Clifford Browder's Blog, page 7
January 3, 2021
490. Decorate Wild
BROWDERBOOKS
In spite of the pandemic, a lot is happening.
My nonfiction title No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World, will be available from Indies Unlimited for $14.95 for the month of January.Starting tomorrow, January 4, my current nonfiction title, New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You, will be on a virtual blog tour.Since the original publisher didn't renew our contract and no longer sells the book, I have decided to myself publish a second edition of my other nonfiction title, Fascinating New Yorkers: Power freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies. It got good reviews; I don't want it to get lost.My next novel, Forbidden Brownstones, should be released this month. I'll announce it in a media release.
DECORATE WILD
Her hair falls to her bosom in a tangled black Niagara of curls, framing a face with black crescent eyebrows and a toothy grin so hearty it could shatter glass. Her turquoise dress has a plunging neckline that stops just short of cleavage, over an ample bosom that, like all of her, bursts with life.
Who? Justina Blackeney, a home decor guru who merits a full-page spread in the Business Section of the New York Times of Sunday, December 27, 2020. I rarely glance at this section’s coverage of bosses, so what drew me to her? That tangle of hair and that ferocious grin, followed up by her wild ideas of home design. She is special, unique -- a force of nature.
And what are her ideas?
“Your home is not a static place,” she preaches. “Your home needs to grow and change as you grow and change.” And in view of the pandemic, she adds, people are spending more time than ever at home.
In April her third book will appear: Jungalow: Decorate Wild. “Jungalow” is her lifestyle brand, which features throw pillows, wallpaper, loungewear, and accessories. At a dynamic 41, Ms. Blackeney, I suspect, can throw a pillow with gusto, and her wallpaper probably leaps off the wall. She radiates energy, explodes it.
Here are some of the ways she spends her time:
So her week goes. Busy, busy, busy. She thrives on it, then relaxes in her Jacuzzi.
So have the ideas of this home style expert levitated me? Maybe, just a bit. For years I kept packed away in a suitcase a Mexican serape brought to me by a friend. I was fearful of its bright, eye-smashing colors, seemingly suitable only for a sun-drenched patio. My apartment gets sun, but alas, it has no such patio. Dare I bring it out anyway? “Live dangerously,” I tell myself. “Decorate wild.” And this at the onset of winter, a season that encourages somber, dark colors. Dare I? At the thought of it, a tingle of excitement races through me. Can one resist a force of nature? I ponder.
As for plants, I have four hearty sun-sucking cacti in the window, plus seven smaller ones renewed over the years from clipped and planted shoots from their aging predecessors. Green and prickly, but no bright colors. Should I add some splashy, color-rich plants? This too I must ponder.
“Mix-and-match layers of punchy patterns.” Sounds messy. This one I'll pass over.
“Nods to nature.” Not sure what this means. Plants? I’ve covered that. Photos? Spoils from previous nature walks? Or maybe a Jacuzzi. This too I must ponder. (Which makes for a lot of pondering.)
Clearly, Ms. Blackeney has sunk her home-design fangs deep into my psyche, nudging me toward gaudying up my somewhat drab apartment. But is it really that drab? Have I really grown and changed lately, so that my apartment needs to grow and change with me?
Decorate wild. An exciting, disturbing thought. Am I on the verge of a splashy breakthrough, a revolution in my daily living? Stay tuned.
Source note: This post was inspired by "Design That Adds a Sense of Belonging," the article cited above in the New York Times of Sunday, December 27, 2020.
December 27, 2020
489. Books About New York
BOOKS ABOUT NEW YORK
My sale has ended and will not be repeated. My books are available as always, but not on sale.
Print books make fantastic gifts. They don't wither or droop, go stale or out of fashion, affect your weight or your cholesterol, or get lost in the Internet. They just lie there, marvels of patience, waiting to be read. And if their content annoys you, you can hurl them across the room.
The following books are available. Nonfiction titles are listed first, then fiction, with a brief description and reviews. The most recent books appear at the start.
3. New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You
Finalist in the 14th National Indie Excellence Awards, 2020, Regional Nonfiction: Northeast.
Listed among the Best Independent Books in the September 3 and 10, 2020, issues of the LibraryBub newsletter, and included in a LibraryBub press release picked up by NBC and CBS.
A quirky memoir by a longtime resident who loves his crazy but profoundly creative city, with glances at that city’s fascinating history, and weird facts to surprise visitors and residents alike. A fun book, with a few grim moments.
For those who love (or hate) New York, have lived there or would like to, or are just plain curious about the city and its residents, past and present.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Tourists and those new to the city will most appreciate this light, entertaining look at the Big Apple. -- Publishers Weekly.
New York is the most exciting city in the world. It's unique and reading "New Yorkers" is the next best thing to actually living there! -- Midwest Book Review.
This immersive exploration of the city and its denizens etches a vivid portrait of “what it is to be a New Yorker ... our past and present glories and horrors.” — Kirkus Reviews.
Thousands of books have been written about New York City, but this one stands out. -- Blue Ink Review.
2. Fascinating New Yorkers: Power Freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies
Finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards, Biography.
Biographical sketches of colorful people who lived or died in New York. Included are a prostitute’s daughter who got to know two ex-kings and a future emperor; a naughty archbishop; and a serial killer who terrorized the city.
A good read for anyone who wants to know more about the hustlers, manipulators, artists, celebrities, and crooks that have frequented The City That Never Sleeps. You may be shocked or angered, but you won’t be bored.
See also my post #353, "Fascinating New Yorkers: Why and How I Wrote It."
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Readers will enjoy Clifford Browder’s lively, descriptive writing. Fans of non-fiction and more recent history will really appreciate the research that he put into these pages. — Editorial review for Reader Views by Paige Lovitt.
