Reviews
"Jessica DuLong's elegantly writtenMy River Chroniclesbrings the past of the Hudson River into the vivid present, and carries forward the craft of literary non-fiction with grace and energy." --Gay Talese, author ofA Writer's LifeandUnto the Sons, "If you've ever wondered what we're missing by sitting at computers in cubicles all day, follow Jessica DuLong when she loses her desk job and embarks on this unlikely but fantastic voyage. Deeply original, riveting to read, and soul-bearingly honest, My River Chronicles is a surprisingly infectious romance about a young woman falling in love with a muscle-y old boat. As DuLong learns to navigate her way through a man's world of tools and engines, and across the swirling currents of a temperamental river, her book also becomes a love letter to a nation. In tune with the challenges of our times, DuLong reminds us of the skills and dedication that built America, and inspires us to renew ourselves once again." - Trevor Corson, author of The Story of Sushi and The Secret Life of Lobsters, "When Jessica DuLong describes her work in the engine room of the John J. Harvey, you can practically feel the throb of the boat's mighty diesels. This is someone who has paid some dues, and it shows in the details. Her view through a narrow portal at the water line opens into a bigger picture of the Hudson River, the economy of New York, and the dignity of work -- the kind of work that is genuinely useful.My River Chroniclesis an account of what made this country thrive, and might yet again: men and women who aren't content to stand around with their hands in their pockets. The book reeks of penetrating oil, which may be just what is needed to get our economy, and our culture, moving again."-- Matthew B. Crawford, author ofShop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work, "In rich and captivating prose, Jessica DuLong kindly invites the rest of us on the journey of her lifetime: from a dot-com job to the fabled waters of the Hudson River, where she became a fireboat engineer. This is an unusual and fascinating book." -- Jon Meacham, author ofAmerican Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House and FranklinandWinston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, "If you've ever wondered what we're missing by sitting at computers in cubicles all day, follow Jessica DuLong when she loses her desk job and embarks on this unlikely but fantastic voyage. Deeply original, riveting to read, and soul-bearingly honest,My River Chroniclesis a surprisingly infectious romance about a young woman falling in love with a muscle-y old boat. As DuLong learns to navigate her way through a man's world of tools and engines, and across the swirling currents of a temperamental river, her book also becomes a love letter to a nation. In tune with the challenges of our times, DuLong reminds us of the skills and dedication that built America, and inspires us to renew ourselves once again." -- Trevor Corson, author ofThe Secret Life of LobstersandThe Story of Sushi, "Whether you know the Hudson intimately, or have yet to make her fine acquaintance, Jessica DuLong's soulful narrative will make you crave a journey on the river. The author's vivid portrayals of her fireboat's inner workings are rendered with such precise tenderness, that as reader I sat mesmerized by descriptions of motors and magnetism.My River Chroniclesis a heartfelt ode to the increasingly lost art of expert craftsmanship and understanding the beauty of the mechanical world around us." -- Gwendolyn Bounds, author ofLittle Chapel on the River: A Pub, a Town and the Search for What Matters Most, "Jessica DuLong's elegantly written My River Chronicles brings the past of the Hudson River into the vivid present and carries forward the craft of literary non-fiction with grace and energy." - Gay Talese, author of A Writer's Life and Unto the Sons, "Jessica DuLong is a lucky woman. She stumbled into an obscure worldthe overheated engine room of an old fireboatand discovered that she belonged there. Readers are lucky, too, because she has managed to translate her love affair with the water into a finely written and fascinating story about a lost American way of life."--Stefan Fatsis, author ofWord FreakandA Few Seconds of Panic, "As both a writer and an engineer, she's relentlessly, gratifyingly curious, and her fine, richly detailed prose holds an appeal regardless of your level of interest in heritage histories and engine mechanics. . . . [T]he whole book is so layered and compelling that the intensity of 9/11 doesn't overpower the slower, more meditative sections. . . . DuLong's passion for her craft is contagious, makingMy River Chroniclesone of the most moving, unusual books I've read in a long time." --Bookslut, "Jessica DuLong has captured the essential energy, grace, and beauty of the Hudson. Through her travels she discovers the place of the river and valley in America's past and present, as well as the essence of her own life. DuLong's is a personal journey that resonates with all of us."-- Tom Lewis, author ofThe Hudson: A History, "An unexpected portrayal of America in the decline of industry, delivered from the unique vantage point of the Hudson River. . . . [A]n eye-opening picture of what America has been . . . and what it is becoming. . . .'Powerful."?—Kirkus, starred review"Jessica DuLong's elegantly writtenMy River Chroniclesbrings the past of the Hudson River into the vivid present and carries forward the craft of literary non-fiction with grace and energy."?—Gay Talese, author ofA Writer's LifeandUnto the Sons"She details her often exhilarating experiences in her very fine and gutsy book. Ms. DuLong is a confident and sensual writer, as perceptive about small matters on a boat as was Anthony Bourdain, in Kitchen Confidential, about everyday events in a professional kitchen. . . . Readers will feel their own little yelps of glee all overMy River Chronicles."?—The New York TimesArtsBeat blog"The engine room is, in DuLong's opinion, a tribute to an era of craftsmanship that is very nearly extinct."?—The New Yorker?"Smart, captivating prose . . . [Readers] will love this unusual mix of history, adventure, feminism and blue-collar know-how. Highly recommended."?