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Only in New York
New York is a walker's city. You can walk for hours. The streets slip by. There is so much to look at, so much to take in. I walk a lot. Especially when I am not writing . . . Lily Brett's love affair with New York began as an outsider in her late teens when she was posted on assignment there as a young Australian rock journalist. In her early forties she returned, together with her soul mate and three children, to start a new life, and for the best part of three decades she has called New York home. This witty, candid and moving collection of short pieces celebrates the city that's now part of her heartbeat. A compulsive walker, Brett takes us to her favourite places and introduces us to the characters of the city that has nurtured, perplexed and inspired her. She brings to life the delights of Chinatown, the majesty of Grand Central Station, the lure of spandex and sequins in the Garment District, and the peculiarity of canine couture. And she muses on the miracle of love in the Lodz ghetto, the possibility of loneliness amidst skyscrapers, and the joy and redemption in a child's curiosity. Full of wisdom, humour and grace, Only in New York is a human portrait of a city much loved – and of a woman in step with herself. 'Pithy, entertaining and personal . . . the natural, light quality of Brett's writing is a pleasure akin to a conversation with a friend . . . Brett leavens her observations with dry humour.' Weekend Australian 'New York is a city of character and characters and anyone thinking of visiting should use this as a guide to its flavour - and also as an insight into where to eat.' Herald Sun 'Charm[ing] . . . Her snippets are short and sharp as they portray the essence of New York.' West Australian 'A charming and unique narrative on the city. [Brett] achieves a perfect combination of wit and naivety, creating a memoir that acknowledges the existence of good and bad experiences, awkward quirks and love affairs with buildings . . . Brett's words have the ability to transport you to the city from the comfort of your own back you may even find it unnecessary to fly to New York after reading [it]. Readings
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 31, 2016
To begin with, Lily Brett is one of my favourite authors so when I saw this book of reflections on her 30 year love affair with living in New York, I was so excited. And I certainly was not disappointed. I have visited New York several times, so I guess part of the charm was having a general knowledge of some of the places she described. This book is like having a best friend who lives in New York tell you amusing anecdotes of their special haunts. An added bonus was her description of her writing process especially the long gestation period before Lola Bensky was written. I intend to use her restaurant and food hall recommendations if I am ever in New York again. If you are pressed for time, this relatively short book ( only 214 pages) is the perfect book to keep in your bag. Each ' story' or commentary is no longer than 5 pages. There are 42 reminiscences on subjects as diverse as why New Yorkers now love the Australian flat white coffee; using a bike in NY; her mother's glasses; Grand Central Station and Jewish Feng Shui. I also enjoy hearing her stories about her 98 year old father who migrated from Melbourne in his late eighties to be closer to his only child. I will reread so many of these charming stories again soon as they are full of charm, pathos and such wonderful humour.
March 20, 2015
Did you know this about the Big Apple = It can cost over $289,000 for a one-year hot dog stand permit in Central Park. The city of New York will pay for a one-way plane ticket for any homeless person if they have a guaranteed place to stay. On Nov. 28, 2012, not a single murder, shooting, stabbing, or other incident of violent crime in NYC was reported for an entire day. The first time in basically ever. It takes 75,000 trees to print a Sunday edition of the New York Times. There is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes. There is a death in New York City every 9.1 minutes. There’s a man who mines sidewalk cracks for gold. He can make over $600 a week. Women may go topless in public, providing it is not being used as a business. Albert Einstein’s eyeballs are stored in a safe deposit box in the city.
In 'Only in New York', Australian ex-pat Lily Brett provides some more interesting facts about the city these days she calls home. For instance she reports there is another Aussie, the for us ubiquitous flat white, that is now all the rage in Brett's metropolis, There are Down Under themed coffee hangouts, such as 'Flinders Lane' and 'Little Collins', introducing New Yorkers to Melbourne coffee culture. Did you know that '...everyone who shops in New York is called a guest.' causing our Lily to question 'When did we stop being customers? And when did we metamorphose into guests?' And incredibly, in the Big Apple, there are people actually hiring themselves out to cash in on another '...new phenomena sweeping through New York.' These souls have transformed themselves into space cleaners who '...clear and scrub homes and offices psychically. Not physically, psychically...Space cleaners cleanse your home of undermining and enervating energy, bad vibrations and negative spirits.' This can be even done remotely by said space cleaner – he/she doesn't have to visit. This is much cheaper than the thousand green ones required up front for their presence in your actual abode or work space to put matters right.
