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It Was Her New York: True Stories & Snapshots
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2024
10 people are currently reading
1257 people want to read
About the author
C.O. Moed
1 book15 followersC.O. Moed grew up on New York’s Lower East Side when it was still a tough neighborhood. A recipient of the Elizabeth George Grant for Fiction and an alum of the infamous WOW Cafe, she lives with fellow writer and fellow Mets fan, Ted Krever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 22, 2024
Really appreciated this memoir! The photos were really good and matched the tone of each of the stories. The writing, too, was really moving and emotional, so much so that I nearly cried towards the end! Just brilliant!!!!
October 6, 2024
A Poignant Exploration of Love, Loss, and the City
C.O. Moed’s It Was Her New York is a beautifully crafted narrative that intertwines memoir with urban sociology, presenting her mother’s life as a lens through which to explore complex themes of familial bonds and personal loss. The synergy between Moed's evocative prose and haunting photographs creates a rich tapestry of memory, capturing the essence of New York as both a setting and a character.
Moed's exploration of her relationship with her mother, a talented musician grappling with dementia, is marked by both tenderness and realism. The book’s insights into the evolving dynamics of caregiving are heartfelt and relatable, resonating deeply with anyone who has navigated similar experiences.
The unique format, blending visual elements with narrative, challenges traditional storytelling, inviting readers to engage with the emotional layers of both personal and urban decay. While some aspects, like the parallels between personal memory and the city’s transformation, could be explored further, the overall impact is profound.
It Was Her New York lingers in the mind long after reading, serving as a meditation on love, loss, and the intricate dance of memory. This remarkable work is essential for those interested in the intersections of personal history and the urban landscape. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!
C.O. Moed’s It Was Her New York is a beautifully crafted narrative that intertwines memoir with urban sociology, presenting her mother’s life as a lens through which to explore complex themes of familial bonds and personal loss. The synergy between Moed's evocative prose and haunting photographs creates a rich tapestry of memory, capturing the essence of New York as both a setting and a character.
Moed's exploration of her relationship with her mother, a talented musician grappling with dementia, is marked by both tenderness and realism. The book’s insights into the evolving dynamics of caregiving are heartfelt and relatable, resonating deeply with anyone who has navigated similar experiences.
The unique format, blending visual elements with narrative, challenges traditional storytelling, inviting readers to engage with the emotional layers of both personal and urban decay. While some aspects, like the parallels between personal memory and the city’s transformation, could be explored further, the overall impact is profound.
It Was Her New York lingers in the mind long after reading, serving as a meditation on love, loss, and the intricate dance of memory. This remarkable work is essential for those interested in the intersections of personal history and the urban landscape. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!
April 26, 2024
What a wonderful tribute!!! I really enjoyed this book. Stories were short but interesting. The pics were an added bonus. Good luck to the author and please, write more books like this one !!! Thanks to NetGalley, author and the publisher foe the ARC of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
March 20, 2024
Just Put Down C.O. Moed's "It Was Her New York"
C.O. Moed's book, "It Was Her New York," presents itself as more than a conventional memoir. It's an experiment in narrative form, a deliberate blurring of the boundaries between personal history, urban sociology, and visual anthropology. Moed utilizes the framework of her mother's life in New York as a prism, refracting complex themes of familial relationships, the psychology of place, and the specter of both personal and cultural loss.
The synergy between Moed's prose and the accompanying photographs is where this work truly distinguishes itself. The images act not as mere illustrations, but as narrative counterpoints. They often possess a haunting, oneiric quality that challenges the text's linearity. Consider the opening image of Florence, Moed's mother, a Julliard-trained musician, later consumed by dementia. The photo is both intimate and alienating; it captures Florence's fading selfhood while foreshadowing the emotional terrain the book will navigate.
Moed's portrayal of New York City transcends nostalgia. The city becomes a character in its own right, a shapeshifting labyrinth of memory and experience. Moed is less concerned with iconic landmarks and more with capturing the fleeting sensory details – the textures, smells, and hidden rhythms that inform one's psychogeography of a place. This micro-focus provides a counterbalance to the looming theme of transience that haunts the narrative.
The book's central tension lies in its exploration of the maternal bond. Moed confronts the complexities of a daughter's love with unflinching honesty. There's a fierce tenderness in Florence's portrayal, yet Moed doesn't shy away from depicting the frustrations and resentments borne out of caregiving within a slowly eroding relationship. This struggle for emotional autonomy reflects a universal dynamic in adult parent-child relationships.
One potential point of deeper exploration would have been the intersection between personal memory and the collective memory of a city. Moed alludes to the ways New York's ever-changing landscape mirrors her mother's decline, but a more sustained analysis of the parallels between urban and personal decay could have added a further layer of depth.
