The Art of Memoir

Starred review from July 6, 2015
Karr (The Liars’ Club), the author of three lauded memoirs, teaches a selective memoir writing graduate class at Syracuse University, and offers her wisdom in this instructive guide to the genre. Not only does Karr write exquisitely herself (and without pretense, often with raw authenticity—“One can’t mount a stripper pole wearing a metal diving suit”), she clearly adores memoirs; the appendix of nearly 200 suggested (“required”) memoirs is a delightful and useful bonus. The text is a must-read for memoirists, but will also appeal to memoir lovers and all who are curious about how books evolve. For writers in particular, Karr covers such essential topics as the quest for truth (probing its elusive nature), finding one’s own “true” voice or “you-ness,” (“Most memoirs fail because of voice,” she asserts), the crucial process of revision, evoking the five senses, and how to deal with family and others who play major parts in the memoir (she sends her polished manuscripts out in advance for inspection and lets friends pick their own pseudonyms). As if auditing her class, readers learn from her commentary on the memoirs of Vladimir Nabokov, Michael Herr, Frank McCourt, Hilary Mantel, and others. Karr lends her characteristic trueness and “you-ness” to the subject of writing memoirs, wisely (and quite often humorously) guiding readers in their understanding and experience of the art.

Starred review from July 1, 2015

Drawing on her knowledge as a memoirist and writing instructor, Karr (The Liars' Club; Lit) presents an enlightening review of the memoir as a medium for communicating "carnal," lived experiences. Fresh and heartfelt, Karr's analysis of the form illustrates its variety and depth, the significance of voice, and the perception of "truth." Examining her own work, and that of some of the most influential memoirists to date, Karr delivers a thorough look at the writing process and the challenges inherent in telling one's story and accepting the subjective nature of memory. Drawing on the work of writers as varied as Harry Crews, Vladimir Nabokov, and Hilary Mantel, the author delves into the range of narrative styles found in memoir, while inspiring the next generation of writers. VERDICT As a writing guide, this book is a success. Never is Karr dull or didactic (not a single lesson or method is touted as "the one"); rather, the author instructs and inspires through example and a love for the art of memoir. The detailed list of suggested readings also makes for an excellent challenge for readers and writers alike. [See Prepub Alert, 3/16/15.]--Gricel Dominguez, Florida International Univ. Lib.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015

Karr is a Pushcart Prize-winning poet and essayist, but she's perhaps best known for her New York Times best-selling The Liars' Club, a National Book Critics Circle finalist that effectively launched the current craze for upmarket memoir. She followed with Cherry and Lit: A Memoir. Who better, then, to give instruction in the art of memoir writing? Karr broadens the perspective by quoting frequently from other memoirs and citing anecdotes from writer friends.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
A bestselling nonfiction writer offers spirited commentary about memoir, the literary form that has become synonymous with her name. Personal narrative has exploded in popularity over the last 20 years. Yet, as Karr (Lit: A Memoir, 2009, etc.) points out, memoir still struggles to attain literary respectability. "There is a lingering snobbery in the literary world," she writes, "that wants to disqualify what is broadly called nonfiction from the category of 'literature.' " In this book, Karr offers both an apology for and a sharp-eyed exploration of this form born from her years as a practitioner as well as a distinguished English professor at Syracuse University. She begins by considering classroom "experiments" she has conducted to show the slipperiness of memory and arguing the need to give latitude to writers tackling memoir. Writing with the intent to record what rings true rather than exact is one thing; writing with the intent to lie is another. Voice is another critical aspect of any memoir that manages to endure through time. By examining works by writers as diverse as Frank McCourt and Vladimir Nabokov, Karr demonstrates that it is in fact the very thing by which a great memoir "lives or dies." Rather than focus on the narrative truism of "show-don't-tell," Karr thoughtfully elaborates on what she calls "carnality"-the ability to transform memory into a multisensory experience-for the reader. When wed to a desire to move beyond the traps of ego and render personal "psychic struggle" honestly and without fear, carnality can lead to writing that not only "wring[s] some truth from the godawful mess of a single life," but also connects deeply with readers. Karr's sassy Texas wit and her down-to-earth observations about both the memoir form and how to approach it combine to make for lively and inspiring reading. A generous and singularly insightful examination of memoir.

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