A Lighter Choice for Book Club & Feedback Fears Video

We had a great discussion on Thursday about I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Everyone who read it loved it (though it took a bit for some of us to warm up to it). While the writing wasn’t particularly poetic or beautiful, we found the style refreshing and straightforward. As with Angela’s Ashes, this was another story told in present tense about a dysfunctional and often dreadful childhood. Overall, our readers felt that this was an easier read than Angela’s Ashes.

It was fascinating to get a glimpse of what the life of a childhood star was like, and though none of us had this experience, the book was still relatable. Some found the dysfunctional relationship with the narcissistic mother and the struggles with eating disorders to be very accurately portrayed. We liked the short chapters and discussed how this book has reinforced our belief that there is no “standard” for how long a memoir’s chapters should be, it all depends on the story you’re telling. That said, the folks over at Reedsy have done some analysis on how long they think chapters should be. Read their analysis here.

As far as what we would most like to emulate in our own writing was the way that McCurdy managed to convey her mother was horrible without ever really saying so. We discussed how stating the actions as facts without judgment lets the reader come to this conclusion in a way that makes it more effective than if the author was “telling” us. Good examples of showing vs. telling. Read more on showing vs. telling here.

Finally, we rounded out the conversation with debating whether it is even possible to have a memoir about a happy, non-dysfunctional family or life. Some noted that no life can ever be only happy. Others said that where we choose to end our story determines whether it is a happy story or a sad one. We all agreed that there is no story without conflict, and that most memoirs should show growth. The power of memoir is to depict this conflict in a way that resonates with readers and makes them feel seen and understood–and maybe give them hope. Read Marion Smith Roach’s take here.

Do you have any memoirs that you would recommend that you’d classify as happy? Reply to this email if you do! I’d love to hear from you!

~Christina

After Angela’s Ashes, and I’m Glad My Mom Died, we all agreed, we’d like to read something lighter. The votes came in and Dolly Alderton’s memoir, Everything I Know About Love, was selected.

What it’s about:
The wildly funny, occasionally heartbreaking internationally bestselling memoir about growing up, growing older, and learning to navigate friendships, jobs, loss, and love along the ride.

When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough.

Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Dolly Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age—making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary but all true, Everything I Know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its terrifying and hopeful uncertainty.

You can find current and past book club questions here: https://memoirmentors.com/book-club-questions/

 Sign up here:

On November 12, Ella Voss hosted a helpful session about how to give and receive creative writing feedback.

Missed the Workshop? We’ve got you covered! Get the video of the class here:

https://mailchi.mp/ee4edde170bd/feedbackworkshop 

I’d prefer that you sign up through Meetup so I know who to expect and so that you know what the agenda is for the week, but if that’s too problematic, you can go directly to the Zoom link that we use every week:
https://zoom.us/j/4400465879?pwd=R0Y0RUp4YjAvdnJCODV0MkhNMXlmdz09

December 7: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/dggxdtyfclbfb/ 
December 14: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/vxsxftyfcqbsb/
December 21: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/dzsxftyfcqbcc/
December 28: Speaking Your Story:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/qfgxdtyfcqblc/
January 4: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/txsxftyfcpbdb/
January 11: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/vxsxftyfcpbmb/
January 18: Write then Read:
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/dzsxftygccbxb/
January 25: Speaking Your Story
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/qfgxdtygccbhc/
February 1: Book Club – Everything I Know About Love
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/297716726/