Overall, "It Was Her New York" is a poignant and intellectually stimulating work. Moed's lyrical prose, her vulnerability, and the bold interplay of text and image offer a meditation on how we construct meaning from love, loss, and the ever-fleeting present moment. This is a book that lingers, echoing long after the final page is turned.
C.O. Moed's book, "It Was Her New York," presents itself as more than a conventional memoir. It's an experiment in narrative form, a deliberate blurring of the boundaries between personal history, urban sociology, and visual anthropology. Moed utilizes the framework of her mother's life in New York as a prism, refracting complex themes of familial relationships, the psychology of place, and the specter of both personal and cultural loss.
The synergy between Moed's prose and the accompanying photographs is where this work truly distinguishes itself. The images act not as mere illustrations, but as narrative counterpoints. They often possess a haunting, oneiric quality that challenges the text's linearity. Consider the opening image of Florence, Moed's mother, a Julliard-trained musician, later consumed by dementia. The photo is both intimate and alienating; it captures Florence's fading selfhood while foreshadowing the emotional terrain the book will navigate.
Moed's portrayal of New York City transcends nostalgia. The city becomes a character in its own right, a shapeshifting labyrinth of memory and experience. Moed is less concerned with iconic landmarks and more with capturing the fleeting sensory details – the textures, smells, and hidden rhythms that inform one's psychogeography of a place. This micro-focus provides a counterbalance to the looming theme of transience that haunts the narrative.
The book's central tension lies in its exploration of the maternal bond. Moed confronts the complexities of a daughter's love with unflinching honesty. There's a fierce tenderness in Florence's portrayal, yet Moed doesn't shy away from depicting the frustrations and resentments borne out of caregiving within a slowly eroding relationship. This struggle for emotional autonomy reflects a universal dynamic in adult parent-child relationships.
One potential point of deeper exploration would have been the intersection between personal memory and the collective memory of a city. Moed alludes to the ways New York's ever-changing landscape mirrors her mother's decline, but a more sustained analysis of the parallels between urban and personal decay could have added a further layer of depth.
Overall, "It Was Her New York" is a poignant and intellectually stimulating work. Moed's lyrical prose, her vulnerability, and the bold interplay of text and image offer a meditation on how we construct meaning from love, loss, and the ever-fleeting present moment. This is a book that lingers, echoing long after the final page is turned.
February 23, 2024
I loved every second I had with this book! The photos were such an added bonus. It's such a beautiful memoir and a moving tribute to a mother that made me tear up uncontrollably towards the end. I've never been to New York but the lyrical writing combined with the pictures made me nostalgic for a city I have never even experienced. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc.
March 9, 2024
More Than A Woman
A beautiful evocative collection of short stories that will engage you with each turn of the pages. Visceral and touching. The images add to the unfolding of each story. A recommended read!
A beautiful evocative collection of short stories that will engage you with each turn of the pages. Visceral and touching. The images add to the unfolding of each story. A recommended read!
April 11, 2024
I'm losing my grandma to dementia. This was a very painful but very dear read. I read some of it at work and cried, then read the rest at home and cried some more. A lot of specific sections and lines and sentences really struck me, but this one especially: "But now, there was less of Florence to visit with."
February 10, 2024
This was a pure delight. The photos were wonderful and the (very short) stories were interesting, amusing, touching. If I had a physical copy I’d read it again.
Book from Netgalley.
Book from Netgalley.
April 20, 2024
2,5*
Personal taste. I think it's One of those books you can either relate to and enjoy the art or you don't
Personal taste. I think it's One of those books you can either relate to and enjoy the art or you don't
February 29, 2024
Content Warnings: Hospice / Palliative / End-of-Life Care, Dementia
It Was Her New York was difficult to read due to the vulnerability expressed in both photographs and text. Part memoir, part photo essay, part memorial, it's a difficult book to quantify. However, everything was chosen with care and precision to capture authentic moments. The moment that broke me was C.O. Moed begging her mother's ex-lover not to destroy their love letters and instead donate them to a lesbian history archive. It was the struggle to keep alive an identity that was clearly so important to her mother, who walked in her first Pride Parade in her late 50s and how powerless, in some ways, Moed was that made it hurt. However, I think this book is a touching tribute to her mother and captures her many facets, while also reflecting on the changes faced in their community.
