791 Coney Island Avenue: Brooklyn
What it was like to grow up in Brooklyn in the 1920s, '30s and '40s before WWII
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About the Book
A kid of Italian immigrants grows up in South Brooklyn and Flatbush during the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, playing Johnny-on-the-Pony, Ringalevio and Spin-the-Bottle.
Life was simpler then, before the breakup of “Ma Bell,” the corporate takeovers, and junk mail. His generation was deeply affected by the Great depression; the Big Band music of Goodman, Dorsey, Ellington; movies of Cowboy and Indians, Fred and Ginger; Mickey and Judy; the New York World’s Fair; and Pearl Harbor, which forced them to leave home and go to war in places they could hardly find on a map.
What great fun! I´ve never been to Brooklyn, and I feel I know the old place - and love it. Although those simple, innocent, carefree, halcyon pre-war days of 50, 60, 70 years ago are long gone, they surely come alive in this charming, laugh-out-loud poignant memoir of Brooklyn. DGuido writes as if he´s talking to his reader over a beer, making the story both appealing and very accessible - a la Neil Simon, in tone and the story itself.
Thanks to the author for recapturing a kinder, sweeter, gentler time with such wonderful recall. I´d love to send this book to several former Brooklyn-ite friends. I can´t imagine anyyone from that era or place who´d not enjoy this breezy, good read.