Wednesday, January 11, 2006
And one more thing -
The hubbub this week over A Million Little Pieces is most interesting. I haven't read it, but I've heard from other readers how shocking it is, and now it turns out that significant chunks of it may be fiction. I wonder why Oprah didn't choose Nick Flynn's Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (Norton, 2004), or Augusten Burroughs's Dry (St. Martin's, 2003), if she wanted a fine memoir fraught with alchohol abuse and redemption, not to mention great writing. Oh, and true.
Now, about that word, hubbub. I hadn't spelled that out for quite a while, and it had me wondering. So, off to The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology: in part - confused noise, as of shouting; Irish hooboobbes; the hobub or hue and crie; noisy disturbances; Irish abu used in battle-cries; Gaelic ub! ubub! int. of aversion or contempt, ubh, ubh int. of disgust or amazement; the Irish hubbabowe, Spenser. That just about covers it.
Now, about that word, hubbub. I hadn't spelled that out for quite a while, and it had me wondering. So, off to The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology: in part - confused noise, as of shouting; Irish hooboobbes; the hobub or hue and crie; noisy disturbances; Irish abu used in battle-cries; Gaelic ub! ubub! int. of aversion or contempt, ubh, ubh int. of disgust or amazement; the Irish hubbabowe, Spenser. That just about covers it.
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Or how about Caroline Knapp, who has written several excellent memoirs, including one on her drinking problem? There's Drinking: A Love Story, which is wonderful. Very good clear prose, and she has the remarkable capability of helping you understand why she began drinking & how she stopped.
I also adored Pack of Two, but this is probably best for dog lovers, or those who wish to understand dog lovers better.
The last book she wrote before her death in 2002 was Appetites. I haven't read it yet, but I plan to. There's something about reading the last book written by an author that's just so sad, so I've been putting it off.
I also adored Pack of Two, but this is probably best for dog lovers, or those who wish to understand dog lovers better.
The last book she wrote before her death in 2002 was Appetites. I haven't read it yet, but I plan to. There's something about reading the last book written by an author that's just so sad, so I've been putting it off.
# posted by 
: 8:34 AM
: 8:34 AM
Hi Kim - I know what you mean. One of my favorite authors is (was) Laurie Colwin, who died unexpectedly in 1992, at age 48. When I re-read her books I can't believe that she isn't still holed up in her apartment in NYC, writing novels and short stories and essays on cooking/eating. Here's a great article about her life and books, and their endurance with readers: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55809-2003Jul1.html
Thanks for the suggestions about Caroline Knapp - I've seen her books around but haven't read any, YET.
Thanks for the suggestions about Caroline Knapp - I've seen her books around but haven't read any, YET.
I shall have to look up Laurie Colwin. I'm familiar with her name, but haven't read her books yet. I seem to read all the time, but yet still have more to read. That's both a blessing, and well, not. ;)
The furor over Frey reminds me of Ann Patchett's Truth & Beauty, in which she comments that Lucy's book FACE, was embroidered. Nobody got upset about that one & I wonder why.... perhaps because Lucy's not around anymore? :/
The furor over Frey reminds me of Ann Patchett's Truth & Beauty, in which she comments that Lucy's book FACE, was embroidered. Nobody got upset about that one & I wonder why.... perhaps because Lucy's not around anymore? :/
# posted by : 9:07 AM
: 9:07 AM
Another good and credible memoir out there is The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls,about her parents who chose to
live a vagabond life and willing dragged their kids along for the ride.
I'm more of a fiction reader but Glass Castle really captivated me(and it's coming out in paperback in case Oprah
wants to pick another memoir). Oh,and
Toast by Nigel Slater is great,too.
live a vagabond life and willing dragged their kids along for the ride.
I'm more of a fiction reader but Glass Castle really captivated me(and it's coming out in paperback in case Oprah
wants to pick another memoir). Oh,and
Toast by Nigel Slater is great,too.
Sounds a bit like Lisa Michaels's "Split: A Counterculture Childhood" which I read a few years ago. Very good in parts, but uneven. I'll look for "The Glass Castle" - here I sit in a bookshop and yet another book I haven't heard of or read. I hope this lasts all my life - thank god there are so many undiscovered (by me) books out there.
Kim - with Laurie Colwin, I'd start with "Happy All the Time" - if you don't like it you won't like her others. If you love it, however, read on...
Kim - with Laurie Colwin, I'd start with "Happy All the Time" - if you don't like it you won't like her others. If you love it, however, read on...
Interesting bit on NPR's "All Things Considered" (I think Wednesday or Thursday of this week) on Million Little Pieces. All about how the Smoking Gun stuff isn't keeping the publisher (Doubleday?) from rescinding and doesn't appear to bother Oprah. The comments about how it's all ok because it was a "memoir" and that we all know memory is fallible are fascinating. But the defense of the memoir form is better! I appreciate NPR for standing up and refusing to allow this "author" to defile the word.
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