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ocurtsinger's review against another edition
3.0
I achingly realized Joe Gould's 'secret' about halfway through the book, and was thereafter in a constant state of pity for him, for Joseph Mitchell, and for many of the various characters swept up in the Oral History. I think he was an interesting and respectable guy, but it made me sad to realize that if he were still around today, he would be brushed off as a destitute panhandler so much more easily now than in the Bohemian scene of the 1940's. It was also fun to read about New York at that time. I also just finished reading Patti Smith's Just Kids, which details a lot of the Chelsea Hotel scene in the 70's and 80's, and I think we're pretty inundated with books about the Beat scene in the 50's and 60's, so this was a fresh little portrait of the New York underground literary scene of an even earlier time. All in all a pretty fun read, even if the 'secret' isn't as exciting or fulfilling as you'd wish.
raeannmichelle's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
guaninecytosine's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Read for book club; one selection from the Up in the Old Hotel anthology.
On a less charitable reading, I sometimes feel like male literati in the early-mid 20th century were self-obsessed enough to end up being profoundly gullible. A neighborhood character / grifter claims to have written a 8,000,000 word Oral History of Our Time with little / no evidence? Well, he’s a self-evangelizing Harvard guy, so it’s gotta be true. Might as well perpetuate that mythos.
On a more charitable reading, a healthy reminder that every human has their own interiority that is inherently singular and therefore has merit. And that it’s hard to tell in the present which stories will be emblematic of the past in the future, so maintaining a general open-mindedness to all human interest will weave a more robust narrative tapestry than being preemptively selective.
Seesawing between eye-rolling and wondering if I’m being too judgmental. But regardless, appreciate the immersion into a vivid portrait of 1940s NYC. I see why Joseph Mitchell is one of the New Yorker’s greatest (even though it’s nuts they kept him employed for 32 years after his final publication).
On a more charitable reading, a healthy reminder that every human has their own interiority that is inherently singular and therefore has merit. And that it’s hard to tell in the present which stories will be emblematic of the past in the future, so maintaining a general open-mindedness to all human interest will weave a more robust narrative tapestry than being preemptively selective.
Seesawing between eye-rolling and wondering if I’m being too judgmental. But regardless, appreciate the immersion into a vivid portrait of 1940s NYC. I see why Joseph Mitchell is one of the New Yorker’s greatest (even though it’s nuts they kept him employed for 32 years after his final publication).
ohainesva's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
3.75
I like how all of Joseph's Mitchell's writing is like check out this cool eccentric person, an I'm like dang I should talk to more weirdos and then with this one he's like don't get it twisted this guy was sooooo annoying
jochno's review against another edition
5.0
This really was a fantastic novella, a brief and charming read with certain sentences and turns of phrase that really stuck with me. The storytelling has a particular texture to it that is both comic and tragic. There were even things in there that it is reasonable to suggest, might have been picked up by other authors. For instance the constant need for Joe Gould to blow his nose is quite similar to Salman Rushdie's protagonist in Midnight's Children.
I think the self-publicising Joe Gould is as relevant to modern times as it was fifty years ago. Tragedy, a sense of grandeur and the pursuit of reputation appear to be so often linked, in time their pursuit can undo so many and Joe Gould personifies that in strange fashion.
I think the self-publicising Joe Gould is as relevant to modern times as it was fifty years ago. Tragedy, a sense of grandeur and the pursuit of reputation appear to be so often linked, in time their pursuit can undo so many and Joe Gould personifies that in strange fashion.
jennyrpotter's review against another edition
5.0
Joseph Mitchell was just amazing. Widely known as "The New Yorker's" all-time best, his writing is so clear and clean, and his descriptions are perfect while allowing room for the reader to fill in the blanks with her own mind. I did prefer his collection "Bottom of the Harbor" to "Joe Gould's Secret," but there was something haunting and unique about this story that still ranks it as five-stars in my book. This entire character study is two pieces on one man, a homeless man who lived day-to-day in Greenwich Village in the mid-1900's. He was known among locals for working tirelessly on an "Oral History," which would serve for posterity as a written collection of conversations that give voice to the voiceless in our society.
The funny thing is, in writing about Joe Gould and sharing his true story with us, Joseph Mitchell provided his own small version of an "Oral History." Through his words, Joe Gould lives on.
The funny thing is, in writing about Joe Gould and sharing his true story with us, Joseph Mitchell provided his own small version of an "Oral History." Through his words, Joe Gould lives on.
bemused_writer's review against another edition
3.0
This is a surprisingly difficult book to rate. On one hand, I really enjoyed Joseph Mitchell's writing style and could sympathize with him on several counts. I'd actually like to read more of his work. On the other hand, the subject of the book, Joe Gould, strikes me as an incredibly difficult person to be around even if I couldn't help but pity him here and there. He really seems like a library customer and he did, in fact, frequent New York's public library at the time along with several other establishments.
I read the book primarily because of its connection to the Blackwell series (Wadjet Eye Games), which I'm a huge fan of. The series had several references to this book and the book formed the backbone of the first three games. At first glance that will seem strange since this is a biography and Blackwell is about ghosts but the series has always been grounded in a certain realism regarding its characters and the things people go through and in that way it makes perfect sense.
As for the book I would recommend giving it a read. It gives some insight into a specific time in America along with some elements of bohemian culture. Joe Gould had a certain lasting effect on the area as well--the Village, the Minetta, and other places he frequented are known for being some of Joe Gould's spots--and the book he was working on The Oral History, is something that has intrigued a lot of people for the mystery surrounding it as well as the basic premise. I'm inclined to agree with Joseph Mitchell however:
Spoiler
There are a lot of things I didn't really like about Gould to be honest. He spent a lot of time harassing people for money or for attention and it was largely unwanted. He's not the kind of person I would want to deal with.I read the book primarily because of its connection to the Blackwell series (Wadjet Eye Games), which I'm a huge fan of. The series had several references to this book and the book formed the backbone of the first three games. At first glance that will seem strange since this is a biography and Blackwell is about ghosts but the series has always been grounded in a certain realism regarding its characters and the things people go through and in that way it makes perfect sense.
As for the book I would recommend giving it a read. It gives some insight into a specific time in America along with some elements of bohemian culture. Joe Gould had a certain lasting effect on the area as well--the Village, the Minetta, and other places he frequented are known for being some of Joe Gould's spots--and the book he was working on The Oral History, is something that has intrigued a lot of people for the mystery surrounding it as well as the basic premise. I'm inclined to agree with Joseph Mitchell however:
Spoiler
I don't think the book ever existed. As soon as Gould rejected all the measures Pearce offered to preserve the book in order to publish it I became very suspicious. It was still sad to see how Gould had no reply to Mitchell's accusation that it didn't exist; the thing he was devoting himself to was quite possibly a figment of his imagination.katecutrer's review against another edition
5.0
I would give at least 6 stars to that book if it was possible.
iliyenzio's review against another edition
5.0
I read this for a class and, just, wow. Mitchell does a wonderful job portraying a complex man like Gould.