Library Journal just gave Prospect Park West a starred review. Only the excerpted review is available online but you can read it here. I am thrilled to be noticed alongside Pat Conroy and Jeannette Walls. Thank you to Beth Gibbs in Davidson, North Carolina for writing this kind review. I love you, Beth Gibbs!
The “Big Deal” column in the Sunday Real Estate section has an item up that mentions my novel. Thanks to the Times for setting the Parker-Broderick real estate rumor straight. Alas, they are not moving to Brooklyn. The real people moving to Brooklyn have first names that comprise the anagram HARKEN PRETTY. Anyone got any ideas? I’m happy they’re not gutting the place, either, or turning it into condos.
Prospect Park West Buzz
Prospect Park West on Page Six
So the Post, my former employer, has a little item up today about the TV rights to my novel, Prospect Park West. Very exciting. The item says that Brooklyn is set to be the next capital of sex…to which I say, hasn’t that been true for at least twenty years, when I started creepin’ with Jewish youth group guys in the bedroom of my Brooklyn Heights apartment when my parents weren’t home?
Seriously, the stereotype of Brooklyn, and Brooklyn parents specifically, as neutered asexuals, has got to stop. Even if all stereotypes are grounded in reality. I write about this a few posts below. I mean, how can there be all these babies around if nobody’s kicking it?
I love it when I notice a couple in the neighborhood - happened just Friday night while I was waiting in front of Union Market - out on date night, without the kids. On this particular early eve while I was waiting with my daughter for my husband to come out with groceries, I saw a relatively cute mom with an even cuter husband crossing Union headed south. I knew I recognized them from somewhere and realized that I’d seen her in the playground with her ruggies. She looked totally different - dressed up and happy. Whenever I see a mom without her kids it takes me a while to place her. This particular PS mom was mounting her husband right there on the street. Mounting his back, but still. He seemed to enjoy it. They were parents gone wild. Clearly they were thrilled to be free, even for a brief period. I would bet they knocked boots later that evening.
I have to say I’m with Michelle Obama on the subject of date night (despite the fact that I feel Blue Hill has fallen since its inception). If you’ve got a kid or kids, don’t neglect each other. Go out even once a month if not once a week, be alone, and see what happens. If money is short have your neighbors take the kids, even for two hours. Long enough to buy a bottle of Valpolicella and stare into each other’s eyes. And don’t call it “date night” even if that’s what it is. Because that’s just sad.