Just Kids from the Bronx: Telling It the Way It Was; An Oral History

Memories of the serenity and cleanliness of the Bronx river and its population of snapping turtles; taking turns answering the one phone in the building; lively congregations on rooftops; playing outside at a time when sports were spontaneous and free, in a culture of letting kids play outside: these are just a smattering of the memories in the 60-plus stories shared by a myriad of people who grew up in the Bronx. The storytellers range from 92-year-old Carl Reiner to 23-year-old Eric Zeiglerand and include political figures such as Colin Powell and celebrities such as actor Al Pacino and author Mary Higgins Clark. Though the stories are as diverse as the people telling them, there is a common thread of warmth and fondness in their childhood memories. The stories highlight America’s rich roots and a core attitude that schools and parents, as well as teachers and temples, were an important part of the storytellers’ communities and lives. The numerous voices presenting these oral histories are flowing, velvety, glib, humorous, and always passionate. Though not all the narrators have as clear or resonant a voice as one of the main narrators, actor Alan Alda (the author’s husband), the variation adds to the overall sense of diversity and the authenticity of the stories. This is an informative and heartwarming retrospective of life in the Bronx, in addition to an enlightening look at the changes in our society and culture. [em]A Holt hardcover. (Mar.) [/em]