Approaching Eye Level

by Vivian Gornick

Book Overview

Seminal essays on loneliness, living in New York, friendship, feminism, and writing from nonfiction master Vivian GornickVivian Gornick's Approaching Eye Level is a brave collection of personal essays... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807070904
• ISBN13: 9780807070901
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Beacon Press (MA)
• Length: 163 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Nice set of essays/musings

I really enjoyed reading Vivian Gornick's Approaching Eye Level, and I don't even live alone. I didn't read too much into Ms. Gornick's essays; I pretty much took them at face value. Her writing style can be described as a bit rambling but also conversational. She probably write just like she thinks. My favorite essay was the first one, which discussed her first jobs as a student. I just found them really entertaining, and I guess the one I could relate to the best. The other essays centered a bit around living alone, relationships (both friendships and marriage), and feminism. Overall, this book is a quick and interesting read. I certainly wanted to pick it up throughout the day to read - it wasn't a chore. I'll certainly read more from Ms. Gornick.

As an aspiring writer, this book was a turning point for me

This book really connected with me. Gornick is a great storyteller and a thoughful observer. She has a fabulous style of writing. It is clear, but so deep. She writes the most amazing insights about ordinary life. It is eloquent, insightful, but not overly academic like I usually expect books of essays to be. I love reading memoirs that reveal a lot about the author's world. If you like the genre, don't pass up this book.