Comments for Memory Writers Network

Comment on Doreen Orion’s brilliant memoir about last year’s midlife crisis by Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:22:06 +0000

Travel takes you out of the usual and gives you a different perspective on life. My late husband and I began full-time RVing at ages 47. It was a transformative time for me, giving me a window to look at choices and plenty of opportunities to make new ones. My life is very different now as the result of that life choice. It is interesting to think of an RV being a vehicle for a memoir (ha!). I wrote a nonfiction book instead of a memoir. Maybe someday! Doreen’s sounds like a good model.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
Author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:33:06 +0000

Hi Janet,

Thank you for sharing the power of your experience. After reading this memoir, I understand more than ever the surreal intensity of this dangerous disease and the way it affects surrounding people. It is not a victimless crime. So many people suffer from one person’s addiction.

Jerry

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by janet

janet — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:12:01 +0000

I am now reading A Million Little Pieces, James Frey. I’ve also read both Sheff books. There was some controversy over Pieces because it was an Oprah book and then accused of being not entirely true. I believe all nonfiction books take some dramatic license (within reason); we probably wouldn’t keep reading if they didn’t. I can’t imagine what, in particular, critics can find to prove the author wrong. How could the author (the cross-addict since he was 10 years old) recall all the events, along with all his delusions and “lost time” and not make some “mistakes” along the way with his writing? This book is packed with emotion, and if you know someone close to you with similar problems, as I do, you will come to a better understanding of why only 15 percent of sufferers who attend AA survive sobriety.

Comment on Finished Memoir: Angela’s Ashes by Angela’s Ashes | The Reviews

Angela’s Ashes | The Reviews — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:03:07 +0000

[...] Here is the link to Jerry’s review: [...]

Comment on “Find meaning through service” or “Making peace with the peasants of Pakistan” by Ritergal

Ritergal — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:17:04 +0000

Thank you for reminding me of this book. I heard about it while visiting China last spring. Speaking of which — after spending many hours wandering the streets of Beij ing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and other cities away from our tour group and guide, I learned a lot about China and developed great respect for a nation I’d been reluctant to visit. My husband and I have been delving into Chinese history and are amazed at what we find. This nation was using chrome plating on precision-made, mass-produced spear tips three thousand years before the west discovered chrome plating, and millenia before the west developed the ability to produce such high-quality products en masse. For much of human history, China was the leader in technology and perhaps even culture. But … they are different. Today most residents of the USA fear China. Well, that’s a long story, and it seems likely that it’s related to the story in Three Cups of Tea, and I’m heading for the library!

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:58:24 +0000

Thanks, Tysdaddy. Yes, I heard about both memoirs at the same time, on an NPR interview, but I wanted to tackle them one at a time. What a world we live in. I feel like memoirs are opening me up to understandings I would not be able to achieve any other way.

Thanks Sunny. I have Eric Clapton’s book on my list. I’m glad to hear it has a character arc. I was nervous about it being a “celebrity piece.”

Thanks, Heatheraynne, It’s interesting how important and how hard it is for a memoir writer to think ahead about getting a reader to turn pages. It’s a fascinating puzzle and in the process of solving it, many auxiliary lessons seem to come along for the ride.

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by Heatheraynne

Heatheraynne — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:52:43 +0000

I think many people tend to live in darkness for a long time. Also, would the average reader be compelled to turn the page if the author saw the light early in the book? I think the darkness is what captures our minds and keeps us interested.

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by sunny

sunny — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:18:17 +0000

Another one you might want to consider — Eric Clapton’s “Clapton”. Similar character arc, but more on the recent good times than you might expect.

Comment on Memoirs as a journey from blindness to sight by tysdaddy

tysdaddy — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:57:50 +0000

The entire time I was reading this, I planned on mentioning his son’s book. Glad you’re reading it as well. It’s not nearly as engaging, but it does share some of the missing story about Nic’s mom and the dynamics between them that David really can’t (or chose not to) touch on in his book.

Read together, these are some fascinating memoirs . . .

Comment on Escaping the prison of what might have been by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:49:40 +0000

Thanks for this great comment Garret. It is a terrific validation that my effort is actually helping people. I am so glad you have found value here. I know a little about Barbara Sher’s work but didn’t know she advocates “doing it all.” Since you are finding how cathartic writing is, you have discovered that the more you do it, the better you feel. That’s awesome. Please feel free to leave more comments as you find ideas that resonate, or want to add your own.

Jerry