Comment

Comment by Dr Suzanne Conboy-Hill on April 11, 2010 at 6:00am

Thank you! An extraordinary burst of activity for a Sunday lunch time. Must take the dogs out now and get over myself!

Comment by Julie Mihaly on April 11, 2010 at 5:50am

Well said, Suzanne!

Comment by Dr Suzanne Conboy-Hill on April 11, 2010 at 5:37am

Fine stuff, both. To me, a memoir is a longitudinal reflection of social and political significance, presented by someone who is emotionally articulate and capable of both deep personal insight and incisive objectivity. It is not a maudlin cathexis of exposed and poorly managed emotional fallout. Those people need therapeutic support. Nor is it the thinly the disguised 'look at me' self aggrandisment of celebrity survival although these are so often best sellers. Are they ever read, though, I wonder?
Perhaps the real memoir is an updated version of the village story telling tradition. The one that ensured each generation knew about its history and place in community. Telling stories is what some of us do well even if we don't have a particular personal story to tell, in which case we tell those of other people in the fiction that challenges beliefs and attitudes. Others may have a story but be unable to articulate it or set it in context - the clasp that holds the diamond escapes them. Some of my colleagues have written the stories of adults with learning disabilities (intellectual disability) who spent their lives in institutions. These were tragic memoirs but they had the effect of exposing 'care' services for what they were and helping achieve change. History, perspective, and impact, that's a memoir I think.

Comment by Julie Mihaly on April 11, 2010 at 4:17am

Wow. Very powerful essay, Jenne, and I agree with you on many points. I'm consistently confounded by the number of folks, women in particular, who think that the least little slice of life is worthy of a "memoir." There's something distressingly narcissistic about it, and frankly, if I read one more Oprah book club entry about a Southern girl who survives any sort of abuse, (fiction or non), I may be ill. But then I think of Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott, and yes, even Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and I find that it is, as you say, possible to "illuminate and reveal that which is both universal and singular" without necessarily being an opera star, Holocaust survivor or the scion of a famous Native American warrior. As for being martyrs, it's my impression that martyrs usually have their fates thrust upon them vs taking scalpels to themselves, so I'd counsel women who wish to see themselves as tragic memoir-writing figures who are burned at the publishing house stake to self-publish and sit around with commiserative friends who'll tell them that whatever they write is worthy of attention and praise. I'm not saying that there isn't a prejudice against women writers, especially those of a "certain age.," but one wonders how Maya Angelou managed to get where she is now without whining about how horrific it was for her to reveal her experiences. So buck up, ladies. Write what you need to write, and do whatever you need to do to precipitate your own personal catharses, but please do not assume that that equals a well-written and thoughtful book that has something in it for the rest of us.

Comment by Julie Mihaly on April 7, 2010 at 1:36pm

Note to Karin Lippert who's just joined our mad little group: A Boomer is a Boomer is a Boomer. It don't matter to us if you were born in 1944! Just join in the fun!

Comment by Dr Suzanne Conboy-Hill on April 5, 2010 at 8:16am

I printed a sample book a while ago and I was impressed by the quality so it's very much in my mind, short story writing seemingly a bit of a mug's game. Trina L. Talma (member of She Writes Fiction Writers' group) has just published there though and might be able to say a bit more.

Comment by Amy Ferris on April 5, 2010 at 5:57am

wanna look into lulu. whatever anyone knows, keep us posted.

Comment by bj rosenfeld on April 5, 2010 at 5:37am

Hi Ladies, Have any of you printed and distributed with lulu.com?

Comment by Marcia Fine on April 2, 2010 at 2:05pm

My satirical series about Jean Rubin (the spokesperson of my blog) is a boomer/sandwich generation woman with anxiety issues. What gives you stress? Kids? Cleaning? Career?

Comment by Julie Mihaly on March 28, 2010 at 3:01pm

I usually need to chow down before 9:00 PM, so I might get bitchy a bit earlier, Roseanne, but wet or hungry, we promise never to depress you.

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