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invention
October 2009 
Memory and Memoir; RE:Inventing the Truth
Posted on Oct 13th, 2007
by 
Nishtha
Nishtha
It seems as if everyone and their mother wants to write a memoir these days. I, for one, belong to a book group where an inordinate number of our selections over the past five years have been memoirs - from the zany "Running with Scissors" to the poignant "Too Close to the Falls" and quite a variety in between.
I believe that many of my cohorts in book group are busily at work on their own memoirs - and they would all make very interesting reads, I am sure!
As for me, I would root for my mother to write hers. And my father to write his. It would be fascinating to compare their versions of their lives to the stories I carry around in my head about them; and to compare their versions to one another. Particularly the family events where we were all present; mother, father, sister, brother and me. I'm sure our accounts of what transpired at those family gatherings would be vastly different - what was a touching, lovely memory for someone could be a harrowing, sorrowful memory for someone else. Isn't wild how that can be??
Anyway, I'm just reacting to the "Non Sequitor" I saw today...Anyone else have anything to say about memoirs; reading or writing them?
Access: Public
hi Nishtha,
as someone who is working on a memoir (grin), my perspective is that our culture is, in some ways, moving toward an acknowledgment that each of us has valuable contributions and experiences – we’re all brilliant – and it’s no longer just the “experts” who have something to teach us
and I agree with you that it’s fascinating how family members’ accounts can be vastly different – I’m sure my siblings do not share some of my perspective on growing up in our family – and at least one is doing his very best to deny the bad stuff that happened – I’ve had to get very clear that I’m first and foremost an individual, not a family member, to tell my story in an uncensored way – I’ve had to place my allegiance to my story above my allegiance to “family loyalty”
Hola my friend…
Great points from Kira above.
I read a lot and some of my reading is memoirs. I do like the personal aspect — this was the situation as I saw it and this what I chose to do given the circumstances. Seems to me US citizens like to read memoirs from the rest of the world and yet never apply the lessons. I think in the west we are too quick to think everyone has the same choices each of us do, meaning we view choices as if we were making them from our “reality” and not as if someone else is making them from the reality they are dealing with. For that insight I love memoirs.
Interfamily play — that's a whole new level. Though I think both parents memoirs would make a good read.
Much love and blessings, David
I thought that tis statement had some valid points for people to consider… I would also like you to know that you have been tagged for the blog-tag thing going on here…
Have a great Day!
skyman
That our culture could survive without the songs, stories and images of our artists, is doubtful, but even if it could, who would want to live in it? Memoirs are like recycling some dreams that carry on into future generations. I sent a joke to one of my clients today about the polyester clothes of the 70's thinking he'd get a laugh. He wrote back saying how much he missed the era and how things had spiraled down in his viewpoint. That moment gave me the tactic I was missing on his marketing plan where I went back to the 50's and compared that to the products I am helping him market. Your reading group sounds like a lot of fun!!!