There’s something for everyone here in this collection of profiles, and it serves as a source of inspiration for readers who love NYC. — Editorial review for U.S. Review of Books by Gabriella Tutino.
I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting! — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Cristie Underwood.
1. No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World (Not available from the author now; sold out. Available otherwise, as stated below.)
Winner for regional nonfiction in the Tenth Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, 2016.
First place for Travel in the Reader Views Literary Awards for 2015-2016.
Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for 2016.
Memoir, history, and travel book all rolled into one. Its stories include alcoholics, abortionists, and grave robbers; the Gay Pride parade; peyote visions; and the author’s mugging in Central Park.
If you love (or hate) New York — its people, its doings, its craziness — this is the book for you.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed No Place for Normal: New York by Clifford Browder and highly recommend it to all fans of entertaining short stories and lovers of New York City. — Editorial review for Reader Views Literary Awards by Sheri Hoyte.
To read No Place for Normal: New York is to enter into Cliff Browder’s rich and engaging sixty years of adult life in New York. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Michael P. Hartnett.
If you want wonderful inside tales about New York, this is the book for you. A refreshing view on NYC that will not disappoint. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Bill L.
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
FICTION
4. The Eye That Never Sleeps
The fourth title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
The strange friendship of a private detective and the bank robber he has been hired to apprehend, climaxed by a violent confrontation in the dark midnight vaults of a bank.
For readers who like well-researched historical fiction, and who love a fast-paced detective story set in turbulent nineteenth-century New York.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
A classically told detective novel that creates a web of intrigue, while giving the reader a tour of a bygone era of America through the filter of New York City. – Editorial review by Sublime Book Review.
The Eye That Never Sleeps is a great midnight mystery to enjoy and I highly recommended it to all crime and mystery-loving fans. – Four-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Tiffany Ferrell.
Enter the seamier haunts of mid-nineteenth century NYC. One man is married, honorable. The other is an adept planner of felonies, and sneakily vindictive. Follow them around for a while and you decide which one bests the other in a dangerous game. — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Jan Tangen.
3. Dark Knowledge
The third title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Determined to discover if anyone in his family was involved in the pre-Civil War slave trade, young Chris Harmony meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered. What price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
For lovers of historical fiction who like a fast-paced mystery combined with a coming-of-age story.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Clifford Browder definitely managed to recreate the vibe and feel of that era. This is a great read! — Five-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Gisela Dixon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this historical book! I recommend to read! Facts accurate! — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by LisaMarie.
Overall this novel is worth reading and I highly recommend it. — Five-star reader review for Barnes & Noble by ladynicolai.
2. Bill Hope: His Story
Add captionThe second title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Young Bill Hope spills out in a torrent of words the story of his career as a street kid turned pickpocket, including his brutal treatment at Sing Sing and his escape from another prison in a coffin. In the end he faces betrayal and death threats, and possible involvement in a murder.
The story of a likable street kid who, armed with street smarts and hope, fights his way out of crime and squalor toward something that he thinks will be better.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
A real yarn of a story about a lovable pickpocket who gets into trouble and has a great adventure. A must read. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Nicole W. Brown.
Despite the story is told in a sort of flash language it's an easy read — and very enjoyable! — Four-star review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers by viennamax.
An easy read about a hard life. Interesting characters, a bustling city, poverty, privilege, crime, injustice combine to create a captivating tale. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by John.
1. The Pleasuring of Men
The first title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Tom Vaughan, a respectably raised young man, chooses to become a male prostitute, then falls in love with his most difficult client. Through a series of encounters he matures, till an unexpected act of violence provokes a final resolution. Gay romance, historical.
For anyone interested in the imagined gay underworld of late 1860s New York.
For an imaginary interview with Tom and other characters, see post #320 in my blog: “Interview: A Male Prostitute and His Clients.”
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
The novel is deftly drawn with rich descriptions, a rhythmic balance of action, dialogue, and exposition, and a nicely understated plot. — Editorial review for Barnes & Noble by Sean Moran.
The detail Browder brings to this glimpse into history is only equaled by his writing of credible and interesting characters. Highly recommended. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by Nan Hawthorne.
Altogether this is a tale encompassing both sophisticated wit and humour, and yet the subject matter is the grotty underbelly of society as enacted by its leading citizens. It is absolutely delightful. Five Bees. — Gerry Burnie's Reviews.
### ### ###
December 20, 2020
Holiday Book Sale 3
BOOKS ABOUT NEW YORK
The sale has ended and will not be repeated. My books are available as always, but not on sale.
Print books make fantastic gifts. They don't wither or droop, go stale or out of fashion, affect your weight or your cholesterol, or get lost in the Internet. They just lie there, marvels of patience, waiting to be read. And if their content annoys you, you can hurl them across the room.
The following books are available. Nonfiction titles are listed first, then fiction, with a brief description and reviews. The most recent books appear at the start.
3. New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You
Finalist in the 14th National Indie Excellence Awards, 2020, Regional Nonfiction: Northeast.
Listed among the Best Independent Books in the September 3 and 10, 2020, issues of the LibraryBub newsletter, and included in a LibraryBub press release picked up by NBC and CBS.
A quirky memoir by a longtime resident who loves his crazy but profoundly creative city, with glances at that city’s fascinating history, and weird facts to surprise visitors and residents alike. A fun book, with a few grim moments.
For those who love (or hate) New York, have lived there or would like to, or are just plain curious about the city and its residents, past and present.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Tourists and those new to the city will most appreciate this light, entertaining look at the Big Apple. -- Publishers Weekly.
New York is the most exciting city in the world. It's unique and reading "New Yorkers" is the next best thing to actually living there! -- Midwest Book Review.
