Keys to the City: Tales of a New York City Locksmith

by Joel Kostman

Book Overview

Called Doctor of the Deadbolt by The New York Times, musician-turned-locksmith Joel Kostman has been collecting stories about the New York characters he's encountered in twenty years on the job: the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140279474
• ISBN13: 9780140279474
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

love this book

I first heard one of these stories read on an NPR show and went in search of the book. The stories are all very interesting and the authors voice is somehow familiar and warm to me. great for light reading just before bed to inspire dreams of NYC.

Fantastic!

The day I moved to NYC, Joel was my locksmith, and I'm happy to say he's as brilliant a writer as he is/was a locksmith. His book is wonderful-it does exactly what you want great art to do. It's heartbreaking at turns, hilarious at others, it's a sly and witty Valentine to NYC, and it's just flat-out wonderful. I can't wait to see what he'll do next.

Memorable characters and situations

Joel Kostman provides at least two essential services: locksmithing and storytelling. He is calm, smart, and - this unfolds with the stories - a careful observer-participant. In addition he is often saving the day for his characters, and he is humble.These stories are great and short (as in, most are ten or fewer pages long) but each with a distinct purpose. You also find out that the narrator's brother, now schizophrenic, was once a Professor of Philosophy - and that Kostman knows an important moment when he meets one. He likes people, and they like him. You understand why.This is a fine collection of stories that are unpretentious, elegantly simple, and very humane.

Amusing, reassuring vignettes

Joel is just a nice guy -- no questions there. He's also insightful and humble so he can let a story tell itself without trying to show off his ability to write. His writing style reminds me of a baseball umpire -- an umpire is at his best when you don't even realize he's umpiring the game. Joel's stories are like that -- they just smoothly tell themselves without too much editorializing and too much dramatization. He also doesn't use his book as an opportunity to list the litany of freaks, kooks, and morons he's undoubtedly dealt with in his locksmith years in NYC. These are funny stories, but they are more about everyday people and what they do to fill their time and make ends meet. It's the type of book that reassures you about the quality of people around you and makes you realize how extraordinary an ordinary life can be. It's a quick read, a few hours at most, but it's well worth it. I only wish there were more books by this author.

"Tarzan Finds a Mate," "The Chapel of Love" and more....

The theme is deceptively simple: a New York locksmith goes out to fix a lock, takes care of business, gets paid and goes home. But in Joel Kostman's world, this is merely the backdrop for a series of strange and wonderful encounters with complete strangers who literally open their homes and hearts to this man who appears neutral and non-intrusive while quietly observing every minute detail of the inner lives of these "ordinary" people. In a series of 14 stories told in the first person, Mr. Kostman reveals a level of compassion and observation uncommon to the bluecollar business he is in. He is a very gifted writer who also happens to be a locksmith. With this debut volume we are introduced to an original voice that is both touching and hilarious.