Five Flights Up: and Other New York Apartment Stories

by Toni Schlesinger

A flop house, a pumping station, a maid's room, a homeless center, a former brothel, a Richard Meier building, a circus trailer, a sail boat, a skyscraper, buildings named Esther and Loraine—just a few of the places New Yorkers call home. For the past eight years writer Toni Schlesinger has been bringing us these "conversation places" in her weekly column in the Village Voice. Through her incisive questioning, original writing, and comic parallel reveries, Schlesinger creates miniature documentaries on the lives, passions, hopes, and heartbreaks of many of New York City's millions

Genres: Nonfiction, New York, Essays

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2006

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Flights Up: and Other New York Apartment Stories by Toni Schlesinger means so much more to me now that I'm one of those people that would end up in this book. I am just thankful that I don't have to climb five flights to get to my apartment every day! If you've ever lived in New York City, are moving to NYC, or have ever wondered about living in NYC, this is a great introduction to the housing situation here. Trying to find housing in NYC is an unique experience and unlike anywhere else I've been in the world.

The book is actually a collection of articles she published about NYC housing. Each section tells you where the place is, how much it costs, how big it is, and who the occupants are before giving you the highlights of an interview with the occupant(s) and then including a photo. It was fun to read about the type of people that end up in NYC and the type of homes they are drawn to. I feel like I finally understand co-ops now. Thanks, Toni!

[Amy]

I loved the range of personalities covered in these stories. Each story was unique and really expanded given the fact you could see where the residents, who function as characters, live in detail. But it is hard not to wonder if urban living spaces of the future, given COVID, might become different making this book a history of ways we once lived.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. The book consists of stories about NY apartment living.

[Celine · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my best presents ever(thanks linda!). Wonderful cure if you're missing nyc and/or suffering from an inability to commit to long narratives.
I picked it up thinking I'd read for a bit before bed... and ending up flipping page after page, devouring column after column (Five Flights is a collection of the author's Shelter columns that first appeared in the Village Voice), unleashing my inner-voyeur and going to sleep way too late.
See, anyone can visit nyc, hop on a Big Apple tour bus and 'do the city' (i.e manhattan) in a whirlwind few days. Or join a walking tour - even one that ventures into other boroughs - and only just skim the surface of a city that keeps drawing people to it, ridiculous sky-high rents be damned. But why? ask half the visitors most of the time.
Their best bet for a reasonable attempt at an answer would be Five Flights Up, I think. If seeing inside the homes (and lives of new york's denizens) that the tours don't show you, however briefly, doesn't take you into the psyche of new york city, then i don't know what will.

anything bad? the author's occasional rambling monologues/ stream of consciousness passages might irk the impatient or non-nonsense folks. yes, i did find these kinda indulgent

ps: the anthropology geek in me sat up and wanted to take notes as I read - but was too caught up in the pleasure of my bed-time reading to do so.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, although I occasionally thought that the writer inserted herself and her thoughts too much. And she was a little too pleased with her writer-liness when she did. But overall, a really fascinating subject.

[Nicolina Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting vignettes of New York Apartment living. Found the author to be pretentious and way to wordy.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is incredible how cheap people bought nyc places for, the author is kinda annoying in her questions

[ylin002 · Rating 5 out of 5]

enlightening stories of how we have managed to survive throughout the years, inside and outside our 500 or so, rented square feet. competing for said space itself is a whole other survival story...

[Elizabeth]

It's amazing what sorts of conditions people willingly endure.

[Dreamersemporium]

like new

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool concept, but started to lose interest about 2/3s through.

[beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice to browse through. interesting snapshots of dwellings in the city.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this account of a family living in France. It centered around the mothers angst at moving from Paris to Lyon and how she coped with losing friends and a settled career. She is married to a Doctor who by necessity has to travel a great deal and therefore needs to carve out her own independent life. The story is interesting to read and should appeal to younger women who also have to sacrifice for the good of the family.