A Restoration Comedy: On a Street Called Easy, in a Cottage Called Joye

by Gregory White Smith, Steven Naifeh

When Gregory White Smith and Steven Naifeh stumbled on Joye Cottage, it was love at first sight. They'd just finished their Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Jackson Pollack, and were fed up with apartment life in New York City. What better means of escape could there be than the Xanadu-like pleasure palace built by robber baron William C. Whitney a century before? The asking price was a bit steep, of course, and the leaks, the falling plaster, the non-existent heating and air conditioning, and the nineteenth-century plumbing were a bit daunting. But Smith and Naifeh were hooked - and nothing would stop them.

In writing of their three-year struggle to transform their "handyman special from hell" into a home while at the same time adjusting to the small-town rhythms of Aiken, South Carolina, they bring to life an unforgettable cast of characters - the neighbors, craftsmen, merchants, and friends who helped turn a town into a hometown. . . and a dream into a reality.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Humor, Biography, Southern

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Gregory White Smith was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer of both Jackson Pollock and Vincent van Gogh. In addition to writing 18 books with Steven Naifeh, Smith was an accomplished musician, historic preservationist, art collector, philanthropist, attorney, and businessman who founded several companies including Best Lawyers® that spawned an entire industry of professional rankings.
Wikipedia

Reviews

[Ali C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished this because it’s about a house in the town I currently live in. There wasn’t as much history as I hoped. In fact, most of the book was stories/gossip that ridiculed the blue collar workers that the authors hired to help them renovate the house. They poke fun at the stupidity of these workers, while failing to truly acknowledge their own lack of wisdom in who they chose to hire. They clearly bit off way more than they could chew on this project and the book details countless decisions the authors made during renovations that don’t make any sense, such as agreeing to host a ball when they know their home is nowhere near being renovated. Lots of underhanded comments about the south, Aiken, & anyone who wasn’t extremely wealthy or directly connected to the Whitney family. Was not the book I was hoping for.

[Mary Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. I first heard of it at the Van Gogh exhibit in Columbia, South Carolina, which came from Joye. I plan to read the biographies of Pollock and Van Gogh written by Smith and his husband. Would love to have a chance to visit Joye Cottage in Aiken.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

House restoration in South Carolina. Been there, done that, but in Charleston and in a 20 room Queen Ann Victorian, not a 60 room mansion built by a robber baron. Still, fun to see Aiken again, from the coziness of my own living room.

At least two people have recommended this book to me, plus I heard the authors on an interview once.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book in a book store while on vacation several years ago and just plain enjoyed it. Two Pulitzer Prize wining authors are tired of living in the big city and move to a small community in the South. They purchase a cottage (called Joy) and set about trying to restore it into a place to live. Their experiences with the renovation and the neighbors and contractors they deal with are hilarious. As I am also a transplant to the South this book resonated with many of my own humorous adjustments to the differences in culture and language. It is a very enjoyable read!

[ejs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book about renovating a mansion! Steven and Greg, from NY, look high and low for a mansion (affordable) to renovate. They find it in Aiken, SC, proceed to find a way for it to be affordable, hire and fire workers, and eventually have their dream! Great fun along the way! "Mr. Johnson's accent, a product of deepest darkest Tennessee, was absolutely impenetrable. Understanding it was not unlike watching one of those murkily miked, ponderously, accented British films of the forties. you had to clear our mind of all distractions and stare intently at her lips The rest was extrapolation:..." Fun fun writing!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beloved read - even for the second time! The authors combine cleaver vocabulary and analogies from favorite movies/books with real-life, practical experiences of renovating a 100-year-old mansion. The reader can actually 'see' the house as the author cleverly weaves his descriptions of workers, neighbors, and friends during the reconstruction of a former owner's prized estate. A must-read for anyone with a passion for making the old 'new' again!

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful non-fiction, account of the ultimate fixer upper. Joye Cottage is a wonderful old mansion in Aiken, South Carolina. Because once in my jaded past (some 10 years before the tale in the book), I lived next door to Joye Cottage, I grabbed the book. But I cringe when I think if I hadn't lived there, I might not have even found this great story. It's like the most clever, long, happy letter from a dear friend.

[Georgetowner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely delightful and remarkably well written memoir of buying and refurbishing a large, dilapidated mansion. Boy, can these men write! No wonder they won the Pulitzer for their previous book. The book is fun and funny, and anyone who has been involved in a refurbishment project will completely relate. It took me too long to read this because of my own schedule; I so wanted to curl in a corner and wile away a day reading this delightful gem, but never had that luxury.

[Laurel Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read - about how two authors buy a run down mansion in South Carolina and fix it up. The history was interesting - so much so, that I googled the cottage to see what it actually looks like and to read a bit more about the previous owners. It was also cute - not laugh out loud funny - but cute enough for a quiet guffaw. It was well done.