This immersive exploration of the city and its denizens etches a vivid portrait of “what it is to be a New Yorker ... our past and present glories and horrors.” — Kirkus Reviews.
Thousands of books have been written about New York City, but this one stands out. -- Blue Ink Review.
2. Fascinating New Yorkers: Power Freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies
Finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards, Biography.
Biographical sketches of colorful people who lived or died in New York. Included are a prostitute’s daughter who got to know two ex-kings and a future emperor; a naughty archbishop; and a serial killer who terrorized the city.
A good read for anyone who wants to know more about the hustlers, manipulators, artists, celebrities, and crooks that have frequented The City That Never Sleeps. You may be shocked or angered, but you won’t be bored.
See also my post #353, "Fascinating New Yorkers: Why and How I Wrote It."
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Readers will enjoy Clifford Browder’s lively, descriptive writing. Fans of non-fiction and more recent history will really appreciate the research that he put into these pages. — Editorial review for Reader Views by Paige Lovitt.
There’s something for everyone here in this collection of profiles, and it serves as a source of inspiration for readers who love NYC. — Editorial review for U.S. Review of Books by Gabriella Tutino.
I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting! — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Cristie Underwood.
1. No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World (Not available from the author now; sold out. Available otherwise, as stated below.)
Winner for regional nonfiction in the Tenth Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, 2016.
First place for Travel in the Reader Views Literary Awards for 2015-2016.
Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for 2016.
Memoir, history, and travel book all rolled into one. Its stories include alcoholics, abortionists, and grave robbers; the Gay Pride parade; peyote visions; and the author’s mugging in Central Park.
If you love (or hate) New York — its people, its doings, its craziness — this is the book for you.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed No Place for Normal: New York by Clifford Browder and highly recommend it to all fans of entertaining short stories and lovers of New York City. — Editorial review for Reader Views Literary Awards by Sheri Hoyte.
To read No Place for Normal: New York is to enter into Cliff Browder’s rich and engaging sixty years of adult life in New York. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Michael P. Hartnett.
If you want wonderful inside tales about New York, this is the book for you. A refreshing view on NYC that will not disappoint. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Bill L.
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
FICTION
4. The Eye That Never Sleeps
The fourth title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
The strange friendship of a private detective and the bank robber he has been hired to apprehend, climaxed by a violent confrontation in the dark midnight vaults of a bank.
For readers who like well-researched historical fiction, and who love a fast-paced detective story set in turbulent nineteenth-century New York.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
A classically told detective novel that creates a web of intrigue, while giving the reader a tour of a bygone era of America through the filter of New York City. – Editorial review by Sublime Book Review.
The Eye That Never Sleeps is a great midnight mystery to enjoy and I highly recommended it to all crime and mystery-loving fans. – Four-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Tiffany Ferrell.
Enter the seamier haunts of mid-nineteenth century NYC. One man is married, honorable. The other is an adept planner of felonies, and sneakily vindictive. Follow them around for a while and you decide which one bests the other in a dangerous game. — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Jan Tangen.
3. Dark Knowledge
The third title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Determined to discover if anyone in his family was involved in the pre-Civil War slave trade, young Chris Harmony meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered. What price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
For lovers of historical fiction who like a fast-paced mystery combined with a coming-of-age story.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
Clifford Browder definitely managed to recreate the vibe and feel of that era. This is a great read! — Five-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Gisela Dixon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this historical book! I recommend to read! Facts accurate! — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by LisaMarie.
Overall this novel is worth reading and I highly recommend it. — Five-star reader review for Barnes & Noble by ladynicolai.
2. Bill Hope: His Story
Add captionThe second title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Young Bill Hope spills out in a torrent of words the story of his career as a street kid turned pickpocket, including his brutal treatment at Sing Sing and his escape from another prison in a coffin. In the end he faces betrayal and death threats, and possible involvement in a murder.
The story of a likable street kid who, armed with street smarts and hope, fights his way out of crime and squalor toward something that he thinks will be better.
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
A real yarn of a story about a lovable pickpocket who gets into trouble and has a great adventure. A must read. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Nicole W. Brown.
Despite the story is told in a sort of flash language it's an easy read — and very enjoyable! — Four-star review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers by viennamax.
An easy read about a hard life. Interesting characters, a bustling city, poverty, privilege, crime, injustice combine to create a captivating tale. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by John.
1. The Pleasuring of Men
The first title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Tom Vaughan, a respectably raised young man, chooses to become a male prostitute, then falls in love with his most difficult client. Through a series of encounters he matures, till an unexpected act of violence provokes a final resolution. Gay romance, historical.
For anyone interested in the imagined gay underworld of late 1860s New York.
For an imaginary interview with Tom and other characters, see post #320 in my blog: “Interview: A Male Prostitute and His Clients.”
Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Reviews
The novel is deftly drawn with rich descriptions, a rhythmic balance of action, dialogue, and exposition, and a nicely understated plot. — Editorial review for Barnes & Noble by Sean Moran.
The detail Browder brings to this glimpse into history is only equaled by his writing of credible and interesting characters. Highly recommended. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by Nan Hawthorne.
Altogether this is a tale encompassing both sophisticated wit and humour, and yet the subject matter is the grotty underbelly of society as enacted by its leading citizens. It is absolutely delightful. Five Bees. — Gerry Burnie's Reviews.
### ### ###
Holiday Book Sale 2
HOLIDAY BOOK SALE
BOOKS ABOUT NEW YORK
Last chance! The sale ends at 5 p.m, December 24. Such madness will not be repeated.
Buy one, get one free. My paperbacks usually retail for a little more or a little less than $20. Overcome either by the holiday spirit of giving or by incipient senility, for this one-time sale I offer them at $20 each: two paperbacks for $20 (plus postage).
