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Manhattan Chronicles: Irreverent Notes by an European in New York
Buckle up for a fun, quirky, and provocative blend of musings on sex, love, relationship and other challenges at the dawn of the 21st century. This satirical foray into the hearts and minds of New Yorkers includes: Are Men Going To Become Redundant? Men of A Certain Age, Is America Better Off Promiscuous, Holla Touch Tone Governance, The Art of Warghanistan, The Juno Effect vs. The Moonstruck Affect, Spiritual or Not Spiritual, The Age Of Savage Reviews, and May I Buy You Dinner?
The collection explores New York' City's mating habits and other quirks from the perspective of an European in New York, Alexandra Ares, the founder of the literary website with the same name. Each column in this book was first published in the Manhattan Chronicles website, between the fall of 2009 and the fall of 2012.
Alexandra Ares is also the author of the award winning novels My Life on Craigslist, The Other Girl and Dream Junkies, and of several other books published in Europe, including a biopic on Sam Shepard.
The title of this book is a tribute to Motel Chronicles, the iconic short story collection by Sam Shepard.
The collection explores New York' City's mating habits and other quirks from the perspective of an European in New York, Alexandra Ares, the founder of the literary website with the same name. Each column in this book was first published in the Manhattan Chronicles website, between the fall of 2009 and the fall of 2012.
Alexandra Ares is also the author of the award winning novels My Life on Craigslist, The Other Girl and Dream Junkies, and of several other books published in Europe, including a biopic on Sam Shepard.
The title of this book is a tribute to Motel Chronicles, the iconic short story collection by Sam Shepard.
53 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
About the author
Alexandra Ares
11 books16 followersAlexandra Ares is the author of several novels, plays, nonfiction, and a short story collection. Her play "Youthtopia" received the Romanian Academy Prize for Drama in 2024 (for the editorial year of 2022). Her early fiction — including the indie hit "My Life on Craigslist", the first novel about online dating, "Dream Junkies", and the award-winning novella "The Other Girl" — explores bohemian immigrant life in New York with wit and precision.
Alexandra was born in Bucharest and first arrived in NYC in 1997, where she was naturalized a US citizen in 2004.
In recent years she has turned to playwriting, publishing two acclaimed collections: "Alexandra Ares: Theater" (Romanian Academy Press) and "Utopias for the 21st Century" (Junimea Publishing House), which includes "Hotel Cosmos: Elon Musk Goes to Mars", "Bank of Imagination", and "Youthtopia."
She writes in both English and Romanian, edits the bilingual theater magazine Revista Rinocerul, and was previously the founder and editor of Manhattan Chronicles. Her work has been featured in Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Time Out, and has received multiple literary awards on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a member of PEN American Center, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Union of Romanian Writers (USR) and UNITER.
Alexandra thanks you for taking your time to check out her books on Goodreads. She appreciates critiques from people who read the entire book, and she thanks you for NOT reviewing her books after skimming only the first page.
Awards
- Ion Luca Caragiale Prize awarded by the Romanian Academy for the play "Youthtopia," 2024/2022.
- Next Generation Indie Book Award for the novella "The Other Girl," New York, 2012.
- Dumitru Solomon "Book of the Year" Prize awarded by the Bucharest Writers' Association – Dramaturgy Section for the critical monograph "Sam Shepard: Rebel of Mortal Rigors," 2018.
Nominations
- Nomination – Writers' Union of Romania Prize for Best Play Book, "Alexandra Ares: Plays," 2022.
- Nomination – UNITER Award for Best Radio Play for "Waking Beauty," directed by Diana Mihailopol, 2019.
- Finalist – BOTYA Awards (Book of the Year Awards) by Foreword Reviews, Chicago, for the novel "Dream Junkies," category: Women's Fiction.
- Finalist – Readers' Favorite International Book Award, Miami, for the novel "My Life on Craigslist," category: Satire.
- Finalist – Best Books USA Awards by US Book News, Los Angeles, for the novel "My Life on Craigslist," category: Satire.
Alexandra was born in Bucharest and first arrived in NYC in 1997, where she was naturalized a US citizen in 2004.
In recent years she has turned to playwriting, publishing two acclaimed collections: "Alexandra Ares: Theater" (Romanian Academy Press) and "Utopias for the 21st Century" (Junimea Publishing House), which includes "Hotel Cosmos: Elon Musk Goes to Mars", "Bank of Imagination", and "Youthtopia."
