting of what did and did not occur on stage and in the audience that night contains contradictory evidence sorted skillfully by the author. He offers a wealth of context; in fact, his account of Dylan's stage appearance does not arrive until 250 pages in. The author cites dozens of sources, well-known and otherwise, but the key storylines, other than Dylan, involve acoustic folk music guru Pete Seeger and the rich history of the Newport festival, a history that had created expectations smashed by Dylan. Furthermore, the appearances on the pages by other musicians—e.g., Joan Baez, the Weaver, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Dave Van Ronk, and Gordon Lightfoot—give the book enough of an expansive feel. Wald's personal knowledge seems encyclopedic, and his endnotes show how he ranged far beyond personal knowledge to produce the book.
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s personal feelings about Dylan's music or persona.Pub Date: July 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-236668-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dey Street/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