Available only from the author. Signed or unsigned. U.S. residents only.
Print books make fantastic gifts. They don't wither or droop, go stale or out of fashion, affect your weight or your cholesterol, or get lost in the Internet. They just lie there, marvels of patience, waiting to be read. And if their content annoys you, you can hurl them across the room.
Interested? Just contact the author by e-mail:
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
But supply of some titles is limited; don't wait till the last minute.
The following books are available. Nonfiction titles are listed first, then fiction, with a brief description and reviews. The most recent books appear at the start.
3. New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You
Finalist in the 14th National Indie Excellence Awards, 2020, Regional Nonfiction: Northeast.
Listed among the Best Independent Books in the September 3 and 10, 2020, issues of the LibraryBub newsletter, and included in a LibraryBub press release picked up by NBC and CBS.
A quirky memoir by a longtime resident who loves his crazy but profoundly creative city, with glances at that city’s fascinating history, and weird facts to surprise visitors and residents alike. A fun book, with a few grim moments.
For those who love (or hate) New York, have lived there or would like to, or are just plain curious about the city and its residents, past and present.
Reviews
Tourists and those new to the city will most appreciate this light, entertaining look at the Big Apple. -- Publishers Weekly.
New York is the most exciting city in the world. It's unique and reading "New Yorkers" is the next best thing to actually living there! -- Midwest Book Review.
This immersive exploration of the city and its denizens etches a vivid portrait of “what it is to be a New Yorker ... our past and present glories and horrors.” — Kirkus Reviews.
Thousands of books have been written about New York City, but this one stands out. -- Blue Ink Review.
2. Fascinating New Yorkers: Power Freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies
Finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards, Biography.
Biographical sketches of colorful people who lived or died in New York. Included are a prostitute’s daughter who got to know two ex-kings and a future emperor; a naughty archbishop; and a serial killer who terrorized the city.
A good read for anyone who wants to know more about the hustlers, manipulators, artists, celebrities, and crooks that have frequented The City That Never Sleeps. You may be shocked or angered, but you won’t be bored.
See also my post #353, "Fascinating New Yorkers: Why and How I Wrote It."
Reviews
Readers will enjoy Clifford Browder’s lively, descriptive writing. Fans of non-fiction and more recent history will really appreciate the research that he put into these pages. — Editorial review for Reader Views by Paige Lovitt.
There’s something for everyone here in this collection of profiles, and it serves as a source of inspiration for readers who love NYC. — Editorial review for U.S. Review of Books by Gabriella Tutino.
I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting! — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Cristie Underwood.
1. No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World (Not available now; sold out.)
Winner for regional nonfiction in the Tenth Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, 2016.
First place for Travel in the Reader Views Literary Awards for 2015-2016.
Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for 2016.
Memoir, history, and travel book all rolled into one. Its stories include alcoholics, abortionists, and grave robbers; the Gay Pride parade; peyote visions; and the author’s mugging in Central Park.
If you love (or hate) New York — its people, its doings, its craziness — this is the book for you. (Sorry -- sold out.)
Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed No Place for Normal: New York by Clifford Browder and highly recommend it to all fans of entertaining short stories and lovers of New York City. — Editorial review for Reader Views Literary Awards by Sheri Hoyte.
To read No Place for Normal: New York is to enter into Cliff Browder’s rich and engaging sixty years of adult life in New York. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Michael P. Hartnett.
If you want wonderful inside tales about New York, this is the book for you. A refreshing view on NYC that will not disappoint. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Bill L.
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
FICTION
4. The Eye That Never Sleeps
The fourth title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
The strange friendship of a private detective and the bank robber he has been hired to apprehend, climaxed by a violent confrontation in the dark midnight vaults of a bank.
For readers who like well-researched historical fiction, and who love a fast-paced detective story set in turbulent nineteenth-century New York.
Reviews
A classically told detective novel that creates a web of intrigue, while giving the reader a tour of a bygone era of America through the filter of New York City. – Editorial review by Sublime Book Review.
The Eye That Never Sleeps is a great midnight mystery to enjoy and I highly recommended it to all crime and mystery-loving fans. – Four-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Tiffany Ferrell.
Enter the seamier haunts of mid-nineteenth century NYC. One man is married, honorable. The other is an adept planner of felonies, and sneakily vindictive. Follow them around for a while and you decide which one bests the other in a dangerous game. — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Jan Tangen.
3. Dark Knowledge
The third title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Determined to discover if anyone in his family was involved in the pre-Civil War slave trade, young Chris Harmony meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered. What price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
For lovers of historical fiction who like a fast-paced mystery combined with a coming-of-age story.
Reviews
Clifford Browder definitely managed to recreate the vibe and feel of that era. This is a great read! — Five-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Gisela Dixon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this historical book! I recommend to read! Facts accurate! — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by LisaMarie.
Overall this novel is worth reading and I highly recommend it. — Five-star reader review for Barnes & Noble by ladynicolai.
2. Bill Hope: His Story
Add captionThe second title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Young Bill Hope spills out in a torrent of words the story of his career as a street kid turned pickpocket, including his brutal treatment at Sing Sing and his escape from another prison in a coffin. In the end he faces betrayal and death threats, and possible involvement in a murder.
The story of a likable street kid who, armed with street smarts and hope, fights his way out of crime and squalor toward something that he thinks will be better.
Reviews
A real yarn of a story about a lovable pickpocket who gets into trouble and has a great adventure. A must read. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Nicole W. Brown.
Despite the story is told in a sort of flash language it's an easy read — and very enjoyable! — Four-star review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers by viennamax.
An easy read about a hard life. Interesting characters, a bustling city, poverty, privilege, crime, injustice combine to create a captivating tale. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by John.
