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angelamichelle's review against another edition
4.0
Tiny snippets of memory strung together into a memoir of sorts. I like the impressionistic structure. In fact, I was a little inspired by it because what I love to write are little memoiristic vignettes sometimes in the third person, and this is a highly acclaimed book made from just that. Though I started to feel sometimes that her technique functioned as a crutch keeping the author from having to sort out narrative problems. Another book I appreciated and admired, but could not fully embrace because I didn't care for the author/narrator.
anniewill's review against another edition
1.0
This is a quick reading memoir. The chapters are anywhere from a paragraph to a page or two long. And I don’t know if I’d call it a “memoir” as much as it seems like just some random thoughts about her life. I chose it to read because I had enjoyed A Three Dog Life so much. Not so sure about this one. The writing is beautiful (parts of it), but I don’t feel like I got a real glimpse into her life.
raijoy's review against another edition
4.0
I loved how the third person POV sections wove a fairy tale through the book, as well as how the conversations with the sister served as a meta-narrative. This would be a great book to use as a form model when teaching memoir/forms.
timfinitely's review against another edition
5.0
This is what inspired the style of my thesis. So simple and perfect and unique to Abigail Thomas.
karnaconverse's review against another edition
5.0
Autobiography written in short bursts, highlighting the moments that defined who she was and who she is now
An interesting format to consider for those who are writing, or will write, something for their family to remember them by. Not quite a diary—but some of the entries are only a paragraph long—the tone is confessional and straight-forward. Thomas makes no excuses for the behavior of her younger self yet notes that she is no longer that woman, wife, or mother. These passages, written in the third person, are jarring at first but within a few pages become a river of lessons learned that flows throughout the book and glides smoothly with those written in first-person.
The three sections—"Before," "Mortality," "Here and Now"—reveal the twenty-seven years and the special place her second husband holds in her heart. And for that reason, ,i>Safekeeping takes on the feeling of memoir versus straight autobiography. I particularly found Definition of Marriage, an entry in "Before," especially poignant and another reason for this memoir-type of view. In one hundred words, Thomas writes what she long believed about marriage and then spends the rest of the book indirectly musing about whether or not her mother's words were true:
I don't think we ever learn the names of her three husbands, her sister, her mother, her children, or her grandchildren but I was never confused about who Thomas was writing about and the impact that individual had on her life. The short, concise prose is exquisite and honest. Even though Safekeeping was published more than twenty years ago, it's sure to be relevant for many more.
An interesting format to consider for those who are writing, or will write, something for their family to remember them by. Not quite a diary—but some of the entries are only a paragraph long—the tone is confessional and straight-forward. Thomas makes no excuses for the behavior of her younger self yet notes that she is no longer that woman, wife, or mother. These passages, written in the third person, are jarring at first but within a few pages become a river of lessons learned that flows throughout the book and glides smoothly with those written in first-person.
The three sections—"Before," "Mortality," "Here and Now"—reveal the twenty-seven years and the special place her second husband holds in her heart. And for that reason, ,i>Safekeeping takes on the feeling of memoir versus straight autobiography. I particularly found Definition of Marriage, an entry in "Before," especially poignant and another reason for this memoir-type of view. In one hundred words, Thomas writes what she long believed about marriage and then spends the rest of the book indirectly musing about whether or not her mother's words were true:
. . . "My mother said to me, "your father likes to think he is personally responsible for the sunrise. He thinks that if he didn't stand in front of the window every morning and supervise, the sun would never come up. What he doesn't know," she went on to say, "is that he couldn't do any of it if I didn't get up first and make the coffee and open the curtains." . . .
I don't think we ever learn the names of her three husbands, her sister, her mother, her children, or her grandchildren but I was never confused about who Thomas was writing about and the impact that individual had on her life. The short, concise prose is exquisite and honest. Even though Safekeeping was published more than twenty years ago, it's sure to be relevant for many more.
jodubriel33's review against another edition
5.0
A quick read and a different style of writing to look into for all writers.
kjboldon's review against another edition
5.0
First read: A spare, lovely book that memorializes a second marriage.
Second read: this book contains multitudes. The short sections are marvels of economy and have so much depth of emotion. I am in awe of this book. Why did I only give it 4 stars the first time?
Second read: this book contains multitudes. The short sections are marvels of economy and have so much depth of emotion. I am in awe of this book. Why did I only give it 4 stars the first time?