Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Colossus of New York

Top positive review

New York, New York, New Yorrrkkkkk

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020

I honestly loved the book, it was definitely a good book on my part! It’s a different structure then what you maybe used to but man I love reading it!

Top critical review

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bob k

Sigh

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020

Some incredible writing and grab-you identifiable insights into NYC. And some alternative perspectives. The problem for me is that the book gradually turns into a seriously depressed person’s several hour monologue disguised as various characters’ voices. Sort of someone with multiple personalities all in urgent need of help.

4 people found this helpful

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267 total ratings, 55 with reviews

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From the United States

Jiayre Moody

New York, New York, New Yorrrkkkkk

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

I honestly loved the book, it was definitely a good book on my part! It’s a different structure then what you maybe used to but man I love reading it!

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Beatrice

The Colossus of New York

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

Almost like poetry. Good. I'll buy Colson Whitehead's awarding book: The Intuitionist soon.

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Christine_Queen of Books

Captures NYC well

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

I'm not too sure if this book cracked my heart open, or if my heart was already cracked open and it simply slipped on in to fill the empty spaces.

Whitehead so well captures various bits of New York City in this essay collection. I'd read an excerpt from the opening essay before, about how "You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it." (Love that idea.) From there he goes on to describe the Port Authority, city sidewalks in the rain, the subway, walking down Broadway, Coney Island, rush hour, and more.

This isn't a romanticization of the city, rather, it's an enscapulation of what so many of us have experienced. Definitely the sort of book I'll reread.

2 people found this helpful

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Maria Dessena

Beautiful Writing

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

"Talking about New York is a way of talking about the world." I've been reading this book with my mother, who is 350 miles away, as a way to keep engaged with each other when we have to be apart. For her, it reminds her of the bus and train trips she used to take to New York every summer in the 60s. For me, it's fragments of thousands of thoughts I've had living and working in New York these past twenty years. We were both saying how timeless and universal the writing is; for a place that changes so quickly, this book could be any era, and resonate with anyone who has a special place in their heart for New York City. The writing is like poetry, so many great lines - "At the corner he wrestles with a ghost for the soul of his umbrella.". So clever and visceral. I really enjoyed this book, I can see myself re-reading it a few times.

5 people found this helpful

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arf

such love, such fun

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017

Verified Purchase

Such style, such energy, such love, such fun. Thank you Mr. Whitehead. Definitely on my gift lists.

One person found this helpful

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bob k

Sigh

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

4 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

If Colson writes it just buy it

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021

Verified Purchase

Colson is one of the huge writers of our time. What a talent. He writes it and I read it. What a gift.

2 people found this helpful

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Brown-eyed NJ Girl

Cover is peeling off!

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021

Verified Purchase

I am looking forward to reading this book. Until then, I can only judge by the cover, which is actually PEELING OFF! The graphics are apparently printed on an extremely thin piece of paper which is peeling off the thicker paper cover. This was not a used copy. It was (supposed to be) new.

One person found this helpful

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Cheryl Bell

Good eye...and ears

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

I wish I knew Colson. He seems to have grown up a stone's throw from me because I heard all of those things he observed and experienced too. This narrative is so nuanced, so precise, I can smell the subway and the Sabrett man too.

4 people found this helpful

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DJ Terry

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

The book came in a perfect amount of time! Right To my address.

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2 star		7%
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