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xxstefaniereadsxx's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This book dives into the history of some famous, and also lesser know, people and places in New York. If you are interested in some neat facts about the state, this was a really good book for that. The physical copy of this book is around 500 pages. I had the Audible version that was available on Audible Plus. I did not realize this book was a companion to a podcast of the same name, but I added the podcast to my Spotify. I am looking forward to learning more about all of the neat places and history that New York has to offer. I really liked this book.
lyloster's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
Listened to the audio book, the podcast is much more informative and engaging. The book sounded as a laundry list of places and streets. Printed version might be better.
dtaylorbooks's review
5.0
THE BOWERY BOYS is a great book for anyone who’s a lover of history, especially New York history. Young and Meyers focus on New York pre-1900, a time I think is often ignored on the island. Everyone likes to focus on the 20s and the mob and when the city was really starting to rise. They seem to want to forget the hovel that southern Manhattan used to be, how dangerous the Five Points where, and just where the rich used to live (and now re-live thanks to gentrification). Young and Meyers dig all that up, focusing on more obscure facts about the island in this combination history book and walking tour, pointing out little artifacts that would probably otherwise go unnoticed.
My only real complaint is that they used the word bucolic. A lot. Upward of a dozen times or so. In a book that’s more than 400 pages long you’d think 12 or so words would just get lost and not matter, right? The thing is when looking at pre-1900s New York you’re dealing with a lot of open land, meadows, rolling hills. Scenery that is . . . bucolic. Couple that with it being a .50 word that isn’t used in standard writing all too much and it really stands out. The thing is this isn’t a book that’s aiming high with its language. For the most part it’s speaking to an average person. Which is why the overuse of the word bucolic stands out even more. Apparently the only way to describe a pleasant landscape on the island of Manhattan pre-20th century is bucolic. An antiquated word for an antiquated island.
Other than that I really did love THE BOWERY BOYS. They have a new podcast subscriber, that’s for sure. Considering I have a novel brewing in my head (and it’s been brewing for about 10 years or so) set in New York in probably the late 1800s this is perfect research for me. Plus I love “seeing” what New York used to look like. How drastically different (and in some cases how incredibly the same) life was compared to now. It’s still very hard for me to imagine that the island of Manhattan used to be just forest. How nothing but open land existed north of 14th street for a long time. How . . . bucolic the island used to be with just a small dot of city life on its southern-most tip.
Young and Meyers do a good job and coupling photography/art with their historical information and they tell New York’s story in a way that’s smart and funny and wholly engaging. When I find myself back in New York (hopefully sooner rather than later) I plan on taking some of this information with me and finding it for myself. I love being able to layer these old images on top of what exists today to get an idea of what New York used to be like and how rapidly it changed. And is changing.
Truly this was a great read. Perfect for taking into the . . . bucolic setting of Central Park for a gander.
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My only real complaint is that they used the word bucolic. A lot. Upward of a dozen times or so. In a book that’s more than 400 pages long you’d think 12 or so words would just get lost and not matter, right? The thing is when looking at pre-1900s New York you’re dealing with a lot of open land, meadows, rolling hills. Scenery that is . . . bucolic. Couple that with it being a .50 word that isn’t used in standard writing all too much and it really stands out. The thing is this isn’t a book that’s aiming high with its language. For the most part it’s speaking to an average person. Which is why the overuse of the word bucolic stands out even more. Apparently the only way to describe a pleasant landscape on the island of Manhattan pre-20th century is bucolic. An antiquated word for an antiquated island.
Other than that I really did love THE BOWERY BOYS. They have a new podcast subscriber, that’s for sure. Considering I have a novel brewing in my head (and it’s been brewing for about 10 years or so) set in New York in probably the late 1800s this is perfect research for me. Plus I love “seeing” what New York used to look like. How drastically different (and in some cases how incredibly the same) life was compared to now. It’s still very hard for me to imagine that the island of Manhattan used to be just forest. How nothing but open land existed north of 14th street for a long time. How . . . bucolic the island used to be with just a small dot of city life on its southern-most tip.
Young and Meyers do a good job and coupling photography/art with their historical information and they tell New York’s story in a way that’s smart and funny and wholly engaging. When I find myself back in New York (hopefully sooner rather than later) I plan on taking some of this information with me and finding it for myself. I love being able to layer these old images on top of what exists today to get an idea of what New York used to be like and how rapidly it changed. And is changing.
Truly this was a great read. Perfect for taking into the . . . bucolic setting of Central Park for a gander.
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
librariabillie's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end. Very entertaining, informative, and engagingly written. I'm now going to take this book with me while I explore Manhattan. Now Greg and Tom have to write additional guides for the other four boroughs.
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