A New York Memoir

by Richard Goodman

A New York Memoir is about a life lived in New York City over a period of thirty years. The memoir begins in 1975, with author Richard Goodman's arrival in New York, an intimidated newcomer. It follows him through the years as he encounters some of the remarkable people one meets in New York, while harkening back to the inspiration the city provides, especially for artists and young writers. The memoir follows the author as he witnesses tragedies and then ruminates on growing old in New York. It tells of the joys and the difficulties of living in this remarkable city. A New York Memoir is, essentially, a long love letter to the city. Like all great loves, this volume reflects passion, promise, hope, pain, regret and, ultimately, the author's pride. This includes true stories of love, work, marriage, raising a child, becoming a writer, death, and friendship. Most of the stories in this effort take place there; those that do not are highly influenced by New York. The author has seen New York at its best and at its worst, when was it rich and freewheeling and when it fell on hard times and almost collapsed. He's seen it grievously wounded, and seen it pick itself back up again with the help of the entire world and with its own limitless moxie. This is a very personal story set against the backdrop of a massive city of unmatchable energy and of sheer, brute authority and inspiration. The book ends with a long remembrance of the author's mother who came to New York after many travails and was rescued by the city. This is the story of Richard Goodman's encounter with New York. **See Richard Goodman read an excerpt from A New York Memoir titled, "Elegy for an English Bike," here.""

Genres: Memoir, Essays

142 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2010

About the author

Richard Goodman is the author of French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France. He is also the author of A New York Memoir, The Soul of Creative Writing and The Bicycle Diaries: One New Yorker's Journey Through 9-11. He is co-editor of The Gulf South: An Anthology of Environmental Writing. Richard is working on a book about aging.

Reviews

[Guy Choate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in my second year of the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans, not sure about what I'm planning to do with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction once I graduate. Teaching doesn't really feel like it's for me, and I've been told it's nearly impossible to make a career out of writing alone. However, Goodman's book inspires me to give it a go. In fact, I've never finished a book that left me more wanting of a life as a writer, even if there is great struggle involved. And I just finished reading A Moveable Feast last week, so that's saying something. Goodman's energy and enthusiasm for writing really comes out on the page. After reading "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "My Beautiful Ann" I sat down and wrote 3,000 words encouraged by pure inspiration I credit to those essays. Everyone should pick this one up, especially you doubting writers.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book filled with straight talking no-nonsense instantly decipherable prose. Richard Goodman writes beautifully and eloquently about loves known, lost, and never really known. I had read (or heard - much to my good fortune) several of these essays before, but I was absolutely blown away by the two essays that appear late in the book: "The Ceiling Leak" and "The Wheaton Girl." Goodman is a fabulous writer throughout this volume, but those two essays (in particular) simply slay me. This is a magnificent book and required reading for anyone who is interested in understanding (or reading) what creative nonfiction is all about. (Full disclosure: Richard Goodman was my first mentor at Spalding University's MFA in Writing program - but I would write the same even if he hadn't been.)

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spare, lovely writing. A pleasure to read.