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A Coney Island Reader: Through Dizzy Gates of Illusion by John Parascandola, Louis J. Parascandola
dtaylorbooks's review
5.0
Oh what fun this book was! I’m a lover of Coney Island anyway, which was what attracted me to this book in the first place, but to have this compilation of different points of view of such a magnificent place it was just fantastic to read.
I liked how it started off giving some general background about Coney Island, from its first settlers and traveling straight through today, showcasing its rise and subsequent decline with little hiccups of interest pops throughout the 20th century. I just love reading about Coney during its heyday so that’s probably my favorite Coney cluster I like to read about but seeing it through the eyes of history, by people who lived it at different times in its life, was just fascinating.
From a snippet of The Warriors to early twentieth century newspaper articles to the latest intention to revitalize the area as drafted by the people who are currently in control of it, and the subsequent backlash from that. It gives Coney Island a very well-rounded, dynamic life that people are incredibly passionate about. Anyone with a modicum of interest in history and the preservation of our nation’s landmarks can appreciate all that Coney’s gone through and will love this anthology of work that’s been compiled.
I only have a digital copy but I absolutely plan on buying a hardbound edition so I can enjoy it all over again. Looking at the archival photos littered throughout the book on a little iPhone just doesn’t do them justice. I want to soak in the details and really absorb whatever part of Coney the images are trying to portray.
The Parascandolas did an amazing job of putting this book together and I think it’s a really unique look at the span of Coney Island. It’s not just about their interpretation of what the area is. They let other people do the speaking, and not just in annotations and footnotes. It lent itself to variety and diversity and gives you an amalgam of history from a myriad of eyes, not just a couple of sets.
For anyone interested in Coney Island history, or amusement history, or New York history, A CONEY ISLAND READER is a must read.
5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked how it started off giving some general background about Coney Island, from its first settlers and traveling straight through today, showcasing its rise and subsequent decline with little hiccups of interest pops throughout the 20th century. I just love reading about Coney during its heyday so that’s probably my favorite Coney cluster I like to read about but seeing it through the eyes of history, by people who lived it at different times in its life, was just fascinating.
From a snippet of The Warriors to early twentieth century newspaper articles to the latest intention to revitalize the area as drafted by the people who are currently in control of it, and the subsequent backlash from that. It gives Coney Island a very well-rounded, dynamic life that people are incredibly passionate about. Anyone with a modicum of interest in history and the preservation of our nation’s landmarks can appreciate all that Coney’s gone through and will love this anthology of work that’s been compiled.
I only have a digital copy but I absolutely plan on buying a hardbound edition so I can enjoy it all over again. Looking at the archival photos littered throughout the book on a little iPhone just doesn’t do them justice. I want to soak in the details and really absorb whatever part of Coney the images are trying to portray.
The Parascandolas did an amazing job of putting this book together and I think it’s a really unique look at the span of Coney Island. It’s not just about their interpretation of what the area is. They let other people do the speaking, and not just in annotations and footnotes. It lent itself to variety and diversity and gives you an amalgam of history from a myriad of eyes, not just a couple of sets.
For anyone interested in Coney Island history, or amusement history, or New York history, A CONEY ISLAND READER is a must read.
5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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