To Newark With Love: A City, A Family, A Life

Helen Lippman's To Newark with Love is truly a love letter. Written by a native of New Jersey's largest city, it tells the author's own rich story against the equally rich background of a great American city. We witness Ms. Lippman's "different" childhood as the daughter of left wing, atheist, Jewish parents. Eventually, there is McCarthyite red baiting of loved ones, anti-semitism, school desegregation, racial strife and a city's decades-long struggle to re-invent itself.As in any love story, there is joy, heartbreak, loss and healing. These apply to Ms. Lippman's own candidly-told life story as well as to the city of her birth.If you live or ever lived in Newark or any other place, you should read this book. Full of important history alongside a generous biography, this love story is a treasure.Bravo, Helen Lippman!

Helen Lippman’s engrossing memoir, To Newark with Love, depicts growing up, living, and working in Newark, New Jersey in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. She shares the culture of growing up in her not-so-standard Jewish household, the joy of swimming and playing at local pools and parks, along with her growing awareness that not all kids got to do the same. As her family moves to different neighborhoods in Newark her perspective widens revealing the racial disparities and tensions that local groups try to address. Her descriptions of neighborhood homes and friends bring neighborhoods to life making Newark much more than a smaller city dwarfed by New York City.She expertly contrasts the excitement of shopping at big department stores with her mother and sister, with the turmoil of the racial unrest of the 1960’s. As a past resident of New Jersey I felt the loyalty to that stubborn state which people often forget is a Garden State and a survivor.Her experience of cultural changes for women working in the ’60s and ’70s is but one example that resonated with me in this beautifully rendered commentary on a close up look at communities in Newark, as well as really good storytelling.The author’s look at her life made for very interesting reading from an admirable woman succeeding in her professional and personal life.The city of Newark is almost depicted as a main character of this book - affectionately and firmly portrayed as determined, interesting, and a Phoenix rising.A great read, including excellent photos, substantial endnotes, and an Appendix featuring sights to see for a self-guided tour of Newark, New Jersey. Ethel Lee-Miller

This book was nostalgic & brought back memories that are difficult to replace. It was difficult to put down, easy reading and highly recommended. Great gift any occasion for sentimental reasons and seasons!

Author Helen Lippman serves up a great slice of Newark history with her plucky personal story and anecdotes. Lippman weaves a tapestry of Newark's changes, both low and high points, from the 1940s to today alongside her family's and her own. . The charts, maps; photos--from FW Woolworth's lunch counter menu to vintage views of landmarks, are a real asset to the story. I was glad to find an Appendix of the author's top ten recommended places to visit in Newark.

Beautifully told and factual history of Newark as well as a parallel history of the author and her family. I couldn’t put it down!