Why people recommend it
Odd Woman and the City is a sharp and introspective memoir by Vivian Gornick that explores urban life, solitude, and female friendship through observant walks around New York City. On The Book Review podcast, host John Williams warmly recommended the memoir as part of summer reading lists and discussions, noting that he had recently read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Williams later referenced Gornick's writing when discussing her previous works and her distinct style of riffing on the experience of navigating urban streets, praising the engaging nature of her literary voice. The podcast discussions framed Gornick's book as a standout example of personal non-fiction that captures the essence of metropolitan existence and intellectual reflection. By sharing his personal enthusiasm for the memoir, Williams offered listeners a compelling reason to pick up the book, highlighting its sharp observations and the engaging quality of Gornick's narrative style as she reflects on aging, city living, and human connection.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
John Williams — 4 mentions
“and she wrote about it a lot in her last Memoir uh the odd woman in the city which is another very good book and I thought that the whole book was going to be that kind of just riffing on walking around the streets of New York”
“and she wrote about it a lot in her last Memoir uh the odd woman in the city which is another very good book and I thought that the whole book was going to be that kind of just riffing on walking around the streets of New York”
“and a book that I just read recently and enjoyed two Vivian gornick new Memoir the odd woman and the city”
“and a book that I just read recently and enjoyed two Vivian gornick new Memoir the odd woman and the city”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Kids' Guide to America's First Ladies
- Against Love
- Approaching Eye Level
- Book of numbers
- Germinal
- Ghachar Ghochar
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and if you know gornick work she had a great Memoir a couple years ago called the odd woman in the city”
“and if you know gornick work she had a great Memoir a couple years ago called the odd woman in the city”
“and she actually I think titled her Memoir the odd woman in the city because of this book The Odd women”
“and she actually I think titled her Memoir the odd woman in the city because of this book The Odd women”