#26. The Subway Chronicles. Edited by Jacquelin Cangro. Essay Collection. 3.0 stars

i picked this collection up mostly as an acknowledgment of how much i owe to New York City in its effort to help me become a better writer. i doubt New York City cares (or tried) to make me (and probably many others) become a better writer, but it happens nonetheless.* the inspiration and incident factor alone can make you a better writer without even trying. i often fear if i return to Los Angeles (or anywhere else for that matter) that i will suddenly have nothing to write about. that my actual experiences (overheard, seen, or otherwise) will plummet and i will have literally nothing but my imagination to guide me (never good).

this was a decent collection, solid and enjoyable. some really nice pieces and very few “losers” in the bunch. but there was nothing that really blew me away. i didn’t really come away from it with anything more than a pleasant feeling of having enjoyed myself and being ready to move on. i guess i generally want and expect more from my essays and short fiction than that, which is why it doesn’t rate a higher score. if you’re a new yorker born and raised, you can probably add at least half a star to my rating.

*it is still up for debate whether i have actually become a better writer since living here, and basically i have no actual proof of such a statement. requests for proof of any improvement will be casually ignored.

oh yeah, and this marks the halfway point of my goal of 52 books and 52 reviews this year.  yippee!  i figure i’m about 8 books behind.  yeesh.