Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now--As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Lef...
Here are the voices of London - rich and poor, native and immigrant, women and men (and a Sarah who used to be a George) - witnessed by Craig Taylo...
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reviews
Jan 08, 2012
Harry
rated it: 
This makes a good pair with Daily Life in Victorian London. It's a compilation of interviews with Londoners of all sorts. Some of them are the obvious London clichés — black cab driver, yeoman warder, hedge fund manager , refugee — and some are more exotic: beekeeper, dominatrix, Wiccan priestess. And most are are just, well, ordinary: teacher, street cleaner, personal trainer, estate agent, student.
But of course the key to books like this is that 'ordinary' people often turn to be une More...
But of course the key to books like this is that 'ordinary' people often turn to be une More...
Oct 06, 2011
A collection of stories from Londoners: why they hate it, why they love it, and everything in between. Here are a few of my favorite lines.
"London is propulsion, it rewards those people who push forward. I loved that about it and remembered the disappointment of walking in New York and reaching the end, the water, the point of turning around. In London, even on the days when my knees hurt, my hip hurt, and my Achilles tendon hurt, I loved that sense of constant propulsion." More...
"London is propulsion, it rewards those people who push forward. I loved that about it and remembered the disappointment of walking in New York and reaching the end, the water, the point of turning around. In London, even on the days when my knees hurt, my hip hurt, and my Achilles tendon hurt, I loved that sense of constant propulsion." More...
Dec 28, 2011
Veronica
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I lived in London for 5 years in the 1970s, thinking it the centre of the world. Fitzrovia, Camden, Walthamstow, Chiswick, Bethnal Green ... I'm not at all nostalgic and definitely wouldn't want to live there again. But I really enjoyed this book. The different voices brought back many memories and all of the multi-faceted experience of living in this large, chaotic city. I could empathise with the people who loathed London, and those who loved it.
Craig Taylor has done a remarkable j More...
Craig Taylor has done a remarkable j More...
Dec 16, 2011
Bettie
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 06, 2012
Sharon
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I don't envy journalist Craig Taylor; he had to pick and choose from hundreds and hundreds of interviews to create this book.
In the tradition of books like Studs Terkel's "Working," "Londoners ..." is told via the vox populi (voice of the people). With occupations ranging from on the dole to stock broker to old age pensioner, people who live or have lived in London talk about their lives.
Two of my favorites were the interviews with "Marilyn," More...
In the tradition of books like Studs Terkel's "Working," "Londoners ..." is told via the vox populi (voice of the people). With occupations ranging from on the dole to stock broker to old age pensioner, people who live or have lived in London talk about their lives.
Two of my favorites were the interviews with "Marilyn," More...
Jan 25, 2012
Christopher
rated it:
A tapestry of tales, some so simple and shocking, others banal and sad, about ordinary Londoners, outsiders, visitors and people passing through, and what they've discovered about the city. Taylor teases out more information than many of his interviewees mean to share, I feel. Some come over as very melancholy people. A terrific addition to the London library that reminded me of Studs Terkel and 'Nickeled and Dimed'.
Feb 08, 2012
A wonderful snapshot of the grand tapestry that is London. And you know what? Of the dozens of people interviewed here, I could empathise with most everyone - those scared of That London, the wide-boys, even the bankers. Except for the people who talked enthusiastically about the housing ladder. They needed to be beaten with houses, and ladders.
Jan 20, 2012
Mo
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Masterpiece of individuals' voices, captured respectfully, as non-fiction.
Jan 07, 2012
Jamie
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Interesting, but not something that works well to sit down and read all at once. Would be better to flip through and read different sections at different times. An in-depth picture of London, both the good and the bad sides...Probably best for someone who currently lives there, used to live there, or is planning on traveling/moving there. Hard to relate to the different parts of town if you're not familiar with the city.
Oct 12, 2011
Cristina
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So far loving this book. A funny, intriguing, fearless, uninhibited collection of raw short stories! Authentic voices make this an interesting and delightful read.
Jan 10, 2012
Emma
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In a word, this book is simply, amazing. Very funny, very sad, very moving. All Londoners could relate to a snippet from this book.
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