caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, just a bit gossipy, Menaker's memoir is haunted by his brother's death. One of those satisfying books that won't set the world on fire but stays with the reader for a long time.
karibaumann's review against another edition
2.0
This book fell between a straight-up memoir and a gossipy tale about publishing in New York. I think focusing on one or the other might have been better. As it was, I felt a little unsure about what I read and why. Recommended for: journalists and editors who like behind-the-scenes stories.
jlmb's review against another edition
5.0
Coming on the heels of reading and DNF-ing James Wolcott's memoir, I did not have high hopes for this one. They seemed somewhat similar on the surface - both men were writers who worked for The New Yorker. It turns out that I was mistaken; Menaker is a vastly superior writer and editor who has had a much more fascinating life than Wolcott.
I wish Menaker had written more about his childhood and family - they seemed fascinating. I need to go read that book about The Little Red Schoolhouse in Greenwich Village now. His paternal side of the family was especially noteworthy. So his dad was a Soviet spy?!?! That seems like a fact worth more than a line or two. I'd also liked to have read more about his mother's career as well.
His format for the book, dividing sections under his age at the time, was genius. I always wonder at memoirs where the person is writing in great detail about when they were 4,5, 6 etc years old. How do they recall so much? I have memories from those years but not a lot. So having brief vignettes instead of long, drawn out stories made perfect sense for those early ages.
His writing certainly benefited from his years working as a fact checker, copy editor and then editor. Proof that the more you do something, the better you get at it.
I wish Menaker had written more about his childhood and family - they seemed fascinating. I need to go read that book about The Little Red Schoolhouse in Greenwich Village now. His paternal side of the family was especially noteworthy. So his dad was a Soviet spy?!?! That seems like a fact worth more than a line or two. I'd also liked to have read more about his mother's career as well.
His format for the book, dividing sections under his age at the time, was genius. I always wonder at memoirs where the person is writing in great detail about when they were 4,5, 6 etc years old. How do they recall so much? I have memories from those years but not a lot. So having brief vignettes instead of long, drawn out stories made perfect sense for those early ages.
His writing certainly benefited from his years working as a fact checker, copy editor and then editor. Proof that the more you do something, the better you get at it.
elenaysuslibros's review against another edition
4.0
Ayyyy me encantó esta primera entrega, establece una historia que se ve que va a estar super interesante!
Conocemos recién a Luciana, una chica que como muchísimas en el colegio solo quiere ser reconocida, y su amiga Nina, que se ve super tranquila y amable con su amiga; y también tenemos a Tadeo que es el popular del colegio que piensa estar por arriba de todos y su amigo Fabián. Leyendo la premisa me di cuenta que me iba a encontrar con un buen drama romántico y así fue, y eso que esta es sola la primera entrega. Me muero por leer la siguiente y ver como se desarrolla esta situación amorosa porque uyuy promete harto.
Además en esta entrega, aunque no sea muy larga, establece bien a sus personajes y te dan ganas de conocerlos más, sobre todo a Luciana y a Nina.
Felicito un montón a la autora del cómic y también al ilustrador, porque no lo he dicho pero las ilustraciones estan maravillosas, son super expresivas y acompañan muy bien a los personajes. Es un excelente trabajo en equipo!
Conocemos recién a Luciana, una chica que como muchísimas en el colegio solo quiere ser reconocida, y su amiga Nina, que se ve super tranquila y amable con su amiga; y también tenemos a Tadeo que es el popular del colegio que piensa estar por arriba de todos y su amigo Fabián. Leyendo la premisa me di cuenta que me iba a encontrar con un buen drama romántico y así fue, y eso que esta es sola la primera entrega. Me muero por leer la siguiente y ver como se desarrolla esta situación amorosa porque uyuy promete harto.
Además en esta entrega, aunque no sea muy larga, establece bien a sus personajes y te dan ganas de conocerlos más, sobre todo a Luciana y a Nina.
Felicito un montón a la autora del cómic y también al ilustrador, porque no lo he dicho pero las ilustraciones estan maravillosas, son super expresivas y acompañan muy bien a los personajes. Es un excelente trabajo en equipo!
zachkuhn's review
3.0
Great section on working at the New Yorker. Moments of very interesting personal history.
More...