The Citizens Coalition Against Noise Pollution
Cedarhurst Alley
Book Review
Cedarhurst Alley: A Lighter-Than-Air, Anti-Noise Novel
Denny Hatch
iUniverse, Inc.
That I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cedarhurst Alley is unquestioned. After all, I have been writing about noise, including aircraft noise, for the past thirty years. Beyond that, I was impressed how successfully Denny Hatch has depicted the noise sufferer Hendon Chait. Just as Philip Seymour Hoffman has reached into the body and soul of Truman Capote, so has Hendon Chait stepped into the shoes of so many of the residents who live within the flight paths of nearby airports. Hendon's outrage and anger seep through every pore of his body and his protest speaks to the anguish of so many people whose lives have been shattered by overhead jet noise. However, Hendon has done what these suffering souls have been unable to accomplish. He has brought the FAA and the aviation industry to its knees. Hendon has fulfilled the long-term wishes and fantasies of so many airport-noise sufferers. Everyone who has been awakened in the middle of the night by the roar of an airplane or has had a conversation or television viewing disrupted by the sound of a jet roaring into the living room will cheer Hendon on as he seeks justice for his cause.
Mr. Hatch does indeed have a wonderful wit and a playful mind and the ability to use words successfully to give voice to a story so vividly depicting one man's battle against authority. I can't believe Mr. Hatch has come upon his tale by chance. He must have had some first-hand experience with noise and the reluctance of government to do anything about it. The indignation expressed toward the airline industry, the FAA and our federal government adds spice to a well-told story. Mr. Hatch's research on noise is dated because the book was written in 1970 but the author cited the credible sources of that time. He also read up on barrage balloons; otherwise, his story wouldn't fly. What is timeless about Cedarhust Alley is the fact that aviation noise is still disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and the government is still reluctant to remedy the situation.
Cedarhurst Alley is a terrific read and will bring smiles to its readers, especially the victims of noise who can live vicariously through Mr. Hatch's Hendon Chait.
Reviewed by A. Bronzaft, Ph.D.
Publisher: iUniverse (www.iuniverse.com) 1-800-288-4677 Price: $15.95
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