1. The Pleasuring of Men
The first title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Tom Vaughan, a respectably raised young man, chooses to become a male prostitute, then falls in love with his most difficult client. Through a series of encounters he matures, till an unexpected act of violence provokes a final resolution. Gay romance, historical.
For anyone interested in the imagined gay underworld of late 1860s New York.
For an imaginary interview with Tom and other characters, see post #320 in my blog: “Interview: A Male Prostitute and His Clients.”
Reviews
The novel is deftly drawn with rich descriptions, a rhythmic balance of action, dialogue, and exposition, and a nicely understated plot. — Editorial review for Barnes & Noble by Sean Moran.
The detail Browder brings to this glimpse into history is only equaled by his writing of credible and interesting characters. Highly recommended. — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by Nan Hawthorne.
Altogether this is a tale encompassing both sophisticated wit and humour, and yet the subject matter is the grotty underbelly of society as enacted by its leading citizens. It is absolutely delightful. Five Bees. — Gerry Burnie's Reviews.
### ### ###
So there you have it: six books, pick two. Two for the price of one: twenty dollars (plus postage). Just e-mail me with your choice:
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
December 2, 2020
Holiday Book Sale
HOLIDAY BOOK SALE
BOOKS ABOUT NEW YORK
Buy one, get one free. Something this author has never done before. At book fairs I've offered buy two, get one free -- in other words, three books for the price of two -- but never this: two for the price of one! It's either the holiday spirit of giving, or incipient senility. (I incline toward the latter, but maybe both.)
My paperbacks usually retail for a little more or a little less than $20. For this sale I offer them at $20 each: two paperbacks for $20 (plus postage).
Available only from the author, a longtime New York resident who loves his city and celebrates it, warts and all.
Print books make great gifts. They don't wither or droop, go stale or out of fashion, fatten you, or get lost in the Internet. They just lie there, waiting to be read. And you can read them without a mask (or with one). Or use them to squash roaches, or if their content annoys you, hurl them across the room.
Sale ends at 5 p.m, December 24. (Unless before that, supply or the author gives out.)
Interested? Just contact the author by e-mail:
But supply of some titles is limited; don't wait till the last minute.
The following books are available. Nonfiction titles are listed first, then fiction, with a brief description and reviews. The most recent books are listed first.
3. New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You
Finalist in the 14th National Indie Excellence Awards, 2020, Regional Nonfiction: Northeast.
Listed among the Best Independent Books in the September 3 and 10, 2020, issues of the LibraryBub newsletter, and included in a LibraryBub press release picked up by NBC and CBS.
A quirky memoir by a longtime resident who loves his crazy but profoundly creative city, with glances at that city’s fascinating history, and weird facts to surprise visitors and residents alike. A fun book, with a few grim moments.
For those who love (or hate) New York, have lived there or would like to, or are just plain curious about the city and its residents, past and present.
Reviews
Tourists and those new to the city will most appreciate this light, entertaining look at the Big Apple. -- Publishers Weekly.
New York is the most exciting city in the world. It's unique and reading "New Yorkers" is the next best thing to actually living there! -- Midwest Book Review.
This immersive exploration of the city and its denizens etches a vivid portrait of “what it is to be a New Yorker ... our past and present glories and horrors.” — Kirkus Reviews.
Thousands of books have been written about New York City, but this one stands out. -- Blue Ink Review.
2. Fascinating New Yorkers: Power Freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies
Finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards, Biography.
Biographical sketches of colorful people who lived or died in New York. Included are a prostitute’s daughter who got to know two ex-kings and a future emperor; a naughty archbishop; and a serial killer who terrorized the city.
A good read for anyone who wants to know more about the hustlers, manipulators, artists, celebrities, and crooks that have frequented The City That Never Sleeps. You may be shocked or angered, but you won’t be bored.
See also my post #353, "Fascinating New Yorkers: Why and How I Wrote It."
Reviews
Readers will enjoy Clifford Browder’s lively, descriptive writing. Fans of non-fiction and more recent history will really appreciate the research that he put into these pages. — Editorial review for Reader Views by Paige Lovitt.
There’s something for everyone here in this collection of profiles, and it serves as a source of inspiration for readers who love NYC. — Editorial review for U.S. Review of Books by Gabriella Tutino.
I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting! — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Cristie Underwood.
1. No Place for Normal: New York / Stories from the Most Exciting City in the World
Winner for regional nonfiction in the Tenth Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, 2016.
First place for Travel in the Reader Views Literary Awards for 2015-2016.
Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for 2016.
No Place for Normal: New York is a combination of memoir, history, and travel book all rolled into one. Its stories include alcoholics, abortionists, and grave robbers; the Gay Pride parade; peyote visions; and the author’s mugging in Central Park.
If you love (or hate) New York — its people, its doings, its craziness — this is the book for you.
Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed No Place for Normal: New York by Clifford Browder and highly recommend it to all fans of entertaining short stories and lovers of New York City. — Editorial review for Reader Views Literary Awards by Sheri Hoyte.
To read No Place for Normal: New York is to enter into Cliff Browder’s rich and engaging sixty years of adult life in New York. — Reader review by Michael P. Hartnett.
If you want wonderful inside tales about New York, this is the book for you. A refreshing view on NYC that will not disappoint. — Reader review by Bill L.
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
FICTION
4. The Eye That Never Sleeps
The fourth title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
The strange friendship of a private detective and the bank robber he has been hired to apprehend, climaxed by a violent confrontation in the dark midnight vaults of a bank.
For readers who like well-researched historical fiction, and who love a fast-paced detective story set in turbulent nineteenth-century New York.
Reviews
A classically told detective novel that creates a web of intrigue, while giving the reader a tour of a bygone era of America through the filter of New York City. – Editorial review by Sublime Book Review.
