With a writer’s keen eye, a longtime resident’s familiarity, and his own sly wit, acclaimed novelist Madison Smartt Bell leads us on a ...
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reviews
Mar 31, 2008
Audrey
rated it: 
First off, I'd just like to say: Is there anything Madison Smartt Bell can't do? He’s got a spoken-word CD, a trilogy about the Haitian slave uprising, a recent literary grant, and now a rambling tour of Baltimore that captures both his voice and a lot of the unseen charm of "Charm City." I lived in Baltimore for four years and in the nearby suburbs for four more; it was great to be reminded of familiar haunts, as well as discovering places I had never ventured. He mixes history and go
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Dec 10, 2010
Megan
rated it: 
I almost gave this one star for the glaring factual errors. Just from the Greenmount Avenue chapter, which is the route I am most familiar with, he places Pete's Grille on the corner of 34th St. instead of 32nd, and most unforgivably, calls The Yellow Bowl a Korean noodle restaurant instead of a culturally and historically important African-American establishment. Perhaps instead of just mentioning every five pages that he's been to Haiti and is so hip as to be the only white face in a jazz cl
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Nov 07, 2011
Ken
rated it:
CHARM CITY is a mile wide, but only an inch deep. The book is chock full of detail, but the areas that I really enjoyed didn't last long enough, yet the sections that did not interest me, seemed to go on forever. I realize that to profile an entire city is a daunting task, yet I felt that, in the end, I was overwhelmed by the blizzard of information at the expense of my interest.
Maybe the book would have been more accessible if he had shared his 'walking tour' with only one other pers More...
Maybe the book would have been more accessible if he had shared his 'walking tour' with only one other pers More...
Feb 19, 2010
Heather
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. I wish there had been a walk in west Baltimore (say just west of downtown besides the one out near the western border of the city)as well. I loved the history that went along with the walks and feel like I learned a lot about my city. It's also fun when you recognize people in the book, makes me feel like a true Baltimorean! If you are very familiar with the areas described you may notice some errors here and there but they are small and more irritants than full-blown
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Dec 31, 2008
Lani
rated it:
Picked this book up for my dad's Xmas present since he had really enjoyed his visit earlier this year. While I was waiting to be picked up, I started skimming the first few pages and got totally sucked in. I had to wrap up his copy, but fortunately Cristin had a copy herself.
Borrowed Cristin's copy and TORE THROUGH IT. I think my dad will love it.
The book is essentially a walking tour through some areas of Baltimore and includes the author's reflections, local history, a More...
Borrowed Cristin's copy and TORE THROUGH IT. I think my dad will love it.
The book is essentially a walking tour through some areas of Baltimore and includes the author's reflections, local history, a More...
Dec 25, 2007
Ely
rated it: 
My quintessential Baltimore moment occurred when one of my favorite musicians, Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn, played a show in the basement of a community arts center. Halfway through the set she crinkled her nose and took a step back from the microphone. She then apologized and explained “… everything smells like pee today.” To which someone in the audience responded, “Welcome to Baltimore.”
Baltimore certainly has its fair share of problems, but it also has an exceptional amount of culture More...
Baltimore certainly has its fair share of problems, but it also has an exceptional amount of culture More...
Mar 07, 2010
Spiros
rated it:
An amiable, inconsequetial stroll through diverse neighborhoods of Baltimore. While teeming with various odd bits of trivia, the book doesn't give one much feel for the place, possibly because Bell is not in fact a native, having only lived in Baltimore just over twenty years. One senses that any of his walking companions might have produced a more insightful account of the city. A confessed non-sports fan, it is nevertheless odd that Balmer's most famous son, George Herman Ruth, doesn't rate a
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Mar 11, 2008
Kyla
rated it:
I love this Crown Journey series - authors escort you through their city, history and personal stories coming together. Baltimore is on my radar now that I live 4 hours down the road from it, know some people who are from there and have obsessively watched The Wire. I have a fondness for cities that are the scrappy little sister and are full of blue collar bars and falling down factories (see: my love of Portland, OR). Planning a trip to see Baltimore, I thought I would read this rather than a t
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Jun 04, 2008
Lara
rated it:
I really wanted to like this book - it's about Baltimore, particularly parts that I know and love. The author, a noted novelist who also teaches at Goucher, takes a number of walks through different stretches of Baltimore - a walk down York Road from Northern Parkway to the Inner Harbor, a walk up Charles Street (which I do myself at least thrre times a week), a walk through Dickeyville (never did this one but it sounds fun). What bothered me was there were a bunch of factual errors - he menti
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Jun 08, 2009
Sarah Pi
rated it:
Not bad, nothing special. He covers a lot of ground, mileage wise, but if you know the city, you see that he covered a fairly narrow swath of land. In walking down Greenmount and then up Charles, he hits most of the important architectural landmarks but misses some cultural ones. The series seems like it's designed to give you the hip insider's look, but MSB misses the mark a little. There's a little too much I-dared-to-tread and reliance on his friends' childhoods, and the lumps of history have
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Aug 11, 2008
Jaclyn
rated it:
While this was a good read for people who know and/or love Baltimore, I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would. Perhaps it was because Bell's walking companions were all pre-arranged and I feel that was, artistically speaking, an easy way out. Everyone knows everyone in Baltimore, it's not hard to make connections and arrange some quirky and quasi-famous tour guides if you've lived here for more than six months. A truly amazing journey would have involved some more chance meetings,
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May 07, 2011
Adrian
rated it:
Walking tour of Baltimore, with dry wit and good anecdotes. Noticed some inaccuracies and omissions.
