A New Yorker's Perspective

Central Park While I can appreciate Whitehead's need to turn New York in to a series of vignettes, each profiling another aspect of New York, I find his choices a little tired and almost self conscious in selection. I tend to think that my problem with this book is related to the fact that I have lived here since childhood and am therefore, less interested in hearing someone else's understanding of New York. What frustrated me is that the depth of his prose belies the fact that he is rarely saying very much. He distracts you from the content with his form. I too could go to Central Park and go shot for shot explaining, "this is where my friend lost his virginity, this is where they drank 40's of malt liquor, and this is where I got high for the first time." If I dressed it up in interesting language and with the occasional snarky comment I too could have this deep revelation about Central Park, but I don't think its deep. I think this book is more about the author than the city. Very few of the details in his explanation of Central Park gave me new perspective of the Park. Surely, some of his details ring true, but his delivery of these details shows me someone more concerned with his personal experience than some sort of objective understanding of New York. UNfortunately, it feels like he is passing his own opinions and emotions about a place as the actual feel of a place. While Frazier's vignettes seemed to be a little more universal, I find Whitehead's to be too personal under the guise of universal. There is a condescension and irritation to the narrative. I understand both those emotions in relation to New York, but find myself annoyed by it when I know this book is written for those who want a window in to the city. I find that the tone paints the city in a strange way. Maybe I'm just nervous about "my" city being misunderstood at the hands of another New Yorker. Maybe its a pretty typical New Yorker response to say, "well no shit Whitehead. You're not special for noticing that." And maybe he isn't. But maybe he is. Maybe verbalizing all those little moments is what New York needs to be understood. I'm not convinced but I could be wrong.

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