I loved this book, and not just because I love squirrels. This is a wonderful account of one womans life with her urban squirrel friends in NYC. Having just been to Washington Square Park where the book takes place I can see how these squirrels became so dependant on the kindness of others. This is a great book for those who may not be fans of the squirrel, but who would at least appreciate a good story and like animals. I have been recommending this one to a lot of people I know just for a change of pace in their normal reading, so go get a copy, but don't bury somewhere where you can't find it again.

Really enjoyed this book. I appreciated that the author remained objective and observational throughout - without slipping into sentimentality. I was able to relate to the squirrels directly - rather than through someone's emotional filter. I love squirrels and have befriended many - Grace was able to capture the experience of relating to squirrels. Her insights - and the depth of relationship with them - have deepened my appreciation of squirrels.

I just received this book, and can't put it down! It is great! It is the most informative and personal book on squirrels I have found! I feed a "gang" of squirrels on my windowsill at work and can really identify with the author. All of her observations of squirrels are right on the money!

I couldn't stop reading this book! It's funny, smart, full of surprises and as beautiful as any book I've seen this year. It's like a box of candy -- almost impossible to put down, easy to pick up again, and delicious wherever your fingers happen to land.

This book is a beautiful and well written guide to my favorite area of New York. An excellent read for anyone who enjoys the village.

Having planned a trip to NYC for the first time, I wanted to use a different guidebook that would give me a historical perspective with walking tours. I found it in this beautiful book. It made my trip to NYC a most memorable one. I highly recommend this book to anyone travelling to NY who wishes to learn more about this great city's history.

The Villagers by Edward Field & Neil Derrick is a wonderfully rich, rewarding novel about the fictional 'Endicott' family from 1845 to 1975 in Greenwich Village, New York. While the Endicotts are the main characters in this long, eventful story, Greenwich Village itself is a background character of sorts. From a small, separate village to the north of the city in 1845, to the integral, exciting and lively neighborhood of 1975, the village 'lives' in the background, growing and changing over time as do the Endicotts themselves. This is essentially the story of three generations: Tom's in the 1840's, Patrick's in the 1880's, and Polly's in the 1930's. It is rich, varied, touching. The authors manage to make you care about these characters, drawing each one deftly, fully, making each main character real and believable. It is amazing to me that two separate authors could create so unified a fictional story and do it so successfully.

The authors of this novel have created a very real family. To bring this story alive, many famous people (and events) of the past become minor characters: Walt Whitman, Henry James, The Civil War, the Stock Market Crash of the 20's, the Stonewall Riots of the late 60's. This helps to place the family saga into the context of the various time periods. This is an excellent book, a rewarding book. The frequent tragedy is countered by the strength of many of the characters, especially Patrick, Elizabeth, and Polly. While it is very long, it is great fun to read.

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Plot Summary: The story begins when young Tom Endicott and his bride, Fanny move to the village from the city in 1845. Tom doesn't realize the fragile hold Fanny has on her sanity yet, nor that her family had literally married her off to be rid of her and exiled the two to the then far-off village of Greenwich. Sexual frustrations mount as Tom, due to Fanny's resistance, is unable to make love with his wife after their first time. They have a child from that first time, but when Tom in a fit of frustrated passion forces himself upon Fanny, the resulting child, Claude is rejected by its mother and grows up to be a withdrawn, quiet boy, who dies an early death from an opium addiction. Tom, in frustration turns to the family's Irish maid, Molly, a lusty woman who enjoys sex. This passionate affair leads to a pregnancy. It is a boy, Tom's illegitimate son, Patrick. Patrick grows up with his mother Molly in the Irish ghetto and it is he who will eventually carry the Endicott name into the next generation.

Patrick eventually is reunited with the Endicotts when Claude and Molly die. He becomes the son Tom always wanted. Patrick marries Elizabeth, Claude's childhood friend and produces the next generation of Endicotts. This becomes the longest saga in the Endicott story as Patrick becomes one of the movers and shakers in the growth and development of the village and the growing metropolis of New York. When his 10-year-old son dies, Patrick turns inward and his wife Elizabeth turns to an old family friend for solace which results in another illegitimate child, Polly. But Patrick, thinking Polly is his daughter, is rejuvenated and he fathers a second son, Eugene. Eugene is a supreme disappointment to Patrick and 'daughter' Polly is his life now. When Eugene marries and has a son himself, Seth, Patrick accepts his grandson with great joy. However, Eugene, confused and unhappy, leaves his wife and young son and returns to his family home in Greenwich Village.

