1. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane (1893): The story of Maggie is probably the most interesting and gut-wrenching books we’ve read this semester. The story involves many themes of the course, but primarily Morals and Norms. They dynamics of all of the characters, especially between Maggie’s mother and her is truly troubling, and the most interesting part is at the end, when the mother exclaims that she forgives her daughter once she’s dead. There’s also something about the novel which really struck me is how clearly the decline of Maggie is shown. That’s what made the novel interesting to me. Furthermore, it’s a novel which really shows the issues faced by many immigrant families and the dynamic that existed within the households regarding honor.       
  2. New York: A Documentary Film by Donald Rosenfeld (1999): This documentary is perhaps the most thorough historical account of the development of New York City. It did the city justice for sure. The main thing that I enjoyed about this documentary is the variety of people they consulted for it with interesting and diverse backgrounds. I learned the most from this film throughout the course, and I believe it really tied everything together and explained everything in an organized manner.                                                                                                    
  3. “Down Town Back Alleys” by Jacob Riis (1890): Throughout the course I enjoyed Jacob Riis’ work because of the fact that he captured much of the struggle of many working class citizens during his time. His photography is of course famous, but this account of the condition of the tenements and people in what was known as the back alleys really interests me. Riis highlights events such as the tenement residents getting conned and their tight conditions, which we know caused them to suffer from disease which spread quickly among them.
  4. “Physics” by Tama Janowitz (1985): “Physics” by Tama Janowitz is an interesting tale of the life of Janowitz paints full of hope initially which later becomes disappointment. The story presents a disordered and disorganized view of New York City, which, I believe, is relatable for many of us. New York City is not always the best place, and it definitely is not always the most predictable place. The only thing the can keep us going is determination and finding happiness in the little things that are part of our lives. Also, looking into the lives of others and appreciating our own situation is something that many New Yorkers should do according to this short story.                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  5. Chinatown Family by Lin Yutang (1948): Chinatown Family is a simple novel which has a big impact because of its relatable nature for the majority New Yorkers. One of the identifying aspects of New York is how prevalent the immigrant population is here. There is an amazing amount of diversity, and it is very common to find first generation students among us. This normality of immigrants makes the novel all the more impactful. The novel highlights the life of a Chinese immigrant family who accepts Flora, an Italian-American, into their family because she understands their culture. This is a novel which documents and embodies what a melting pot New York City really is.
  6. Koyaanisqatsi by Godfrey Reggio (1983): Koyaanisqatsi had to be on my top 10 list because of how weird and entertaining it was. I loved the way the movie depicts New York City as a geometric and organized place which is always on the move. This, in contrast with “Physics” by Tama Janowitz, is an accurate depiction of what New York City truly is about, and that’s what made it stick in my mind. The uniqueness in the way the movie was presented also appeals to me.                                                                                                                                                           
  7. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes (1921): A discussion about the Harlem Renaissance is incomplete without a discussion of Langston Hughes’ poetry. Another masterpiece written by Hughes, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” highlights how the race relations in America impacted Langston Hughes’ soul and his perception of the world. He relates the feelings he feels to be deep like the rivers of the world, which make one wonder how he meant this. To me, Hughes meant it in an introspective way, as a way of showing and telling the world that the experience that he had during the Harlem Renaissance and throughout his life as a black man has deepened his perception and emotion towards life.                                                                                                                    
  8. “Ellis Island” by Mark Helprin (1981): Of course, this list would not be complete without a mention of how many of us got into this amazing city we call New York City in the first place. “Ellis Island” by Mark Helprin tells the tale of one such man who just arrived at Ellis Island and goes through trials and tribulations throughout life concerning his career and his interactions with a golden haired girl. It was an enjoyable read with a tidy ending. Its mention of Ellis Island is what made it part of this list.                                                                                                       
  9. Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow (1975): Ragtime is a novel that I enjoyed reading because of the simplicity of the characters’ names and how interwoven the plots of various different characters like Houdini, Ford, and Morgan were. I do not believe there is another novel with as impressive of a roster as that of this novel. I believe the most interesting aspect of the novel was the fictional aspect. The novel is known to be not entirely historically factual, though it is historically plausible. From this concept, our historical fiction stories were born. I enjoyed writing mine, likely because I enjoyed reading the novel.                                                                                                                        
  10. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2010): A Visit from the Goon Squad is an interesting novel because of the way in which it presents an interwoven plot. It is a series of short stories in which there are varying perspectives, and the way in which each story is told slightly varies depending on the perspective and and plot line. I feel that this method of story telling is effective in order to provide a more complete and unbiased view of a complex situation.