The New York Diaries: Too-True Tales of Urban Trauma [Paperback]

Daniel Drennan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 1998

"Half my time and energy as a New Yorker is given to keeping all aspects of the outside world outside; to such a degree that it might seem as if I were manning the walls of some medieval fortress, the only difference being that the Goths, and the Huns, and the other marauding hordes of centuries past had nothing on, say, those restaurant guys who shove menus under your door. . . ."

Thousands of readers first discovered Danny Drennan through his addictive on-line weekly wrap-ups of Beverly Hills 90210. Now here are his manic, wickedly funny stream-of-consciousness riffs on the uncelebrated but all-too-familiar daily dramas that could only take place in New York City. The trauma of brunch on the Upper West Side, the secret society of snooty dog owners, the diabolical subway-token clerks, the neighbor upstairs who perpetually carries trash in to the apartment but never out: Drennan chronicles his misadventures in the urban mosaic with comic edginess, irreverence, and a sardonic wit that are unmistakably his own.

The New York Diaries draws us into the singular world of Daniel Drennan--and announces the arrival of an irresistible new writer.

Contents:
    
            Why I Stay

            Schadenfreude

            Real Estate

            Moving

            Brooklyn

            The Building

            Street Life

            Brunch

            Rodentia

Dog People

            Pet Neurosis

            Infrastructure

            The Subway

            The Neighborhood

            The Neighbors

            Coming Out

            The Job

            Why I Stay?
    

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

National Public Radio commentator and Web magazine publisher Drennan is at home in New York City, he only half-jokes, because "with all my neuroses . . . it's the only place on Earth where I actually fit in." In his first job after college, working in a bookstore, he soon realizes a fact of Big Apple life: all the customers hate all the employees, and the employees gladly return the favor. Like everyone else in NYC, Drennan has fits of "histrionic street theater," which for participant and audience are alternately empowering and draining. Crime is another reality Drennan has to deal with, and in a hilarious scene, he uses a homemade slingshot to run off neighborhood crack dealers (following advice from an NYPD detective, of all people!). Full of funny stream-of-consciousness rants, tweaks at the pretensions of our times, and great insights into how things like technology dominate our lives. Brian McCombie

From the Inside Flap

"Half my time and energy as a New Yorker is given to keeping all aspects of the outside world outside; to such a degree that it might seem as if I were manning the walls of some medieval fortress, the only difference being that the Goths, and the Huns, and the other marauding hordes of centuries past had nothing on, say, those restaurant guys who shove menus under your door. . . ."

Thousands of readers first discovered Danny Drennan through his addictive on-line weekly wrap-ups of Beverly Hills 90210. Now here are his manic, wickedly funny stream-of-consciousness riffs on the uncelebrated but all-too-familiar daily dramas that could only take place in New York City. The trauma of brunch on the Upper West Side, the secret society of snooty dog owners, the diabolical subway-token clerks, the neighbor upstairs who perpetually carries trash in to the apartment but never out: Drennan chronicles his misadventures in the urban mosaic with comic edginess, irreverence, and a sardonic wit that are unmistakably his own.

The New York Diaries draws us into the singular world of Daniel Drennan--and announces the arrival of an irresistible new writer.

Contents:

Why I Stay

Schadenfreude

Real Estate

Moving

Brooklyn

The Building

Street Life

Brunch

Rodentia

Dog People

Pet Neurosis

Infrastructure

The Subway

The Neighborhood

The Neighbors

Coming Out

The Job

Why I Stay?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (September 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345416430
• ISBN-13: 978-0345416438
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, July 1, 2001

By 

Rachel Lovinger "mirka23" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New York Diaries: Too-True Tales of Urban Trauma (Paperback)

I first became aware of Daniel Drennan through his online wrapups of "Beverly Hills 90210". His weekly commentary/recap became even more entertaining than watching the show. As the show began to tip the scales towards the "guilty" side of "guilty pleasure," even Danny gave up on it! And, boy did I miss his writing.

This book has all of the attitude, all of the style, all of the fascinating observations and none of the spoiled Beverly Hills kids. If you are from New York, or you have any interest in New York, or even if you think that people must be crazy to go anywhere near New York, you will find this book a fun and interesting read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neurotic ranting? -- maybe. Insightful, laugh-out-loud, December 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New York Diaries: Too-True Tales of Urban Trauma (Paperback)

. . .funny, and all TOO TRUE-- definitely! This Drennan character is sick. Sick, I tell ya! Let's hope, for our sake, that he never gets well. Drennan's ability to articulate in words what other New Yorkers, at one time or another, have only been able to spasmodically mime to their analyst and/or passing-by police officer is kick-me- in-the-ass amazing! So much so that I began to read it slower in order to prolong the enjoyment ( this coming from a guy who eats a Big Mac in two, maybe three bites). If we're lucky, he's working on the sequel.

4.0 out of 5 stars Leaves you wanting more!, October 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New York Diaries: Too-True Tales of Urban Trauma (Paperback)

I've been living in the Jersey 'burbs and schlepping in and out of the Apple for more than two decades. Drennan's right on mark! This is a very funny book, which will ring bells all over the place for anyone who's ever been a part of the "New York experience." Those of you who haven't, but would like a pithy glimpse, check this one out. My only "complaint" is that the thing's too short! But, as they say, it's always best to leave 'em wanting more. That's assuredly the case here.