The next great turn of events is when Patrick catches Eugene in the basement having sex with a workman modernizing the family house with new electrical wiring. Shame drives Eugene away to self-destructiveness. His sister Polly cannot forgive him but his mother Elizabeth tries to protect him from his own downward spiral. Patrick never really recovers. When Patrick finally dies, the family saga shifts to Polly and Eugene. Eugene, finally accepting his gay sexuality becomes a writer of note, even a celebrated playwright. Polly more and more accepts her gay brother as her own life becomes entangled in sex and alcohol. Eugene suddenly dies in a horrible accident, just as he is getting to know his own son Seth. Through much anguish, Polly finally defeats her own demons and becomes a strong, giving woman. Polly works hard to keep her extended family of cousins, nephews, and other relatives together. Much tragedy follows this family, but Polly triumphs, saving her family members from their own self-destructiveness over and over. In the end Polly herself, now well into her 80's in 1975, dies a quiet, peaceful death, the last Endicott in Greenwich Village.

It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a book so much that it has kept me off the computer for hours at a time. This wonderful book is full of characters you really come to care about. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next while at the same time dreading it coming to an end. If ever a family saga deserved a sequel this is the one! The only complaint I have is that it wasn't twice as long...

"I am five hundred pages through "The Villagers" and am already feeling bereft that the tale is nearly finished. I would love to see a production on PBS! The characters are wonderful, all so different [...], and of course I admire the treatment of the women."

This small selection of some of the delightful children's poems by Robert Louis Stevenson is a real treasure. What will capture the fascination of all children (as well as adults like me!) are the illustrations by Lucy Corvino. This artist's beautiful illustrations are perfect for the magic that all children love in these classic poems. You keep returning to each picture, and always discover more fascinating detail. A lovely job - a lovely gift book for any small child, and for "grown-ups" like me who can't resist such perfect art work.

When I showed this beautiful book to a friend, she wanted one for both her children (so they can keep it when they grow up) and also one for her mother. The poetry is timeless--it takes you back instantly into your childhood imagination--and the illustrations are superb. These pictures are funny, mysterious, comforting, poignant, all at the same time, and filled with gorgeous soft color and intriguing details. As a child, I would have spent hours looking at them.

As an elementary school teacher, I found "Poetry for Young People" by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Lucy Corvino, a wonderful book. It's a great way to introduce poetry to children because the poems are short and easy to understand. The illustrations have magnificently detailed illustrations without being overly complex or confusing. The children are drawn to the pictures, which heightens what is being read to them. They unanimously respond with great enthusiasm, and they eagerly ask for more. I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers and anyone who regularly spends time with children.

Quotes about the composers, by the composers, about the nusic, about the inspiration for the music, about the instruments, and about performance... this book of quotes provides an alphabetical listing of topics which include composers themselves and many other subjects. William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, and other famous non-musicians also figure prominently.... its is interesting to read quotes from the composers about a piece I am currnetly playing... gives a new viewpoint, that of the genius who created the music.... and there are a few criticisms too.... a great book for musicians and music-lovers!

This is a wonderful book filled with images of the beat coffeehouse hangouts in Greenwich village circa 50s and 60s. It is great to actually be able to view a photo of a poetry reading as it took place in one of these bohemian haunts. We are lucky that the author had the foresight to take photos in the smoke-filled coffeehouses and beat pads. I have a coffeehouse and the book is a great reference to utilize when trying to recapture the spirit and styling of the 50s coffeehouse.

McDarrah's photograpic work evokes what it must have been like to frequent the bohemian scene of the late '50s and early '60's. Anyone who is greatly interested in the literature of this genre, but too young to have actual remembrances of this era, will find this work fascinating. Many of the photos have never been published before, and thus are a refreshing change from the standard photos of Kerouac, Ginsberg, and crew that have been served up so many times elsewhere. McDarrah, who I believe worked for the Village Voice at that time, has done a fine job in selecting the photos in this collection. My favorites are one of Diane DiPrima, perched on a piano reciting her poetry, and Herbert Huncke visiting Allen Ginsberg and attempting to fix the latter's broken TV. I also enjoyed the many pics of other accomplished, but lesser known figures of the era, and the establishments they frequented, such as the Cedars Bar & Grill

I went to greenwich village last month and I spent a week in the village. I picked up this book to guide my adventures and I was so glad that I did.

Some really great excepts of this book can be found at www.Greenwich-Village.Co

This thriller set in 1949's New York City stars a wild assortment of characters (heroes and lowlifes), and is a real page-turner. It centers mostly on Blackie Cole, a butch nightclub singer employed by the mafia, who discovers a dead man in the club. When the dead man's sister shows up, Blackie is torn between her growing desire for the uptown woman and her duty to her mob boss. And Blackie's ex-girlfriend isn't quite through with Blackie either. Through a series of mishaps, Blackie's mob boss thinks she's ratted him out, and targets her for elimination. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and found it rather intoxicating at times. I felt the story as a whole was diluted by the tidal wave of characters populating the novel, some of whom were throwaways lasting a page or so. Some of these details became distracting to me because they seemed unnecessary by the book's end. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend "Under the Mink" not only to lesbians in search of a new romantic thriller, but also to anyone searching for a well-written and involving historical novel. Lisa Davis is certainly a writer worth reading.

What's a drag kig to do when she finds a dead body in the bathroom? Torn between the mob, the cops, and deliciously different women, Blackie has a lot on her hands in this novel. The settings are impressively depicted, but the characters a bit stock. Overall, this one was worth waiting for, and I'm ready for another offering from this writer.

So often, lesbian books are filled with adolescent cravings and sexual lust. This is a wonderful book that integrates lesbian sexuality with the reality of a specific time period. I loved the mystery and the history. I trusted the author in her research and I loved her ability to weave a tale. I think it has much to do with the author's research as well as her wonderful ability to write. We need more authors like this. Great talent is found here. Thank you for an interesting and informative read.

If you're expecting an overview of the 1940s Greenwich Village scene, adjust your expectations. This is for the most part an account of Anatole Broyard's life, as he lived in Greenwich Village in the 1940s. The focus is on Broyard's concerns of the time and his particular perceptions. It is a distinct difference.

That acknowledged, I'd like to say that I recommend the book anyway. Broyard's account is valuable for its loving criticism of the 1940s art world, for its honest recognition of the stupidity of youth, and for its meandering remembrances, repleat with similes and earnest attempts to find meaning in the past. The book is valuable because of its examination of life, an examination that is all the more interesting for the time period and the location of the subject.

I said that Broyard's account was more an account of his own life than of the times. But it is also an opinion of mine that one life tells a lot about a time period. The setting for the memoir is New York just after WWII--the whole city is glad to be alive and glad to be carefree for the first time since the beginning of the war. And Broyard's account of himself and others in the period is fascinating for that reason, for the way this made people act. Need another reason? Broyard's memoir is peppered with chance meetings with prestigious artists and writers of the time. He exposes the mentality they all lived with--the way they lived with art the way other young people live with football or pop music. He exposes the advantages and disadvantages that that presented. Most of all, he exposes your youth--your own youthful pretensions, and stupidity, and wisdom. It's the account you would write if you had the time... And the insight.

A formally unknown author to me until coming insistingly recomended by my girlfirend,Anatole very successfully retold his life experiences in post-WWII "avant-garde" Greenwich Village so that, while living in both a different generation and society, I could relate directly to his observations and reactions. That alone is the power of this memoir. Anatole through his experiences covers modern art, the music scene, and especially attitudes on sex. As with most memoirs, there is no plot; however, there is a great deal of character growth -- and if the reader takes a moment to reflect, to digest Anatole's delicate observations, he finds that when the final cover closes, he too has grown with the work. The memoir unfortunately goes unfinished due to Anatole's untimely death, but does not leave the reader unsastified.

