Customer Reviews

Floor Sample

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Unlike most reviewers here, let my state upfront that I was not familiar whatsoever with Julia Cameron. I saw this book and read the inside flap summary: "wrote for Rolling Stone, "was married to Martin Scorsese", hmmm, this could be interesting I thought, and off I went with the book. What a surprise that was awaiting me.

In "Floor Sample" (405 pages), Julia Cameron brings her life story, and what a story it is. From her early days, strict Catholic upbringing, Julia describes how she started the party life in college at Georgetown, seeking ways to channel her obvious writing talents, eventually leading to Rolling Stone assignments, which in turn lead to a short-lived but high intensity courtship, and eventual, marriage to Martin Scorsese. Her drinking spiraled out of control, leading to the break-up with Scorsese. Then things really turn interesting: Cameron quits drinking altogether and starts life anew, seeking out writing assignments in magazines, tipping her toes in writing Hollywood scripts, and eventually writing many fiction and non-fiction books (the best known of which is "The Artist's Way", a sort of self-help book for budding artists), poetry, and musicals. But along that long journey Cameron also suffers bouts of depression or psychotic episodes (it's never really clear which one, or perhaps both), and she describes them in frightning detail.

One of the things that struck me the most in the book was the never-ending moving back-and-forth, restless, living between Los Aneles, Taos (NM), New York, London, etc. It's just dizzying. Cameron seems very much aware of her own frailness and relies on praying constantly to make it through ("Please guide me"). That said, the book ends disappointingly open-ended, as it appears once of her musicals seems on the verge of making if (off) Broadway, but we don't find out. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book from start to end, and I highly recommend it.

I had the privilege to attend a workshop with Julia recently and was impressed by her humor, her strength, her passion, and her talent. And yes, her vulnerability. This is a fabulous book, reflecting all these facets of this complicated, gifted woman.

It's a brave memoir, in that she details serious problems, including alcohol and drug abuse as well as two failed marriages, and a great stuggle with emotional stability. But throughout it all, Julia remains true to her dual calling, that of an artist and a teacher. No matter what transpires, she not only continues to create her own art of many kinds, but works hard and with great generosity to help other artists find their muse and working rhythms.

The big message of this book is that an artist is about her work. The work continues no matter what. She preaches this, yes, but lives it too. That's what she means by "Floor Sample" - of her own method, The Artist's Way.

Unlike another reviewer who found this to be self absorbed (but what is a memoir if not an examination of self?) I found it to be inspiring and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed her discussion of balancing her teaching and mentoring with her own art work.

So few women have the courage to pursue their art despite all, but Julia has done it, and against great odds. I applaud her and admire her. If more of us could stand up to our own demons as well as Julia has, the world would be a more beautiful, and art-filled place.

Inspirational reading for those who want to keep their art in focus at all times.

****
Julia Cameron became the guru or creativity for artists and creative people of all types with the success of her book "The Artist's Way" its sequels. Her autobiography, Floor Sample, was a good read, but disturbing. It showed me how profoundly the structure of Morning Pages, Walks, and Artist Dates (the processes she recommends in her books) grounds her in her very difficult life. It is pretty much all the grounding she has. Her life has been difficult mostly because of her artistic temperament, her turbulent interior life, her continual life-long seeking of geographic cures, and her overall high intelligence and brilliance. She is an extraordinary woman, one that many might call psychologically disturbed (her "mental illness" is controversial...she takes medication to stay functional). I disagree; I think she is instead just very, very bright, thoughtful, eccentric, and creative.

I'd wanted to know about this amazing woman who wrote "Finding Water" and so many other terrific books, and it encouraged me greatly, because it helped me to see how she managed to create DESPITE all of her various and sundry life difficulties. I would definitely recommend this book. It does, however require a bit of slogging through (which is why I gave it only four stars); I just wanted to scream each time she thought that the place she lived was horrible and that it was time to move again to the wonderful place where she'd lived only six months before. This probably happens 40-50 times. It's realistic, though, because she has portrayed her artistic process vividly and well in order to inspire and help others.

