Journal Entry 1 by Lorelei03 from Flushing, New York USA on Saturday, June 03, 2006

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Buying real estate in Manhattan is like buying real estate nowhere else in the world: a hoity-toity book called the Social Register dictates who can live where; co-op boards in luxury buildings often require a buyer to have at least 20 times the price of the apartment in assets; and the cost of an apartment rarely holds any relationship to the true value of the space. Indeed, Manhattan real estate is a cutthroat, baffling but thrilling world, and Gaines takes readers on a spectacular ride through it. The author of Philistines at the Hedgerow profiles some of the game's influential brokers, with a roving eye for detail (e.g., Linda Stein, who's sold homes to Bruce Willis, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber, "has a brash, husky voice with the delivery of a red-hot mama, and her expressive face telegraphs the subtlest of emotions"). Gaines is at once intrigued and appalled by the excesses of this world, gloriously rehashing, for example, the juicy details of how Gloria Vanderbilt sued the board of directors of River House, a posh Upper East Side building, for rejecting her as a buyer. But Gaines isn't just concerned with modern-day foibles: throughout this addictive narrative, he weaves a captivating history of the city and its toniest neighborhoods. Agent, Richard Pine. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.  

Journal Entry 2 by Lorelei03 from Flushing, New York USA on Sunday, June 04, 2006

And now this book will make it's journey via a bookring to visit BCers across the land....

1. Rampallion in Illinois, US only
2. fs444 in Rhode Island, international ok
3. Cougmax in Washington state, US only
4. Caridad in Florida, US only
5. Katiesmama in Florida, prefers US
6. Ladilee24 in Pennsylvania, prefers US
7. Mellonhead in Texas, international ok
8. Mellonhead's friend?
9. NWpassage in Canada, international ok 

Journal Entry 3 by rampallion from Evanston, Illinois USA on Monday, June 12, 2006

Thank you very much! I am already fascinated. It's not often that I see the adjective "Croesusean." 

Journal Entry 4 by rampallion from Evanston, Illinois USA on Sunday, June 18, 2006

Journal Entry 5 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Thursday, June 22, 2006

Arrived today. Can't wait to dive into it! 

Journal Entry 6 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, June 27, 2006

What a fun, gossipy read! I enjoyed it thoroughly. And now, of course, I must read "Philistines at the Hedgerows".
And yes, rampallion, Trump is as big a jackass as you could imagine. In the 80's, before he sold it, I went on his yacht for a photo shoot. What a giant, braying jackass. And he has NO taste. The interior of the yacht looked like a bad 70's disco. There were color transparencies of his various real estate holdings embedded in the ceiling. I may not have money, but at least I have taste and apparently, you can't buy that. Or he would have by now.
Sending to Cougmax as soon as I have her addy. 

Journal Entry 7 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Received cougmax's addy. Sending out today. 

Journal Entry 8 by cougmax from Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Arrived safe, thanks! 

Journal Entry 9 by cougmax from Seattle, Washington USA on Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Journal Entry 10 by Caridad from Miami Lakes, Florida USA on Thursday, August 24, 2006

Received from cougmax. Looking forward to reading this since I was born in a cold water flat on the Upper West Side (now a massive condo) and having a parent raised in Spanish Harlem (turning more into the Upper East Side every day). 

Journal Entry 11 by Caridad from Miami Lakes, Florida USA on Friday, August 25, 2006

I really enjoyed reading about the history of Manhattan real estate and the "players". It's like high school hell for adults. And those "phallic" status symbols... 

Journal Entry 12 by Caridad from Miami Lakes, Florida USA on Friday, August 25, 2006

Sent and received reply on PM for address to katiesmama to forward the book to her. Put book in the mailbox.

Had to skip NWpassage in Canada, since I can't get to post office. 

Journal Entry 13 by katiesmama from Cape Coral, Florida USA on Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Arrived safe and sound in Cape Coral, FL. I'm really looking forward to reading this. While I grew up in Upstate New York (way up Upstate) I was always fascinated by the City. Thanks, Lorelei03. I have one ring ahead of this but this should be moving within a couple weeks. 

Journal Entry 14 by katiesmama from Cape Coral, Florida USA on Monday, September 04, 2006

I loved this book! NYC has always fascinated me, I can only stand the pace for about 3-4 days and then I have to get out, but I've always been in love with Manhattan. When I was little, my dad always bought the Daily News (he followed the horses:) so I grew up reading one of the NYC papers which may account for some of that. Anyway, the book. The co-op boards....forget about it. I wouldn't even attempt them. If I win the lotto, TriBecA or maybe the village is where I'd wind up. I loved the way he wrote both about the buildings themselves and the people inside them. It gave me a new appreciation for how the other half lives. And quite frankly, I don't think I'd trade places. The person I liked least was Michael Shvo with Betty Sherrill running a very close second. As soon as I have Ladilee24's address, this will be on its way. Thanks again, Lorelei for this ring. 

Journal Entry 15 by katiesmama from Cape Coral, Florida USA on Monday, September 04, 2006

I have Ladilee's address and the book will be on its way to her tomorrow (9/5). 

Journal Entry 16 by ladilee24 from Newark, Delaware USA on Saturday, September 09, 2006

Just arrived this morning. Thanks and I will start reading it soon. 

Journal Entry 17 by ladilee24 from Newark, Delaware USA on Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Just finished this during lunch today, and it was a fun, gossipy read as other have pointed out. I enjoyed the history of housing in New York that the book provided as well as all the inside scoop about buying into New York's "best" buildings. The co-op boards and their entrance requirements sound like way more than I'd ever be willing to do to live somewhere, but I just would not fit into that atmosphere in any case. I enjoyed reading about it though, and was glad I joined the ring. Thanks!

I will mail this out to Mellonhead in Texas within the next few days.

Edited 09/15/06: Just updating to let folk know that I'll be mailing this tomorrow. Haven't been able to get to the post office. I do still have it and it will still be on the way to mellonhead, though it now list fsr44 as setting the status. 

Journal Entry 18 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Friday, September 15, 2006

I hope no one minds if I interrupt this journal for a second, but I wanted to let everyone on this ring know that I purchased Gaines's "Philistines at the Hedgerow" which is similar to this book, only it takes on passion and property in the Hamptons. I would like to offer it as a bookring to the participants in this bookring. If you're interested, just send me a PM with your location and shipping preference. Thanks again to lorelei for making this book available. Here's hoping we can all gather again on a second ring. 

Journal Entry 19 by mellonhead from Austin, Texas USA on Friday, September 22, 2006

A well loved and well-read book arrived safely today. I can't wait to read it, especially after reading everyone's comments. 

Journal Entry 20 by mellonhead from Austin, Texas USA on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

This was an interesting read, but slow for me. It didn't flow well, but the information was very interesting. I loved the chapter on the Antonia. I'm glad I was late getting to the post office to send this to the next person, since I have another book to send to her! And thank you lorelei03. This was an interesting book I wouldn't have read otherwise. 

Journal Entry 21 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Journal Entry 22 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Mailed today. 

Journal Entry 23 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Sunday, April 01, 2007

Arrived today, I'll read as quickly as I can and get it moving along. 

Journal Entry 24 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Monday, April 16, 2007

I'm a transplanted New Yorker - from the Village and the Lower East Side - not anywhere near the league of the real estate in the book, but I'm familiar with many of the buildings. I dated a guy in high school who lived in the Majestic (115 Central Park West) and we made extra money dog walking so I read that section with interest.

I really enjoyed the book, even if it did make me a little homesick. I'll packing it up right now and plan to send it on its way to Bug2004 in the morning. 

Journal Entry 25 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Monday, April 23, 2007

Rec'vd today. Looks interesting...thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 26 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Sunday, May 20, 2007

What a fun read! I love NY, so it was great fun to read the history of some of the buildings. I don't think I could live the kind of life that would require me to go through what some of these folks go through to get the right location for home! Crazy!!!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!! 

Journal Entry 27 by Bug2004 from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Saturday, June 16, 2007

Mailed off to ms. joanna on Friday, June 15th.

DC# 0306 2400 0000 2629 9854

Sorry for the delay...thanks for sharing!! 

Journal Entry 28 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

This has arrived here. Since I'm the last in this ray, I'll probably take my time reading this before looking to see if there are new folks interested or before adding it to a bookbox somewhere. 

Journal Entry 29 by msjoanna from Columbia, Missouri USA on Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Ah, Manhattan. Where real estate porn appears in all levels of newspaper and where it's perfectly fine to visit someone's home and immediately ask how much rent they pay/how much they spent on the apartment. This book provided a nice gossip-filled look into the market for high end apartments, a bit of history of the development of co-ops and their boards, and some descriptions of neat buildings. In particular, the description of the Ansonia Hotel provides an interesting backdrop for the hotel described in Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser.

Thanks everyone for keeping this book traveling so that it could reach me. I'll soon be releasing it into MaryZee's Books About Things Bookbox. (mailed 2/27/08) 

Journal Entry 30 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Saturday, April 05, 2008

Looks like an interesting book. I enjoy books with the flavor of New York City (hmm, that could be taken in a couple of ways ;)

Thanks MsJoanna! 

Journal Entry 31 by MaryZee at Taneytown, Maryland USA on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

As others have stated, what a fun, gossipy read! I found this a very quick and compelling read as well. I basically couldn't put it down (at least for very long). Although I've enjoyed visiting New York on several occasions, I couldn't live there for long. Too many people on top of people for me. But it's certainly an exciting city, however not the pace for me.

I enjoyed reading about the celebrities and realtors to the celebrities, as well as the history of the city. I recently read The Big Oyster, about the natural environment of the historic New York City that was a home for oysters in its waterways. This seemed so different from the bustling city as it is now, that I wanted to follow it up with this read about the busy NYC of the 20th/21st centuries. And this book brought to mind the Seinfeld episode where they were trying to find out about the availability of an apartment, which really brought out how in demand real estate is in NYC. It really does boil down to who you know.

This is reserved for my Biographies of Things bookbox. Thanks to the previous readers for sharing. 

Journal Entry 32 by MaryZee at Biographies of Things, Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, February 12, 2012

Released 3 mos ago (2/13/2012 UTC) at Biographies of Things, Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending out in my Biographies of Things bookbox. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 33 by innae at Aurora, Colorado USA on Friday, March 02, 2012

ARRRGGGG -- adding to my wishlist -- MaryZee, thanks for this box, I am finding some gems and it makes me wish I had read more of my books (although I am not sure I would have enough to take all the ones that sound interesting :) 

Journal Entry 34 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Monday, April 02, 2012

Sounds like this would be wildly entertaining and gossipy!

This book enjoyed a brief visit in San Jose, California before continuing its travels with the Biographies of Things bookbox!