Comments on: Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Life Rescued by Tragedy

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 05:22:03 +0000

In reply to Lindsey. It makes me wonder about all the other memoirs I've read!

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:22:31 +0000

In reply to Cynthia Robertson. Yes, she is, Cynthia! I've met her twice at events and she is so forthcoming and genuine. I'm still conflicted probably because I'm not an author so am not sure how much importance I put on every detail being recorded.

By: Cynthia Robertson

Cynthia Robertson — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:30:51 +0000

Thanks for the mention, Catherine.
I read Shapiro’s letter to hr disillusioned reader, (thanks for the link, it was interesting) and I see where she is coming from. “We choose a view. We pick a story to tell. We shift through the ever-changing sands of memory, and in so doing create something hopefully beautiful, by which I mean universal. We try to tell the truth – by which I do not mean the facts.” It’s impossible to tell it all, or even tell it fairly to everyone, in the process of trying to get to the truth of the tale, and she expresses this beautifully. She’s a nice writer, to judge from her (gently annoyed) response.
Interesting post!

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 01:41:03 +0000

Hmm…I think you ask a lot of good questions. With any autobiography or memoir, we have to engage with the work with a bit of hesitation. People always want to present themselves in the best light possible. Then of course, the editors want to make the narrative smooth and consistent, so they cut out anything that doesn’t fit with the rest of the story. Even non-fiction is a bit subjective, it seems.