All of the above says something about that particular city, as well as its shakers and movers. If the latter two trends catch on here then I feel we'd all better sit down and take a long hard look at ourselves. So the book is not a hagiography, but even so it does make living in this megalopolis seem pretty cool – especially now the murder rate seems to be markedly diminishing. Did it make this reader want to hop on the next Q-Bird and head for JFK International? Well no. To really get into a city requires being able to do something like our author who, because she lives there, can immerse herself in it. With the tourist weeks available to most of us one could only scratch the surface. Despite the amount of time I've spent in out closest big smoke, Yarra City, I still don't feel as I really know even that enchanting destination.
But no matter, we have Lily Brett. She regales us with tales of her neighbourhood in a series of vignettes – most of them fascinating, all very readable. She has a selection of in places to tempt us to visit through her erudite descriptions, so she is obviously in the know – and they'd be as far off the tourist radar as you could get, I'd imagine.
Back in the sixties LB was the epitome of the chic rock chick about town – writing for 'Go-Set' magazine. For those of us of the age who can remember, to be 'with it' one had to read that publication from cover to cover. Then she headed overseas to continue to ply her trade interviewing all the greats when rock was in its pomp. She is also the daughter of Holocaust survivors, her attitude to her Jewishness being a constant theme in her tomes. Her nonagenarian dad is still around and still quite the ladies man, living near to the wordsmith's SoHo home. He's partial to pastrami from Katz's Deli on East Houston, she and hubby love the family atmosphere of Hiroko's Place, a restaurant on Thompson and a throwback to another era. Its about these sort of New York establishments that our guide writes so enticingly. They'd be the types of places I'd love to visit, if the opportunity ever arose.
However the most startling of Lily's revelations had nothing to do with her city of choice, but my own island. Turns out she is allergic to us. It's the world's cleanest air and our eucalypts you see. She took one breath of our '… fresh, crisp, unpolluted air and started coughing and wheezing.' She couldn't step out on any Tasmanian Street without her nose and eyes running – although neither the carbon monoxide fumes of NYC nor the noxious smog of Beijing have ever presented her with a respiratory issue. And as she simply abhors trees, I doubt if we'll ever see her again for a book launch in this neck of the woods – good pun there, what!
'Only in New York' was a true page-turner for me – and even if I cannot see myself ever getting there, I enjoyed visiting vicariously.
And now, here's some more interesting snippets about the city on the Hudson = About 1 in every 38 people living in the United States resides in New York City. It is a misdemeanour to fart in NYC churches. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in 1895. In 1857, toilet paper was invented by Joseph C. Gayetty in NYC. Up until World War II, everyone in the entire city who was moving apartments had to move on May 1. There are tiny shrimp called copepods in NYC's drinking water. There’s a wind tunnel near the Flat Iron Building that can raise women’s skirts. Men used to gather outside of it to watch.
In 'Only in New York', Australian ex-pat Lily Brett provides some more interesting facts about the city these days she calls home. For instance she reports there is another Aussie, the for us ubiquitous flat white, that is now all the rage in Brett's metropolis, There are Down Under themed coffee hangouts, such as 'Flinders Lane' and 'Little Collins', introducing New Yorkers to Melbourne coffee culture. Did you know that '...everyone who shops in New York is called a guest.' causing our Lily to question 'When did we stop being customers? And when did we metamorphose into guests?' And incredibly, in the Big Apple, there are people actually hiring themselves out to cash in on another '...new phenomena sweeping through New York.' These souls have transformed themselves into space cleaners who '...clear and scrub homes and offices psychically. Not physically, psychically...Space cleaners cleanse your home of undermining and enervating energy, bad vibrations and negative spirits.' This can be even done remotely by said space cleaner – he/she doesn't have to visit. This is much cheaper than the thousand green ones required up front for their presence in your actual abode or work space to put matters right.
