Last night I finished reading Ann Patchett’s memoir Truth and Beauty, about her long friendship with Lucy Grealy, author of Autobiography of a Face. During her book tour, a fan asked Grealy about the process of writing about her childhood battle with cancer: “It’s amazing how you remember everything so clearly…All those conversations, details, wereContinue reading “For the memoirists”
Category Archives: literature
Yes, I am writer
I have no idea how I passed high school English. First of all, I never learned the formula for a high school English class essay. Secondly, I don’t think I actually read any of the books we were assigned. And I love to read. I’ve always loved to read. But whenever I sat down toContinue reading “Yes, I am writer”
I paid full price for @mindykaling’s book
Mindy Kaling is one of my comedy heroines. Right up there with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I always thought she was funny in her tertiary role on The Office, and was impressed when I noticed that she had a writer, producer and sometimes directing credit. I “liked” Subtle Sexuality on Facebook afterContinue reading “I paid full price for @mindykaling’s book”
Everyone who’s ever had a dog has had a dog who died
I’m taking a new writing class with my fiction-writing teacher. A memoir-writing class, because I knew when Isis died that I was meant to write a memoir about our life together. I’m wary of writing a book where the dog’s death is a surprise. When I read Marley & Me, I knew how it wasContinue reading “Everyone who’s ever had a dog has had a dog who died”
Early criticism
Trains of thought are funny things. I was driving home from book club, thinking about a caption I wrote under a photo of Leo on Facebook. I wrote, “Leo smiles more ever since Mia joined the family.” I wondered if maybe I should delete the “ever.” Yes, I actually copy edit myself after I’ve postedContinue reading “Early criticism”
My alternative lifestyle
While on vacation the three days before Christmas, I decided to pretend I’m a different kind of writer. The kind the writes from home. I volunteered to turn in 10 pages at my fiction writing class on the first day back after the break. On top of that, we have another writing assignment we’re supposedContinue reading “My alternative lifestyle”
Salitter drying from the earth
In all likelihood anyone who googles “salitter” will be directed here to my review of The Road. When I googled “salitter” I found this. Generally I prefer novels that are entertaining reads. I want a sensical plot and a fulfilling resolution. I don’t need to be “challenged” but I’m happy if I’m given something toContinue reading “Salitter drying from the earth”
Bookclubbing
I seem to have gotten my “young folk” book club off the ground. First we read Infidel, because I had read it and was dying to talk about it, but couldn’t attend the discussion at what I lovingly call my “Mature Women’s Book Club.” Our second book was Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches. I didn’tContinue reading “Bookclubbing”
Water for Elephants
Sex, violence and circus animals. What’s not to love? I enjoyed Water for Elephants from the start, but as it neared its conclusion, it just kept getting better and better. On my scale, it went from four stars to five stars in the final chapters. There’s a technique I’ve been seeing too often in televisionContinue reading “Water for Elephants”
Infidel
This month’s book club selection is Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’m inspired by it already. I’ve read a lot of memoirs/stories of people who come from a place of oppression and abuse. Ali seems a rare example of someone who really strives to make sense of her pastContinue reading “Infidel”
Kari Neumeyer 