Journalist Amy Haimerl and her husband had been priced out of their Brooklyn neighborhood. Seeing this as a great opportunity to start over again; they decide to cash in their savings and buy an abandoned house for 35;000 in Detroit; the largest city in the United States to declare bankruptcy.As she and her husband restore the 1914 Georgian Revival; a stately brick house with no plumbing; no heat; and no electricity; Amy finds a community of Detroiters who; like herself; aren't afraid of a little hard work or things that are a little rough around the edges. Filled with amusing and touching anecdotes about navigating a real-estate market that is rife with scams; finding a contractor who is a lover of C.S. Lewis and willing to quote him liberally; and neighbors who either get teary-eyed at the sight of newcomers or urge Amy and her husband to get out while they can; Amy writes evocatively about the charms and challenges of finding her footing in a city whose future is in question. Detroit Hustle is a memoir that is both a meditation on what it takes to make a house a home; and a love letter to a much-derided city.
#147626 in Books 2011-11-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.25 x 5.75l; 1.35 #File Name: 076034115X368 pages
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Telling it like it was from the other sideBy D. T. GomezA fascinating series of interviews to surviving german WWII Luftwaffe aces. We are used to reading and watching countless films on the prowesses of allied aces. But seldom do we get to know the story from the other side.Fact-filled with tons of insightful remarks from those who were there; bring us the missing part of the history of WWII war in the air. RAF and USAF aces revel in telling their exploits on getting some 20-odd victories; for the vast majority; where Luftwaffe aces started at 100 ( the "experten"); and reached to an astonishing 350 in the case of all-time scorer Erich Hartmann. Fighting in apalling conditions; with a flawed leadership and dwindling resources from a decaying Reich; these guys seem to have made true heroes beyond imagination. The fact that they were on the losing side; and fighting for their nation ; who was run by Hitler the madman; caused them to be all but forgotten by history. This book makes them well deserved justice.10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A must for WWII studious.By Gerardo Bruno LopezI find it always very interesting to hear the “other side of the storyâ€. History is written by the victor and the defeated rarely has a chance to express his point of view. This book tells you the inside story of the Luftwaffe; written by those who were part of it at the highest level. I had read how Göring was an incompetent strategist; but he was also a master liar; manipulator and nothing was ever his fault. I wonder if Hitler had caught Göring in his lies sooner if the outcome of the war had been different or would have lasted longer. Göring reminds me of many high executives in today’s world that you don’t understand how they got so high up in the organization and worst of all how it is that they remain in office. This book will give you an inside of what German pilots went through during the WWII; the politics inside the high command; relationships even with the Führer. Now I have to read Galland’s autobiography; The First and the Last.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. WunderbarBy John SomervilleHistory buffs and WWII vets like me will be totally fascinated reading these four memoirs by German aces. They weren't Nazi party members and the savage brutality of the ground war was missing in the air war. Pilots shot down by either side were never machine gunned in their parachutes; but allowed to safely land. The bravery of these Aces and those on the our side was incredible as was their chivalry. Here is one incredible example--right out of a Hollywood movie. The Germans shot down a British Ace who wore artificial legs that were destroyed when he parachuted down. The Germans then notified the International Red Cross that they would permit the British a fly over to drop replacements so their downed Ace could walk again. There is even more to this incident but I suggest you get the book. It is an eye opener.