All of the above says something about that particular city, as well as its shakers and movers. If the latter two trends catch on here then I feel we'd all better sit down and take a long hard look at ourselves. So the book is not a hagiography, but even so it does make living in this megalopolis seem pretty cool – especially now the murder rate seems to be markedly diminishing. Did it make this reader want to hop on the next Q-Bird and head for JFK International? Well no. To really get into a city requires being able to do something like our author who, because she lives there, can immerse herself in it. With the tourist weeks available to most of us one could only scratch the surface. Despite the amount of time I've spent in out closest big smoke, Yarra City, I still don't feel as I really know even that enchanting destination.
But no matter, we have Lily Brett. She regales us with tales of her neighbourhood in a series of vignettes – most of them fascinating, all very readable. She has a selection of in places to tempt us to visit through her erudite descriptions, so she is obviously in the know – and they'd be as far off the tourist radar as you could get, I'd imagine.
Back in the sixties LB was the epitome of the chic rock chick about town – writing for 'Go-Set' magazine. For those of us of the age who can remember, to be 'with it' one had to read that publication from cover to cover. Then she headed overseas to continue to ply her trade interviewing all the greats when rock was in its pomp. She is also the daughter of Holocaust survivors, her attitude to her Jewishness being a constant theme in her tomes. Her nonagenarian dad is still around and still quite the ladies man, living near to the wordsmith's SoHo home. He's partial to pastrami from Katz's Deli on East Houston, she and hubby love the family atmosphere of Hiroko's Place, a restaurant on Thompson and a throwback to another era. Its about these sort of New York establishments that our guide writes so enticingly. They'd be the types of places I'd love to visit, if the opportunity ever arose.
However the most startling of Lily's revelations had nothing to do with her city of choice, but my own island. Turns out she is allergic to us. It's the world's cleanest air and our eucalypts you see. She took one breath of our '… fresh, crisp, unpolluted air and started coughing and wheezing.' She couldn't step out on any Tasmanian Street without her nose and eyes running – although neither the carbon monoxide fumes of NYC nor the noxious smog of Beijing have ever presented her with a respiratory issue. And as she simply abhors trees, I doubt if we'll ever see her again for a book launch in this neck of the woods – good pun there, what!
'Only in New York' was a true page-turner for me – and even if I cannot see myself ever getting there, I enjoyed visiting vicariously.
And now, here's some more interesting snippets about the city on the Hudson = About 1 in every 38 people living in the United States resides in New York City. It is a misdemeanour to fart in NYC churches. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in 1895. In 1857, toilet paper was invented by Joseph C. Gayetty in NYC. Up until World War II, everyone in the entire city who was moving apartments had to move on May 1. There are tiny shrimp called copepods in NYC's drinking water. There’s a wind tunnel near the Flat Iron Building that can raise women’s skirts. Men used to gather outside of it to watch.
September 17, 2022
This book is a collection of vignettes, reflections of her life, some are very humorously written while others not so much. Lily Brett often repeats her statements; ergo, as another reader else noted, there are only so many times in a book in which you can tell us that your father is Jewish and that you are jewish and because of that you … [insert another repetitive observation here]. I preferred her more book titled ‘Old Seems to be Other People’. This one is very similar. I may prefer the other one because I read it first but she seems to recycle themes explored in previous vignettes.
In summary, this is an adequate book; I laughed a few times but I expected a bit more.
In summary, this is an adequate book; I laughed a few times but I expected a bit more.
January 31, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was not bad. I appreciate the style and content and my goodness there were some expert moments (peek the chapter on synagogues). However, I do not think appreciation is akin to enjoyment in this case.
I mean this with no ill intent and I understand Brett is understanding of the sort of character (of herself) whose perspective she writes from. Unfortunately, I find her quite unlikeable. It had a Woody Allen vibe which I don’t think is my target audience. Again - not bad, just a bit too much to ‘enjoy’.
