The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb [Paperback]

Kevin Roderick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

A journalist and native son of the San Fernando Valley, arguably America's quintessential suburb, returns to his

old neighborhoods and discovers a long, rich history filled with the sort of lore and traditions that make a place a home.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin Roderick came to the subject of the San Fernando Valley both as a curious journalist and as a product himself of the suburbs. He grew up in Northridge, roaming the tracts of newly minted neighborhoods that came into being in the 1950s and 1960s. After attending James Monroe High School and studying the craft of journalism at California State University, Northridge, he went to work for the Los Angeles Times as a cub reporter covering the Valley. His career path steered him into other reporting endeavors and the newspaper’s senior editor ranks, but the untold stories of the Valley always beckoned. Roderick is currently the Los Angeles bureau chief for The Industry Standard magazine and lives in Santa Monica, Calif.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Los Angeles Times Books (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188379255X
• ISBN-13: 978-1883792558
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Knew the Valley Was so Deep?, May 10, 2002

By 

Donna R. Mills "Socal Mom" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb (Paperback)

With this book, Kevin Roderick has done what many have thought is impossible: He proves that the Valley really is *interesting* after all. From the wonderful photos to the stories of the men whose names became our streets and boulevards, Roderick puts the development of our many communities into perspective. I could not put this book down - there were so many fascinating tidbits I'd never known (like Nikita Khruschev's visit to my Granada Hills neighborhood when it was just a fledgling housing development -- or exactly where Lucy and Desi lived -- or that Birmingham High was once the location of an Army hospital). I made the mistake of lending the book to a realtor friend and am now buying myself a new copy because he's not ready to give it back.

Anyone who has ever spent time here -- especially those of us who grew up here -- will enjoy this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, December 28, 2002

By 

"littleghost" (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb (Paperback)

This book is an engaging treat and an enlightening eye-opener for anyone who has ever lived in the Valley (especially for those of us who grew up here). Kevin Roderick reveals the Valley's history through a combination of well-researched prose and historical photographs which say even more than the words do. By the time you finish this book, you're almost saddened by the present state of the Valley because Mr. Roderick has illustrated just how beautiful and inviting this sunny prarie used to be, why it appealed to so many immigrants and developers, and how lovely it could have been. The timing of this book's release is noteworthy, too: it appeared in stores just before the movement for the Valley's possible secession from the City of Los Angeles appeared on the November 2002 ballots.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Inormative Book, March 12, 2006

By 

Pooldude (Mesa, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb (Paperback)

As someone who was born and raised in the valley, this book is a great look at the history of the San Fernando Valley from the pioneers who settled it on to modern day. Contains many wonderful photos as well. A fine read for anyone living here who would like to discover a little of it's past and for those of us born and raised here it is an essential look back on the place we call home. Much of the photos will make you say " I remember that!" It did for me upon seeing Lucy and Desi in their home which was located at Devonshire and Tampa and is now a gated housing complex. I grew up in the Porter Ranch area and that home and land are always part of my memories of the area.