It Was Her New York was difficult to read due to the vulnerability expressed in both photographs and text. Part memoir, part photo essay, part memorial, it's a difficult book to quantify. However, everything was chosen with care and precision to capture authentic moments. The moment that broke me was C.O. Moed begging her mother's ex-lover not to destroy their love letters and instead donate them to a lesbian history archive. It was the struggle to keep alive an identity that was clearly so important to her mother, who walked in her first Pride Parade in her late 50s and how powerless, in some ways, Moed was that made it hurt. However, I think this book is a touching tribute to her mother and captures her many facets, while also reflecting on the changes faced in their community.
February 15, 2025
What Do We Owe to the Places That Made Us?
A famous Japanese philosophy, mono no aware, describes the bittersweet awareness of impermanence—the understanding that all things, no matter how beloved, will eventually fade. C.O. Moed’s It Was Her New York is a book steeped in this truth. It is about a city that is disappearing, a mother who is slipping away, and a daughter grasping at memories before they vanish completely.
But unlike most memoirs, this is not a quiet reflection. It is loud, brash, and unapologetic—much like the New York it honors.
A City That Fights Back
New York has always been a city of reinvention. Immigrants arrived and built homes, industries grew and collapsed, neighborhoods shifted and reshaped themselves. The Lower East Side, once a working-class stronghold, is now a playground for the wealthy. What happens to those who are left behind in the wake of "progress"?
Moed refuses to romanticize this change. She doesn’t just mourn what is lost; she calls it out. Through her eyes, we see not just the physical erasure of familiar storefronts, but the slow erasure of identity, culture, and history. This memoir doesn’t just remember—it fights to keep the past alive.
A Daughter’s War Against Time
At the heart of the book is Florence, a Juilliard-trained pianist, a woman who commands grammar even when confined to bed, and a mother whose presence is as formidable as the city itself.
Moed does not sugarcoat the difficulties of watching a parent decline. She captures the humor, the frustration, the love, and the loss in raw, striking prose. The conversations between mother and daughter are sometimes sharp, sometimes tender, but always real. They read like battle strategies—negotiations with time itself.
One of the most powerful sections details Moed’s fight to keep her mother from being admitted to the hospital. It is not just about medical decisions—it is about dignity, autonomy, and the desperate attempt to hold onto control when everything else is slipping away.
Who Should Read This?
This book is not for those who seek nostalgia without discomfort. It is for those who know that love is often complicated, that cities do not owe us permanence, and that sometimes, survival is an act of defiance.
It will resonate deeply with readers who have watched a loved one fade and those who have witnessed their childhood streets become unrecognizable. It belongs on the shelf next to works like Patti Smith’s Just Kids or Vivian Gornick’s The Odd Woman and the City—memoirs that do not just tell a story but live within them.
Final Thoughts
There is a moment in the book where Moed recalls Florence diving into the ocean, swimming out so far she becomes a speck on the horizon. It is a perfect metaphor for the book itself—an act of movement, of resistance, of refusing to stay put.
Some books fade into memory. This one refuses to.
This book is a winner of the Spotlyts Story Award. (Reference link that will go live on or after 20 February 2025: https://spotlyts.com/2025/02/20/spotl...)
A famous Japanese philosophy, mono no aware, describes the bittersweet awareness of impermanence—the understanding that all things, no matter how beloved, will eventually fade. C.O. Moed’s It Was Her New York is a book steeped in this truth. It is about a city that is disappearing, a mother who is slipping away, and a daughter grasping at memories before they vanish completely.
But unlike most memoirs, this is not a quiet reflection. It is loud, brash, and unapologetic—much like the New York it honors.
A City That Fights Back
New York has always been a city of reinvention. Immigrants arrived and built homes, industries grew and collapsed, neighborhoods shifted and reshaped themselves. The Lower East Side, once a working-class stronghold, is now a playground for the wealthy. What happens to those who are left behind in the wake of "progress"?
Moed refuses to romanticize this change. She doesn’t just mourn what is lost; she calls it out. Through her eyes, we see not just the physical erasure of familiar storefronts, but the slow erasure of identity, culture, and history. This memoir doesn’t just remember—it fights to keep the past alive.
A Daughter’s War Against Time
At the heart of the book is Florence, a Juilliard-trained pianist, a woman who commands grammar even when confined to bed, and a mother whose presence is as formidable as the city itself.
Moed does not sugarcoat the difficulties of watching a parent decline. She captures the humor, the frustration, the love, and the loss in raw, striking prose. The conversations between mother and daughter are sometimes sharp, sometimes tender, but always real. They read like battle strategies—negotiations with time itself.
One of the most powerful sections details Moed’s fight to keep her mother from being admitted to the hospital. It is not just about medical decisions—it is about dignity, autonomy, and the desperate attempt to hold onto control when everything else is slipping away.
Who Should Read This?