Sections of this I found interesting and even enticing. The rest was just mediocre to me.
This was not bad. I appreciate the style and content and my goodness there were some expert moments (peek the chapter on synagogues). However, I do not think appreciation is akin to enjoyment in this case.
I mean this with no ill intent and I understand Brett is understanding of the sort of character (of herself) whose perspective she writes from. Unfortunately, I find her quite unlikeable. It had a Woody Allen vibe which I don’t think is my target audience. Again - not bad, just a bit too much to ‘enjoy’.
Sections of this I found interesting and even enticing. The rest was just mediocre to me.
February 12, 2020
I just realised I put my review on the German version of the book. Whoops! I’m repeating it here.
I enjoyed reading these short stories on New York.
Brett looks at life in New York from the perspective of an Australian who has been living in Manhattan for many years. Many of these are funny pieces, a form of people watching and describing from her perspective what goes on in New York. Her observations on all kinds of things are incisive. She visits the youth culture, fear of getting fat, life lived in a co-op, parenting, matchmaking, going to the Hamptons, etc.
These are entertaining, albeit brief pieces. You can tell that Brett loves New York, seeing it as being very much alive and impacting greatly on the lives of its inhabitants
I enjoyed reading these short stories on New York.
Brett looks at life in New York from the perspective of an Australian who has been living in Manhattan for many years. Many of these are funny pieces, a form of people watching and describing from her perspective what goes on in New York. Her observations on all kinds of things are incisive. She visits the youth culture, fear of getting fat, life lived in a co-op, parenting, matchmaking, going to the Hamptons, etc.
These are entertaining, albeit brief pieces. You can tell that Brett loves New York, seeing it as being very much alive and impacting greatly on the lives of its inhabitants
August 29, 2021
actually a 2.75 but ok
the german translation probably wasn't that good
the german translation probably wasn't that good
December 28, 2014
This is a very gentle and insightful series of word sketches that bring together people, places and events past and present. The warmth and humour of the sketches is very affirming: despite some shocking episodes in the past the positive aspects of humanity shine through the word pictures of New York and Melbourne.
December 8, 2015
I love this book. Where has this author been all my life? So much more than just stories about New York. Reading this book made me look for "Too Many Men"
September 15, 2024
I am proud that I can navigate my way from the subway exit at Grand Central to the main concourse. It is not a complex navigation, but navigation of anything other than an argument is not what I am good at.
///
“Lilitchka is a writer”, Galina said proudly. “She knows a lot of things.”
“I read this in the New York Times yesterday,” I said. "The article also quoted the director of a fat dog weight-loss ranch advising dog owners to reward their dogs with carrots, broccoli or green beans instead of ice-cream.”
"Did you hear that, Franklin?” the woman said to her dog. Of course Franklin didn't hear that, I thought. Franklin was still fast asleep. Even wide awake, Franklin didn't look like the sort of dog who spoke English or had a large vocabulary.
///
I don't know that much about crocodiles. I do know they are very sensitive to cold and that they have acute hearing. I had read that female crocodiles could hear their babies calling from inside the eggshell. Crocodiles can lay anything from seven to ninety-five eggs. That's a lot of babies to listen out for.
///
Murders in New York have dropped to their lowest level in forty years. “The essence of civilisation is that you can walk down the street without looking over your shoulder,” Mayor Bloomberg said.
I remember trying to look discreetly in the reflection of store windows to see if I was being followed. “Yes, I'm still there,” one of the shadier people following me called out one day. I was definitely scared.
But living in that rougher, tougher New York made me feel quite brave. And adventurous. I still love the city. It's one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and one of the most cultured and one of the most exciting. However, it is not as unpredictable as it used to be. And I don't feel quite as tough.
///
New York tap water is very, very good but it is not that good.
///
I am not sure why the cemetery points out its organised crime figures or its lack of law-enforcement officers. Anyway, it all looks pretty orderly now.