She writes in both English and Romanian, edits the bilingual theater magazine Revista Rinocerul, and was previously the founder and editor of Manhattan Chronicles. Her work has been featured in Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Time Out, and has received multiple literary awards on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a member of PEN American Center, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Union of Romanian Writers (USR) and UNITER.
Alexandra thanks you for taking your time to check out her books on Goodreads. She appreciates critiques from people who read the entire book, and she thanks you for NOT reviewing her books after skimming only the first page.
Awards
- Ion Luca Caragiale Prize awarded by the Romanian Academy for the play "Youthtopia," 2024/2022.
- Next Generation Indie Book Award for the novella "The Other Girl," New York, 2012.
- Dumitru Solomon "Book of the Year" Prize awarded by the Bucharest Writers' Association – Dramaturgy Section for the critical monograph "Sam Shepard: Rebel of Mortal Rigors," 2018.
Nominations
- Nomination – Writers' Union of Romania Prize for Best Play Book, "Alexandra Ares: Plays," 2022.
- Nomination – UNITER Award for Best Radio Play for "Waking Beauty," directed by Diana Mihailopol, 2019.
- Finalist – BOTYA Awards (Book of the Year Awards) by Foreword Reviews, Chicago, for the novel "Dream Junkies," category: Women's Fiction.
- Finalist – Readers' Favorite International Book Award, Miami, for the novel "My Life on Craigslist," category: Satire.
- Finalist – Best Books USA Awards by US Book News, Los Angeles, for the novel "My Life on Craigslist," category: Satire.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 31, 2015
amazon.com/author/sergiupobereznic
I was recently complaining that the art of the essay or short story was being lost and that there is so little work out there of a satirical nature. Here you have it all, but in a refreshingly new and insightful package. Think of it as 'Philosophy Hour' but comprehensible and funny, without the ponderous psycho-babble and mind spraining, cultured words that can leave one confused and asking for your money back.
This is an author with a great sense of humour. What makes her perspective more interesting than usual is that she is European (from the Eastern Block) and New York is on the other side of the world and a polar opposite lifestyle. Oh, and there is one other thing; She is a Woman and I am a Man. This meant that I gained access to the female mind and her inner musings for the length of the book.
The author voices things that most people would wish they had the balls to do, but generally choose not to for a quiet life. I think Alexandra likes to ruffle feathers from time to time. Especially when you read the opening:
"Most men over a certain age are like peaceful COWS..."
I liked it already.
Some particular chapters that I enjoyed were: AGE OF SAVAGE REVIEWS, with which I completely agreed. MAY I BUY YOU DINNER (extremely funny) and SEX AND THE CRAIGSLIST (an intriguing topic I have only recently learned about).
She even tackles politics and does it well, too, offering her personal, atypical viewpoint.
I didn't agree with everything, but this is the point; lots of dinner conversation/arguments/topics to debate through the night with a glass of wine. This type of work you don't need to agree with.
The book's description does not lie: fun, provocative, quirky. All true.
I wanted more, but that's how it is with all things that are good.
Sergiu Pobereznic (author)
amazon.com/author/sergiupobereznic
I was recently complaining that the art of the essay or short story was being lost and that there is so little work out there of a satirical nature. Here you have it all, but in a refreshingly new and insightful package. Think of it as 'Philosophy Hour' but comprehensible and funny, without the ponderous psycho-babble and mind spraining, cultured words that can leave one confused and asking for your money back.
This is an author with a great sense of humour. What makes her perspective more interesting than usual is that she is European (from the Eastern Block) and New York is on the other side of the world and a polar opposite lifestyle. Oh, and there is one other thing; She is a Woman and I am a Man. This meant that I gained access to the female mind and her inner musings for the length of the book.
The author voices things that most people would wish they had the balls to do, but generally choose not to for a quiet life. I think Alexandra likes to ruffle feathers from time to time. Especially when you read the opening:
"Most men over a certain age are like peaceful COWS..."
I liked it already.
Some particular chapters that I enjoyed were: AGE OF SAVAGE REVIEWS, with which I completely agreed. MAY I BUY YOU DINNER (extremely funny) and SEX AND THE CRAIGSLIST (an intriguing topic I have only recently learned about).
She even tackles politics and does it well, too, offering her personal, atypical viewpoint.
I didn't agree with everything, but this is the point; lots of dinner conversation/arguments/topics to debate through the night with a glass of wine. This type of work you don't need to agree with.
The book's description does not lie: fun, provocative, quirky. All true.
I wanted more, but that's how it is with all things that are good.
Sergiu Pobereznic (author)
amazon.com/author/sergiupobereznic
Displaying 1 of 1 review