Mary Karr's The Liars' Club

[create_destiny]

We must all hail Mary Karr!

I'm serious. I recently read her memoir, The Liars' Club and hot damn, something good has come out of Texas after all!

Mary Karr is foremostly, a poet. This memoir of her childhood growing up in a small, east Texas oil town, was first published in 1995. The thought of how this woman's writing has managed to escape me until two weeks ago is unnerving. I blame all of you, actually, for not telling me about her sooner. Jesus and the angels will help me recover from this most bitter betrayal.



From the first page of this book I was sucked in. I had to sleep with it next to my head on my pillow and carry it around with me at all times. When I finished it, I wanted to read it all right from the start again. Her writing is brutal, ballsy, alluring and sharp.

Mary was the type of child who, at the age of nine, climbed up a tree and started shooting bbs at the family of a boy who insulted her. She would flip off her grade school teachers and tell other authority figures to, "Eat me raw," thinking it was just another way of saying, "Kiss my ass."

Yeah, so when you see your neighbors' children behaving like anarchist strippers on crack and you wonder if you should call child-protective services, you might want to read this book first, because its hilarious and tragic and the best damn thing I've read in a long time. And I'm not saying it should have any bearing on you making that call. That's between you and God. What I'm saying is Brutally sharp alluring balls, people, that's all I'm sayin'.

Comments

liars club

[lcurtis.livejournal.com]

So you liked it huh? Reminds me a bit of some girls I know.

Re: liars club

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

I've never known girls this ballsy.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

What do you mean something good has come out of Texas "after all"? Have you ever been here?

Texas Ate my Sister

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Yes. Four or five times. My sister moved there and died there. I hold a grudge against Texas taking her away from me.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

Jesus, honey, I'm so sorry.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

I'm always taking cheap shots at Texas. Sorry if I offended you.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

Not at all. You have feelings and you came by them honestly.

I thought you were being uppity left coaster for a second, but I reckon you can feel however you damn well please.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

I hope this comment conveys what I meant: A heartfelt sadness for you and your loss.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

And yes, it's a great book, one of my favorites. I read it several years ago.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Have you read Cherry, the follow-up memoir of her adolescence? I read that she's working on yet another memoir, (of her "adulthood") called Lit.

[bluemamie.livejournal.com]

I have indeed. She is too brilliant.

[nodressrehersal.livejournal.com]

Hot damn, that's as glowing of a review as I've read in a long time. It's been added and moved to the top of the list, thanks.

One of my favorite memoirs is Too Close to the Falls, by Catherine Gildiner. A great read, to be sure.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I remember you mentioning this one before. I'll add it to my list, too. Thank you.

[honeywoney.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's one heck of a book.

In fact, she wrote a piece against James Frey, and another author then wrote disparaging comments about Karr, and I jumped into the fray to defend Karr.

You may need a NY Times subscription (online free) to read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/opinion/15karr.html?ex=1294981200&en=1c321211aefeeff6&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

If you enjoyed "Liar's Club," then please read this: http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=0375758992

:)

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link to her thoughts on Frey. I'm so glad she didn't defend him.

My boyfriend has Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight and has been trying to get me to read it for quite some time. It's on my list and has now been moved up a little closer to the top because you recommend it, too.

[si-anenome.livejournal.com]

I was reading the blog on his website and stopped. :p He had fun facts about Los Angeles and I thought they were interesting, but then figured he probably just made them all up.

[si-anenome.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review -- I'll have to read it. We've had that book for a long time & I've never cracked it open. (We buy interesting looking books and then stick them in a pile... for some future day when we have time, I guess.) Sounds like a great read.

[grrlpup]

I just put it on hold at the library. And the next crazy little hellion I see, I will tell "you're going to be a poet when you grow up." And then I'll run.

She sounds like Scout, but more so.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Yes! That's funny. Refresh my memory, who's Scout?

[robin-rule.livejournal.com]

to kill a mockingbird and she is like scout only MORE and kinda like frankie in member of the wedding

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Oh, that Scout, of course! Haven't read Member of the Wedding.

[robin-rule.livejournal.com]

chiclets, you must read everything by Carson McCullers. search her out in used bookstores which i understand yr town has many.

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I will.

[dietcokehed.livejournal.com]

Ordering it now :)

Cuz if i don't...I kinda feel like you might kick my ass!!
Plus I need more books...don't we all? :)

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Well, I won't kick your ass, but Mary Karr might. ;P

[metalgypsy.livejournal.com]

can i borrow it?!

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Yes you can.

[e-compass-rosa.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I saw your comment over at Doug Lain, and then was browsing your sight to come upon the Mary Karr review. This is the second time today I've come across this book, totally randomly, so because I love sychronicity I figured I ought to add you to my friend's list. I'm looking forward to reading your journal.