—Library Journal?"When Jessica DuLong describes her work in the engine room of the John J. Harvey, you can practically feel the throb of the boat's mighty diesels. This is someone who has paid some dues, and it shows in the details. Her view through a narrow portal at the water line opens into a bigger picture of the Hudson River, the economy of New York, and the dignity of work—the kind of work that is genuinely useful. My River Chronicles is an account of what made this country thrive, and might yet again: men and women who aren't content to stand around with their hands in their pockets. The book reeks of penetrating oil, which may be just what is needed to get our economy, and our culture, moving again."?—Matthew B. Crawford, author ofShop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work?"In rich and captivating prose, Jessica DuLong kindly invites the rest of us on the journey of her lifetime: from a dot-com job to the fabled waters of the Hudson River, where she became a fireboat engineer. This is an unusual and fascinating book."?—Jon Meacham, author ofAmerican Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White HouseandFranklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship"As both a writer and an engineer, she's relentlessly, gratifyingly curious, and her fine, richly detailed prose holds an appeal regardless of your level of interest in heritage histories and engine mechanics. . . . [T]he whole book is so layered and compelling that the intensity of 9/11 doesn't overpower the slower, more meditative sections. . . . DuLong's passion for her craft is contagious, makingMy River Chroniclesone of the most moving, unusual books I've read in a long time."?—Bookslut"Jessica DuLong is a lucky woman. She stumbled into an obscure world—the overheated engine room of an old fireboat—and discovered that she belonged there. Readers are lucky, too, because she has managed to translate her love affair with the water into a finely written and fascinating story about a lost American way of life."?—Stefan Fatsis, author ofWord FreakandA Few Seconds of Panic"If you've ever wondered what we're missing by sitting at computers in cubicles all day, follow Jessica DuLong when she loses her desk job and embarks on this unlikely but fantastic voyage. Deeply original, riveting to read, and soul-bearingly honest, My River Chronicles is a surprisingly infectious romance about a young woman falling in love with a muscle-y old boat. As DuLong learns to naviga, "In rich and captivating prose, Jessica DuLong kindly invites the rest of us on the journey of her lifetime: from a dot-com job to the fabled waters of the Hudson River, where she became a fireboat engineer. This is an unusual and fascinating book." - Jon Meacham, author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House and Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, "When Jessica DuLong describes her work in the engine room of the John J. Harvey, you can practically feel the throb of the boat's mighty diesels. This is someone who has paid some dues, and it shows in the details. Her view through a narrow portal at the water line opens into a bigger picture of the Hudson River, the economy of New York, and the dignity of work - the kind of work that is genuinely useful. My River Chronicles is an account of what made this country thrive, and might yet again: men and women who aren't content to stand around with their hands in their pockets. The book reeks of penetrating oil, which may be just what is needed to get our economy, and our culture, moving again." - Matthew B. Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work, "She details her often exhilarating experiences in her very fine and gutsy book. Ms. DuLong is a confident and sensual writer, as perceptive about small matters on a boat as was Anthony Bourdain, in Kitchen Confidential, about everyday events in a professional kitchen. . . . Readers will feel their own little yelps of glee all overMy River Chronicles."--The New York TimesArtsBeat blog, "The engine room is, in DuLong's opinion, a tribute to an era of craftsmanship that is very nearly extinct." - The New Yorker, "An unexpected portrayal of America in the decline of industry, delivered from the unique vantage point of the Hudson River. . . . [A]n eye-opening picture of what America has been . . . and what it is becoming. . . . Powerful." - Kirkus , starred review, "Smart, captivating prose . . . [Readers] will love this unusual mix of history, adventure, feminism and blue-collar know-how. Highly recommended." --Library Journal, "Jessica DuLong is a lucky woman. She stumbled into an obscure world -- the overheated engine room of an old fireboat -- and discovered that she belonged there. Readers are lucky, too, because she has managed to translate her love affair with water into a finely written and fascinating story about a lost American way of life." -- Stefan Fatsis, author ofWord FreakandA Few Seconds of Panic, "She details her often exhilarating experiences in her very fine and gutsy book. Ms. DuLong is a confident and sensual writer, as perceptive about small matters on a boat as was Anthony Bourdain, in Kitchen Confidential, about everyday events in a professional kitchen. . . . Readers will feel their own little yelps of glee all over My River Chronicles." - The New York Times ArtsBeat blog, "In a world where we are growing increasingly disconnected from anything real, what a delight to enter the engine room with Jessica DuLong, a real person doing a real thing in a real place. This is the kind of river trip that memoirs were developed for in the first place."-- Douglas Rushkoff, author ofLife Inc: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take it Back, "As both a writer and an engineer, she's relentlessly, gratifyingly curious, and her fine, richly detailed prose holds an appeal regardless of your level of interest in heritage histories and engine mechanics. . . . [T]he whole book is so layered and compelling that the intensity of 9/11 doesn't overpower the slower, more meditative sections. . . . DuLong's passion for her craft is contagious, making My River Chronicles one of the most moving, unusual books I've read in a long time." - Bookslut, "The engine room is, in DuLong's opinion, a tribute to an era of craftsmanship that is very nearly extinct."--The New Yorker, "An unexpected portrayal of America in the decline of industry, delivered from the unique vantage point of the Hudson River. . . . [A]n eye-opening picture of what America has been . . . and what it is becoming. . . . Powerful." --Kirkus, starred review, "Smart, captivating prose . . . [Readers] will love this unusual mix of history, adventure, feminism and blue-collar know-how. Highly recommended." - Library Journal