This was the perfect plane ride companion during my quick weekend jaunt to New York City. When quirky writer Helen Hanff was assigned to write a guidebook about New York City for tourists, she recruits her plucky friend Patsy to join her in rediscovering New York City. Hanff’s book is so accessible and the duo is just so damn likeable, I wished I could travel back in time to 1977 (when the book was written) to experience the city with them. There were some unexpectedly painful moments – like when Hanff and Patsy conquer their fear of heights to see the city from the viewing deck of the World Trade Center – but mostly full of delightful vignettes about a city Hanff clearly adored. ( )

This is a wonderful love letter to Manhattan in Hanff's most engaging voice. After being asked by her publisher to write a guide to New York, Hanff solicited the help of a friend to visit New York landmarks that they thought tourists should see. Over several months they seemed to have a blast checking out places that either they were fond of or thought were important, even if they hadn't been there before themselves. We can just imagine the two women making their way around the city they loved, and although their observations are now several decades old, we want to trace their footsteps. ( )

A chatty and very outdated tour guide to NYC. Amusing at times but also frustrating because it was by no means as charming as her other books. However, I loved the aha! moments when Hanff drops just why a place was named the way it was. There were some truly bad typos in here though that the editor really should have caught. ( )

I love Hanff's writing style so much. I read the first edition of this book, published in 1979, and it's so much fun. It's like a mini time capsule, a great author's personal little window into history. It also makes me want to go site seeing something fierce. ( )

https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2015/09/12/an-unconventional-touri... ( )