When I started the book I was delighted early on that his female roommate, who goes everywhere pantiless, has already run into W. H. Auden and sent the two of them crashing to the floor of a bookstore. Oh yeah, and what's this guy smokin' on the cover?

This is an autobiography that delves into the art and literary scene of Greenwich Village during the late 40's, post WWII era. I was surprised to find that the author actually passed away before he finished writing this memoir. I can't imagine where he would have gone w/ it, but I'm sure we've missed out.

His writing is very circumspect, and the fact that it's not actually a 'finished' work does not matter. I enjoyed the book as I've said above. I found myself considering cubism, Auden, Anais Nin, the Village, studying art in college, sex from the perspective of a man of the times. Anatole (cool name) is a sensitive man, honest about the shortcomings of his era.

Plus I loved his crazy girlfriend. I appreciated his candor. What else can I say? When he says that the sex was hot, you'd have to believe him. Cool book.

Dr Bentivegna has written an at-times hilarious and topical, but also frightening and compelling page-turner about greed, political shenanigans, medical malfeasance and the class system in "Lords of Greenwich." The book propels you into the byzantine political realities of Connecticut state politics, the gaming (jai-alai) industry, a fall from grace, and the consequences of greed, from the angle of a physician. A remarkable cast of characters are fleshed out, and at the same time, clever thoughts and ideas are scattered throughout the book to keep you laughing and guessing at how a down-on-his luck mechanic could win at gambling on games of jai-alai. The only thing that made this book not reach five stars was a less than credible resolution to the whole story, which required a fair amount of medical legerdemain to explicate to the non-subspecialist in corneal surgery the unbelievable (but almost possible) way the scam worked. Notwithstanding that, it was still a real good read.

The Lords of Greenwich is one of the best books that I have read in many years. It is an exciting, fast-paced novel that delves into the dark connections among the worlds of sports, politics, and medicine. Extremely well written, alternately gripping and hilarious. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

The Lords of Greenwich is a twofer - both a delightful political novel and a fascinating mystery. Despite the fact that the book is presented as a mystery, I found the political novel to be every bit as compelling as the mystery storyline.

Dr. Bentivegna's insider knowledge of electoral politics gives a realistic edge to his accounts of the behind-the-scenes machinations of campaign managers. (Warning for those who think politics is a noble endeavor: This novel is bound to depress you.) The tale of a gubernatorial election in its last weeks is compelling. The on-the-money characterizations of the people who interact within a campaign framework are by turns humorous and caustic, giving one the sense that they spring from reality.

Parallel to the political novel is a well-crafted mystery. How did the gambling scam work? Who killed the ring-leader, and how did he die? When would the world of politics intersect with the world of thuggery? All these questions keep the reader turning pages until the very end of an eminently satisfying first novel. Do it again, Doc!

George Stable has a problem. George is twelve and still needs his teddy bear to make him not nervous when he sings. George wants to become a rock starbut on his journey he discovers a problem. There's a case of stolen jewels. I really liked this book because it was like a roller coaster. There were some really good parts and some really bad parts. You can't tell what happens around the corner! I would recommend this book to people who like teddy bears. I can't wait to get the sequal.

This is my favorite book from childhood.
George Stable is an amazing character. He is introspective and self-depricatory, creative and extremely perceptive. Somehow Collier makes his character believable despite George's young age.
I love the humor in the book; the crazed bohemian artist of a father, the strange world inhabited by child performers and their dreadful parents, and criminals who can never seem to do anything right.
The illustrations by Lee Lorenz are wonderful. Mr. Lorenz was a cartoonist for the New Yorker AND had graduated from my high school. I decided to use an excerpt from the book as my Senior Year Book quote.

This is a great book to read. As soon as I started reading this book and could not stop. When I was reading THE TEDDY BEAR HABIT it felt like a movie and if I stopped reading, I missed the whole book. I also read the sequel called RICH AND FAMOUS and it was also good. I think that THE TEDDY BEAR HABIT is better because it has a new character and a new plot. This book is funny and sad. Once again you should definetly read this book-and it's sequel!!!!