Kaggsy of kaggsysbookishramblings and Simon of stuckinabook host a regular event where a year is chosen and those who participate read a book published in that year. This time around the year is 1977. I enjoy reading what people post up on their blogs but I have not participated before. No idea why. Other things just seemed to get in the way.
In my last post I stated I was fed up with all of the unread books on my shelves and I have decided to do something about it. You can read about my plan here (if you are so inclined). I have to say I am beginning this project with quite a bit of enthusiasm. I went to random.org and entered the number of books I have on my shelf (1250) and let the wheels begin to turn. Up popped an old paperback book on my shelf written by Helene Hanff. Most book lovers will have read her lovely book 84 Charing Cross Road. However my chosen book is one of her lesser known books called Apple of My Eye.
I started it yesterday and am on the last few pages now. I have loved this story. And guess what??!! It was published in 1977. What a coincidence. So I am featuring this book as my entry into the event of books published in 1977. It also appears to be the only book on my shelves published in 1977.
Helene Hanff is a long time New Yorker. In 1976 she was asked by a publisher to write a tourist guide book detailing what a tourist would want to do when visiting New York City. Well, like a lot of us, who never visit the attractions in our home city, instead opting to travel to see the sights in other parts of the world, Helene is no different.
She is telling her friend Patsy about this project and what on earth is she going to feature in this book. Patsy also was born and raised in New York and they both start by stating they’d not visited the Statue of Liberty in all their years there. That is the beginning of many outings they begin in exploring New York. This book is that story.
The book is so much fun to read. They visit all of the well known places, walking to most places or taking buses. They took a taxi once and would only take the underground to get home as one can’t see New York if they are underground.
They visit all of the neighbourhoods on the east and west side of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and talk about the differences of the people who live on each side. They talk about the restaurants they eat in, the people they meet, the history of the places they visit. They talk about the newly built World Trade Centre and dare each other to visit the viewing platform at the top. Remember this is 1977 and things in New York were very different then to what they are now.
They talk about the attitudes towards redevelopment, what they think about the decaying parts of the city and some of the older decrepit buildings. Their conversations are so amusing. I chuckled out loud a few times as they bantered back and forth with their varying views on this most diverse city.
They took a bus tour into Harlem and when Patsy’s apartment complex next to Central Park was featured as part of the tour with the guide telling visitors incorrectly who lives in it they make it their mission to correct him.
The two of them often had conversations with each other that were totally separate. Helene would chatter away filling Patsy in on the history of certain places and Patsy, not listening would be talking about something completely different at the same time.
If you enjoy books that take place in New York then this one is so much fun. I also learned a lot about the New York of 40 years ago. I also have a confession to make. I have travelled extensively in this world of ours but I have never been to New York City. Though it is one of my favourite settings to read about. I have such a romantic notion of what this city is like. I’m sure that bubble would burst if I actually visited the place.
I only wish Helene Hanff had written many books because her writing is wonderful, astute and informative. I guarantee these two women will brighten your day. 
The journey was arduous to say the least. They had no idea what they would do when they finished this project. They had little money, accessing about 30.00 pounds per week. The weather was often terrible, they went without food and lived on two minute noodles. The sleeping bags didn’t keep them warm and they couldn’t afford to stay in campgrounds that had hot showers. They camped wild. Raynor is an excellent writer and I won’t tell you what happened to them but I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. Their attitude, friendship and love was heartening. Did I mention the day after they were forced off their property he was diagnosed with a terminal disease? I know! How do people stay sane and cope when life throws all it has at you?
The second book I listened to on Audible was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I almost gave up on this book about one third through it. For some reason I persevered and ended up getting sucked into it and really enjoyed it. The ending is a real cracker. I never saw it coming. Her personality is often debated on the Good Reads debut as being on the Autism spectrum and whether the author meant for this or not she had the quirkiest personality. A bright woman with very inappropriate social skills. Though at times I found I quite related to her. She didn’t suffer fools gladly and I liked that about her. A really fun read if you give yourself time to get into it.
Then, once again I fell for the hype and got The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn from the library. I read exactly 101 pages before I thought, “For God’s sake, this is a load of nonsense and she is really starting to bore me.” I gave it the flick and it will return to the library on Tuesday. A psychologist with agoraphobia who spies on her neighbours all day and drinks way too much. From reading the blurb on the back of the book, I know someone is supposed to scream and then sinister goings on begin to happen but by page 101 the woman still hadn’t screamed and I was sick of hearing about her lifestyle confined to her house. 101 pages? Really? I didn’t need that level of detail to learn about agoraphobia.
