Okay so i looked up the word ennui and according to dictionary. it means a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting form satiety or lack of interest; boredom" So in other words, when Vivian Gornick used this word to describe how undaunted Leonard's disinterest remains in hearing the name Krista K, I think she is showing us how much of an effect his pessimism has on everything she does. It that particular scene, she seems almost tired of his negativity, as it seems that his comments only exacerbate her weariness from reading the book. I found this part of her essay the most interesting because the narrator experiences a sudden change in character after Leonard's little personal moment (i think?) where he states, "I have only known what i don't want. I've always had a thorn in my side, and I've always thought, When this thorn is removed then I'll think about what I want. But then that particular thorn is removed, and I'd be left feeling emptied out. In a short time another thorn would be inserted into my side. Then, once again , all i had to think about was being free of the thorn in my side. I've never had time to think about what i want" I believe that Leonard's testimony kind of shows where Vivian was headed in a way if she was unable to find something to balance that negativity that was always present in each and every on of her thoughts, which goes to show that the essay is about finding that balance in life that will help you to survive from its sometimes depressing outlooks; unlike Leonard, who was stuck in a constant ennui of life, our narrator Vivian was able to find an escape from the depressing undertones that she constantly identified and found a balance that brought peace, stability and understanding as to who she was and wanted to continue to be. That escape for her was the city and her balance was the solace in listening to the many voices that surrounded her as walked around Manhattan.