Books like The lonely city

The lonely city by Olivia Laing reads as melancholic, reflective. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

How to write an autobiographical novel

Alexander Chee · 2018

Shares the creativity thread

70% genome match

The diary of Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo · 1995

Shares the creativity thread

69% genome match

Swimming studies

Leanne Shapton · 2012

Both explore art

70% genome match

Destruction of the father reconstruction of the father

Louise Bourgeois · 1998

Both explore art

68% genome match

Chronicles

Bob Dylan · 2004

Shares the creativity thread

69% genome match

Minor Feelings

Cathy Park Hong · 2020

Both explore art

65% genome match

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

Rebecca Solnit · 2005

Both explore art

83% genome match

Too much and not the mood

Durga Chew-Bose · 2017

Both explore creativity

66% genome match

In the darkroom

Susan Faludi · 2016

Same memoir feel

66% genome match

All the Beauty in the World

Patrick Bringley · 2022

Both explore art

65% genome match

Little Weirds

Jenny Slate · 2019

Both explore creativity

64% genome match

Inheritance

Dani Shapiro · 2019

Same memoir feel

64% genome match