The Jersey Shore Uncovered: A Revealing Season on the Beach

Lifeguards, surfers, beachgoers, birders, ice cream vendors, seashell sellers, banner pilots-they're all here. You'll be on the scene when Atlantic City's mayor officially begins summer by "unlocking the ocean," get a whiff of the state barbeque championship, watch the nation's longest-running all-women lifeguard competition, and even spend a weekend, Survivor-style, on a Barnegat Bay island.

The Ocean City Baby Parade, Clownfest, the state's hottest bikini contest, and the World Series of Surf Fishing are all covered. You'll also meet the folks at the Diamondback Terrapin Conservation Project, the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

Genovese introduces you to Little Miss Chaos and the King of Corn, the Jersey Shore Hot Dog Queen, and Lucky Leo. You'll go on patrol with the New Jersey State Marine Police, meet the man behind Big Mike's E-Z Bail Bonds, and find salvation at the Boardwalk Chapel.

The Jersey Shore Uncovered flawlessly depicts the timeless allure of New Jersey beach culture. Along with his stories, Genovese brings readers hundreds of color and black-and-white photos that brilliantly capture exactly what makes this 127-mile stretch of shoreline unique. Whether you've never been to a New Jersey beach or you're a Jersey native who spends your summers "down the Shore," you're certain to learn a thing or two from this book. So get settled in your beach chair, put on some suntan lotion, and enjoy.

Considering his background as a writer for the Star Ledger, and the quality of his other NJ themed books, he is definately qualified to write about the shore. He accurately captures the feel, the sounds, the emotions of being at the jersey shore. He speaks as one who spent many days and nights there.

minus: B&W picturtes seem rather bland most of the time, alcking sharpness or depth of field, but that is more then made up by....

Plus: there are 2 sections of color pictures which absolutely explode with color, especially the color blue. these pictures are pure gold.

if you've never been to the shore it will open your eyes. if you've been to the shore it will bring back fond memories and maybe even expose you to things about the shore you never knew.


You can almost smell the hot dogs and french fries they sell   December 10, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Being a lifelong NJ resident, this book depicts the 130 plus miles of unique coastal shoreline where you'd have to live here and experience many hot summers just to get a sense of what The Jersey Shore is truly all about. Through words and photos, the essence of the Jersey Shore comes alive - you can almost smell the Coppertone on a humid summer afternoon, hear the buzz of a boardwalk in the distance, feel the rumble of thrill rides thundering over weather beaten ocean piers, feel the spray of waves crashing along the beach, the buzz and flicker of old neon motel signs, the strong aromas of sausage and peppers or pizza from the boardwalk food stands, clicking spinning wheels from games of chance, and the infamous "Please watch the tram car" of Wildwood loops repeatedly in your head. It's all here. The Jersey Shore is not just a place but rather a cultural way of life for the people who reside in this state - taking on a life of its own with the arrival of Memorial Day while preparing for hibernation as Labor Day approaches. When the snow begins to fall and the wind chills drop to sub-freezing conditions, this book will be a welcome reminder of better days until that next summer season finally does arrive again...