[Ashley Gebb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this to read while we renovate our bathroom. He is an entertaining writer and I liked the history and humor, as well as the architectural nuance. I just wish there had been a little more personal details - I know nothing of their relationship- and perhaps some photos of Joye Cottage!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun true-life story of two New Yorkers who purchased a 60 room dilapidated mansion in Aiken and their renovation stories. Interesting characters throughout. Makes me want to go read more of the history of Aiken!

[BookBully · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 for this charming tale of a daunting renovation. I grew up - and now live - two blocks from Joye Cottage. What the two authors have accomplished is nothing short of magnificent. I’m not only referring to the mansion but to their literary gifts as well.

[Marguerite · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun read, full of colorful characters. I wonder if I would have found it so enjoyable if I was not familiar with Aiken SC. I am always glad to hear about buildings being saved rather than razed.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Glad I stumbled across it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and light! A fun glimpse into Aiken culture, history, and humor.

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of humor and history this delightful book is an account of the partial renovation of Joye Cottage in Aiken, South Carolina. Well worth the read.

[Marge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful rendition of restoring a rundown mansion in Aiken to its former glory

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

America version of A Year in Provence!
Excellent!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! If you love older houses, diy projects, history, southern culture and dreaming this is a book for you.

[Terry Solfest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this "renovation comedy"! Recently moved to the South from the North so it was very relatable. Enjoyed the historical elements.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Reminded me of "Merry Hall" across the pond.

[Ellen Woodoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun, an easy and entertaining read. Much shorter than the authors' books on Jackson Pollack and Vincent Van Gogh, both excellent.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 star plus book.... fun to read. Well written and engaging memoir.

An explanation of my star rating.
5= Truly cream of the crop. Amazing. In a wondrous realm of their own
4= Special and well written. Truly a good/maybe great book, but not a rare 5 star wonder.
3= Moments of brilliance, a pleasure to read. I'd recommend it.
2= An average book... since I'm not usually reading mass market romances/mysteries, they are average in MY range of books. (I admit that sounds snarky)
1= Why did I bother to read this? I was lured past a certain point and I finished it. "Finish what you start" has been largely replaced with "ditch it if it's not worth my time" but for some reason I slogged on.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtitled, A Restoration Comedy, this is an account by two successful authors of their purchase of a very large mansion in Aiken, SC. Formerly owned by robber baron William Whitney, the house has been allowed to go to ruin and the work of restoring the home to live in condition seemed endless. Their experiences are told with wit, along with stories about the town and about the Whitney family. An enjoyable companion to UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN: two accounts of people who buy and restore a home they love.

[Rob Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delightful combination of home renovation, history, and character analysis of a small southern town. I read it years ago and decided to read it again after having lived through a few renovations and multiple moves to very different localities. Overall the book has held up well. It is entertaining and provides insight to the Gilded Age and W.C. Whitney, a self-made man who spent and lived lavishly.

If you are looking for an easy read that entertains and gives you a few laughs this is a great choice.

[Marfita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I know these men. I worked for them in NYC. I transcribed research on Lee Krasner for their Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Jackson Pollock. They are trained as lawyers and their techniques are suitably painstaking. That said, it's nice to see something fluffy and popular that they created.
I hope they are still happy together in the "cottage" they renovated with the same painstaking care they exerted on the Pollock book and their other oeuvre (let's not go into particulars there - contact me if you are really that interested).

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when my mother in law gave it to me. My husband and I used to do home renovation and flip houses, so this read on restoring a giant Whitney mansion was right up my alley. I have never laughed so much reading a book. Every other page had me breaking into hysterics. Their descriptions of local characters and the complete insanity of some of the steps to take in restoring thousands and thousands of antebellum square feet captivated me. I still re-read this book occasionally just to laugh. Worth the read!

[Rebekkila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I had forever and finally became tired of staring at it'spine on my bookshelf. I wish I had picked it up earlier. It had so many of my favorite things: South Carolina, history, great writers, and disastrous home renovations.
Having lived in South Carolina I could picture the people and the landscape perfectly. On my next trip down there I think I might have to drive to Aiken just to get a look at the old Whitney mansion...I hope it is done by then.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Yorkers aren't too bright are they? This makes all of my renovations and my parent's renovations look like a walk in the park. This is a highly readable adventure in "home" renovation, if you agree that 60 rooms are a home. Very funny, sometimes heartbreaking (the wine), and definitely a must read for all DIY homeowners and those who like to dream of mansions and estate living.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fun read about two Pulitzer Prize winning, gay authors relocating from NYC to a small southern town. They spend their time renovating a 60 room mansion and have to deal with the local artisans to assist in their endeavor. You won't be able to put it down!