Magical Memoir Moments

Yeats, Mennonites, and Memoir

At the Mennonite/s Writing VI conference March 30-April 1, 2012, the theme of “the self” recurred often. Poet and scholar Ann Hostetler drew attention to this theme in her talk: “The Self in Mennonite Garb, or, Where Does the Writing Come From?” Hostetler has been thinking about the lyric voice ever since she put together…

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Some Assembly Required: A Review of Anne (and Sam) Lamott's Memoir

I wasn’t going to write any more reviews in this blog — except by offering this space to guest reviewers whose writing I know and trust. I have vowed to keep the chapter drafts of my own memoir my first priority for my precious writing time. Reading and reviewing a new book can take one…

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I Am Hutterite: A Lovely Memoir from the Canadian Prairie

I probably wouldn’t have found this book if it hadn’t been on sale at the Green Valley Book Fair, a huge book warehouse located close to Harrisonburg, VA. The hardcover price is 19.99, but at the Book Fair it was $5.00. Ach yommer, a bargain! I’m sure the author, who grew up Hutterite, would approve…

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Emma: A Widow Among the Amish–A Son's Perspective

Since my own memoir focuses on growing up Mennonite, I have read a number of Mennonite and Amish memoirs and reviewed them here, here, and here. Ervin Stutzman, the current executive director of the Mennonite Church USA, gave himself an interesting memoir challenge: “How can I write the story that includes my own life (described…

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Bo Caldwell's City of Tranquil Light: A Review

If you subscribe to Christian Century magazine, you may have read my review of City of Tranquil Light in the fall books edition. If you aren’t a subscriber, you can read it below. Dora Dueck also wrote an excellent review on her blog, Borrowing Bones. I encourage you to check it out. Caldwell, Bo. City…

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Reposting a Tribute to My Mother-in-Law: A Mini-Memoir

Note to Readers: My first blog was created on the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference site. When the site closed, I lost the web connection for this post written in 2008. I am reposting it so that others can appreciate the woman I considered a second mother–and so that one small piece of her legacy is…

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