Reading Mary Karr's memoir "Lit" as Thanksgiving approaches can be rough. Reading about her struggles with her parents and then as a wife and then as a parent is also challenging at this time of year. What tops it all off is that my Mom is in the hospital right now and seeing her suffer reminds me of our own difficult history as I read this memoir.
But reading about Mary's struggles surprisingly inspires me too. She has, as we now know, come out of all that hell and become a best-selling noted author. And isn't that a victory even amid a torrential terrible past? I also love her ability to so honestly share her sadness about the aspects of her life that did not go as planned.
On page 87 she writes, " I set out to forge a family, but it fell apart. Know any divorcee who ever stops weighing fault for a marriage's implosion some divine scales?" I like the way she describes the ending of her marriage by describing the beginning. I also like how she honestly explains, " I was too shitfaced at the end" to perhaps remember the unravelling correctly, but the beginning was clear. " Driving east with all my belongings wedged into Warren's small white car, I feel swept off my feet as any storybook maiden by her champion. It's Thanksgiving weekend, and the holiday burger taken at a roadside diner is a feast."
She reflects on the beginning of her end with him in this way, " The weak spots in our union are there from the git-go-aren't they always? But every difference lures me, for if I can yield to warren's way of being, his cool certainty can replace my ragtag-intermittently drunken-lurching around."
Mary Karr writes wonderfully about how her alcohol abuse affects every aspect of her life and even her memory of it. I am continually inspired to read more and write more as I eat up every delicious bit of this writer's words. She is gifted and I am inspired. My experiment continues and I hope you join me with your thoughts--
Let creativity reign this holiday season--happy reading-Leslie
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Bad first marriages and drunken parents - can I relate, sweetheart. I love Mary Karr also. Without honesty there is no understanding. Happy TG!
ReplyDeleteLaurie...It's so true any type of abuse hurts all those involved. I agree--everything starts from honesty and self-realization, Happy TG to you to dear:
ReplyDeleteSigh... lots to relate to.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I just ordered your new book, Leslie. I can hardly wait to read it! Since they don't ship to Bolivia, I'll wait till my friend can bring it to me in her suitcase on the cruiseship in a few months... LOL!
Happy writing!
Oh! Another thought I had was about reading and writing. You know how Daisaku Ikeda says to read lots? Well, I have been taking his advice. A couple of biographies I read about authors gave a recipe for creative success.
One of the authors was Ernest Hemingway. The other was George Elliot (whom some say wrote the best novel in the English language). Although they lived in different centuries, they both had a similar rhythm to their days.
They woke up and read great literature.
Then they wrote.
After lunch they went to museums, or walked in nature.
In the evenings they visited artist friends in their homes and dialoged.
So, about 3/4 of the day was spent replenishing the creative well, and about 1/4 used in writing.
How are we replenishing our creative wells in this hectic age?
HI dear Lynette: you are so wise: I love Hemingway too: I used to teach his novels to High school students-Thank you for ordering our new book- I want to get yours too! I am excited to read it! I love that idea-waking up to great literature and then taking in great art. I mentioned to Nick and my kids- we have to go to the MOMA in SF during this holiday! Art fills my soul- love you, take care. Leslie
ReplyDeleteHave a great time at MOMA! How cool that you used to teach Hemingway's novels to High school students. Which ones did you teach?
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