It also looks much more homely than it does from the bus.
And it looks less crowded, even though there are three million people buried there. The atmosphere is peaceful. It looks as though neighbours are no longer arguing with each other and relatives who were feuding seem subdued.
There is an air of maturity and serenity. None of the buried residents are drinking too much or swallowing too many prescription pills. No one is worrying about money. Or their hair. Or children. No one is planning to diet. There is no tension.
I have to remind myself that there is also no life.
///
As soon as I sat down on the blanket, I felt happy. I loved being surrounded by families. To me, it always felt like a party.
It took away some of the loneliness of growing up with dead grandparents, dead aunts, and dead uncles. It took away the loneliness of growing up with cousins who would never be born.
[…]
Years later, I realised how close we were to the water. And what a lot of water there was. We were at the seaside. There was water everywhere. Somehow, it didn't feel strange that it hadn't occurred to any one of us to go into the water or even think about swimming. We were there, on our blankets, under the trees in the middle of the dry scrub. We were there for the relief from the heat and for a small respite from the fear.
—-
Enjoyed this approach towards an autobiography, as it interlaces the city and its quirks into her own life and her quirks. Also thoroughly enjoyed the ‘A bike in the city’ chapter.
///
“Lilitchka is a writer”, Galina said proudly. “She knows a lot of things.”
“I read this in the New York Times yesterday,” I said. "The article also quoted the director of a fat dog weight-loss ranch advising dog owners to reward their dogs with carrots, broccoli or green beans instead of ice-cream.”
"Did you hear that, Franklin?” the woman said to her dog. Of course Franklin didn't hear that, I thought. Franklin was still fast asleep. Even wide awake, Franklin didn't look like the sort of dog who spoke English or had a large vocabulary.
///
I don't know that much about crocodiles. I do know they are very sensitive to cold and that they have acute hearing. I had read that female crocodiles could hear their babies calling from inside the eggshell. Crocodiles can lay anything from seven to ninety-five eggs. That's a lot of babies to listen out for.
///
Murders in New York have dropped to their lowest level in forty years. “The essence of civilisation is that you can walk down the street without looking over your shoulder,” Mayor Bloomberg said.
I remember trying to look discreetly in the reflection of store windows to see if I was being followed. “Yes, I'm still there,” one of the shadier people following me called out one day. I was definitely scared.
But living in that rougher, tougher New York made me feel quite brave. And adventurous. I still love the city. It's one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and one of the most cultured and one of the most exciting. However, it is not as unpredictable as it used to be. And I don't feel quite as tough.
///
New York tap water is very, very good but it is not that good.
///
I am not sure why the cemetery points out its organised crime figures or its lack of law-enforcement officers. Anyway, it all looks pretty orderly now.
It also looks much more homely than it does from the bus.
And it looks less crowded, even though there are three million people buried there. The atmosphere is peaceful. It looks as though neighbours are no longer arguing with each other and relatives who were feuding seem subdued.
There is an air of maturity and serenity. None of the buried residents are drinking too much or swallowing too many prescription pills. No one is worrying about money. Or their hair. Or children. No one is planning to diet. There is no tension.
I have to remind myself that there is also no life.
///
As soon as I sat down on the blanket, I felt happy. I loved being surrounded by families. To me, it always felt like a party.
It took away some of the loneliness of growing up with dead grandparents, dead aunts, and dead uncles. It took away the loneliness of growing up with cousins who would never be born.
[…]
Years later, I realised how close we were to the water. And what a lot of water there was. We were at the seaside. There was water everywhere. Somehow, it didn't feel strange that it hadn't occurred to any one of us to go into the water or even think about swimming. We were there, on our blankets, under the trees in the middle of the dry scrub. We were there for the relief from the heat and for a small respite from the fear.
—-
Enjoyed this approach towards an autobiography, as it interlaces the city and its quirks into her own life and her quirks. Also thoroughly enjoyed the ‘A bike in the city’ chapter.