The Eye That Never Sleeps is a great midnight mystery to enjoy and I highly recommended to all crime and mystery-loving fans. – Four-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Tiffany Ferrell.
Enter the seamier haunts of mid-nineteenth century NYC. One man is married, honorable. The other is an adept planner of felonies, and sneakily vindictive. Follow them around for a while and you decide which one bests the other in a dangerous game. — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Jan Tangen.
3. Dark Knowledge
The third title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Trying to discover if anyone in his family was involved in the pre-Civil War slave trade, young Chris Harmony meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered. What price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
For lovers of historical fiction who like a fast-paced mystery combined with a coming-of-age story.
Reviews
Clifford Browder definitely managed to recreate the vibe and feel of that era. This is a great read! — Five-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Gisela Dixon.
Thoroughly enjoyed this historical book! I recommend to read! Facts accurate! — Five-star reader review for Goodreads by LisaMarie.
Overall this novel is worth reading and I highly recommend it. — Five-star reader review for Barnes & Noble by ladynicolai.
2. Bill Hope: His Story
Add captionThe second title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Young Bill Hope spills out in a torrent of words the story of his career as a street kid turned pickpocket, including his brutal treatment at Sing Sing and escape from another prison in a coffin. In the end he faces betrayal and death threats, and possible involvement in a murder.
The story of a likable street kid who, armed with street smarts and hope, fights his way out of crime and squalor toward something that he thinks will be better.
Reviews
A real yarn of a story about a lovable pickpocket who gets into trouble and has a great adventure. A must read. — Five-star reader review for Amazon by Nicole W. Brown.
Despite the story is told in a sort of flash language it's an easy read — and very enjoyable! — Four-star review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers by viennamax.
1. The Pleasuring of Men
The first title in the Metropolis series of historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York.
Tom Vaughan, a respectably raised young man, chooses to become a male prostitute, then falls in love with his most difficult client. Through a series of encounters he matures, till an unexpected act of violence provokes a final resolution. Gay romance, historical.
For anyone interested in the imagined gay underworld of late 1860s New York.
For an imaginary interview with Tom and other characters, see post #320 in my blog: “Interview: A Male Prostitute and His Clients.”
Reviews
The novel is deftly drawn with rich descriptions, a rhythmic balance of action, dialogue, and exposition, and a nicely understated plot. — Barnes & Noble editorial review by Sean Moran.
The detail Browder brings to this glimpse into history is only equaled by his writing of credible and interesting characters. Highly recommended. — Five-star Goodreads review by Nan Hawthorne.
Altogether this is a tale encompassing both sophisticated wit and humour, and yet the subject matter is the grotty underbelly of society as enacted by its leading citizens. It is absolutely delightful. Five Bees. — Gerry Burnie's Reviews.
So there you have it: three nonfiction books about New York and New Yorkers, and four historical novels set in nineteenth-century New York. Your choice. Two for the price of one: twenty dollars (plus postage). Just e-mail me with your choice:
cliffbrowder@verizon.net
November 29, 2020
488. Reviewers: They Lift Your Spirits, They Break Your Bones
BROWDERBOOKS
This post is all about my latest book and its reviewers.
Reviewers: They Lift Your Spirits,
They Break Your Bones
I learned long ago that a writer has to have the thickest of skins in order to survive reviews. Not all reviews, of course, just. the bad ones. My current offering, New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You, has amazed me by accumulating excellent editorial reviews, followed lately by a series of negative reviews such as no book of mine has ever before inspired. Among these negative reviews are some more good ones, but for me personally, the negative ones risk overshadowing the positive ones.
I remind myself that if this book has received many bad reviews, it's in part because it has received more reviews in general than its predecessors. Still, many of the bad reviews baffle me.
Here is my favorite bad review, rating the book a single star, the worst rating possible. It's a long review; I'll offer only what I consider the choicest parts.
Review by Janet G.
This book has fewer facts than anecdotes. And fewer anecdotes than unsubstantiated opinions. It also has a bigoted slant that set me on edge from the beginning. The author… speaks very highly of New York and New Yorkers, as to be expected. Not expected is his building up of New Yorkers by tearing down other groups…. Just as unexpected were his disparaging remarks about The Heartland and its Republican and WASP nature. Almost every group he extolls is paired with a group he reviles. Not even 20% into the book, he went on an extremely vile rant about our President. Without proof or even anecdotal evidence, he made vile claims that are his opinion only and not historical facts. That is the point I stopped reading this book.
Such is this reviewer's opinion of the book and its author. She has misread me from start to finish. The author is himself a native of the heartland and has often told his New York friends that the heartland is not, emphatically not, fly-over country. As for the "vile rant" about our President, I assume it refers to the second paragraph on p. 54, in the chapter on hustlers. The passage in question declares that the jailed financial operator Martin Shkreli is "Donald Trump writ small," and calls the two of them stellar examples of the New York hustler. This is indeed my opinion, and I stand by it.
Here now are extracts from a five-star review of the book by "Mochalove," a fellow New Yorker.
This is not your typical cut and dry biography, providing dry facts; instead, the read is a heartfelt memoir of a man and the city he lives, loves, survives and works in. The narrative keeps you rapt in its pages with a winning combination of information gleaned from Mr. Browder’s unique standpoint, research, and experiences from his many years as a resident.... Part biography, part historical dive and part travel guide, this work offers a tantalizing vision of an exciting city overflowing with diversity in all respects.
Would you believe that these two reviewers are talking about the same book? Every seasoned author knows to expect diversity of opinion among reviewers, but I have never before known it to be so extreme. And this is just one example among many. How potential readers will decide whether or not the book is worth buying, I cannot imagine.