The book includes details about Julia Cameron's marriage to Martin Scorcese, her relationship with their daughter, and with other famous artists and writers. It also discusses throughout her recovery from alcoholism.

The book vividly, candidly, and courageously portrays Julia Cameron's struggle to create, and showed me that her process was far from easy for her, just something she made intrinsic---absolutely intrinsic---to her life---thus her body of amazing and diverse creative works.
****

I, too, have read The Artist's Way and found much that was valuable in it. It's a beautiful book, inspiring and helpful on many levels. So I was interested to read Julia Cameron's memoir. What struck me immediately was her writing style, which I don't particularly like. Her dialogue, especially, is stilted and awkward. Do none of the people in her world use contractions? Anyway, as the book got deeper into her life and she began to describe her breakdowns or "breakthroughs", as her Taos friends insisted on seeing these obvious psychotic episodes, I at first arm-chair diagnosed her as being bi-polar. One of her doctors, did too. But then he changed his mind and told her that she never had been and to wipe that from her consciousness. It came to me though, that this woman may well be the world's highest functioning schitzophrenic! She hears voices and she takes instructions from them. They "dictate" books, essays, plays, and even music to her. And then I realized that the entire concept of The Artist's Way is for each of us to hear our own voices which will then dictate great works of art to us. Of course, there's more to it than that, but this realization made me more than a little uneasy. There are so many contradictions in this book. At an early age she became completely disenchanted with the Catholic Church and abandoned it, but later on in life, she entrusted her health and her sanity to new-age healers who gave her readings (sometimes across great distances) and prescribed strange remedies. Although these remedies never seemed to work, she continued to consult with them and follow their advice. Unless, of course, their advice clashed with what she really wanted to do, which generally was to move from one coast to another, seeking some sort of peace and contentment, which I fear she will never find. I did not find this book helpful in any sort of artistic sense. I don't think any truly sane person would want to persue art in such an obsessive and unhealthful manner. I, for one, wouldn't have the energy. I will say that it was a book that I found hard to put down, but attribute that to it being sort of a car-crash type of book, more than to its literary style.

I know Julia Cameron as so many of us do, by way of "The Artist's Way" and I was anxious to read about HER.

From the first page I was captivated by a seasoned story teller with a heck of story to tell: her own. Reading this book is like meeting up with an old friend for dinner that you haven't seen in ages and letting the world pass you by as you are drawn into her world and all that has taken place. Pretty soon you realize the restaurant is closing and you've forgotten where you are.

Cameron writes very well and is painfully honest and objective about herself and her struggles with addiction -to alcohol first, and then other abstract things including the high she gets from not eating. She chronicles her two marriages to Martin Scorsese and then to her work partner Mark Bryan. Her lifestyle includes leapfrogging across the U.S. with her daughter in tow, making her home wherever life takes her. Throughout it all she remains committed to her writing, and spiritual guidance.

Hers is an adventurous and difficult life to say the least. But clearly her strong network of support has helped her thrive and continue to bring her wonderful creations to the world, and teach the rest of us in the process. I actually got even more understanding out of reading about how she uses morning pages, and her other "Artist's Way" tools, than I had in reading "The Artist's Way."

this book was not what I was expecting- but nonetheless I loved reading the book- Julia doesn't leave out a detail- from mentioning her next door neighbor's name to name dropping about some famous producer- no stone is left unturned- every one gets some spotlight.Even the most mundane events get "front page" emphasis - it is exhausting trying to keep up .Melodramatic and self absorbed , her story truly does read like fiction- there are so many twists and turns -and cliffhangers- at the end of each chapter I was unable to say to myself- let's leave something for tomorrow. The psychosis is huge;and yes, there seems to be a quest for attention- and she gets it.I have done some of the Artists way, have read many other Julia Cameron books- she is prolific, prolific, prolific , a true storyteller.If you enjoy batty confessionals, this one will surely please.

