Newsletter

This was a crowd favorite! A 4.6 star rating. 

Many of us were struck by how compelling the book was despite having relatively little traditional conflict, especially in the early chapters. We talked about how the tension often came instead from Jane Goodall’s mission itself: gaining the chimpanzees’ trust, working against time and limited funding, and pursuing her work with deep determination.

A major theme of the conversation was how seamlessly Goodall weaves science, spirituality, and memoir. Even those of us who don’t identify as religious found her reflections on faith, doubt, and interconnectedness surprisingly moving. Several people noted that her willingness to express uncertainty—rather than certainty—made her spirituality feel sincere rather than preachy. This is a big takeaway for the craft of memoir, how expressing doubt strangely grants more credibility.

The group had varied responses to the final chapters. We all agreed the chapter titled “Healing” was gorgeously written and moving, but after that chapter, some felt there was a big shift in tone and direction. Some appreciated the urgency and moral clarity of her environmental call to action, while others felt the tone shifted from personal narrative to advocacy. This led to a rich discussion about memoir craft: when a personal story feels complete, how much zooming out serves the narrative, and how tonal shifts affect a reader’s experience.

One particularly resonant moment came when Christine Beck shared a revelation from her own memoir-in-progress. As she revisited her manuscript, she realized there were passages that, while true, didn’t actually serve the story and could cause unnecessary hurt. What helped her decide what to cut was asking herself a simple but powerful question: What is my motivation for including this? That question—whether something is essential to the story or driven by another impulse—sparked a meaningful reflection for many of us about discernment, responsibility, and intention in memoir writing.

We also discussed what Goodall chooses not to include. While many of us were curious about these omissions and wanted to learn more about her marriages and child, we respected how clearly she defined the scope of this book—her work, her spirituality, and her evolving sense of hope—and how that clarity shaped the memoir. What she excluded felt intentional rather than mystifying.

As writers, many of us took away valuable lessons: the power of earnestness, the effectiveness of showing doubt rather than preaching belief, and the importance of asking not just can I include this, but why am I including it. Overall, the book prompted deep reflection—not only about hope and humanity, but about how we shape our own stories.

Thursday, Feb 19 – Write then Read
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/312370430/ 

Thursday, Feb 26 – Speaking Your Story
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/312300650/

Thursday, Mar 5 – Writing Together – No Reading
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/310615831/

Thursday, Mar 12 –  Write then Read
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/311781619

Thursday, Mar 19 – Book club: The Dirt Beneath Our Door: My Journey to Freedom After Escaping a Polygamous Mormon Cult
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/311340254/ 

Thursday, Mar 26 – Speaking Your Story
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/312406690/

Sunday, Mar 29 – Author Q&A – Pamela Jones & Elizabeth Ridley, authors of The Dirt Beneath Our Door
https://www.meetup.com/memoir-mentors/events/311270122/

We’ll be relaunching the next 12-week program in January. If you’ve been craving structure and gentle community pressure to keep your writing on track, this might be the program for you!

Reply to this email and let me know or reach out directly at: xtina.howell@memoirmentors.com