The Memoir and the Memoirist

“Larson applies his methods to some of the finest examples of the form, with exhilarating analyses of works by writers as diverse as Virginia Woolf, Frank McCourt, Mary Karr, Mark Doty, Dave Eggers, Andrew Hudgins, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Rick Bragg. The result is a book that deserves the attention of literary scholars and anyone attempting to add his or her own contribution to the genre.” * Ploughshares *
“Indispensable…arguably one of the two or three best references for those who teach and write nonfiction.” * Brevity *
“Larson shines as a reader. His always lucid style, wide-ranging and perceptively analyzed examples, and thorough bibliography of memoirs make the book a valuable reference source as well as a good read.” * Biography *
“I’ve never met Thomas Larson, but from reading The Memoir and the Memoirist, I’ve concluded that I’d love to talk to him.... He draws on long experience as a reader, writer, and teacher to describe and embrace the modern memoir before it becomes fussed over and codified by academics.” * Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction *
“An invaluable aid for the would-be memoirist, the book is highly recommended.” * The Midwest Book Review *
“An established memoirist in his own right, Larson delves into nitty-gritty analyses of memoirs and those who write them.… This is a valuable book for anyone who contemplates writing a memoir, or who simply enjoys reading them.” * American Society of Journalists & Authors *
“A particularly enlightening book for memoir writers and teachers. Larson has a readable style, writes intelligently and openly about what makes an authentic piece of life writing. He includes an invaluable number of memoirs worth reading as well as references to books on memoir. Highly recommended.”
“Written with clarity, Larson’s contribution to the analysis of both what drives writers to deliver to a hungry audience the intimate details of their lives, and his opinions about the reason why we keep reading, makes for an enlightening book.”
“This thoughtfully reasoned and lucidly written book delves further into the dynamics of the new memoir than anything I know of, and is sure to spark discussion, help guide would-be practitioners, and bring much–needed illumination to a vexed subject.” * author of The Art of the Personal Essay *
“What makes the book particularly valuable is Larson’s obvious familiarity with and discussion of some of the biggest titles in the field.” * Bookslut *
“Thomas Larson’s The Memoir and the Memoirist is much more than another how–to book. With great depth and clarity, Larson examines that which drives writers to cast their lot with truth and celebrates the myriad ways writers ’reassemble’ themselves while seeking and shaping their stories.” * author of Fault Line and Between Revolutions: An American Romance with Russia *
“Absorbing and eclectic.”
“In this provocative guide to the art of memoir writing, Larson examines the complex nature of the self in search of itself and demonstrates how the subtle art of remembering gives birth to that anomaly we call the memoirist. The Memoir and the Memoirist is a must read for every writer and reader of this dynamic literary genre.” * author of Unreliable Truth: On Memoir and Memory *
“Thomas Larson thoroughly explores the genre from a place of love and critical thinking. He dives headfirst into a sea of human stories, explaining and comparing, bringing readers a better understanding of the uniqueness of the niche.… An enlightening book.”