memoir – Monica Cardenas

Mothercare

By Lynne TIllman, 2023 This autobiographical essay — at 150 pages — tells the story of Lynne’s experience caring her for ageing and ill mother for several years. The subhead, “On Ambivalence and Obligation” indicates that the essay will explore those feelings in relation to caring for her mother, but I didn’t find that toContinue reading “Mothercare”

Busy Being Free

Emma Forrest, 2023 I’m on a bit of an Emma Forrest kick, having recently read her first memoir Your Voice In My Head. She has a very unique writing style, and each chapter of both memoirs reads a little like puzzle. She allows her reader to piece together how different experiences she shares informs herContinue reading “Busy Being Free”

Your Voice In My Head

Emma Forrest, 2011 I basically could not stop reading from the moment I opened this book. Four stars. Oh, you want to know more? I wasn’t familiar with Emma Forrest until my local bookshop advertised for a reading/talk she was giving for her new book, Busy Being Free (which I will be reading asap). ButContinue reading “Your Voice In My Head”

Educated

By Tara Westover, published in 2018 This is the third memoir I’ve read this year, and the second about an abusive parent/child relationship. As I’m sure many others have already said, this reminded me a lot of The Glass Castle: A child raised by mentally ill and/or abusive parents who fail to provide a lovingContinue reading “Educated”