Lily Brett, the Australian New Yorker with European roots, is right in the thick of it, and to capture the city, she holds a mirror up to herself. She charmingly recounts her struggles to find a somewhat decent bra in Greenwich Village, the strange sight of lap dogs in raincoats and sunglasses, and the overwhelming city traffic. Fortunately, in this rather hectic city, there are also corners of calm and peace, the smell of freshly baked bread, and the disarmingly honest conversations with her beautician. Because in Manhattan, nothing is insignificant and nothing is taken for granted. Lily Brett's New York stories are a great reading pleasure. In the tragicomic blend of autobiography and small everyday vignettes, the big themes of life shine through.