Fierce Attachments

By Vivian Gornick,

Book cover of Fierce Attachments

Book description

The author recounts her childhood experiences living in a tenement, looks at her relationship with her mother, and describes the lives of women bound to husbands they didn't love

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Fierce Attachments as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Gornick is having a moment in her eighties, and that alone is exciting for me, also in my 80s, and looking to her as a model. And so I reopened this tough, probing, amusing, enlightening memoir.

It is so confident, her experience so meticulously depicted; reading it is like receiving a series of pleasant electrical shocks. Except for our both having been raised by contentious, critical, strong-willed mothers whose hold on us was uncanny, our childhoods were utterly different.

But I read her with the thrill of recognition - of her longing for a larger world while remaining attached to…

Want books like Fierce Attachments?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 91 books like Fierce Attachments.

Browse books like Fierce Attachments

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in New York State, New York City, and Jewish history?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about New York State, New York City, and Jewish history.

New York State Explore 723 books about New York State
New York City Explore 999 books about New York City
Jewish History Explore 457 books about Jewish history