DIKKON EBERHART
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Thank you for your suggestions!

1/25/2019

6 Comments

 
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  • ​Dikkon Eberhart


Last week I asked for recommendations of good memoirs for me to read…since I’m writing another one which I desire to be good.  Who knows if my new memoir will turn out to be good, but recently my wife Channa gave me excellent critiques, on two levels. 

So there’s hope! 

One level of Channa’s advice was structural.  That is the easier critique to address.  The other level posed a greater challenge.  Her advice was conceptual. Here's the advice.  Take out anything—and she pointed to some things—take out anything that is, in the end, self-indulgent.      

Hoist with my own petard!
 
 


When I mentor writers who struggle to produce their own memoirs, the first exercise I assign to them is to tell me what their memoir is about--in a single, short, snappy sentence.  I don’t want their story at this point; that’s not what I want to hear.  I want a billboard, not a book report. 

In my experience, this is the single hardest piece of writing for many of them undertake.  Me, too.  However, when successfully undertaken, that single, short, snappy sentence becomes the memoirist’s lodestar.  ANY writing that DOES NOT fall under its direction—however delightfully personal and engaging to the taste of the writer—is SELF-INDULGENT. 

It must be taken out! 

And here I was writing happily along while being guilty of that same fault!  Bah!

Good on Channa!
 
 


You readers answered with suggestions—in Comments and on FB, or when we ran into one another during the past week—for which generosity, I thank you!  Last night, one reader expressed curiosity about the list of books, so I said I’d present it in this next post. I’ve edited it a bit.  Several of you listed one book among your lists…some strange book whose title begins with The Time Mom Met Hitler. 

I’ve excluded that one.  I wasn’t looking for lurid histories about discreditable social events!
 

 
What I also received were delightful statements from you among your suggested titles.  For example, here’s a favorite--

Regarding the list of suggestions, one person characterized them as “All non-whiny memoirs of challenging childhoods with deeply flawed but not cruel parents.” 

How enticing a blurb is that! 
 


So here’s the list.  (So far: you’re welcome to send more suggestions, anytime!)
 
Jesus, my Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir of Sorts – Ian Morgan Cron
All Over but the Shoutin’ – Rick Bragg  (mentioned twice)
Through the Eyes of a Lion – Levi Lusko
The Fire of Delayed Answers – Bob Sorge
As Soon As I Fell – Kay Bruner
A Man Called Ove – Fredrick Backman
Educated – Tara Westover
Don’t Let’s Go the to Dogs Tonight – Alexandra Fuller
Glass Castle – Jeanette Wall
Liar’s Club – Mary Karr
Just Mercy – Bryan Stevenson

…and add one historical fiction – Becoming Mrs. Lewis – Patty Callaghan.
 
 
 


6 Comments
floyd samons link
1/26/2019 06:16:57 pm

That's a great list. I've got my eye on a couple of new ones! Thanks for sharing the list. What a great idea!

Glad someone thought of it!!!

Reply
Dikkon
1/26/2019 09:41:35 pm

You're welcome, Floyd. I hope you enjoy some of them as you try them. I hope I enjoy them, too!

Reply
Dan Coffin
1/27/2019 02:54:25 pm

Great idea seeking input for one's reading list. As always, find it fun reading you! Forgive the editor in me...I had an incredible secretary back in the day so learned to tune my eye. Should "Don't Let's go the to Dogs Tonight" by Alexander Fuller read "...to the Dogs..."? Please give Channa my regards and kudos for keeping you humble my dear friend. The Lord knows we both need this.

Reply
Dikkon
1/27/2019 09:12:08 pm

Hi Dan--

Thanks for your thoughts!

Yes, your way of reading the title of the book is certainly better...though I should say it's actually correct!

I certainly need to be kept humble...you're right on that! I will pass your message to Channa.

With love to you both, our friends...and enjoy Maine!

Dikkon

Reply
Maggie Rowe
1/31/2019 02:36:26 pm

I appreciate this list, Dikkon! Thanks for collating it.

Reply
Dikkon
2/1/2019 11:57:16 am

Thanks to you, Maggie!

Here are three more, which I forgot to include before.

The Habit of Being, the Letters of Flannery O'Connor

An American Childhood, by Annie Dillard

Why Should the Devil have all the Good Music? It's the story of Larry Norman, by Greg Thornbury

I read the Annie Dillard book years ago and loved it--so it comes with my recommendation also.

Blessings to you!

Reply



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