February 20, 2022
Now I’m a pretty generous 5 starer so this really isn’t saying much but I seriously LOVED this book. I was reading this book and then switched to another for awhile and it was TERRIBLE so I switched back and finished it within two days. It is hilarious and interesting and I seriously think everyone should write autobiography’s in short stories. I recommend this book to every living human and am reading “old seems to be other people” next. Thank you lily Brett.
July 17, 2025
Ich hatte mir das Buch vollkommen anders vorgestellt.
Ich hatte mich darauf gefreut, dass man nach New York versetzt wird, stadtdessen hat es sich hier um viele kleinere Geschichten und Erlebnisse der Autorin gehandelt in denen sie sich immer und immer wieder wiederholt z.B. das Sie Jüdin ist und der Großteil ihrer Verwandtschaft in Auschwitz gestorben ist.
Außerdem schreibt sie am laufenden Band über Ihr Buch "Lola Bensky" also würde Sie Werbung dafür machen... 🙄
Ich hatte mich darauf gefreut, dass man nach New York versetzt wird, stadtdessen hat es sich hier um viele kleinere Geschichten und Erlebnisse der Autorin gehandelt in denen sie sich immer und immer wieder wiederholt z.B. das Sie Jüdin ist und der Großteil ihrer Verwandtschaft in Auschwitz gestorben ist.
Außerdem schreibt sie am laufenden Band über Ihr Buch "Lola Bensky" also würde Sie Werbung dafür machen... 🙄
November 13, 2018
When I realised this book was short stories, I was disappointed as I'm not a fan. These however were just snippets of Lily's daily life as she walked and cooked and worried in her adopted city of New York.
Her insights are witty, self depracating and poignant which made an entertaining and surprising little book.
Her insights are witty, self depracating and poignant which made an entertaining and surprising little book.
April 9, 2023
This book is like the perfect little summary of the essence of New York. It is 200 pages of pure New York immersion.
Less a novel and more general musings and obversations of living in this big city, I enjoyed every experience from begininng to end.
If you love New York and other peoples perspective on life, I think you will enjoy this.
Less a novel and more general musings and obversations of living in this big city, I enjoyed every experience from begininng to end.
If you love New York and other peoples perspective on life, I think you will enjoy this.
July 15, 2023
I love Lily Brett's writing and I loved this book of short, random stories (for want of a better word - they are more thought pieces or observations). Brett, originally from Melbourne Australia, has the advantage of being an outsider in NYC, and so her observations are all the more interesting for another outsider (like me) to read. She is witty and cheerful.
March 1, 2024
A collection of short vignettes in which Australian author Lily Brett reflects on life in New York City.
This was a re-read for me after the book came back into my possession after many years. I couldn’t remember much of it until I started reading. It was an interesting and enjoyable read.
This was a re-read for me after the book came back into my possession after many years. I couldn’t remember much of it until I started reading. It was an interesting and enjoyable read.
February 4, 2018
I'm glad I gave the books of Lily Brett a second chance after being so very much disappointed by her collection "New York", because this one was entertaining and really well written.
March 25, 2018
War ganz unterhaltsam, obwohl ich glaube ich Genus-technisch die falsche Zielgruppe war.
June 22, 2021
Lily Brett is always a joy to read. Easy to pick up and put down; the chatter flows. Love her insights on New York City as she walks the city.
January 18, 2022
It's actually 3.5 for me. I'd love to read her other books now.
January 26, 2022
3.5 stars
May 27, 2023
I want to see the New York that Lily Brett sees
November 5, 2023
It's a nice introduction to life in NYC, but there is no real storyline. It's just one experience after another and these are not really catchy.
October 30, 2025
A Journal of sorts but I liked her musings
December 13, 2015
I have always had a fantasy, only heightened in April of last year, that one day I would live in New York. When I was finally able to visit the city of all cities I fell in love. With it's parks, its bullshit, it's convenient street food, its pulled pork sandwiches, it's no nonsense people 'I like your hat, I don't like you hat no more.' All of it brilliant I could have spent 10 days instead of 5. I can totally see myself in a small apartment in Brooklyn, finding a local dinner or market, a favourite second hand bookstore and visiting Manhattan on the weekend. I would get used to filter coffee for it.
