Goodbye to All That
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15
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"Goodbye to All That is a collection of essays about loving and leaving the magical city of New York. Inspired by Joan Didion's well-loved essay by the same name, this anthology features the experiences of 28 women for whom the magic of the city has worn off-whether because of loneliness after many friends marry, have kids, and head to the suburbs; jadedness about their careers; or difficulty finding true love in a place where everyone is always looking to trade up to a better mate, a better job, a better apartment. With contributions from authors such as Cheryl Strayed, Ann Hood, Dani Shapiro, and Emma Straub, this collection is relatable to anyone who arrived with stars in their eyes, hoping to make it. Each essay reveals the author's own unique relationship with New York City, and together they encompass the complicated emotions all New Yorkers have about leaving"--
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Note, I read the more recent edition that doesn't appear to be on Goodreads, and incorporates a pandemic essay or two. This book is a collection of essays from writers who have lived and New York and left it (sometimes to come back), based on Joan Didion's titular essay on the same topic.
I happened upon this book at Strand not two months before my own NYC departure; it seemed all too fitting. So, I'll admit my review is probably higher than it otherwise would have been, due to the immediate relevancy in my life, and some beautiful, resonant lines and metaphors.
In several essays, there were little tid-bits I loved, and have brought up into conversation: how people in New York tend to measure value in New York based on what they buy (clothes, experiences, real estate) vs what they make. That it's better to have bad style than no taste (the latter indicating a void of personality). That many people stay in New York because they don't realize the things that actually matter can be found most anywhere (and well under New York prices). But I also loved how each writer was enamored with the city, because there really isn't any other place in the world like it, and living here really is like being in a relationship. You learn a lot about yourself and the world.
What I didn't like: all the authors were female, with no real indication as to why that choice was made. Based on the subtitle and the introduction, I would think essays from across the gender spectrum on the same topic would add more dimension to what ended up feeling like a repetitive book (after a while, it's the same old story). For that same reason, I felt like there were too many essays. They all kind of bleed into one another, and few stand out distinctly in my mind.
