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kait_unicorn's review against another edition
3.0
A solid memoir from Mary Kate. Liar’s Club is a hard one to beat though.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I'd been reading Karr's new Art of Memoir and realized that I hadn't read any of her previous books. So I borrowed Lit from the library. Great style and voice.
wiscoliz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and have been thinking about it a lot since finishing it a few days ago. There is a great deal of hope to be found in the pages.
bookherd's review against another edition
4.0
A really great read. Mary Karr doesn't spare herself as she writes about her descent into alcoholism and her long crawl to sobriety, but she does take every opportunity to highlight any humor there was to be found in her situation (sometimes very dark humor indeed).
Her sharp but affectionate treatment of AA meetings reminded me of some of David Foster Wallace's descriptions of the program in Infinite Jest, where the characters hilariously acknowledge that the behavior that is being asked of them is absurd, undignified, embarrassing, they don't want to do it, but they do it anyway because they know it is saving their lives. Then a bandanna wearing David Foster Wallace made his appearance in Karr's memoir, and I thought, "of course." The two met in AA.
Mary Karr's struggle for sobriety is entwined with her spiritual journey to Christianity, and as an adult convert I was especially interested in that part of the story. She's very matter of fact about her scepticism and her reasons for getting baptised in the Catholic church (her kid was getting baptised, she liked the particular church they had found), but then once she had committed herself she jumped in with both feet, undertaking the spiritual exercises of Ignatius under the direction of a nun.
From this memoir I learned that Mary Karr is one tough, funny woman who is becoming more loving through grace and the help of an impressive array of people who love her.
Her sharp but affectionate treatment of AA meetings reminded me of some of David Foster Wallace's descriptions of the program in Infinite Jest, where the characters hilariously acknowledge that the behavior that is being asked of them is absurd, undignified, embarrassing, they don't want to do it, but they do it anyway because they know it is saving their lives. Then a bandanna wearing David Foster Wallace made his appearance in Karr's memoir, and I thought, "of course." The two met in AA.
Mary Karr's struggle for sobriety is entwined with her spiritual journey to Christianity, and as an adult convert I was especially interested in that part of the story. She's very matter of fact about her scepticism and her reasons for getting baptised in the Catholic church (her kid was getting baptised, she liked the particular church they had found), but then once she had committed herself she jumped in with both feet, undertaking the spiritual exercises of Ignatius under the direction of a nun.
From this memoir I learned that Mary Karr is one tough, funny woman who is becoming more loving through grace and the help of an impressive array of people who love her.
erikaohsnap's review against another edition
5.0
I read the author's first memoir called [b:The Liars' Club|14241|The Liars' Club|Mary Karr|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309210940s/14241.jpg|1269768] that recounts the dramatic events of the author's childhood (see my review). I tried reading the second memoir, [b:Cherry|217402|Cherry|Mary Karr|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172789439s/217402.jpg|1254561], but I could not get past the 2nd-person present tense narration. But this third memoir is the creme de la creme of her memoirs. She takes us along her dark and tumultuous journey down to the rock bottom of her alcoholism and painful early recovery. It's a gritty, honest, and often humorous glimpse into the mind of an adult child who finally grows up.
katy82's review
5.0
I loved the book. Karr not only tells her story, but she has the language of a poet. She is honest, vulnerable and self deprecating. I'm not one for conversation stories (because they are often gross.) But after coming to terms with her past and herself she has one of the most honest and self aware coming to Jesus experiences I've ever read. Recognizing that a person just decides to have faith (or not) and that just having faith in God doesn't fundamentally change who you already are as a person. She's also very clear on the fact that her faith is a process and she has no answers. We see this play out in the way she continues to have a complicated relationship with her mom even though she loves her and has forgiven her. If only more Christians could get the memo that life is often messy.
torintorin's review against another edition
4.0
I would like to talk to her so much. Now I finally have an answer when people ask me who I would most l like to have dinner with
hermit_essa's review against another edition
4.0
Audio read. Karr reads her work beautifully. Was not expecting the poignant exploration of AA and prayer. Would very much like to to read the Liar's Club and probably should have read that first.