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markcastaneda's review
2.0
This is one of those tough books where I agree with most of the central tenets of the book, but the author is so unbearably annoying in his binary characterization of “us” and “them”. The text reeks of bitterness from being outside the dominant narrative, and chooses to further detract from a better social future by villainizing an abstract class of young people without making a compelling class argument.
The best part of this book is what was pulled from other authors and great thinkers. Many well compiled quotes and theses are collected. However, I feel disconnected from this book despite ageeeing with everything he says. Probably something to be said there about the new generation of queer kids who weren’t bullied growing up? Not sure idk, all I know is that this book offers few solutions in lieu of many complaints.
The best part of this book is what was pulled from other authors and great thinkers. Many well compiled quotes and theses are collected. However, I feel disconnected from this book despite ageeeing with everything he says. Probably something to be said there about the new generation of queer kids who weren’t bullied growing up? Not sure idk, all I know is that this book offers few solutions in lieu of many complaints.
ztaylor4's review
4.0
I'm disturbed by the changes in New York that Jeremiah Moss has previously described in [b:Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul|32600748|Vanishing New York How a Great City Lost Its Soul|Jeremiah Moss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494452004l/32600748._SY75_.jpg|53181451] (which I enjoyed more than Feral City). I also enjoyed stayed in NY through the pandemic, and enjoyed some of the freedom and changes to the East Village that Moss described here--of course appreciating the danger and disaster coming to many. This book was strongest to me as a chronicle and reminder of those times. I also found the story relatable as protests kicked off and the author got more involved.
I think a better balance for our return to "normalcy" would have been between what we got and what Jeremiah Moss wanted. We couldn't stay like we were in the pandemic, but that we fully returned was a missed opportunity for change. By pulling so hard towards the wildness of the pandemic, I think Moss might have missed the opportunity for synthesis that was needed because of the strength of nostalgia invoked by the pandemic times.
Starting off strong, falling into danger, going wild, going a bit too far, and coming back around--this describes the arc of this book and much of the pandemic experience. Even if I don't agree with every point that Moss makes, I appreciate what he is rooting for, and I'm especially glad to have records like this of a bizarre and possibly unique time in New York history.
I think a better balance for our return to "normalcy" would have been between what we got and what Jeremiah Moss wanted. We couldn't stay like we were in the pandemic, but that we fully returned was a missed opportunity for change. By pulling so hard towards the wildness of the pandemic, I think Moss might have missed the opportunity for synthesis that was needed because of the strength of nostalgia invoked by the pandemic times.
Starting off strong, falling into danger, going wild, going a bit too far, and coming back around--this describes the arc of this book and much of the pandemic experience. Even if I don't agree with every point that Moss makes, I appreciate what he is rooting for, and I'm especially glad to have records like this of a bizarre and possibly unique time in New York history.
matthewjulius's review
4.0
Does do plenty of Real New York gatekeeping and contradiction. Complaining that the loud party noise the transplants make in public spaces is bad while celebrating that the loud party noise the og new yorkers make in public spaces is good actually. Ironically, the author posits a firm binary of the hypernormal neoliberal subjects and the Real New Yorkers+the gays+people of color that feels too limiting; I personally am a transplant, have lived here 9 years, did not leave during the pandemic, don’t really plan to ever leave as long as I can swing it bc this is where my community is now. What I loved about this book was that it captured how WEIRD it was to live in New York during the pandemic, the factors that made some parts of the experience oddly massively improved over the monoculture hub this place can be, what it felt like during the summer where the police state said the quiet part out loud and like literally everyone was going to get beaten arrested or killed by state violence, what it feels like to mourn the return to neoliberal business as usual. Then again, does not seem to contain a single sentence about how the main thing I remember from these years was the constant fear I was going to get and spread Covid and kill innocent strangers and/or loved ones, which, odd choice.
Also, as a Brooklynite, enjoyed hearing from someone who actually likes Manhattan. Interesting! I still hate it but interesting!
Also, as a Brooklynite, enjoyed hearing from someone who actually likes Manhattan. Interesting! I still hate it but interesting!
neonpomegranate's review
I dislike Sarah Schulman's work, why would I read a bad imitation of it? Oh look, you dislike the new people who moved to your neighborhood. Who cares? How is that worth even remarking on? It's the most boring, old, cranky feeling there is
ren_the_hobbit's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Really thoughtful explorations of the first year of Covid in NYC from the perspective of someone with a diverse background and ability to speak to many different people. The audiobook was great, honestly the writing was so good sometimes it sounded like spoken word poetry.
cheezvshcrvst's review
5.0
Fierce, important, and true. In a world of debate over facts and subjectivity, Feral City provides a firsthand source as well as a loose chronology of the brief retaking of New York City by New Yorkers. There is a grief communicated here so deeply that it is felt in every turn of the page, as well as a celebration of the connection and aliveness that New Yorkers felt in the midst of so much death and destruction. If Moss could be faulted for anything, it’s for naked optimism for a better future that replaces hypernormativity, neoliberalism and the police state, with a weird and vibrant today (not Tomorrow) that shares space and awareness with Others and with everyone and everything in this city. And you could almost fault Moss for believing in what this city showed us all it was: a safe space for the many that fight and struggle and survive to create and love and endure in wild and brutal expressions of themselves and life. We can have more for witnessing the less and the lack, and feral New York City proved that. They should be scared of us: these are our streets, this is our city, and we will not accept their “normal.” Feral City is a wonderful tribute and testimony to how true this is and how true it will continue to be in the struggles to come.