Julia Cameron's exquisite writing in her memoir "Floor Sample" made me feel as if I too experienced her harrowing climb out of substance addictions and emotional breakdowns.
Her story shows how we can channel fragility into creativity and make the world a better place. In fact her 1992 bestseller "The Artists Way" helped me overcome my internal censors and lead to my writing a memoir.
Her recovery and discovery of a spiritual path via soul-searching, inventory and restitution in Alcoholics Anonymous AA is equally inspiring. She writes how she discovered she is not supposed to be judging--that she is in charge of the quantity and that the quality is up to God. She said her prose began to relax and straighten out when she responded to this new charitable agenda. She beautifully describes how in losing her sense of self as an "author" she gained a sense of self as a conduit. God became her new employer. She found that she wrote best when she was curious and receptive and empty of ego--when she wrote down what already existed.
Despite her pain, Cameron does not see her life as a tragedy but as fuel for her creativity and art. "Floor Sample" is a masterpiece that shows the redemptive power of the creative spirit.

To engage in the reading of Julia Cameron's newest book, Floor Sample: A Creative Memoir, is to follow the development and manifestation of troubled, immensely creative genius. Tracking this development through her unique valley of sorrows is painful. Her candor is sometimes fatiguing, begging the question of "how much more must she endure?" Her determination to write, established very young, pushes her to find her way through alcoholism and drug use, relationship chaos, single motherhood, financial insecurity, physical and mental illness and inordinate successes. That she found her path in sobriety and in The Artist's Way is more than remarkable; that she continues to develop in new and unexpected talents is inspiring. Julia Cameron is yet a "work in progress." Even as she faced the multiple hardships and gifts of her life, she constantly produced her Morning Pages and book after book of tutelage, poetry, fiction, inspiration, plays and musicals are the result. She is a most uncommon woman of extreme intelligence and creativity from whom we have much still to learn.

Unlike others who say they wanted to read this book to the end, I forced myself to keep going. And by the last page, I wish I hadn't ever bought it in the first place.

I have used Artist's Way in my lifetime repeatedly to change my life and I've watched others do the same. It is a brilliant creativity book with all the perfect exercises to put you on the path to living your true passion.

I knew Julia had a difficult life, I knew about AA and that was what inspired her to do the 12 steps in Artist's Way. But I had no idea how mentally ill and insecure she really is. Which only goes to show that mental illness can sometimes heighten brilliance.

However, the book went on and on and on. Tedious is an excellent word for it. She would move to Taos and suddenly her perfect life was unsafe and she would move to New York. It would all be lovely, then she would believe it was a horrible place to live and she would move to Los Angeles because IT was the perfect home for her. Then she would enter into her crazy state, and have to move again, either back to Taos (where she kept leaving because she knew it was unsafe-so why does she KEEP going there) or to London. No matter where she went she was never truly centered or happy.

If you find yourself reading and doing the Artists Way and changing your life to live your passion, I would hesitate reading Floor Sample. The knowledge of how painful and uncentered Julia really is could distract you from using her past writings which are brilliant.

I cannot recommend this book.

I have read the Artist's Way, The Sound of Paper, The Right to Write, A Vein of Gold, and now Floor Sample. I am thus familiar with Julia Cameron. Oddly enough, I read this book quickly in two days, finding it hard to put down, but the last 100 pages or so seemed to be rushed and erratic. After finishing this book, I have the sensation that "I wish I hadn't read it" for various reasons. It was a brave memoir, she is obviously a talented artist (but didn't we all know that already?) Some of the mental/emotional instability issues seem to me to make it difficult to recall her in a more objective sense. I have absolutely no prejudice against mental illness and am not saying that gives her less credibility. Instead, it just came to be distracting to me, and I want to be able to work her books and reread them without having this personal information about her come to mind.

When I finished this book, I had the distinct feeling that I wish that I had never read it.

TWO STARS (TYPO above)

Not recommended