I wish them all good judgment and good luck.
©. 2020. Clifford Browder
November 22, 2020
487. New York Mobsters Invade the Catskills
NEW YORK MOBSTERS
INVADE THE CATSKILLS
Upstate New York, solidly Republican, has always thought of downstate New York -- New York City and its environs -- as a sink of sin, a swamp of corruption, and a nest of urban wiles. By contrast, upstaters have thought of themselves as clean, honest, and upright -- the sort of citizens that form a solid base, calm and reasonable, for a functioning democracy. (I discuss this at greater length in chapter 21, "Upstate vs. Downstate," in No Place for Normal: New York.)
So imagine this scene in the 1920s: The small town of Pine Plains in Dutchess County, some thirty miles north of Poughkeepsie. Quiet farmland, and down a gravelly side road the hulking mass of a barn no different in appearance from all the other large barns of the neighborhood. An idyllic scene, rural, restful, remote, far from the crime, vice, and hurlyburly of the city.
Except for one disquieting fact: the hulking mass of a barn was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, illegal moonshine distilleries in the state. This was the age of Prohibition, New Yorkers wanted their booze, and there were plenty of providers eager to supply them with it. Liquor was pouring into the thirsty city from Canada, and from a flotilla of boats anchored offshore just outside the three-mile limit. But resourceful entrepreneurs also saw the advantage of producing the stuff right there in the state, in a quiet rural neighborhood where such misdeeds would not -- at least for a while -- be suspected. The barn in question was outfitted with cavernous bunkers for storage, and an elaborate tunnel system for escape.
And who was the mastermind behind this elaborate moonshine distillery? None other than the notorious NewYork City gangster and bootlegger Dutch Schultz. Or so it is thought, though hard evidence is lacking. He was never seen in Pine Plains.
Where Mr. Schultz was definitely seen was the town of Phoenicia, fifty miles west of Pine Plains. He appreciated the isolated location of the town, on a direct route from Canada to New York City. Years later locals recalled him in the town, sometimes buying people dinner at the Phoenicia Hotel and staying at a nearby lodge.
If Schultz was never seen in Pine Plains, local legend puts Legs Diamond, Schultz's rival, there. Schultz may have controlled the booze distribution in Ulster County, leaving Dutchess County to Diamond. Until 1931, at least, when Diamond was murdered, perhaps on orders from Schultz.
To spice up local legends, there is the story of Schultz burying a waterproof safe crammed with diamonds, gold, and a stash of thousand-dollar bills somewhere in the Catskills. If he did, there is no record of it. Rumor has it that other mobsters searched for it for years, though in vain, and even today treasure hunters meet annually to hunt for it.
In October 1932 the Pine Plains distillery was raided by federal agents, who found one of the most extensive and elaborate layouts in that part of the country. And on October 23, 1935, Dutch Schultz and his bodyguards were killed in the Palace Chop House in Newark, New Jersey, probably on orders of Charles (Lucky) Luciano, another legendary New York mobster.
If Legs Diamond was murdered on orders of Schultz, and Schultz was executed on orders of Lucky Luciano, who ordered Luciano's killing? No one. At least, no one successfully. He would be brought to justice by federal prosecutor Thomas Dewey, and later was released in exchange for providing the U.S. military with links to the Sicilian mafia when we occupied Sicily in 1943. But that's another story, told in chapter 9 of my other nonfiction work, Fascinating New Yorkers.
And how is the Pine Plains barn doing today? Just fine. Yes, it's still standing, and ironically, serving legal moonshine to the public. ln 2014 Governor Andrew Cuomo in his infinite wisdom sponsored legislation easing regulations on farm distillers. As a result, distilleries have sprung up all over the state, making New York second only to California in craft distilleries. Revamped, the old barn now houses Dutch's Spirits, a restaurant/distillery whose patrons sit at outdoor picnic tables, sipping cocktails and munching pizza. And inside, in a handsome fame, is a portrait of Dutch Schultz, and it isn't a mug shot. He may never have set foot there, but his image presides.
Source note: This post was inspired by Devorah Lev-Tov's article, "Moonshine Made Here, and Now Legal," in the Metropolitan Section of the New York Times of Sunday, November 15, 2020; most of its content comes from that source.
© 2020 Clifford Browder
November 15, 2020
486. Joyous Queerdom
Consider this scene, which has just come to my attention:
Aerialists swinging upside down in the neon-colored air high above hundreds of enthralled partygoers;Glittering go-go dancers spinning in cages high above a crowded dance floor that pulsates to booming disco;Drag queens with flaring pink or platinum blond hair performing as pole dancers, fire breathers, stilt walkers, and clowns;A chaotic energy infusing performers and audience alike and proclaiming to the world that this scene of total freedom welcomes everyone.Coney Island and the circus slammed together in a gay discotheque? No, not really. Or Bedlam mixed with Bellevue on a dance floor? Wrong again.So what is -- or was -- it? The House of Yes, an evolved hippie/punk scene that became, pre-pandemic, a hugely successful slice of queer New York nightlife in a hangar-like space in a former industrial stretch of Bushwick, Brooklyn. It was wild, it was crazy, it was stupendously and noisily creative, as only New York can be.
And today? Zilch. It was closed down by the city in March, as COVID-19 spread. In July it reopened as a ghost of itself, serving food and drinks outside. Then in August it was closed again because of violations of the state's mandate that food be served with every drink order. Since then its creators have offered virtual dance parties and remote classes taught by resident performers, but whether it will ever be revived as the chaotic pre-pandemic scene of yore is problematic.
