lanternheart's review
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
For a book about a fascinating subject, Lidz' prose could unfortunately be quite rambling and, even in a short narrative, difficult to follow. This read far more like an exercise in memoir — as he goes back and forth between the Collyers and his own family — than about its subjects.
For those interested, I more solidly recommend Lidz' interview on the podcast Ephemeral, which covers the same information more tidily, and in a better order rather than flipping back and forth between the personal present and the subjects' past. I've no issue with memoir, but I didn't expect it here and it made for a less informative reading experience than I'd have liked.
For those interested, I more solidly recommend Lidz' interview on the podcast Ephemeral, which covers the same information more tidily, and in a better order rather than flipping back and forth between the personal present and the subjects' past. I've no issue with memoir, but I didn't expect it here and it made for a less informative reading experience than I'd have liked.
tami317's review
3.0
I loved reading about the history of the Collyer brothers and the history of Brooklyn; however, the story was a bit confusing at times. The author's uncle had the same hoarding illness as the Collyer brothers. During the story he would flip back and forth between his family and the Collyer brothers. I was difficult at times to keep up with which family he was writing about.
scudder09's review
3.0
Quick and entertaining. I think I have "stuff" but it's nothing compared to these guys!
just1angie's review against another edition
4.0
Read very quickly. Kindle version I read lacked any pictures whatsoever. Would have liked some for sure. Wow. What a hoard.
violetu's review
3.0
It wasn't as in-depth as I'd have liked, and the author spent too much time chatting about his own relatives and not enough chatting about the ultimate subjects of the book, but when I was finished I ran upstairs and made my 9 year old clean his room.. so, it had a bit of an impact.
threeminuterule's review
2.0
I would have enjoyed this more if the author stuck to just writing about Homer and Langley Collyer.
mizclaff's review
2.0
I'm so disappointed. Lidz's subject matter is a potential goldmine: two real-life Brooklyn recluses who lived (and died) in a Harlem brownstone packed from floor to ceiling with over 100 TONS of junk that they both systematically hoarded for several decades.
The book itself, though, like the Collyer brothers' mansion, is a jumbled heap studded with fascinating little nuggets that you kind of happen upon while stumbling around in the fug.
It's a shame how poorly-written this is, and how completely disorganized. The rambling, recursive timeline was distracting, and Lidz's tangents about his own compulsive collector uncle didn't help matters (although I guess I appreciate his experimental blending of memoir and historical account. I guess).
The information's out there. Please, someone write a better book about these guys.
The book itself, though, like the Collyer brothers' mansion, is a jumbled heap studded with fascinating little nuggets that you kind of happen upon while stumbling around in the fug.
It's a shame how poorly-written this is, and how completely disorganized. The rambling, recursive timeline was distracting, and Lidz's tangents about his own compulsive collector uncle didn't help matters (although I guess I appreciate his experimental blending of memoir and historical account. I guess).
The information's out there. Please, someone write a better book about these guys.
selfwinding's review
3.0
Interesting book about some unusual hoarders. Not exactly what I wanted it to be, but there was enough that held my attention for a quick read.
sarahbowman101's review
1.0
The pacing was terrible, the story was thin, the extra chapters (not just a side paragraph or two) about the author's family were bizarre, and the writing was at times awkward.
The only bright point of this is that it is only 161 pages of terrible pacing, boring story and awkward writing.
Skip this and instead read the excellent book 'Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things' by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee.
The only bright point of this is that it is only 161 pages of terrible pacing, boring story and awkward writing.
Skip this and instead read the excellent book 'Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things' by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee.