Books

Gangs of New York 

A lurid nonfiction romp through New York’s panoply of criminal characters and endeavors.

The author recognized that he was fundamentally catering to his audience’s latent sadistic and prurient tendencies, but also understood that a touch of anthropology would temper the dose.

So the reader gets to be a tourist in the scary, sordid, squalid quarters of New York at a time when its crime was at its most florid and colorful. But you never feel that dirty or voyeuristic. The author’s neither boring scold nor gangster fanboy. He hits just the right balance.

You already know from the movie how captivating the characters, settings, and stories are. The book features everything from the movie and a lot more. The bay pirates, the burglars, and the hit men were the most entertaining for me.

I love pre-1930 history books, I love New York, and I love stories from the gutters. This book was on point for me.

If you’re the same, or if you loved the movie, you should definitely read the book.

Kiki’s Delivery Service 

Young witch sets out on her own. 

You know how sometimes you Ghiblify a mediocre picture and it turns out amazing? That’s what we’ve got here. 

It’s a top 3 Miyazaki movie for me, so when my 6yo picked it I was psyched. And we’d read and loved Howl’s Moving Castle. 

But it turns out that the vast majority of the magic of the movie was added by Ghibli. The book was flat, dull, and childishly simple in comparison. 

I didn’t enjoy it. My 6yo did, but not as much as Coraline or The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

I actually watched this movie on the weekend (for the 6th time).  Underrated soundtrack!