Through the Children's Gate (Abridged): A Home in New York Audiobook

" Although I didn't think this was as good as "Paris to the Moon" it should be a must-read for New Yorkers with children or thinking about having children while living in the city. I particularly liked Gopnik's concern over his daughter's over-programmed imaginary friend and the adventures of trick-or-treating in high rise apartment buildings. Basically this is an enjoyable read, well-written with warmth and humor. "

" The first 100 or so pages of the book dragged, but as Gopnik got into the book, the vignettes become more telling and relatable in the Paris to the Moon sense. Well written and witty, but not a "can't put it down" read. "

" Reading this book and LOVING it! He alternately writes about living in New York in a way that makes me passionately think YES, that's EXACTLY how I feel! and make me laugh aloud, which I rarely do when reading. (that move can get you some odd looks on the subway by the way - beware) "

" Gopnik writes frequently for The New Yorker, and the writing in Through the Children's Gate is of the same style. He moved back from Paris to NY at the same time I lived there, and from my limited experience, it seems he nails what it means to live there and love it. Some chapters are clearly asides, pieces likely published in the New Yorker first. But they are held together with a strand of thoughts about raising his children in the city, the gate in the title being a reference to one of the entrances to Central Park. "

" Gopnik's descriptions of life in NYC are so apt and beautifully written. "

" Sorry to say I found the writing very dry and slow, with occasional bursts of light and humour. "

" Gopnik's stories about his kids adjusting to life in New York are great. His philosophical musings about New York and the world today are long and rambling and generally uninteresting. "

" A little more philosophical than the last... "

" I didn't love this nearly as much as I did "Paris to the Moon" (one of my favorite books ever). Maybe it's because I have my own issues re: living in NY; I don't know. I just found this much more difficult and less enjoyable of a read. "

" An excellent collection of short essays on life in New York, raising children, finding a life philosophy, and being in a marriage. I laughed, I cried, I felt enriched. Can't think off a better recommendation. "

" Some of the essays, especially the first one, are a little hard going, but overall, a very nice book about New York and raising children there. You will especially love the stories about Olivia and her imaginary friend. "

" I'm putting this here for "Bumping into Mr. Ravioli," which is one of the funniest nonfiction pieces I read this semester. It is a great use of examining the particular to reach the universal. I've yet to read the other essays, but I'm looking forward to finding more of what this author has written. "

" Couldn't really submerge myself in this non-fiction. Too much like real life perhaps. "

" Classic Gopnik, but this collection didn't rise to the level of Paris to the Moon. Regardless, you're still in the hands of a prose stylist. "

" Love New York, love Gopnik's writing. "

" Tedious at times (brilliantly tedious, but tedious nonetheless), but the final two essays are just stunning. Adam Gopnik never alows his overt intellectualism trip up his innate honesty. "

" I wanted to like this more, and I wanted to be more amused. But Gopnik managed, in places, to make New York really boring. A few chapters saved it for me, including the one featuring Mr. Ravioli, his daughter's imaginary friend who is always too busy to play with her. "

" A reflection on raising children in post 9/11 New York. Thoughtful, funny stories about his children growing up in a New York he never knew as a child. "

" So far I can't help comparing it to Paris to the Moon, which I found utterly charming, while thus collection of essays is indeed "dense" and intense. Maybe its the comparison of NYC to Paris? Open mind, I'm still at the beginning. "

" Loved From Paris to the Moon, found this one pretentious and unreadable. Gave up (gasp) about 80 pages in. "

" Good writing, pleasant stories about living in New York City with children post 9/11 and post living in Paris. "

" There are few writers that can make me feel full of light when I'm reading them. Gopnik is one of them. "

" People are totally right when they accuse Gopnik's writing of being overly precious, but I still think it's frequently great anyway. "

" Gopnik's stories about his kids adjusting to life in New York are great. His philosophical musings about New York and the world today are long and rambling and generally uninteresting. "

" A collection of charming, polished essays. Satisfying, but by the end, like a stuffy dinner party, it was all a little forced, a little self-conscious, and not at all relaxing. "

" Really beautiful book, though it doesn't particularly make me want to live in New York. Gopnik is such a great writer, though - he could write nutritional information on cereal boxes and I would read it. "

" Liked from Paris to the Moon much better. "

" There are few writers that can make me feel full of light when I'm reading them. Gopnik is one of them. "

" A very different read for me, but was glad to be introduced to this book. Comical, clever and enjoyable. "

" Both a sweet book, full of fondness and warmth, and thought provoking about what it means to be alive in modern times. I enjoyed it. "

" Good writing, pleasant stories about living in New York City with children post 9/11 and post living in Paris. "