I used this book for a local book talk, and it was well received. It is an upbeat story, but I felt that it wandered a bit and I had trouble staying engaged.

I could not get into this book. I did not finish reading it. The story lacked cohesion and realism and just fell flat for me. ( )

I am a huge fan of memoirs because I'm given the opportunity to wander around in someone else's shoes for a while so I was happy to receive a copy of Home Girl through the Early Reviewers program. The book definitely did not disappoint and I really enjoyed living vicariously through the author while she purchased and renovated a brownstone in New York City.

With all of the complications that the author and her husband experienced through this process, vicariously was definitely the way to go. Drug dealing all over the streets of her new neighborhood, squatters next door... No thank you. If you're a fan of triumph against the odds and memoirs in general, then Home Girl would be for you.

Added bonus:

The author's website (http://www.judithmatloff.com/first.ht...) is full of photos and video to check out after you finish the book. ( )

Story begins with a foreign correspondent, Judith Matloff, who has travelled the world from one dangerous situation to another. She falls in love in South Africa, marries a Dutchman, loses a baby in Russia and then decides to settle down in West Harlem, New York.

On her own, she purchases an old decrepit brownstone in a drug infested neighbor that is full of many scary people. Talk about taking on a project…she appears to bite off more than she can chew.

My experience in the home building industry makes me cringe when she describes the construction people working on her home. It sounded to me; like the blind leading the blind. Why would you find termites after drywall?

Her naivety in dealing with the drug pushers, strange neighbors, over worked policemen, real estate brokers, homeless people and local politicians, at times can be irritating.

The honestly in her writing draws you into the book and wants you to find out how she can possibly pull this restoration off and change her street. Against unbelievable obstacles and with the assistance of her neighbors, she accomplishes the incredible task of turning an unlivable structure into a home on a civilized street.

If you are looking for a book about perseverance and optimism, this easy reading and straight forward book is for you. ( )

Starting off as a travel memoir Home Girl really captured my attention in the beginning. Judith is a traveling world journalist who has been at it for 20 years and loves the whole deal. I couldn't help but relate to her gypsyish dreams of travel and adventure. A time comes though, when life's goals change and it is time for Judith to move into the dreams of family, consistency and not living each day in extreme danger. She and her hubby decide to purchase a house. They have no idea that their adventures overseas only were the tip of the iceberg!

I could relate to the desire to travel, to see things, experience and to live all over. Half way into the home-remodel Home Girl just lost interest for me, I tried to enjoy the rest but it was just too much detail on the freaky street that they chose to buy on and not enough about the little details that make the story relatable. I do see though how many others could relate to this story better than I did. After the initial couple chapters I just didn't feel that strong of a connection because she was so much different than me, in a different stage of life and searching for different things.

Why were Judith and her hubby there in the first place? I don't get it. There are so many, SO MANY, much better places to live than across the street of the crack capitol of the whole east coast!!! Seriously, I willed them to move so many times. What would you do if you found out after buying your home that it was the mecca of drugs and dealers??

It was very amusing though, how she and her husband John paid the drug dealers off the streets to help them renovate their home. I found most of those encounters very touching, humorous and to me they seemed pretty realistic. Judith and her husband kept rooting for these guys to get out of their situations, and it showed just how embedded they were that even after being given chances and time they still often felt the need to scurry back to what they knew and where they were comfortable. I get wanting to be someplace familiar, not even caring what it looks like, familiar makes me happy too. I got it.

All in all it was interesting, but not really my type of book, I just couldn't relate. But, if you are middle aged, just settling down, dealing with miscarriages or into remodeling homes...this could be perfect for you! ( )