Calling all New York novels

New York novels books

Have been asking friends, teachers and other moms (see, am getting the lingo) for their favourite books about New York. Here are a few:

‘New York’, by Edward Rutherford

‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tart

‘Just Kids’ by Patti Smith

‘Netherland’ by Joseph O’Neill

‘New York Trilogy’ by Paul Auster

‘Let the Great World Spin’ by Colum McCann

‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ by Truman Capote

‘Maeve Brennan: Homesick at the New Yorker’ by Angela Bourke

And for kids, I’ve been put on to ‘New York Baby’ by Puck and Violet Lemay

Will slowly work my way through them and report back. Edward Rutherford’s ‘New York’ has been recommended by six separate people, so I’ll start with that tonight.

So, what else should I be reading? Feel free to make your own recommendations in the comments section.

UPDATE: read my reviews here

Floor to ceiling bookshelves
Shed loads of children’s books about New York
Some of our favourite NY children’s books
When you offer your kids a new dish

Author: Alex

Hello. Toddling Round New York is my own little blog of our family's experience of moving young kids from London to New York... And of having a baby out here. They are my own baby steps of exploring this incredible city. I lived in five countries in four continents growing up, so you'd think I'd be good at this by now. Here you'll find stories and photographs of our adventures, the highs and the lows of expat parenthood, and some ideas I hope you'll find useful if you're in New York with young kids.

6 thoughts on “Calling all New York novels”

  1. For adults I love The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and for kids nothing beats Eloise. Though I also love Lazy Little Loafers, I Live in Brooklyn, and A Cricket in Times Square.

  2. For the girls, there is a Curious George in the Big City story, set in New York at Christmas, though the boys have it as part of a Curious George collection so not sure if it is available separately. Lizzie x

    1. Thanks Lizzie, we have a Curious George toy but none of the books, I’ll keep an eye out for this one. Alex

  3. Here are a couple more 🙂
    The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath
    Bright Lights, Big City, by Jay McInerey
    New York: The Novel, by Edward Rutherford
    The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
    Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safon Foer
    Time and Again, by Jack Finnely

    Jessica

    1. Hi Jessica, thanks so much for these – Rutherford’s ‘New York’ is still the clear winner. I’m a few chapters in, and really enjoying it. Especially reading about the origins of the place names like Wall and Pearl Street. I’ll check out the others too. Alex

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