This is a memoir certainly, but it is also about the making of two writers. I find that immensely interesting. Did you notice the inscription in the beginning was a quote from The Human Stain? Remember that book?
I wonder what Patchett herself thinks of this book now that she is older. It was written in 2004. I am sure she sees things differently now. I am not sure how old she was when she wrote this memoir, but I suspect it was sometime around your age. Maybe younger. Would be interesting to track the average age of these memoir authors.
I like that this tells a friendship story. If you die before your time, I will write a memoir about our friendship along with establishing the memorial fund at the Bogota orphanage.
Of course, personally I feel for the young Ann character who married the guy while feeling like it was wrong the whole time. Enough said on that topic.
Dear Heather--
ReplyDeleteOf course I saw the inscription, I loved that it was from the Human Stain. What a book! I agree it would be wonderful to know the ages of the authors writing this book. It is interesting to think about her being my age when she wrote it and looking back on her 20s. It could be like me writing just about Moody--which is a book in and of itself. I think if I wrote that book today it would be about my coming of age into writing and literature as a function of de Rosset's teaching. It would end with the, what I thought, was an awful letter and not communicating again for over a year.
You have my full permission to write a memoir about our friendship, I trust you completely. Does her friend die? And yes, please send the money to the Bogota orphanage.
And yes, enough said on that topic. (But it was fascinating that she immediately knew, immediately knew what she was giving up, and didn't go back to her friend). That part of the book helped me realize how many unusual types of relationships can be rich and meaningful and not glorify romantic partners so much. A good friend is a rare rare thing.
Amy