By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept

It arrived today and I'm already a third of the way through it. Very well written and passionate.

I think everybody should read this book, not because it is exceptional or life-changing but because of the way it has been written (lyrical and artistic) and because of the odd subject matter. I have never read any book in which the author chooses to write a plotless story, substituting it instead with pages and pages of admiration, a mad love for a married, morally void man. Knowing her real life story (the novel is autobiographical), this is a haunting read about toxic love, blind hope and self-destructive obsession for retaining a relationship that should better be let go. Certainly for everyone, but read it once to have your own opinion.

One of the classic books one really must read. It was so moving. One really felt the emotional and sexual longings and feelings of the writer.

First published in 1945, Elizabeth Smart's 'By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept' is not so much a semi-autobiographical novel, but more of a searing prose poem dedicated to the visceral power of love. Elizabeth Smart, a Canadian visiting London, picked up a volume of poetry written by the poet George Barker, and was so affected by his prose, she decided that he was the man she would fall in love with. Back home, Smart began corresponding with the married Barker and later arranged to have him and his wife, Jessica, flown from Japan (where Barker was teaching) to the United States. Once Barker was in the States, Smart fell headlong in love with the poet and the pair began a passionate and tumultuous affair which, despite Barker failing to commit to Smart, resulted in a family of four children that Smart brought up practically by herself.Written using intense and very lyrical prose, it's difficult not to be affected by passion and pain revealed in this very short and powerful piece of literature, but this is a book that I don't find easy to rate by Amazon's star system. Parts of this prose poem are so emotionally and painfully intense that whilst I was able to recognize the power and beauty of some of the prose, I also found some parts overwrought and overly self-indulgent, and the author's submissiveness in the face of her passion is rather uncomfortable to read about at times. I have read about the profound influence this work has had on some people and I can see why it may have had such a significant impact on them, but although I admire poetical language and would usually value prose over plot, I have mixed feelings about this little book - hence the three star rating - and I'm rather surprised that I didn't derive more from it than I did. I do, however, have Rosemary Sullivan's biography of Elizabeth Smart somewhere on one of my bookcases, and having read 'By Grand Central Station' I am now even more interested in reading the biography and discovering more about her life.3 Stars

This book is written quite beautifully - the poetic language meant that I really enjoyed actually reading it. Unfortunately I found the subject matter entirely unacceptable! Written at a time (1940-44) when people were dying in their millions, she is living in comfort but full of self-pity. She may have sat down and wept but she clearly didn't remember Sion, or indeed the suffering of countless numbers of Jews, Russians, soldiers, air raid victims...one could go on. She obviously has no concept of real suffering!By the way, it's written by Elizabeth Smart - it's the forward that is by Yann Martel, who must be having a senior moment if he really thinks her obsession with this unnamed figure has anything in common with Dante's idealised love for Beatrice!

A personal view whenever reading books - I almost wept when I realised that Elizabeth had wasted so much of her emotional energy on this man. The children must have had a strange relationship with their father. Perhaps if she had no money this relationship and therefore her book would never have happened.The words and in a literary sense the book was passionate and well written I just wish it had been fiction

Book

The back story is more interesting than the book itself I feel.

I first read of this book in the Canadian literary magazine 'The Walrus'. The story it told of Elizabeth's life and evolution as an author/poet was enthralling. It made me want to read the book and having done so, I was not disappointed. Do yourself a huge favour and read Elizabeth's masterwork.

histoire d'une femme qu'on aurait qualifiée de "folle" autrefois, car elle tombe amoureuse d'un homme poète, rien qu'en découvrant un de ce livres de poésie. par la suite elle fait tout pour le rencontrer (c'est à ce moment-là que le livre démarre), et puis elle vit avec le poète et sa femme, parfois elle couche avec lui, parfois elle prise de remords (pour ce que j'ai compris, car l'histoire est racontée comme un poème; difficile à suivre).pendant tout le livre elle raconte ses états d'âme, en se regardant le nombril.j'ai été bien content quand je l'ai terminé. il paraît que c'est un livre "culte"

If you do not understand this book you have never allowed yourself the indulgence of being taunted by beautiful, impossible, unattainable passionate love.

This book was sent in good condition, I enjoyed reading this book.

A wonderful read. Bought it as an avid the smiths and morrissey fan, but this book delivered so much emotional depth and resonated to strongly with me, that i would definitely recommend it. It may turn out to be a hard reading for some, but imagery and word mastery is real and palatable.