This book is not for those who seek nostalgia without discomfort. It is for those who know that love is often complicated, that cities do not owe us permanence, and that sometimes, survival is an act of defiance.
It will resonate deeply with readers who have watched a loved one fade and those who have witnessed their childhood streets become unrecognizable. It belongs on the shelf next to works like Patti Smith’s Just Kids or Vivian Gornick’s The Odd Woman and the City—memoirs that do not just tell a story but live within them.
Final Thoughts
There is a moment in the book where Moed recalls Florence diving into the ocean, swimming out so far she becomes a speck on the horizon. It is a perfect metaphor for the book itself—an act of movement, of resistance, of refusing to stay put.
Some books fade into memory. This one refuses to.
This book is a winner of the Spotlyts Story Award. (Reference link that will go live on or after 20 February 2025: https://spotlyts.com/2025/02/20/spotl...)
March 12, 2024
This book was fabulous, the photos worked so well with the stories being told and gave the perfect take away to live life to the fullest.
February 13, 2024
This is the most enjoyable book I've read in a long time, and I'm not that keen on memoirs. It almost seems like a new kind of book, more like an experience than a reading, more like poetry than a memoir. The poignant and funny, bite-sized vignettes kept me telling myself, "Just one more, and I'll turn out the light." Anyone who is nostalgic for bygone eras of New York will revel in the lyrical descriptions and evocative, off-kilter photos. Anyone who has lost a loved one to dementia will appreciate the heartbreaking struggle and the relentless sense of humor that keeps one (almost) sane. I know I'll read this again.
March 31, 2024
I enjoyed this book for the text and the pictures. They showed a life and a city in an honest, realistic, candid observation of what happens as we develop and age.
March 25, 2024
An interesting book about the author's mother, eccentric as she was, her own memories of growing up in New York, and the times as her mother grew old and was dying. A very good book that was illustrated with photos of their life.
March 25, 2024
Read this on NetGalley as well. I liked the pairing of the short stories with photographs.
March 16, 2024
I received this book from a Goodreads gjveaway. What a great tribute to a life lived her own way.
Great candid photos and stories to go hand n hand
Great candid photos and stories to go hand n hand
May 7, 2025
Cities change. If you’ve ever walked down a street you haven’t visited in years and felt something was missing—some unnamable piece of the past erased by modernity—then you already understand the central ache of It Was Her New York. But what if cities could remember? What if, like people, they grieved their lost selves?
This book is a memoir, but not in the way you expect. It is not just about a mother’s slow decline or a daughter’s struggle to hold onto her past. It is a love letter to a vanishing city. C.O. Moed’s New York is not the tourist’s dream of Broadway lights or gentrified cafés; it is the stubborn, untamed beast of the Lower East Side, full of voices, history, and ghosts that refuse to be silenced.
The Soundtrack of a Changing City
If New York had a sound, what would it be? The screech of the subway? The chatter of neighbors who have lived on the same block for fifty years? Or is it the silence left behind when those voices disappear?
Moed writes with an ear attuned to the rhythm of life—sometimes funny, often heartbreaking. Her mother Florence, a fierce, grammar-loving, no-nonsense woman, is both a character and an anchor, grounding the book in both personal and urban history. The relationship between mother and daughter plays out in sharp dialogue and quiet moments, each carrying the weight of time.
One of the most memorable passages captures Florence’s refusal to get out of bed while still correcting her daughter’s grammar. This scene, humorous yet deeply moving, encapsulates the book’s greatest strength: its ability to find meaning in the smallest interactions.
For Those Who Remember, and Those Who Will Forget
This is not a book for everyone. If you like your memoirs polished, linear, and detached, look elsewhere. It Was Her New York is for those who believe places carry stories, that memory is an act of resistance, and that a city is more than its buildings.
New York will not remember Florence, but Moed does. And in reading her words, so will we.
This book is a memoir, but not in the way you expect. It is not just about a mother’s slow decline or a daughter’s struggle to hold onto her past. It is a love letter to a vanishing city. C.O. Moed’s New York is not the tourist’s dream of Broadway lights or gentrified cafés; it is the stubborn, untamed beast of the Lower East Side, full of voices, history, and ghosts that refuse to be silenced.
The Soundtrack of a Changing City
If New York had a sound, what would it be? The screech of the subway? The chatter of neighbors who have lived on the same block for fifty years? Or is it the silence left behind when those voices disappear?
Moed writes with an ear attuned to the rhythm of life—sometimes funny, often heartbreaking. Her mother Florence, a fierce, grammar-loving, no-nonsense woman, is both a character and an anchor, grounding the book in both personal and urban history. The relationship between mother and daughter plays out in sharp dialogue and quiet moments, each carrying the weight of time.
