Reading New York

This book is a rare gift: the work of a truly thoughtful reader and a terrific writer. Of the New York writers whom Tytell treats, he does a particularly excellent job on Melville, although his readings of Poe, the Henry's (Miller and James), Whitman and Kerouac are marvelous, too. Perhaps it's because he began reading Melville against his eye doctor's orders during an illness when he was 12 (reading in general not just Melville), that his recreations of and commentary on Melville's "Billy Budd," "Benito Cereno" and "Bartleby" seem the most deeply felt. In any case, Tytell's "dialogue" throughout his life with these New York writers is what makes this work truly memorable. He notes that he seemed to find each writer just as his life began to open up to the possibilities of the worlds they described: Poe in late adolescence when life can seem particularly fraught and frightening; followed by Whitman and then Miller in conjunction with his burgeoning sexuality in his later teens; followed by James as he became more sensible of James' place in the academy (James was a writer who he sensibly chose to study as a prelude to getting his Ph.D as opposed to Miller), and then, as he became radicalized in the 60s, the work of the Beats, primarily Kerouac and Ginsberg.He does a great job on each writer's bio: succint but always relevant, and always a telling detail that you probably have not encountered elsewhere. Tytell's command of this material is always impressive, his judgments fair, and his style always engaging. And we meet a number of literary folks face to face: the abovementioned beats, but also Leon Edel, James' biographer and Tytell's teacher, and some other remarkable New Yorkers such as his immigrant family, denizens of the New York diamond market, various lovers and friends. And of course, there's New York which also plays a central character in this warm and often piquant work of memory and criticism.

this is sort of a Zen and the Art of Literary Maintenance.you'll love this fast joyride if you love a certain kind of rebel-spirit literature, or if you love New York, or if you love books of self-discovery, and especially if you love all three! through telling his own story of coming of age and let's say enlightenment, he also tells the story of Poe & Melville & Whitman & Henry Miller & Kerouac & Ginsberg. all of those guys are in the same literary family, so if you enter the room with any one of them under your arm, this book introduces you around the party. and it made me realize it wasn't just me! it's funny how Tytell's life sort of follows around in the ghosts and shadows and trails of these earlier travelers, making some of the same mistakes, having some of the same doubts and insecurities, and then flashes of courage and conviction. we like authors because they're reflecting some side of us. i think there is some sort of spirit connection across time. those authors in our same family tree were us in a sense. and this book is a family reunion with all the old legendary uncles and grampas coming out of hiding and sharing their stories and suddenly you go "ah-ha! I'm not that weird! Check out Uncle Henry and Grampa Whitman!"

Having seen Tytell in Manchester, VT, at a reading of his book we eagerly awaited "Reading New York" and weren't disappointed. The same enthusiasm he expresses in public is demonstrated in his book. He has inspired us to reread Melville, Miller and others. Thank you for reminding us of them.

I loved the rhythm of Reading New York, the way it moves from memoir to biography to historical criticism. It is thoroughly enjoyable to read.

This is a highly personal, very readable and moving account by an academic critic of his reading of Melville, Poe, Whitman, Henry Miller, Henry James and Jack Kerouac - all writers whose encounter with New York somehow mirrored or influenced Tytell's own relationship to the city, and indeed his life. It's the story an intellectual odyssey but also very much of the author's emotional growth. I loved this book and could hardly put it down.