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fragrantwoodshavings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
amandalywarren's review against another edition
5.0
This book read like a movie. Brilliant from start to finish. And while I have very little in common with Julia Cameron’s life, I feel connected to her in how we see the world. Her story is one of courage, determination, curiosity, and creativity. And I hope that, one day, someone will say the same for me.
This memoir is probably the most beautiful I’ve ever read. It transported me through the emotional beats of the author’s life in a way I didn’t know was possible on the page. Julia Cameron’s writing is so stunning. Even the tamer and heavier parts of her story were written in a captivating way. I can see why so many people have elected to learn from her. I’d like a chance to do so myself.
This memoir is probably the most beautiful I’ve ever read. It transported me through the emotional beats of the author’s life in a way I didn’t know was possible on the page. Julia Cameron’s writing is so stunning. Even the tamer and heavier parts of her story were written in a captivating way. I can see why so many people have elected to learn from her. I’d like a chance to do so myself.
betsyellis's review
3.0
Several years ago I was part of an Artist‘s Way group, inspired by Julia Cameron‘s book of the same name. That ground breaking book outlined ways to encourage the creative process and deal with “blocks.” I looked at her as a kind of spiritual and creative guru. And so I was immediately intrigued to see that she had written a memoir, because I knew nothing of her personal life.
In this book she details her own creative struggles, framed by her fight to maintain sobriety after years as an alcoholic and drug addict. Early fame writing for Rolling Stone led her to the most cataclysmic relationship of her life, a youthful marriage to director Martin Scorsese, with whom she had her only child. The relationship lasted less than two years. For 10 years after, Cameron chased similar creative ground to Scorsese's, attending film school, making small films and screenwriting for film
and TV. She seemed unable to settle down, moving between Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Taos (in fact she moved so frequently - a geographic cure? - that I had to wonder how this affected her daughter), and unable to completely let go of Scorcese’s hold on her psyche. She also struggled with a type of mania that required anti-psychotic medication.
Through it all she never stopped writing, a fact I find amazing. This woman is nothing if not prolific.
I did not get the feeling by the end that she had found much peace or that her cross-country moves were over for her. But her story is a fascinating one, though a bit exhausting to get through.
In this book she details her own creative struggles, framed by her fight to maintain sobriety after years as an alcoholic and drug addict. Early fame writing for Rolling Stone led her to the most cataclysmic relationship of her life, a youthful marriage to director Martin Scorsese, with whom she had her only child. The relationship lasted less than two years. For 10 years after, Cameron chased similar creative ground to Scorsese's, attending film school, making small films and screenwriting for film
and TV. She seemed unable to settle down, moving between Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Taos (in fact she moved so frequently - a geographic cure? - that I had to wonder how this affected her daughter), and unable to completely let go of Scorcese’s hold on her psyche. She also struggled with a type of mania that required anti-psychotic medication.
Through it all she never stopped writing, a fact I find amazing. This woman is nothing if not prolific.
I did not get the feeling by the end that she had found much peace or that her cross-country moves were over for her. But her story is a fascinating one, though a bit exhausting to get through.
willwrite4chocolate's review
4.0
What did I learn? Julia Cameron sure does move around a lot.
Seriously, I was struck by her productivity. Even in the midst of major psychic breaks and nervous breakdowns, she was productive. Mania perhaps? Supposedly she's not manic depressive, but those episodes with the trees talking to her sure should like a manic episode to me. Not that I've ever been "allergic" to electricity like she was, so I can't relate. But I get that surge of energy - that feeling like the work is just flowing out of you. And I get that even though you're really sick when it's happening, you want it back bad enough to go off your meds and hope for the best. That I truly understand!
It was a good reminder of The Artist's Way stuff. That's where I really began long before Natalie Goldberg. Three pages a day no matter what. No judging. Just writing. And artist's dates. Alone. Just me and a place I find inspiring. And of the whole, "worry about the quantity and let the muse take care of the quality." I needed to be reminded of that. It also made me wish I'd gone to one or her workshops when I was in Taos just to have had the experience. I think Jim Nave was teaching them then, not Julia. She was going through one or her difficult periods. And I was so focused on writing and so steeped in Nat's approach that I didn't want to try anything else. Might have learned a thing or two.
It was also a nice return to Taos. Even though Taos was always a difficult place for Julia, she too was in love with the dream of Taos and I really get that. And thinking that a different place will bring different results. Hope I've learned my lesson with that too, but it was a good reminder.
Seriously, I was struck by her productivity. Even in the midst of major psychic breaks and nervous breakdowns, she was productive. Mania perhaps? Supposedly she's not manic depressive, but those episodes with the trees talking to her sure should like a manic episode to me. Not that I've ever been "allergic" to electricity like she was, so I can't relate. But I get that surge of energy - that feeling like the work is just flowing out of you. And I get that even though you're really sick when it's happening, you want it back bad enough to go off your meds and hope for the best. That I truly understand!
It was a good reminder of The Artist's Way stuff. That's where I really began long before Natalie Goldberg. Three pages a day no matter what. No judging. Just writing. And artist's dates. Alone. Just me and a place I find inspiring. And of the whole, "worry about the quantity and let the muse take care of the quality." I needed to be reminded of that. It also made me wish I'd gone to one or her workshops when I was in Taos just to have had the experience. I think Jim Nave was teaching them then, not Julia. She was going through one or her difficult periods. And I was so focused on writing and so steeped in Nat's approach that I didn't want to try anything else. Might have learned a thing or two.
It was also a nice return to Taos. Even though Taos was always a difficult place for Julia, she too was in love with the dream of Taos and I really get that. And thinking that a different place will bring different results. Hope I've learned my lesson with that too, but it was a good reminder.
rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review
3.0
I consider Ms. Cameron one of my writing teachers (along with Natalie Goldburg) and this was insightful - particularly the first 1/3.
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