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Firehouse
written by David Halberstam
Studio : Hyperion
by Hyperion
Release Date : 2003-05-21
Publisher : Hyperion
Released : 2003-05-21
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780786888511
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 45 reviews)
List Price : $14.00
Our Price : $4.25
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Product Description |
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Firehouse is a book that will move readers as few others have in our time. Through the kind of intimate portraits that are Halberstam's trademark, we watch a typical day in a firehouse unfold -- the men called to duty, while their families wait anxiously for news of them. In addition, we come to understand the culture of the firehouse itself; why gifted men do this and why in so many instances they are eager to follow in their father's footsteps and serve in so dangerous a profession -- why, more than anything else, it is not just a job, but a calling as well. This is journalism-as-history at its best, the story of what happens when one small institution gets caught in an apocalyptic day. "In the firehouse, the men not only live and eat with each other, they play sports together, go off to drink together, help repair one another's houses, and, most important, share terrifying risks; their loyalties to each other must, by the demands of the dangers they face, be instinctive and absolute." |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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Thirteen men from Engine 40, Ladder 35 firehouse initially responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; only one survived. Located near Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the firehouse was known for its rich tradition and strong leadership. This gripping book details the actions of the 13 men on that horrific day and the heartbreaking aftermath--the search for the bodies, the efforts of their families to deal with overwhelming grief, and the guilt and conflicting emotions of the surviving members of the firehouse. The book is also about the men themselves and the tight bond and sense of duty and honor that held them together. David Halberstam does a masterful job of illustrating the inner workings of a firehouse, with its traditions, routines, and complex social structure that in many ways resembles a "vast extended second family--rich, warm, joyous, and supportive, but on occasion quite edgy as well, with all the inevitable tensions brought on by so many forceful men living so closely together over so long a period of time." He also explains why so many men choose this life despite the high risk, relatively low pay, and physical and emotional demands of the job. Halberstam and his family live three and a half blocks from Engine 40, Ladder 35, and he writes of these 13 men in such a loving and precise way that he could be describing members of his own clan. Deeply felt and emotional, Firehouse is a tribute to these decent, honorable, and heroic men and a celebration of their selflessness not only as firefighters but also as husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends. --Shawn Carkonen |
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Not great Halberstam, but worth reading for its historical value alone. |
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As a longtime fan of the great David Halberstam, I was surprised that I didn't enjoy this book more. Given its sobering and emotional subject matter, it would have been hard for such an important writer to make a mediocre book, but it's my belief that this is mediocre Halberstam. I read the book in the fall of 2008, while it was written in 2002. History is very difficult to write in the months following important events, and this book is proof. The courage and commitment of the fireman in the book is without question, but there are better books to read on 9/11. |
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Meet the men of Engine 40 and Ladder 35 |
The losses suffered by the FDNY on 11 September 2001 make it by far the most devastating day in the history of American firefighting. The mid-town Manhattan firehouse that is the home to Engine 40 and Ladder 35 sent 13 men to the World Trade Center that morning. Only one survived. This book is a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the FDNY and specifically to the men of 40/35, as this firehouse is known.
This is not a detailed account of that terrible day, but instead a profile of the men who were on duty at 40/35 that day. Many were thinking about retirement, having had long, happy careers with the FDNY. Others were still rookies, just learning how to fit in. For each, being a firefighter was more than a job, it was a calling, a lifestyle. In the lives of these men, we get a rare inside look at what it is really like to be a member of the extended family of firefighters. These men knew their jobs were dangerous, and yet never did they hesitate when called.
The final chapter profiles the survivors, the wives and parents left to cope with the staggering reality that their loved ones will never come home. Here we see that the burdens of a firefighter's job and life are carried by more than just the firefighter. They extend to the entire family, and the sacrifice paid by the families is almost too much to believe.
Written with sympathy and simple clarity, this book isn't so much about the disaster at the World Trade Center as it is about the lives of the men who chose to serve the City of New York as firefighters. This is a powerful tribute to some of America's bravest men. |
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poignant memories... |
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David Halberstam lived 3 blocks away from the 40/35 firehouse on Manhattan's West Side. He had never been in the firehouse or had met any of the firemen. He just carried that healthy respect that most NY'ers have for these men of bravery and courage. When planes flew into the WTC the 40/35 lost 12 of 13 men who had responded. This is their story. Lean prose carries their hearts and souls into ours and we will never forget them. |
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Halberstam & The Heroes of 9/11 |
I don't think you will find any book in which both the author and his subjects are so evenly matched regarding the high quality of work they have put out over the years. Sadly, the firefighters met their match on that sad day where it was their job to run into the direction of tragedy while everyone justifiably were going in the opposite path. Great stories reflect the quality of these individuals and their desire to help others under the worse circumstances.
The other tragedy related to this fine piece is the premature death of the author a few months back in a car accident. If you have never read a book by David Halberstam, please do so. I have read many different books by him on various subjects. He is one of the few people who can write on a subject that I would seemingly have little interest and make it a highly entertaining event just through sheer style and talent. He will be missed. |
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A simple but effective look at firemen and their bravery |
Halberstam's lean prose is the appropriate style for this moving portrait of the men at Engine 40, Ladder 35, 12 of whom were killed in the line of duty on 9/11. Each man gets his moment; the portraits are evenhanded, the men shown as human beings rather than super heroes. The events leading up to their final call are incredibly emotional rollercoaster; the day of the disaster is recalled with a devastating clarity. As an examination of the courage of ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances, only its brevity keeps this from being a true masterpiece.
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