All of this is quite wonderful, including pictures of her that somehow convey her bright spirit and whimsical, sprightly nature, and, of course, her great intelligence.
I have to wonder if she ever proofread any of my short stories that were published in The New Yorker. I hope so.
And she's walking distance from the Strand Bookstore. who could ask for more.
4
What a relief to see the Times finally profile someone with admirable values- so real, so intelligent and so inspirational, instead of the phony riff raff we get fed every week in the real estate section.
Did I get my commas correct? !!!
Joan Cohen
11
And a new, lovely word: raddled. Yes I am.
5
My favorite things: 1) a bookshelf i’m the bathroom; 2) the crown of commas (though it looks a bit like a medieval instrument of torture); and 3) the colors of the living room and its cozy, comfortable look. — I’m also wondering if the apt is perhaps slightly more cluttered when the NYT photographer is not there. — But altogether, it’s my kind of place.
6
This article sounds like her. What an interesting person. A piano and a huge harp. Whew! Books? Not so much.
3
How refreshing to read this story and see these lovely photos of a real person in a real apartment.
9
So warm and cozy - surrounded by music, has much in common with my home. Love the harp- would love to play Mozart’s flute and harp concerto if you’re available Ms. Norris!
6
We read “Confessions of a Comma Queen” in my book club and had a lively discussion about it. Lovely to see this profile of Ms. Norris and her apartment.
15
Thank you for profiling a genuinely interesting person and a REAL apartment - one that reflects the life & interests of a genuinely interesting person (as opposed to the oh-so-curated "look" that we too often are shown). THIS is how real New Yorkers live!
104
I would have liked to see photos that show more of her book collection.
53
Yes I agree! It would be wonderful to see her book collection because no book collection can ever sad to be cluttered!
17
Between You & Me" - music to my ears. Every time someone says "Between you and I" I want to scream! Thank you, Mary Norris!
60
@Dorothy Reik: But "Between you and I" sounds so refined while "Between you and me" sounds like something Bogey would say, along the lines of "Between you and me, kid."
(In case anyone is wondering, the above is supposed to be the POV of the person who says "Between you and I".)
1
Books are everywhere in our house and my kids’ friends comment that we have so many books. Each bedroom has a bookcase, the living room, the den and the basement family room. We are moving and I refuse to part with any of them. And yes, I reread them. And my Eastern European/Soviet Union collection has come in handy lately. 😎
32
@Bismarck
Someone said that books are the history of your mind - I can never bear to part from any of them.
6
She became my favorite writer in 2012 with "Night of the Opossum." Highly recommend!
What a beautiful, soulful apartment. That tiny typewriter pencil sharpener is everything...
49
Thanks for mentioning Night of the Opossum...it’s delightful reading!
11
I enjoyed this so much. A life well lived shows through one’s possessions.
56
Books in piles on the floor and a well-used Webster’s Unabridged? I think she’s me.
74
Zillion dollar mansions, you're outclassed. Here is true splendor, a home of love and learning.
142
Books do furnish a room, as do musical instruments, and there is an abundance of both here. An inspiring glimpse into a writer's world, no wonder you would rather write at home.
76
A woman after my own heart and soul.
I recently made the 2,200-mile trek from "flyover land" to my new home in Mexico (yes, because of he who shall not be named), my SUV packed to gills, including a great number of books with which I could not, and would not, leave behind.
Books also make up a large part of my "decor" as do the heartbound items collected on journeys and travels.
42
My mom & dad’s old
neighborhood, they were on 2nd & 23rd, a 5 minute walk from Gramercy Park & my favorite part of New York - Union Square, Irving Pl. Eately & lower Park Ave and Broadway. I’d take an apartment there in a heartbeat. Location location.
35
It’s heartening that she has the spine to decorate a marvelous apartment in this manner, and we should all realize she’s en-titled to cover her walls with treasured books as she turns this page of her life. I like words, too, and I hope she’ll excuse the puns and see that they can be fun.
44
@rjon.
Tell me, Ms. Norris, do you like puns? Is that co-recto?
8