Several weeks ago I attended a memoir writing workshop with Dame Fiona Kidman when the participants were asked if they wanted to set up a memoir writing group, the majority were very enthusiastic. After obtaining all their emails I sent out an email with a date for a meeting, yesterday at our big central library. Arriving early and finding that a Toastmasters group was meeting there and had used all the tables I hauled chairs into a circle and waited, and waited and continued to wait. Eventually one person turned up and then another. We waited. Giving up after about 20 minutes we just started chatting, talking about everything from local body politics to heritage interviewing, the role of the library, and what writing we had done. Two hours later we finally called it a day and dispersed. Disappointed at the low turnout we have decided the group is a no go. I wish people would not say they would like to start a group when they are really not interested. I put several hours of work into setting this up and felt quite used. I now have to send out another email asking if people do have any interest in this writing group.
I will continue to write memoir pieces, but since the advent of covid I do find it very lonely that people have moved on with their lives with little consideration for those of us still having to isolate much of the time. Memoir essays seem to suit me, I can cover a range of topics both light and serious.
I have done a lot of reading lately, 8 books last month. These were a mix of books I have on my kindle and my talking book machine. Having 3 or 4 books on the go at once must seem like madness, but books are who I am.
The one which probably gripped me the most was Adopted: Love, Loss, Family and Reunion by Brigitta Baker and Jo Willis. A very easy to read book it is divided up with their stories of being adopted, the journey of their birth parents, the huge difficulties of their reunions, and even includes a section of comments by their children.
The Mirror Book by Charlotte Grimshaw is another gripping book of family dysfunction in a well know New Zealand literary family. Once I got into the second half of the book I found the stories she told of their family anger and angst relatable to my own life experience. I highly recommend both these books.
