Piecework

 

The Book List

Piecework: Writings on Men & Women, Fools and Heroes, Lost Cities, Vanished Calamities and How the Weather Was by Pete Hamill, 1997

Read in July 2019

After reading a novel by Pete Hamill I discovered he was first a journalist. I read his novel Tabloid City last year and really liked his take on New York City. I then found out he has been a journalist in New York for forty years and has worked for many of the news institutions of that city including writing as a columnist for The New York Post, The New York Daily News and the Village Voice. He has also written for Esquire, Vanity Fair and New York. 

This book collects many of his best writings over the years going back to 1970 where he has covered a wide variety of topics including politics, sports, entertainment business, the mob, foreign affairs, social issues, the art world, New York City and many more subjects. 

Becky and I went up to New York City many times during the late 1970's when we were living in Philadelphia. We saw lots of art at galleries and museums, went to clubs like the Roxy and Danceteria, saw music in places like CBGB's and spent lots of time in the Village especially the restaurants.  This book reminded me of how the city was at that time. We also went regularly over the years from Buffalo on this cheap airlines to the Newark Airport.

Piecework is a interesting collection of his touch-minded provocative work and a travelogue back in time. I found these essays engaging and endlessly fascinating.