Reading 'Only in New York' only made me look at flights to the USA, and made me forget the horrific 16 hour flight we endured the first time round. But descriptions of quirky streets, venders, markets made me want to of back there. New York has always been extraordinary.
Like any series or vignettes, 'Only in New York is hit of miss. I think I enjoyed it for its setting than the narrative a lot of the time. The writing could be a little precious at times. But I will watch and read anything that is set in New York. I will watch CSI NY even with it's trite dialogue and sense that no one in New York ever tidies up after themselves only because it is set in New York. But even though a little precious I enjoyed hanging out with this slightly neurotic (I think it is a requirement of living in the big apple) women as she interacted with a city she oblivious adores.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of Melbourne, my second favourite city and stomping ground, The trundling train and Nicolson Street seemed to tie into the New York theme perfectly, because they are both cities of a diverse people.
Reading 'Only in New York' only made me look at flights to the USA, and made me forget the horrific 16 hour flight we endured the first time round. But descriptions of quirky streets, venders, markets made me want to of back there. New York has always been extraordinary.
Like any series or vignettes, 'Only in New York is hit of miss. I think I enjoyed it for its setting than the narrative a lot of the time. The writing could be a little precious at times. But I will watch and read anything that is set in New York. I will watch CSI NY even with it's trite dialogue and sense that no one in New York ever tidies up after themselves only because it is set in New York. But even though a little precious I enjoyed hanging out with this slightly neurotic (I think it is a requirement of living in the big apple) women as she interacted with a city she oblivious adores.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of Melbourne, my second favourite city and stomping ground, The trundling train and Nicolson Street seemed to tie into the New York theme perfectly, because they are both cities of a diverse people.
February 21, 2017
I love this charming book. It is as if I was having a coffee or walking with Ms Brett on a New York day in fall.
November 20, 2014
A few years ago, I went to a session at the Wheeler Centre where Lily Brett was reading from her book Lola Bensky. She was wonderful – funny, clever, entertaining – and every since then I have had a massive girl crush on Lily Brett. I downloaded her latest, Only in New York, as soon as I found out about its existence but waited until last week to read it. The anticipation of the pleasure it was going to bring me was almost as pleasurable as reading the book itself…but not quite!
In Only in New York, Brett shares a series of vignettes about her life in New York: the walks she takes, the people she meets and the places she visits and loves. In the process, Brett skillfully weaves in the New York of the past, the Melbourne of her childhood and the Poland of her Jewish parents. She discusses issue of great tragedy and great humour, often in the same vignette, and through her featherlight touch the Holocaust is given a her own individual perspective as one of the first babies born to not one but two Holocaust survivors.
This description makes the book sound sad but it is in fact very funny; her wry observations identify the basic humour of humanity and the particular humanity of the type of events that happen only in New York.
She mentioned the book reading I went to in her book, which I think means we are now best friends. Only in New York is a lovely book, four stars.
In Only in New York, Brett shares a series of vignettes about her life in New York: the walks she takes, the people she meets and the places she visits and loves. In the process, Brett skillfully weaves in the New York of the past, the Melbourne of her childhood and the Poland of her Jewish parents. She discusses issue of great tragedy and great humour, often in the same vignette, and through her featherlight touch the Holocaust is given a her own individual perspective as one of the first babies born to not one but two Holocaust survivors.
This description makes the book sound sad but it is in fact very funny; her wry observations identify the basic humour of humanity and the particular humanity of the type of events that happen only in New York.
She mentioned the book reading I went to in her book, which I think means we are now best friends. Only in New York is a lovely book, four stars.
February 16, 2015
This book was charming, funny and heart-warming. It's a cute collection of short chapters about really very random things, like pens and walking, which overall tied together to form a larger story about a fascinating city and its people, as well as the author herself.
