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retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
4.0
I have always loved Lee Smith's writing and this was no exception. I was particularly moved by the essay about her son Josh, who suffered (truly) from mental illness and died too young.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“Simply to line up words one after another upon a page is to create some order where it did not exist, to give a recognizable shape to the chaos of our lives. Writing cannot bring our loved ones back, but it can sometimes fix them in our fleeting memories as they were in life, and it can always help us make it through the night.”
It is hard to imagine that I would have ever read Smith if I hadn’t moved to Virginia. Yes, her novels, The Last Girls and Fair and Tender Ladies are popular all over the United States, but to me, Smith is a Virginian through and through. She knows this state and its people. Not all her books are set in Virginia, but I feel that her Virginian roots show in everything she writes.
So, when I saw that she had written a book about her family and her home town, I knew I wanted to read it. Yes, I already knew a lot about Smith. I have heard her speak several times. However, I wanted to read what she wrote about the people and places that mean so much to her. I am very glad I did so.
One of the things I like best about Smith’s writing is the way she brings both people and places to life. Her books have lots of wonderful characters, but their homes, communities and the environment around them are integral parts of the story. Her stories, in my opinion, must take place where she sets them. They wouldn’t happen anywhere else.
If you have ever read anything by Lee Smith, you might want to read this memoir. It isn’t quite as memorable as some of her fiction, but once you read this, you will have a better understanding of the woman who writes such wonderful stories.
It is hard to imagine that I would have ever read Smith if I hadn’t moved to Virginia. Yes, her novels, The Last Girls and Fair and Tender Ladies are popular all over the United States, but to me, Smith is a Virginian through and through. She knows this state and its people. Not all her books are set in Virginia, but I feel that her Virginian roots show in everything she writes.
So, when I saw that she had written a book about her family and her home town, I knew I wanted to read it. Yes, I already knew a lot about Smith. I have heard her speak several times. However, I wanted to read what she wrote about the people and places that mean so much to her. I am very glad I did so.
One of the things I like best about Smith’s writing is the way she brings both people and places to life. Her books have lots of wonderful characters, but their homes, communities and the environment around them are integral parts of the story. Her stories, in my opinion, must take place where she sets them. They wouldn’t happen anywhere else.
If you have ever read anything by Lee Smith, you might want to read this memoir. It isn’t quite as memorable as some of her fiction, but once you read this, you will have a better understanding of the woman who writes such wonderful stories.
susannaopal's review against another edition
4.0
Great memoir about Smith's life, in particular, I enjoyed the pieces about her childhood. Good tidbits for writers as well!
real_life_reading's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I am not a serious writer, but I love to do it and it was wonderful to read about Smith's life and how it has shaped her writing. I loved reading about her upbringing and how she has incorporated so many of her life events into her writing in subtle ways. A must read for anyone who loves to write
jtlars7's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting memoir by an author whose novels I've enjoyed. Not a must-read, but I really enjoyed several of the essays. And now I want to re-read a few of her novels, like Fair and Tender Ladies.
susiejo124's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. I heard the author on NPR and her accent was so soothing to me and it reminded me of my family. I like the descriptions of where she grew up and the way she touches lightly on the tragedies in her life.