"I danced and danced because the neon light across the road had just blinked on, because it was the middle of spring, because I was twenty-one...
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reviews
Oct 28, 2011
Clayton
rated it: 
Mandy Sayer can now be found freelancing for various Australian newspapers where her writing and observations bring a down-to-earth realism to the topics she covers.
And could it be any other way?
An early life spent scrapping by on the streets of US cities with nothing but her ability to tap and a father resolutely comitting them to living on his ability to play the drums and daily fill the busker's empty hat; she sees life at the level of the street artist. Through an endu More...
And could it be any other way?
An early life spent scrapping by on the streets of US cities with nothing but her ability to tap and a father resolutely comitting them to living on his ability to play the drums and daily fill the busker's empty hat; she sees life at the level of the street artist. Through an endu More...
Jul 05, 2009
Francesca
rated it:
I adore this book. Sadly, I think it is out of print now, so not easy to find. It is a biography by a woman (Mandy Sayer) who grew up as a street performer with her father - he played the drums, she tap-danced. In the summers, they would perform on the streets of New York City. In the winters, New Orleans. Such a great coming-of-age story and so interesting to read about the tight-knit community of street performers in both those cities in the 1980's.
Feb 04, 2012
Alison
rated it: 
While in the library the other day, I decided to go away from my old standby of fiction and instead browsed the Biography/Autobiography/Memoir/Books About Real People's Lives section. I picked up this on a whim, partially because of the title( sounds like it could be a band), partially because of the subject matter (street performers!) and partially because that is an awesome skirt on the cover. It has EMBROIDERED GOLD MUSIC NOTES. I found this to be a slow but satisfying read. Sayer has a very
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Mar 28, 2011
Greta
rated it:
Loved it! One of the best memoirs I've ever read by a most surprising young Australian woman about her days as a street performer in NYC & New Orleans. She offers an entirely unexpected yet interesting view of both cities. Can't wait to read more of her writing, she has talent.
Dec 31, 2010
Jane
rated it:
The memoir of Mandy Sayers life as a street performer in New York and New Orleans with her unreliable jazz drummer father. Its a beautifully written always gripping and sometimes distrubing about street life and Mandy's growing out of the shadow of a charismatic parent to make a creative life of her own. I was completely enthralled
Dec 16, 2009
Pilar
rated it:
This is one of my favorite books. The story of a broken family and the bond between father and daughter. she grows up in the stangest of circumstances with him. Truly wonderful.
Aug 15, 2008
The Cavityhole
rated it: 
I liked some of the writing in this, but most of it got bogged down after a while.
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