What fascinated me the most about [The Red Leather Diary] was that this diary that had been plucked out of a New York dumpster was the story of a young girl who lived life to the fullest in 1920's Manhattan, thus giving the potential author, Lily Koppel (already a journalist). a fascinating story of society, people, and places of the time. For Koppel to have realized the gem she had discovered and actually find its author alive to complete the story is also amazing. The endless details of relationships got boring after a while, but what would one expect in an adolescent's diary? I enjoyed the book more for its historical perspective than the teenage angst. ( )

If you are interested in stories that come from other people's stuff (which I am) this is a great book. If you are not interested in those things, you'll probably be bored. Still, it is well written for what it is. ( )

I was completely taken by the unfolding of this book from the garbage rescue of the diary from the streets of Manhattan to the tracking down of the 90+ year old diary's author. From the age of 14 to 19 (1929 - 1934), Florence Wolfson made an entry in her diary each and every day. The diary captures the essence of a long past time in NY, but a past that I am familiar with from listening to the stories from my father. More importantly, it also captures a teenage girls blossoming sexuality and relationships with herself and others. If you are interested in old NYC, and also interested in exploring the feelings of teens, you'll enjoy the Red Leather Diary. ( )

In a 2-part podcast from The Book of Life (www.bookoflifepodcast.com), Lily Koppel gives a large-group presentation on her book, The Red Leather Diary, and answers one-on-one questions in a post-show interview.

The Red Leather Diary will appeal to those who enjoy personal memoir, history, women’s studies, and all things Manhattan. The book had my attention from the outset; as an amateur genealogist who loves sleuthing through old archives and microfiche, the premise of finding a diary - in a Dumpster of all places! - was too good to resist. Add some detective work to track down the author more than 50 years later, snippets of New York history from the period, photos, and a series of interviews … you’ve got a very interesting book.

Lily Koppel, author of The Red Leather Diary, found the diary in one of dozens of trunks that had been stored in the basement of her apartment building for decades. The building was finally being cleared for updating, and the trunks were unceremoniously dumped into a rolling container to be hauled away. Koppel was a society reporter for the New York Times and was on her way to work one morning when the contents of the Dumpster caught her eye. After pulling a few trunks and exploring the contents - there was a lot of “junk”, but also treasure like books, designers clothes and handbags, and personal mementos - she called her office and told them not to expect her in at all that day.

The diarist, Florence Wolfson, was 14 when she was given the diary as a birthday gift. Allowing one line per day for five years, Wolfson was diligent about her daily commitment to her journal. What emerges is a portrait of a precocious, intelligent young woman. She was wise beyond her years, curious about all the city had to offer, arts, and her own sexuality:

Overall, The Red Leather Diary is a satisfying and cohesive collection of original diary entries, supplemental material Koppel wrote after meeting with and interviewing Florence Wolfson, photos from Wolfson’s personal collection and historic photos of New York. ( )