It almost felt like there wasn't a point to the book; not a beginning-middle-end type book. But this is not a complaint - I actually found it refreshing and relaxing. It's a book with no pressure. I also liked how the chapters were quite short and how she would start the chapter talking about something really random and tie it into something deeper or more serious. Very clever.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because at some points I found the writing a bit disjointed and abrupt. Ironically though the author came across as quite neurotic and there were times when I found myself thinking "why are you telling me this? It doesn't contribute to the story you are telling!"
But overall I enjoyed it. I love New York and I am similar to the author in that I love to wander and see new sights, so it was great to see New York from the perspective of an Australian who has lived there for so long. She gives a very personal and unique view of New York; I would recommend!
It almost felt like there wasn't a point to the book; not a beginning-middle-end type book. But this is not a complaint - I actually found it refreshing and relaxing. It's a book with no pressure. I also liked how the chapters were quite short and how she would start the chapter talking about something really random and tie it into something deeper or more serious. Very clever.
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because at some points I found the writing a bit disjointed and abrupt. Ironically though the author came across as quite neurotic and there were times when I found myself thinking "why are you telling me this? It doesn't contribute to the story you are telling!"
But overall I enjoyed it. I love New York and I am similar to the author in that I love to wander and see new sights, so it was great to see New York from the perspective of an Australian who has lived there for so long. She gives a very personal and unique view of New York; I would recommend!
November 20, 2014
*posted on SydneyGen Reads .com
This witty, clever book was a change of pace for me. It was a delightful read. I enjoyed reading about the insight into one woman’s relationship with a city she calls home.
Her short, sharp ‘scenes’ transport you throughout New York and make you want toOnlyinNYQuote write a list of ‘places that the locals go’ next time you visit. From places she loves to walk, restaurants she loves to frequent, to a brief encounters with someone she is ‘sure she knows’, Lily Brett creates refreshing and fun storylines that lends itself to remind us that human contact has been lost in our world of technology, but really is just a phone call away. There is no ‘beginning’ and there is no ‘end’, but there is a wonderful amount of stories told ‘in between’.
This witty, clever book was a change of pace for me. It was a delightful read. I enjoyed reading about the insight into one woman’s relationship with a city she calls home.
Her short, sharp ‘scenes’ transport you throughout New York and make you want toOnlyinNYQuote write a list of ‘places that the locals go’ next time you visit. From places she loves to walk, restaurants she loves to frequent, to a brief encounters with someone she is ‘sure she knows’, Lily Brett creates refreshing and fun storylines that lends itself to remind us that human contact has been lost in our world of technology, but really is just a phone call away. There is no ‘beginning’ and there is no ‘end’, but there is a wonderful amount of stories told ‘in between’.
May 4, 2021
I’m pretty sure I bought this book because it had New York in the title and I really like New York. The book is supposed to be about the author and her life in the city. Which I suppose it was but what I wanted was to be transported back to the dirty and bustling streets of New York. What I got was sentences that went on and just felt like fillers.
She repeatedly tells us that she has lived in New York for 25 years, is terrible with directions and that her parents were survivors of Nazi Germany. I enjoyed her writings about how her parents were violently anti-religious due to the horrors they witnessed - I just didn’t need to hear it repeated 98 times. She also made her Dad sound a little pervy and seemed to find it amusing. I did not love this book.
She repeatedly tells us that she has lived in New York for 25 years, is terrible with directions and that her parents were survivors of Nazi Germany. I enjoyed her writings about how her parents were violently anti-religious due to the horrors they witnessed - I just didn’t need to hear it repeated 98 times. She also made her Dad sound a little pervy and seemed to find it amusing. I did not love this book.
April 20, 2015
i've had my difficulties with lily brett in the past. i've read some of her non-fiction books, her essays and while there were moments of truth that i loved, that made me laugh, that proved her talent, a lot of times she only got on my nerves with her personality. but this new book. it's good. really good. she has grown as a person, a woman. she is aware of her flaws and she can laugh about them or at least honestly acknowledge them. i like that. it makes me come to peace with my own flaws and the mistakes i make. she's human. i'm human. we're human. these new york episodes get to the core of that.
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