Sempre Susan: A Memoir

Sempre Susan is a memoir detailing Sigrid Nunez's relationship with writer and intellectual Susan Sontag in the 1970s. Nunez became involved with Sontag's son David Rieff while working as an editorial assistant at The New York Review of Books, and subsequently moved in with both mother and son in a Manhattan apartment. The book chronicles Sontag's daily life, habits, and personality through Nunez's direct observations during their time living together. Nunez documents Sontag's intense devotion to literature and culture, her working methods, and her complex relationship with her son David. The memoir provides an intimate portrait of one of America's most significant cultural critics during a pivotal period in her career. Through precise details and remembered conversations, Nunez reconstructs the atmosphere of intellectual New York in the 1970s. This work explores questions of mentorship, artistic influence, and the boundaries between personal and professional relationships. The book reveals how proximity to a powerful personality can both inspire and complicate one's own development as a writer.

Readers appreciate Nunez's intimate portrayal of Susan Sontag as both a mentor and challenging personality. The short length (140 pages) offers a focused glimpse into Sontag's daily life and relationship dynamics. Likes: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Personal details about Sontag's habits and character - Balance between respect and honesty - Insights into New York's literary scene Dislikes: - Some found it too brief - Readers wanted more analysis of Sontag's work - A few noted it feels more like extended essay than full memoir - Some wanted more details about Nunez herself Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) Reader quote: "Nunez manages to paint a portrait that's both admiring and unsparing." - Goodreads reviewer The memoir resonates most with readers already familiar with Sontag's work and those interested in literary New York of the 1970s.

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Swimming in a Sea of Death by David Rieff Sontag's son presents a different perspective on his mother's life and final days, complementing Nunez's account with intimate family observations.

Lost Years: A Memoir 1945-1951 by Christopher Isherwood The documentation of Isherwood's relationship with poet W.H. Auden reveals the complexities of literary mentorship and friendship in New York's intellectual circles.

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett This account of Patchett's friendship with writer Lucy Grealy examines the dynamics between two writers and the evolution of their relationship through success and struggle.

Experience by Martin Amis Amis's memoir includes his relationship with his literary father Kingsley Amis and novelist Saul Bellow, presenting another view of literary apprenticeship and influence.

📚 Sigrid Nunez first met Susan Sontag while dating her son, David Rieff, and ended up living with both of them in their Upper West Side apartment. 🖋️ The memoir reveals intimate details about Sontag's work habits, including how she would write standing up at a lectern and frequently revise her work up until the last possible moment. 🎭 Despite Sontag's fierce public persona, Nunez depicts her as someone who could be deeply insecure, particularly about her appearance and her success compared to other writers. 📖 The book's title comes from Sontag's habit of constantly talking, thinking, and engaging with ideas - she was "sempre" (always) on, making even casual conversations feel like intellectual discourse. 🗽 The memoir captures a specific moment in New York City's cultural life during the late 1970s, when artists and intellectuals regularly gathered in Sontag's apartment for intense discussions about art, literature, and politics.