Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York by Randy Kennedy
My review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you live in New York City, which I do, the subway is probably a substantial part of your life. Even if you don’t, it’s a pretty fascinating place to visit, in person or in print. Randy Kennedy’s collection of articles, Subwayland, covers a variety of topics within the tiny world running underneath the city.
Interesting and easy to read, the book touches on a range of subjects. Some are sentimental, others amusing, others mildly baffling (such as the guy who insists he’s not that much of a subway buff, and yet has built a complete replica of a conductor’s station … in his one-bedroom apartment). The end of the book does choose to group several September 11th pieces together, and I found this a bit questionable, as it seems overly maudlin and like an overt attempt at manipulating the reader’s emotions. Still, it didn’t dissuade me from finishing the book quickly.
Perhaps what I enjoyed most about Subwayland is that it is nearly the perfect book to read while riding the subway. The articles are short and easy to read, meaning you can get through two or three of them during the duration of a typical subway ride (or more, depending on your commute).
All in all, an enjoyable glimpse into a world beneath a world.
