Customer Reviews

Modern American Memoirs

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This wonderful collection of autobiographical pieces is extraordinary in the variety of lives that are represented. I cover my eyes from Wallace Stegner's Saskatchewan dust and then I open them to witness the East River sunset from Barry Lopez' window. I sneak books out of a Memphis library with Richard Wright and then I'm with Cynthia Ozick digging out of a crate from the Traveling Library. The book's radiance comes not only from the rainbow of lives reflected but from the craftmanship, the nuts and bolts of changing the stuff of life into art. So many ways, so many self-less, ego-less ways to transform the personal into the universal, to say I am you and you are me and we are all.

This is one of the most intoxicating books I have ever read. Annie Dillard, one of America's most well known authors for her detailed illustrations of nature, has magnificently compiled a book of memoirs that colorfully describes the American society and its struggles throughout history. This book gives you the bitterness of struggles by various well known figures such as Malcolm X and Maxine Hong Kingston. It builds an intense image of the daily life in the most detailed and delicious way possible.

Annie Dillard, the editor of this collection, is widely considered one of the foremost American writers of nonfiction. Akin to the sophisticated, peerless, but somewhat dry,"The Art of Fact, " a fabulous, though now somewhat-dated anthology for those journalists who wanted to expand their rule-driven pieces, these are only somewhat relevant as contemporary examples, mostly useful to the writer studying how the genre of creative nonfiction has evolved over the last century into modern-day anthologies, such as the "Best American Magazine Writing," or even, "Literary Journalism." The writing is, line by line, richly artistic (far too many people are misusing the word "artful" lately--my pet peeve, but maybe I should just give up and start using it to mean "full of art"). On a positive note, Dillard has carefully chosen varied forms to show the genre's possibilities. Loren Eiseley's, "The Star Thrower," depends heavily on symbolism and theme to great effect, while Chris Offutt's stunning piece is one of the more contemporary. All have heart and emotional honesty; every writer here showed great courage. Scholars and writers of creative nonfiction should have this on the shelf, and certainly there is much to learn from studying these ("study" being the operative word; all are investments of time). A better selection for the younger writer in the genre looking for a quicker fix of literary gems might be Dave Eggers new anthology, "The Best American Nonrequired Reading," (not exclusively nonfiction but a winner) for more new and exciting experimental techniques. Nevertheless, a valuable and well-chosen classic work. Extra half-point for nice cover art. (This is not a yearly anthology). Also see "In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction," ed. Lee Gutkind, for peerless, and more contemporary, work in the genre.

I loved this book! Such an interesting and diverse study of characters that make up the american story and heritage. Each story is written by such a wealth of talent and told with a depth of passion from each authors own life story. I could hardly put it down and have lost alot of sleep since I normally read before going to bed. although each story could be read in a normal sitting they are all so engrossing that I had a difficult time not moving on to another story after finishing one. A very good read for someone who wishes to understand the feelings and experiences of the lives of those we call "American"

This is my one of my favorite books that I have read in quite awhile. I read quite a bit, and have a fondness for memoirs, having read many actually "modern" memoirs, but few so luciously literary as these. Several other reviewers have nicely analyzed this book, so let me just add my whole hearted recommendation for it. All of the 35 sections in this anthology are excerpts from memoirs of varied lengths written by truly prize winning authors. I am very glad to have met every one of them. They were by turns eye-opening, hilarious, sardonic, erudite. The stories range from the beginning of the 20th century until 1996, so, while it says "Modern" it is really a bit of a look toward the past.

One thing I noticed is that, unlike many newer memoirs, none of the authors seems to being trying to "prove" anything. Yet many have dealt with incredible obstacles so out of the experience of most people, such as grinding rural poverty, deadly racism, the Great Depression, wildly difficult parents. They don't seem to make themselves out as heros or try to teach anything. Yet I learned something valuable from practically every one. It was quite a mind-expanding experience to look through a window into lives I had not previously imagined.

I wish everyone could read this book. It is that good.

For the person who has come to the point in their life where they have discovered the value of beginning to write their own memoirs, this is an excellent collection with several well chosen examples for that starting point. Very inspiring with highly charged emotions. Many examples of varying styles. Time well spent living vicariously the intimate lives of others.
Gary Parks
New Memoirist