Customer Reviews

New York: Coffee Table Book

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This lovely tribute to the city of New York, dedicated to the innocents who were so cruelly murdered in the September 11 attacks on the US, is a moving, heartfelt ode to the greatest of American cities. The photography and production values of this book are incredible beyond the ability of mere words to describe. The text is moving without being cloying or sappy, and adds to the photography without overpowering it. This book also includes several photographs of the Twin Towers that were not included in the Hobermans' hardcover edition, "New York", a massive 160+ page book that is well worth purchasing. I highly recommend "New York: A Tribute to the City and its People" for those who want to remember the Big Apple the way it was. And will be again...

There are about 32 pictures total each of which seem like they were photos pasted onto the pages. That's one of the reasons I bought the book. The photos and the way they were printed are beautiful.

On the other hand, the accompanying text ranges from awful to average. Some of it has barely a connection to the photo and many have little to do with people. Some gems include cheezy puns such as this text which accompanies a picture of the bronze bull statue near Wall Street: "in the aftermath of the attacks ... in Septmber 11, it was hard to be bullish." And this text which accompanies a picture of lower Manhattan from the tip to the Brooklyn Bridge: "Here we are looking chiefly at Manhattan". And they are mistaken to say Manhattan is 23 sq miles in size; it is 33 sq miles. There is also an excessive use of commas.

I understand only a limited number of pictures can be included in the book but since Hoberman is an accomplished aerial photographer, I have to ask where are aerial pictures of buildings in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens? Where is the Holland Tunnel? These are places I associate with ordinary New Yorkers (and their commuting neighbors).