One of the most memorable passages captures Florence’s refusal to get out of bed while still correcting her daughter’s grammar. This scene, humorous yet deeply moving, encapsulates the book’s greatest strength: its ability to find meaning in the smallest interactions.
For Those Who Remember, and Those Who Will Forget
This is not a book for everyone. If you like your memoirs polished, linear, and detached, look elsewhere. It Was Her New York is for those who believe places carry stories, that memory is an act of resistance, and that a city is more than its buildings.
New York will not remember Florence, but Moed does. And in reading her words, so will we.
February 10, 2025
What an incredible book! I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book quite like this. Part memoir, part essay collection, part photography collection…this was a little bit of everything. It Was Her New York was such an intimate recount about bits of the lives of Claire and her mother Florence. Included throughout the book were pictures taken by Claire that were a perfect addition to help the reader feel really included in the narrative.
I felt the whole time as if I was listening to a friend tell little stories that made me both cry and laugh, that both warmed my heart and broke it. Interwoven into this complicated mother-daughter story were additional anecdotes about the New York she knew growing up and the people that had small yet impactful effects on their lives. This is an incredible gem of a book and I cannot wait to purchase a hard copy of it.
***Thank you NetGally, Rootstock Publishing, and C.O. Moed for an advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.***
I felt the whole time as if I was listening to a friend tell little stories that made me both cry and laugh, that both warmed my heart and broke it. Interwoven into this complicated mother-daughter story were additional anecdotes about the New York she knew growing up and the people that had small yet impactful effects on their lives. This is an incredible gem of a book and I cannot wait to purchase a hard copy of it.
***Thank you NetGally, Rootstock Publishing, and C.O. Moed for an advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.***
April 17, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, for providing me a digital ARC of It Was Her New York.
It Was Her New York is a personal collection of essays about the author's mother, Florence, as she suffers from dementia in New York City.
It centers on losing someone you love and seeing the city you grew up in change through the years. It hurts to read but at the same time it is a captivating retelling of treasured memories and lived experiences.
I found this to be a beautiful account of Florence's life and a city that once was - and in some ways still is. The descriptions of the city were lively, the accompanying pictures gave them an extra depth and made the city come alive. The book gave me a sense of nostalgia for a city that I haven't visited yet and decades I've never lived in. I feel like the book does good justice to Florence as a mother, musician, and person.
However, the writing style was not my favourite. Some passages felt random and out of place, and at times I forgot what the plot was. This did influence my rating, as it was at times difficult to follow the story and piece bits and pieces together. This might just be a personal downside to the book, as other people might be able to enjoy this writing style.
It Was Her New York is a personal collection of essays about the author's mother, Florence, as she suffers from dementia in New York City.
It centers on losing someone you love and seeing the city you grew up in change through the years. It hurts to read but at the same time it is a captivating retelling of treasured memories and lived experiences.
I found this to be a beautiful account of Florence's life and a city that once was - and in some ways still is. The descriptions of the city were lively, the accompanying pictures gave them an extra depth and made the city come alive. The book gave me a sense of nostalgia for a city that I haven't visited yet and decades I've never lived in. I feel like the book does good justice to Florence as a mother, musician, and person.
However, the writing style was not my favourite. Some passages felt random and out of place, and at times I forgot what the plot was. This did influence my rating, as it was at times difficult to follow the story and piece bits and pieces together. This might just be a personal downside to the book, as other people might be able to enjoy this writing style.
June 25, 2024
C O. Moed finds poetry in the mundane, as she brings us along for an often devastating, often funny, always authentic tale of her mom Florence's slow descent into dementia. Juxtaposed with stories about a city that Florence, a concert pianist, called home, streets that she used to strut down, a neighborhood that she knew like the back of her hand, Moed artfully weaves a tapestry of love, loss, family, and home; of a woman who proudly marched her first pride march as an out lesbian in her late fifties; of coming to terms with her mother's inevitable decline, facing the challenges of caring for an elderly parent; and of staying open to the changes happening all around her in a city that is forever in flux. The photos and stories complement each other. Both are evocative, moving, heartbreaking and, at times, riotously funny - sometimes all of the above, all at the same time! I love this book. It looks gorgeous, and I find myself picking it up and just browsing the photos sometimes, only to be sucked into these stories yet again. Read "It Was Her New York", live in it, experience it, fall in love with it, keep it close. It's worth every minute.
April 4, 2024
This was really enjoyable! Short essays, with photos. Gives you a good picture of the city and the lives written about. Well worth reading!
Thank you Libraything.com for the chance to read and review!
Thank you Libraything.com for the chance to read and review!
February 7, 2025
At its heart, It Was Her New York: True Stories & Snapshots by C.O. Moed recounts the author's relationship with her mother, Florence Deutsch Moed—a Juilliard-trained pianist battling the devastating effects of dementia. Set against the backdrop of a disappearing Lower East Side in New York, the book is a deeply personal memoir about a mother's deteriorating mind and body.
The fusion of past and present crafts a compelling narrative that explores both the author’s coming-of-age journey and her mother’s struggle with cognitive decline. Candid photographs capture unposed moments of urban life and complement the text, reflecting the book's dual themes of impermanence and resilience.
Moed's words and images create a powerful depiction of aging, family ties, and the raw truth of caring for a loved one as they decline. For anyone who has witnessed the unraveling of a loved one’s mind, Moed’s memoir resonates deeply.
As she writes, "We are all clutching the remnants of someone as they slip through our fingers and plummet into insanity that only arises when something inside the head starts eating the brain for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
In her own words, Moed shares, "The topics of growing old, love in the pre-Stonewall Gay and Lesbian community, the experiences of my fellow New Yorkers—immigrants, native-born, and from every walk of life—along with the landscape of an ever-changing city are hugely important to me. I chose to showcase these in a combination that feels like a memoir married with a graphic novel."
This rare combination not only brings visibility to diverse and underrepresented communities—particularly older adults—but also honors the men and women who, in pursuit of the American Dream, sustain the heartbeat of the city. Moed's narrative unfolds with humor and unflinching honesty, interspersing sketches from her childhood with the raw realities of caregiving.
Through these vivid recollections, we meet Florence in her prime—a feisty, resourceful woman who would walk a mile to save a nickel and insisted on the proper use of English, instilling both discipline and resilience in her daughter.
These glimpses of Florence’s vivacious spirit add emotional depth, reminding readers of the stark contrast between who she was and who she has become as dementia takes its toll. This starkly poetic truth underscores the heartache of caregiving—a balancing act of love and labor performed even as the person we knew fades into an unrecognizable shadow.
For instance, a trip to the doctor’s office unfolds as an excruciatingly real scene: Florence’s sudden need for the bathroom, the chaotic dash to maintain dignity, and the desperate negotiation to avoid a missed appointment. These moments, though uncomfortable, are steeped in humanity, portraying caregiving as an act of both frustration and fierce devotion.
The descriptions are painfully realistic, written with unflinching honesty and precision, making the experiences and emotions deeply relatable. Readers who have faced similar caregiving roles will find themselves nodding in recognition, while others will gain a profound understanding of the emotional labor involved.
This book appeals to a broad audience: caregivers grappling with the complexities of supporting a loved one, readers drawn to intimate and deeply personal memoirs, and those interested in stories of resilience within diverse and underrepresented communities.
Its exploration of aging, memory, and identity resonates universally. At the same time, its vivid evocation of a disappearing Lower East Side offers a rich, nostalgic portrait of a unique time and place.
Through her vivid storytelling and visual artistry, Moed shines a light on the grit and grace of New York’s disappearing Lower East Side while celebrating the resilience of its people.
Her photography mirrors her narrative themes, showcasing not only the quiet struggles of caregiving but also the vibrant diversity of a city shaped by immigrants, queer communities, and dreamers.
This is more than a memoir; it is an ode to the people, places, and moments that shape us, even as they fade or slip away. Moed’s candid storytelling, evocative photography, and heartfelt vignettes create a timeless tribute to love, memory, and the enduring human spirit.
Follow Here https://tinyurl.com/29n6wp6n To Read Norm's Interview With C.O Moed
The fusion of past and present crafts a compelling narrative that explores both the author’s coming-of-age journey and her mother’s struggle with cognitive decline. Candid photographs capture unposed moments of urban life and complement the text, reflecting the book's dual themes of impermanence and resilience.
Moed's words and images create a powerful depiction of aging, family ties, and the raw truth of caring for a loved one as they decline. For anyone who has witnessed the unraveling of a loved one’s mind, Moed’s memoir resonates deeply.
As she writes, "We are all clutching the remnants of someone as they slip through our fingers and plummet into insanity that only arises when something inside the head starts eating the brain for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
In her own words, Moed shares, "The topics of growing old, love in the pre-Stonewall Gay and Lesbian community, the experiences of my fellow New Yorkers—immigrants, native-born, and from every walk of life—along with the landscape of an ever-changing city are hugely important to me. I chose to showcase these in a combination that feels like a memoir married with a graphic novel."
