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somerabbitholes · 3 years

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Hi, you've really been so kind answering all these asks about the books and stuff. Thank you for it!

Could you please tag the post where you mentioned your favourite non fictions about cities.

Thanks again!

hi, i can't seem to find the original, so here you go

banaras by diana l. eck — what i love the most about this is that it weaves in and out of mythology and history together to show you why the city is so complex, and why it matters so much

istanbul by thomas madden — a history of the city, great detail, but easy to read

bombay, meri jaan edited by jerry pinto and naresh fernandes — a collection of writing on mumbai; includes fiction, essays, poetry

the lonely city by olivia laing — semi-memoir, semi-art criticism, about being alone and lonely in new york, explores how artists have dealt with isolation; this will always be a favourite

the epic city by kushanava choudhury — it’s a personal story of kolkata; mixes popular history, memoir, travel notes; it’s a funny book (but i’m not sure how well the humour holds up outside of the very specific indian context)

mumbai fables by gyan prakash — tells the history of the city through select events and stories that have shaped the city’s development, its politics, the economy; very good starting point

venice by thomas madden — like istanbul, very richly detailed; equally good

city of djinns by william dalrymple — explores post-independence delhi and its development, how it deals with its past, both ancient and more recent; not the best if you want actual historical insight, but it’s a more accessible read than most i’ve encountered

shock cities by harold platt — bit of urban history for you: a comparative study of chicago and manchester as industrial cities; explores the relationship between the city and its hinterland, takes into account the environment; an overall solid academic work

and a few on my tbr

jerusalem by simon sebag montefiore

berlin by barney white-spunner

istanbul by orhan pamuk

feminist city by leslie kern

gotham and greater gotham

the walker by matthew beaumont

#anonymous #answered #book recs #cities #booklr

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discoursets · 2 years

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🌧️ | Reading these books as I'm turning 23!

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”

— Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

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