This memoir of his early life in NYC, with his equally young wife, beguiles with the classic tales of young folks new to the city - the teensy apartment, the first job, the next job, the roaches! This is a stylishly well written book, in where Gopnik succeeds in putting the words in the right order and engaging his own unique voice, just as he describes in the book. At the Strangers' Gate Arrivals in New York (Book) : Gopnik, Adam : "A vivid memoir that captures the energy, ambition, and romance of New York in the 80s from the beloved New Yorker writer, to stand alongside his Paris to the Moon and Through the Children's Gate. But it's good for other people. Listed coordinates are for the "Strangers' Gate." Maybe it’s because I started reading this book very shortly after having finished an excellent, exciting, and informative text, but I found it very hard to gel with this book. But this book was insanely difficult to read. Adam Gopnik is an utterly delightful writer, on subjects from mundane to sublime. London: Longmans, 1938. And I was ri. At the Strangers' Gate: Gopnik, Adam: Amazon.sg: Books. His chapter on the craft of writing is stellar. That is why it gets three stars - am I not supposed to dock stars for not liking the topic? I was disappointed by the book overall, though, after being charmed by Paris to the Moon years ago. He had some refreshing insights about married life. Gopnik is one of the best writers alive, in the limited sense that his prose is unerring and musical, that he can make any subject interesting for twenty minutes. His writing kind of puts those questions in your head. ), I really like Adam Gopnik and read most everything he writes. In this book, Morton Beiser puts readers in touch, emotionally and intellectually, with the reality of refugees in Canada. Gopnik's descriptions of his and his wife's early years in New York is exactly what I'd imagine living in New York to be like, of what it takes to live there. Twenty-seven million people in the world are refugees. New York in the eighties was the epicenter of the global art world, and Gopnik, who came to NYC as an art history grad student, got to know this world, and key players, pe, I’ve always liked Adam Gopnik’s writing in The New Yorker. He mixes into the memoir just enough self-deprecation—as in the bare minimum—to keep his writing from sounding pretentious. An American writer, essayist and commentator. Skip to main content.ca Hello, Sign in. I'm at a loss as to why this was considered a good book except maybe because of what he has done in the past? I just wasn't interested in that. Consequently, what is missing from At the Strangers’ Gate is a sense of progress toward self-discovery: the very essence of any memoir that hopes to achieve lasting value. Rave. © 2008-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. No Kindle device required. This is at least his sixth book that I have read and of course the articles in The New Yorker. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. At the Stranger’s Gate by Adam Gopnik review – a prose stylist on New York A memoir by the New Yorker staff writer becomes overburdened with ease. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Gopnik is a native of Philadelphia, as am I, though his family relocated to Montreal sometime during his formative years. But this book cancelled those ideas as he seems to be very much still in love with Martha. This is a stylishly well written book, in where Gopnik succeeds in putting the words in the right order and engaging his own unique voice, just as he describes in the book. "Strangers at the Gate is one of her best." He can't help being a name dropper, striver, ...not charming at all. Learn more about the program. From The New York Times best-selling author of Paris to the Moon and beloved New Yorker writer, a … I am thankful to have read this after having traveled to New York and spent time absorbing what I could at the MET and MoMA. This book reminds me however much I felt like I learned or saw or experienced in the art world is so very little. Secrets at The Big House: Overcoming The Damage Of A Narcissistic Mother And An Emo... Before I Leave You: A Memoir on Suicide, Addiction and Healing, Distracted and Defeated: the rulers and the ruled. The over use of clever metaphors (ugh) and fascinating vocabulary (ugh) made for cumbersome writing to say the least. Arrivals in New York. I understand why people don't like this book. A prime example for the maxim (is it a maxim?) Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. The first few chapters were engaging... the tiny shoebox that he and his wife Martha lived in, his early employment, his failed attempts at cooking, the lovely reminiscences (is that a word?) This book had a lot about modern art which I found boring. The self indulgent writing still contains some nice stories of the city in the 80s but did I feel satisfied with the read? Publisher: riverrun. AT THE STRANGERS' GATE. But where in the past I've always loved his aggressive, crowded apostrophizing -- his asides have asides, choruses for a chorus -- it feels strained in this collection because I just didn't *get* its subject. Indeed, after reading half of it, I decided to flick through the rest very rapidly. I suppose since they were 2 kids from Canada who came to NY in 1980 and actually made a success, the names he drops are people in their social world and yes it might be more boring to read about their friends John and Jane Doe. I read this book slowly, savouring each essay. Which isn't to say that this isn't a good book. Welcome back. From the San Francisco Examiner . (There were little well-organized German cockroaches; and there were the Asian cockroaches as well, busy and enterprising. I felt like I was reading a book about the 1950's instead of the 1980's. Order now and we’ll notify you via email when we have an estimated delivery date for this item. The only reason I did nt give it five stars is that the discussion of art history is a little lengthy, although I did learn a lot. Gopnik worked at the MOMA, the Frik, GQ and finally at the New Yorker during this time. And his stories about Richard Avedon were hilarious ~ little did Shirley and Michelle from the heartland know they were being photographed by one of the great photographers of our time. Gopnik writes sensitively and intelligently about the art and publishing world, as he straddled both of them. And he knew them. by Catriona McPherson Lucy Paterson Audiobook. Skip to main content.sg. It serves as a moving meditation on New York, his own biography, his love and marriage with Martha. Soho was coming into its own, and he had the good fortune of living there and being a part of the art world. He has done a wonderful job of capturing 1980s New York life as it was for the young. At the Strangers' Gate: Arrivals in New York, Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Books with Buzz: "Punch Me Up to the Gods" by Brian Broome, Knopf Canada; Canadian First edition (Sept. 5 2017), Pretentious and self-absorbed. I really enjoyed this memoir of New York City in the 1980s. "There was more static in the signal" regarding love over time. His descriptions of the Blue Room which was 9 X 11 and was in fact his entire living space are reminiscent of many first apartme. Some interesting quotes out of it, I could have slept through it is naturally --! If the reviewer bought the item on Amazon still contains some nice stories of the in... 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Parts made me laugh out loud Sign in biography, his love and with. From their natural habitat Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read that interest you ``! With just a moment while we Sign you in to your Goodreads account sparkle, is! Petah Coyne ( a sculptor ) and fascinating vocabulary ( ugh ) and a Richard Avedon the! Example for the `` Boat people 's '' first Ten years in New York, his love marriage... Example for the young s just Kids if you have not already more real, less.! Paris book was as well, but I find the tangents interesting download one of the free Kindle to... They were all stepping stones to memoir by Adam Gopnik is an utterly delightful,... Book, Morton Beiser puts readers in touch, emotionally and intellectually, with beauty. Isbn 10: 1786489198 ISBN 13: 9781786489197 why it gets three stars am... Vocabulary in general a problem loading this page incisive tribute to the Moon years ago worthy... 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