Tayari's Blog: Life Stories **updated**
Posted by TayariJones on April 3, 2007 06:13 AM
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Bookshelf
Rebecca Walker's second memoir, Baby Love, is out. I found her first memoir Black, White, and Jewish to be really disturbing, but oddly enough, my dad did enjoy it. Her new book is about her decision to have a child with her partner,
Mechell Ndegeocello. (**update: wrong partner.) And, according to the Publisher's Weekly review, the novel also details her big fight with her mom, Alice Walker, about the way that Rebecca portrays her in the first memoir. (Major drama. Apparently, wills have been changed.)
And look, Rebecca Walker has a blog.
And speaking of memoirs, A.M. Homes new memoir, The Mistress's Daughter is on the shelves. I tell you, when I had my idea for my third novel, I thought it was such a novel concept. I was wrong and keep getting wronger.
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There are 5 comments on "Life Stories **updated**". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Jackie ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
From what I skimmed through in the bookstore, Rebecca decided to have a baby with her MALE partner, not her female partner. I admit I read as far as I needed to understand what the momma drama was about. It sounds like a continuation of Alice not being the mother Rebecca wanted or needed and Rebecca is still pouting. As a parent, there are days when you want to be let out of your parenting contract and I suspect, just my own opinion here, that Rebecca is a lot of work. I declined to buy the book and will wait patiently for it from the library.
A.M. Homes' memoir, however, is something I will buy on it's release date. With a coupon, of course.
April 3, 2007 09:55 AM
Comment #2, by Jackie
Based on those reviews at the link I wouldn't worry. The sample of your work that you shared with us indicates you shouldn't stop work on your book! You might have to change the title, but please keep going with the story. I want to know what happens.
April 3, 2007 09:58 AM
Comment #3, by Michael Fischer
It's not the idea itself, but how you approach the idea that matters, and you're certainly approaching the idea in a fresh, unique way (based on the sections I've read/heard). You'll be fine.
But I do see your concern. As I've told you, T, the book I'm writing is about mental illness...yeah, such a new thing for a writer to write about;-) Not only that, but some of the characters are teens. Okay, so mentally ill teens who run away from home, do drugs, and rebel against their parents..yet find a way to "come-of-age."
Gulp.
But we just have to trust the stories that are inside of us and let THAT guide us.
April 3, 2007 12:32 PM
Comment #4, by cheryl miner
someone once said there are no new stories....only new ways to write them. Our books will be the classics our children read. write whats in your heart and you will be fine. On a lesser note....I have never read Rebecca Walker's work and don't plan on doing so. I may be off base but I still believe that if her name was Rebecca Leventhal she'd be on the slush pile. Now a book on "Motherhood"? From my chair it looks as though she plans to ride her Color Purple connection as far as it will take her. I'd like to know the sales numbers of her books sans- Alice Walker as subject as compared to those with AW directly or indirectly as the subject. I quite frankly am a tad bit tired of those children of fame yearning for a "normal" childhood. Who had a "normal" childhood and what pray tell is normal? I sincerely hope Rebecca picks up a copy of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Degruy-Leary. Its a wonder any of us are here must less "normal."
April 3, 2007 05:23 PM
Comment #5, by Andrew Ervin
T: For what it's worth, Homes's memoir is spectacular. Loses it a tiny bit in the third quarter, but finishes VERY strong. I think you'll dig it. Also, the paperback of her THIS BOOK WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE just came out. While it's one of my favorite books of hers (& of the past 10 years) it is the ugliest paperback I've ever seen in my life. Hideous. Finally, we've all read ROMEO AND JULIET but that doesn't mean that boy-meets-girl stories are off limits, does it? No one can write a Tayari Jones book but you. Don't worry, just do your thing...
April 3, 2007 07:34 PM