This rare combination not only brings visibility to diverse and underrepresented communities—particularly older adults—but also honors the men and women who, in pursuit of the American Dream, sustain the heartbeat of the city. Moed's narrative unfolds with humor and unflinching honesty, interspersing sketches from her childhood with the raw realities of caregiving.
Through these vivid recollections, we meet Florence in her prime—a feisty, resourceful woman who would walk a mile to save a nickel and insisted on the proper use of English, instilling both discipline and resilience in her daughter.
These glimpses of Florence’s vivacious spirit add emotional depth, reminding readers of the stark contrast between who she was and who she has become as dementia takes its toll. This starkly poetic truth underscores the heartache of caregiving—a balancing act of love and labor performed even as the person we knew fades into an unrecognizable shadow.
For instance, a trip to the doctor’s office unfolds as an excruciatingly real scene: Florence’s sudden need for the bathroom, the chaotic dash to maintain dignity, and the desperate negotiation to avoid a missed appointment. These moments, though uncomfortable, are steeped in humanity, portraying caregiving as an act of both frustration and fierce devotion.
The descriptions are painfully realistic, written with unflinching honesty and precision, making the experiences and emotions deeply relatable. Readers who have faced similar caregiving roles will find themselves nodding in recognition, while others will gain a profound understanding of the emotional labor involved.
This book appeals to a broad audience: caregivers grappling with the complexities of supporting a loved one, readers drawn to intimate and deeply personal memoirs, and those interested in stories of resilience within diverse and underrepresented communities.
Its exploration of aging, memory, and identity resonates universally. At the same time, its vivid evocation of a disappearing Lower East Side offers a rich, nostalgic portrait of a unique time and place.
Through her vivid storytelling and visual artistry, Moed shines a light on the grit and grace of New York’s disappearing Lower East Side while celebrating the resilience of its people.
Her photography mirrors her narrative themes, showcasing not only the quiet struggles of caregiving but also the vibrant diversity of a city shaped by immigrants, queer communities, and dreamers.
This is more than a memoir; it is an ode to the people, places, and moments that shape us, even as they fade or slip away. Moed’s candid storytelling, evocative photography, and heartfelt vignettes create a timeless tribute to love, memory, and the enduring human spirit.
Follow Here https://tinyurl.com/29n6wp6n To Read Norm's Interview With C.O Moed
March 11, 2024
In It Was Her New York, C.O. Moed offers readers a tapestry of life in New York City, intricately woven through the lens of her relationship with her mother, Florence. This memoir is a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, the complexities of identity, and the ceaseless evolution of a city that never sleeps.
Moed's writing is both poignant and evocative. She blends humor with sorrow and paints a vivid picture of her mother—a spirited musician whose resilience and struggles are deeply moving. The book shines not just in its storytelling but in its ability to capture the essence of New York City. Moed's New York is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing character that influences and shapes the lives of those who call it home.
The book's narrative structure is somewhat unconventional, interspersing memories and anecdotes with cultural and social commentary, along with images. This approach works wonderfully in drawing the reader into the author's world, offering a multifaceted view of her experiences and emotions. Moed's reflections on the impact of Florence's life and death are deeply personal, yet they resonate universally, touching on themes that many can relate to – loss, grief, and the passage of time.
The book's strength is weaving personal tales with broader societal observations. At times, the transitions between personal anecdotes and cultural commentary felt abrupt, leaving me wishing for a smoother narrative flow. Nonetheless, this does not significantly detract from the book's overall impact.
The exploration of Florence's life as a musician and her determination in the face of adversity is particularly compelling. It highlights her character and serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of New Yorkers. In this regard, Moed's portrayal of her mother is not just a personal tribute but a nod to the resilience and complexity of all those who inhabit this ever-changing city.
It Was Her New York is a touching and insightful book that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the joys and tribulations of family relationships, the bittersweet nature of memory, and the profound impact of place on personal identity.
Moed's writing is both poignant and evocative. She blends humor with sorrow and paints a vivid picture of her mother—a spirited musician whose resilience and struggles are deeply moving. The book shines not just in its storytelling but in its ability to capture the essence of New York City. Moed's New York is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing character that influences and shapes the lives of those who call it home.
The book's narrative structure is somewhat unconventional, interspersing memories and anecdotes with cultural and social commentary, along with images. This approach works wonderfully in drawing the reader into the author's world, offering a multifaceted view of her experiences and emotions. Moed's reflections on the impact of Florence's life and death are deeply personal, yet they resonate universally, touching on themes that many can relate to – loss, grief, and the passage of time.
