julieh46's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
cestelaine's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED IT!
Can’t wait to get my hands on more of her work.
Can’t wait to get my hands on more of her work.
bbboeken's review against another edition
4.0
That was a bit overwhelming. The Odd Woman and the City is an absolute declaration of love for city life, and New York in particular. Gornick reflects on her own (romantic) relationships and on how city life has evolved around her. Or with her. For her. She hints at the permissiveness that permeates New York, but at the same time at the solidarity that begrudgingly, it seems, befalls its inhabitants.
There is an abundant number of stories and encounters, too much for a reader to retain in a single reading, but that make up her life and makes it interesting. I might have to revisit this memoir. Someday.
There is an abundant number of stories and encounters, too much for a reader to retain in a single reading, but that make up her life and makes it interesting. I might have to revisit this memoir. Someday.
ddavare's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
entreletras's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Me ha gustado muchísimo 💖 A ratos, incluso más que Apegos Feroces. Un mapa de experiencias, reflexiones y conversaciones lindísimas. Creo que lo que me echa para atrás es que no entiendo cómo alguien podría romantizar una ciudad como Nueva York. Pero un besazo a Gornick, la quiero mucho.
geirertzgaard's review against another edition
4.0
En nydelig liten bok med gatevandring i New York City. Hva er grunnen til at så mange av de beste bøkene er historier om mennesker som går gatelangs?
helenhulsey's review against another edition
4.0
I’m still making my mind up about this one. I try not to judge memoirs too harshly, given that they’re the author’s perspective on their own life. I just found it harder than usual to develop an attachment to the author. Her grievances with her own life often translate into harsh judgment of others, and she describes some questionable interactions (ex. calling the cops on a black man for talking too loudly on a bus? she writes about this with some self deprecation but I still wasn’t able to sympathize with her.)
But with loneliness and the author’s struggle to connect with others being a leading theme in the book, maybe this makes sense. After all, she isn’t trying to be likable - simply laying out her experience in all its (sometimes graphic) detail, and I admire the boldness in which she does so. Her prose is elegant, her observations sharp, and the insights on humanity she is able to pull from ordinary interactions are often really beautiful.
Many passages in this book resonated with me, as a fellow creative trying to find the art in life and waiting for the world to validate their personhood. I hope to read more of Gornick’s work to try and get a better understanding of her as an author and human being.
But with loneliness and the author’s struggle to connect with others being a leading theme in the book, maybe this makes sense. After all, she isn’t trying to be likable - simply laying out her experience in all its (sometimes graphic) detail, and I admire the boldness in which she does so. Her prose is elegant, her observations sharp, and the insights on humanity she is able to pull from ordinary interactions are often really beautiful.
Many passages in this book resonated with me, as a fellow creative trying to find the art in life and waiting for the world to validate their personhood. I hope to read more of Gornick’s work to try and get a better understanding of her as an author and human being.