Book · 1968 · Fiction in English
Our spoons came from Woolworths
Why people recommend it
Our spoons came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns is an eccentric, semi-autobiographical novel that follows a young, bohemian artist navigating poverty, motherhood, and tumultuous relationships in London during the interwar years. On an episode of The Book Review titled Gorbachev: His Life and Times, which aired on July 18, 2024, John Williams discussed this work as part of his ongoing reading segment. Williams explained that out of two books he had obtained from New York Review Books, he had specifically picked up this one to read. By mentioning his physical selection process, Williams gave listeners a direct look into his personal stack of books and his engagement with the publisher's catalog of reissued classics. The novel is widely admired for its startlingly original narrative voice, combining childlike innocence with stark, often grim realities of adult life. Williams's mention of the book aligns with a broader critical rediscovery of Barbara Comyns's unique literary output, introducing her charming yet subversive storytelling to listeners seeking out lesser-known masterpieces of twentieth-century fiction through the platform of a major literary podcast.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
John Williams — 1 mention
“so I picked up the one of the two that I have which is from New York Review books and it's called our spoons came from Woolworths”