By Lisa Harmon
Well I can't believe its Friday and I have to write something
compelling/brilliant/memorable AGAIN. Do only gay guys write
memoirs? And do they all have OCD? Or is it just a coincidence that
I started with David Sedaris and then went on to Augusten Burroughs?
They seem to have some similar characteristics. I had to turn the
book over repeatedly to double check which author I was actually
reading.
I did, in between, read a memoir by a woman – Jeanette Walls.
And I have figured out the secret to writing the great memoir: You
have to be raised by mentally ill and preferably self-medicating
parent(s).
My family didn't use drugs. And aside from being totally unhip,
they didn't suffer from any recognized mental illnesses. Just my
luck.
I find myself here again, learning a skill that I probably will
never turn into a paycheck. Art is all well and good but if its not
paying my bills what is the point, exactly?
And don't tell me that it is because I'm sharing. If I was
sharing something that someone wanted to share, my bills would be
getting paid!
I never would have even picked up that book by Augusten Burroughs
if I didn't really think about it for a second. That's because I was
traumatized by a guy named Burroughs once.
I finally realized the traumatic one was William and I gave the
book by Augusten a chance. I don't know how people find these things
humorous, I am always appalled at the events depicted. But its a
pretty interesting read and anyway it isn't giving me nightmares like
that psycho William Burroughs!
Not only did I not finish Naked Lunch I'm pretty sure I
threw it out because it was giving me the heebie jeebies.
If you know of any good memoirs please drop me a note. I've got
to pad up my reading list with stuff that won't scare the crap out of
me.
-
Blog Time USA!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
| Labels: Lisa Harmon, memoirs, mental illness | |
I actually like both Dave Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs...but I think it's because I'm mentally ill. Though I do walk away from their memoirs feeling filthy.
I like them too...but the similarities...too weird. Thanks for reading & commenting.
Ahhh... The joys of non-income generating self-expression!
If there's a memoir in you, it is deep inside. So I recommend any reading or meaningful conversations that get you looking in that direction. To my knowledge, that is where most of the juicy details are. Things that happen outside of us triggers the world inside of us -- at least that is what I believe happens for me. I don't think there is a secret, but rather a willingness to step inside ourselves and mingle.
Wow Mindy well put. Thank you.