Jul 16, 2008
Andrew
rated it: 
Boring. Smartt Bell never captures my imagination for Baltimore. I realized quickly that this was not supposed to be a travel guide, but does he not want me to come visit there? History is always great and I found Baltimore's interesting. It was the antecdotes and personal history of his friends that really made me frustrated with this book. Furthermore, if I went to Gouster college and found out that my fifty year old professor walked around town in a denim jacket with french phrases ironed
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Jun 15, 2008
Robin
rated it:
I "borrowed" this from Genevieve (yes, it was out on your end table) and kept asking myself why I continued to read it. I kept hoping that Bell would tell me something I didn't already know about Baltimore besides irrelevant details of his friends and acquaintances' lives. Gen did warn me, so I have only myself to blame.... I guess someone who knows virtually nothing about Baltimore might enjoy it. If they can get past Bell's self-aggrandizing style. Who edits this series?
Mar 03, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
I'm not really sure how to characterize this book and am not familiar of the series it is in--"Walks Through Different Cities." I found the writing kind of quirky, in a bad way, and awkward at times, but as a former Balti-moron for seven years, really appreciated all of the random factoids and trivia about Charm City. Had I not lived there for as long as I did, the book would have held zero appeal for me. Only current and former Baltimoreans need apply...
Jun 16, 2009
Jeannette
rated it:
This was an enjoyable, and quick, read. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed it if I didn't know the Baltimore area at all but thankfully I know the area. The author has a great conversational writing style and you almost feel like you are walking around with him. The mixture of his personal views and the historical background is well balanced. I would definitely recommend this to any Baltimorean.
Nov 16, 2007
Marianne
rated it:
Smartt Bell is some kinda literary god in Baltimore, and after reading this I know what kind: the kind who needs an editor. He can't leave out (even one!) parenthetical comment (you want parenthetical? there were infinitely better authors for this book.). This book only got a star because it's about Baltimore, hon.
Jan 11, 2010
Vanessa
rated it:
Interesting book about Bmore. However, I don't know if I would have been too interested if not currently living in Bmore. Informative though!
Jul 22, 2008
Chad
rated it:
Pretty fun and easy read with lots of tips for Baltimore eating spots and an even better historical focus. Segments bored me, but for the most part it was a nice read during my short stay in Baltimore - and it landed me at more than a few of my now-favorite places to eat.
Dec 25, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
A bit disappointing, really. Bell's writing wasn't as engaging as in his biographies or novels. I'm not sure I want to walk with him (not that he's asking)--and he seems to stop FREQUENTLY for drinks!
Jan 04, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
Any native Marylander will enjoy this stroll through the state's unofficial capital, Baltimore. The author's hikes with a varied assortment of "born and raised" folks is an added gem. Simple fun.
Dec 17, 2007
Just really curious about this book, Baltimore, what give the the HBO show "The Wire' that feel, John Waters, etc. A friend of mine from Baltimore once told me "Everyone who is from B-more is crazy."
Dec 13, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
An interesting book, though I was expecting a bit more history. The best walk was the first one. I can't imagine walking York Road. It takes a brave man, or maybe a fool, to do that.
Feb 01, 2008
Tracy
rated it:
I, personally, enjoyed this book as I lived in the Baltimore area for several years. However, if you don't have that connection to the city, I don't know how into it you would be.
Jun 09, 2008
Rhonda
rated it:
Humorous, informative, engaging, soulful -- makes a person really want to walk the streets of Baltimore and meet the characters Mr Bell encounters!
May 24, 2008
Ash
rated it: 
Bell is excellent at capturing the history and detours of Baltimore. More than that, though, this book made me want to get out and wander on my own.
Feb 29, 2008
William
rated it:
Starts strong. The Lippman/Dickeyville chapter was enjoyable. Dies during the later chapters. I still love Baltimore, however.