The House of Yes: the title intrigues me. The word "no" in English has far more resonance than "yes," with its tail-end sibilant, but this "yes" was surely saying to the world that in this precious space everyone was welcome, and the weirder and wilder the better. It reminds me of the triumphant "yes" of Mollie Bloom at the end of Joyce's Ulysses, a yea-saying that is far more than an acceptance of Leopold Bloom's proposal of marriage. Mollie is saying "yes" to life, to the world: an upbeat ending to a masterpiece that might otherwise, in its totality, seem depressing.
So if the House of Yes ever revives, will I go there? Of course not. My taste for wildness dates back to my younger days; I'm in a mood now for sanity and serenity, for reflection and calm. Did I ever dance wildly? You bet! Long ago at the Goldbug in the West Village, where you had to get past a Mafia gatekeeper to immerse yourself in the deafening music and crowded strobe-lit dance floor where conversation was unthinkable; all you could do was dance, and believe me, it wasn't a waltz. Long, long ago.
But I hope the House of Yes does in time revive, with all the wildness and weirdness of its former days. They were an explosion of creativity and a fountain of joy. I wish them vast success.
Source note: This post was inspired by Julia Carmel's article "Pining for a Brooklyn Club's Comeback," in the Metropolitan section of the New York Times of Sunday, November 8, 2020. The article is richly illustrated.
© 2020 Clifford Browder
November 8, 2020
485. Books Bound in Human Skin
Books Bound in Human Skin
Yes, it’s called anthropodermic bibliopegy, meaning books bound in human skin, and it really does happen. And we aren’t alking about ghouls or psychopaths or Jack the Ripper; we’re talking about ordinary people, some of them even scholars or sensitive souls.
In 2014 the Houghton Library at Harvard University announced that its copy of Des destinées de l’âme (Destinies of the Soul), a meditation by the French novelist and poet Arsène Houssaye dating from the mid-1880s, had been subjected to tests and found to be bound in human skin. The book had been acquired in 1934 and was one of three copies in the Harvard libraries that had been tested; the other two proved to be of sheepskin. The book was an object of morbid curiosity, especially among undergraduates, and a reminder that this practice — binding a book in human skin — was once considered acceptable.
Houssaye had given a copy of the book to his friend Ludovic Bouland, a prominent Strasbourg doctor who had a specimen of skin from a woman’s back. Knowing that Houssaye had written his book while mourning the death of his wife, Bouland thought such a binding appropriate. The good doctor meant it as an act of compassion, but the skin had been taken without consent from a mentally ill patient who died in an asylum and whose body was unclaimed. But Harvard’s possession of the item, once its story was known, provoked outrage. Protesters declared it a macabre disgrace and urged the library to immediately get rid of it.
Not everyone agrees. There are collectors eager to acquire any rare and controversial item, and that certainly includes books bound in human skin. Such books are sold discreetly for undisclosed prices that are high enough to encourage the production of fakes bound in calfskin or pigskin, and detectable only through a process called peptide mass fingerprinting. To date, 31 books have been tested, of which 18 have been confirmed as human skin books. But dealers and collecctors are reluctant to have their books tested, since a negative result diminishes the book’s value; human skin books, real or fake, are sexy. Nor are librarians eager to have their books tested, since a positive result courts outrage and notoriety.
Where does the skin come from? From where you might expect: executed criminals whose remains were unclaimed, and the mentally ill who died in asylums. But there have been voluntary donors, too. Notably, George Walton, a notorious highwayman who died of tuberculosis in a Massachusetts state prison in 1837. Dying, he asked the attending physician to remove skin from his back after death, so it could bind a book relating his story, which he had dictated to a cooperative prison warden. The book, now at the Boston Athenaeum, has been tested and its binding is indeed of human skin.
Much more can be said on the subject, including its relation to tattooed skin, which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was preserved and colleccted by medical collectors, ethnographers, and criminologists. The Science Museum archive in London has a collection of 300 specimens acquired in 1929 from a Parisian doctor who described them as taken from sailors, soldiers, murderers, and criminals of all nationalities.
I confess that I find this whole business eerie, to put it mildly, and degrading to the human body. Marketing human skin books and pieces of tattooed skin reminds me of the Field Museum in Chicago, which once advertised its display of Egyptian mummies by boasting that, thanks to modern technology, you could now see their grotesquely preserved remains inside their sarcophogi. “Bury the dead, you sick people,” was one resulting online comment; I’m inclined to agree.
Source note: This post was inspired by Mike Jay’s article “The Hide That Binds,” in the November 5, 2020, issue of The New York Review of Books. The article is a review of Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Imvestigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin, by Megan Rosenbloom. All the post’s content comes from Jay’s review.
Coming soon: Sparklers in Lockdown: How Is the Diamond District Doing Today?
© 2020 Clifford Browder
November 1, 2020
484. What's Sexy and What Isn't
BROWDERBOOKS
I have just finished reading the page proofs for my forthcoming novel Forbidden Brownstones, which will be released early next year. It will soon be available for preorders. Set in nineteenth-century New York, it tells the story of a young black man who is fascinated by brownstones, where the white gentry live, and dreams of living in one himself and even possessing it. This becomes an obsession, with hints of arson, theft, and murder.
What’s Sexy and What Isn’t
Long ago a social worker working with the homeless told me, “Homelessness isn’t sexy.” Discouraged, she soon retired. By “sexy” she meant new, vital, interesting. Homelessness had become too vast, too familiar, and too hopeless to attract volunteers and donors.
Though we may not do it consciously, we often use “sexy” to indicate something new, exciting, and appealing. So here is a list of things that I think sexy, and their unsexy opposites. Feel free to disagree.
Coming soon: ??? Maybe something about anthropodermic bibliopegy. Never heard of it? Books bound in human skin. No, I'm not kidding. Or maybe diamonds. How are they doing during the pandemic?
© 2020. Clifford Browder
