Home is where the heart is -- even West Harlem
Written: Aug 30 '08 (Updated Aug 31 '08)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: well written
Cons: wonder where the drug dealers and druggies are now
The Bottom Line: Interesting story
|
|
|
| jnbmoore's Full Review: Judith Matloff - Home Girl: Building a Dream House... |
Judith Matloff spent twenty years as a foreign correspondent. She lived and worked in many war zones. She had more guns pointing at her than most soldiers.
Then she married a Dutch reporter by John. After a miscarriage, they were ready to settle down someplace safe where they could raise a family. After much soul searching, they decided to go to her hometown -- New York. Even non-New Yorkers like myself, know that real estate in New York is extremely expensive. Ms. Matloff spent time looking for the perfect fixer-upper (the only thing that is somewhat affordable) before she impulsively bought a brownstone in West Harlem. Even though she never gave a date in the book besides 9/11, this was West Harlem in 2000 and 2002.
What she got was a neighborhood that many of the readers would not believe to be true. Drug dealers surronded the street. Her front steps would often be the depository for human wastes. One crack-addled man by the name Salami, constantly told her that she was living in her house and would threaten her. This was the Dominican area of Harlem. There were good, non-drug trade folks around -- both Hispanic and black but they would not get together. The streets were ruled by the drug dealers.
John wasn't with her for the first half of the book. He was in Russia with their dog until he could get his visa. Ms. Matloff did not have experience rehabbing houses. With the help of a Home Depot book and a few good men she starts working on the house (even though they were all from different countries, who always seemed to be at each others' throats). Once her husband arrived, things began to go smoother -- if you count tearing up the kitchen due to termites as going smoother.
In the midst of it all, she got pregnant again. The local drug lieutenant who kept an eye out for her, was the first to learn the sex of the new baby.
This book is more than the story of re-entry to life in the states. This is more than the story of a woman having a baby or saving a house. This is the story of life.
When I picked up this book at the library, my first thought was "If Ms. Matloff was a foreign correspondent for so long, this book should be well written." Well, it was. It has the feel of a long magazine article with crisp attention to words. My only complaint is at one point she referred to dog waste as "sh<i></i>it" That vulgarity didn't seem to fit in with the tone and writing of the rest of the book.
Ms. Matloff and her family are modern day pioneers. They were one of the first families to go into this part of town. She managed to not only find friends and acquaintances; but to find a new family. She was there before Starbucks, Babies R Us, and Bill Clinton. With many of her black neighbors, she was part of a neighborhood watch. As mayors changed, so did police coverage of the neighborhood.
I think mothers will appreciate the last third of the book more than male readers. In the third section she tells the story of the pregnancy and birth of her son. We learn that one of his favorite games to play with his cars include "pushers and cops". I could see the rest of the book being of interest to both males and females.
This is a very compelling book. On Wednesday I was able to finish most of it. (It was parent teacher conference day and we had lots of no-shows). This book is not dry. There is much humor and much sadness. You will be shaking your head at the beginning of the book at many of her choices and crossing your fingers that she doesn't miscarry again.
This is the story of hope and change in one neighborhood. I do hope you find a copy and read it.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.