The book's strength is weaving personal tales with broader societal observations. At times, the transitions between personal anecdotes and cultural commentary felt abrupt, leaving me wishing for a smoother narrative flow. Nonetheless, this does not significantly detract from the book's overall impact.
The exploration of Florence's life as a musician and her determination in the face of adversity is particularly compelling. It highlights her character and serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of New Yorkers. In this regard, Moed's portrayal of her mother is not just a personal tribute but a nod to the resilience and complexity of all those who inhabit this ever-changing city.
It Was Her New York is a touching and insightful book that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the joys and tribulations of family relationships, the bittersweet nature of memory, and the profound impact of place on personal identity.
March 10, 2024
This is a powerful and intimate memoir. It’s one which I found difficult to read at times, because I felt rather voyeuristic. Almost as if I was actually looking in on some of the most private and personal moments of a life, But at the same time, it’s absolutely captivating and an incredible tribute to a mother so well loved. It’s difficult to move me to tears whilst reading, but this book brought tears to my eyes more than once. Not only the writing, but the photos. The first colour photo tells a story and makes a dramatic start to the journey, An older lady, slightly dishevelled is sitting by a window with a NY skyline visible. There’s a sense of isolation and loss; I was unaware at this point that this is also a journey into dementia and the lady in question, a Julliard trained pianist, was the subject.
This is unlike any memoir I’ve read. On a tablet, the photos are dramatic and link to the text adding a whole new dimension. This is a story which not only deserves to be told, it needs to be told and I admire Moed’s honesty and bravery. Documenting a life is no mean feat but she’s chosen exactly the right balance in selecting events, memories and photos which form a composite of a remarkable lady. I hope this book is huge success.
This is unlike any memoir I’ve read. On a tablet, the photos are dramatic and link to the text adding a whole new dimension. This is a story which not only deserves to be told, it needs to be told and I admire Moed’s honesty and bravery. Documenting a life is no mean feat but she’s chosen exactly the right balance in selecting events, memories and photos which form a composite of a remarkable lady. I hope this book is huge success.
November 6, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
This isn’t exactly a memoir, or even a biography. The author doesn’t share much of her mother’s life beyond some childhood moments, because her mother’s life isn’t exactly — in my opinion — the point. The book is more about Moed’s struggle to give her mother dignity in her final moments, to fight for the woman who could no longer fight for herself, and to acknowledge how hard it is both to move from a vital, strong-willed person to something and someone more fragile, vulnerable, and lost, and to be a child coming to terms with your parent aging, going from being a protector to being the one in need of protection.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
This isn’t exactly a memoir, or even a biography. The author doesn’t share much of her mother’s life beyond some childhood moments, because her mother’s life isn’t exactly — in my opinion — the point. The book is more about Moed’s struggle to give her mother dignity in her final moments, to fight for the woman who could no longer fight for herself, and to acknowledge how hard it is both to move from a vital, strong-willed person to something and someone more fragile, vulnerable, and lost, and to be a child coming to terms with your parent aging, going from being a protector to being the one in need of protection.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 16, 2024
Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Some of the photos in this collection were amazing and it’s a great documentation of the changing times. The experience of the same streets across time gives a more personal description of gentrification for readers and I personally loved the LGBTQ+ elements, especially Florence’s first pride march and refusing to ride with the other gay seniors as it was her march. However, I found the timelines a bit disjointed and the collection itself jumpy.
Favourite Quote:
"I wanted to take a picture - not because it was so old or exotic-looking, but because I wanted to capture just one last portrait of my childhood before it disappeared into thin air."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Some of the photos in this collection were amazing and it’s a great documentation of the changing times. The experience of the same streets across time gives a more personal description of gentrification for readers and I personally loved the LGBTQ+ elements, especially Florence’s first pride march and refusing to ride with the other gay seniors as it was her march. However, I found the timelines a bit disjointed and the collection itself jumpy.
Favourite Quote:
"I wanted to take a picture - not because it was so old or exotic-looking, but because I wanted to capture just one last portrait of my childhood before it disappeared into thin air."
April 2, 2024
The subtitle says it all: True Stories & Snapshots. The way the photographs and other visual images weave together with the text, makes this book a many layered experience. It is meaningful just to open it to any random spot, and it will take you to another world. The experience is in turn familiar and unfamiliar.
November 25, 2024
Loved this book. Beautifully written, beautiful photos. It truly honors the writer's mother and all working-class women, immigrant stories, pre-gentrified NYC, untold lesbian stories, plus an unvarnished account of what it's really like to manage an elderly person's care, minute to minute, day to day. Impressionistic, poetic, meaningful.
March 7, 2024
This is a stunning and unique narrative and photography. It should be a contender for the Gotham City Book Prize!
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