Episode 54: Here After by Amy Lin

Feb 17, 2025

Explore the emotional nuances of writing, particularly in dealing with grief and loss. Discover the impact of an author's technique on conveying profound feelings, with personal anecdotes enhancing the discussion. The power of anaphora emerges as a powerful tool for expressing deep truths in storytelling. Additionally, the journey of a writer intertwines with themes of identity and self-discovery, shedding light on the path to publication in the memoir community. Throughout, the interplay of love and grief resonates deeply.

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ADVICE

Unspoken Emotions

Treat your audience like geniuses by not explicitly stating the next obvious thing.
Leave room for the reader to infer and feel the unspoken emotions.

ANECDOTE

Humor in Grief

Amy Lin humorously expresses dislike for her therapist, Michelle, by criticizing her haircut.
This unexpected humor adds lightness to a serious memoir about grief.

ADVICE

Indirect Negativity

Expressing negative feelings indirectly, like commenting on someone's appearance, can be more effective than direct negativity.
Sarah Wells experimented with this, finding it funnier and less harsh.

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Hereafter

Amy Lynn

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle is a memoir by Jeannette Walls that details her nomadic and often impoverished childhood with her dysfunctional family. The book recounts her experiences growing up with an alcoholic father, who was charismatic and imaginative but also dishonest and destructive, and a mother who was a free-spirited artist but neglectful of her children's needs. Despite the challenges, the memoir highlights the resilience and resourcefulness of the Walls children and the unique perspective on life they developed. The title refers to her father's unfulfilled promise to build a dream home, a 'glass castle,' for the family[1][3][4].

Happy to Help

Adventures of a People Pleaser

Amy Wilson

In this memoir, Amy Wilson takes a funny and insightful look at how women are conditioned to be 'happy to help' and what happens when things don't go that way. Wilson reflects on her life as a big sister, Girl Scout, personal assistant, sitcom sidekick, and mother of three, questioning why she always felt it was her job to put others first. The book delves into her experiences as a people pleaser, the advice she received when seeking help, and her journey to realize that something else needed to be fixed besides herself. It is a relatable and humorous account that resonates with anyone who has said 'Happy to help!' one too many times.

The tender bar

A Memoir

Juan José Estrella González

J. R. Moehringer

The Tender Bar is a sweeping memoir that follows J.R. Moehringer from his earliest childhood memories to his young adulthood. Growing up in Manhasset, New York, Moehringer lived with his single mother in his grandfather's house and found male role models among the patrons of the local bar, Publicans. The bar became a sanctuary and a place of education, where Moehringer learned valuable life lessons from men like his Uncle Charlie and other colorful characters. The memoir explores themes of masculinity, identity, and belonging, and is a classic American story of self-invention and escape, highlighting the fierce love between a single mother and her only son.

My Salinger year

Joanna Rakoff

In 'My Salinger Year', Joanna Rakoff recounts her time as a 23-year-old assistant to the literary agent representing J.D. Salinger. Set in the late 1990s, the memoir captures a pre-digital era of New York City's literary scene. Rakoff navigates her days in a traditional agency using typewriters and Dictaphones, while her nights are spent in a small Brooklyn apartment with her socialist boyfriend. Her task of responding to Salinger's fan mail leads her to craft personal responses, which helps her find her own voice and self-awareness. The book is a coming-of-age story that vividly portrays Rakoff's journey through a world of literary giants and personal aspirations[1][3][4].

Drinking: A Love Story

Caroline Knapp

In 'Drinking: A Love Story,' Caroline Knapp candidly recounts her 20-year battle with alcoholism. The book describes her life as a 'high-functioning alcoholic,' where she used alcohol to escape personal relationships and the realities of life. Knapp details her descent into alcoholism, influenced by her family dynamics and personal crises, and her eventual struggle to achieve sobriety. The memoir is a powerful and truthful account of her 'tortured love affair' with alcohol and her journey towards recovery, including her experiences with rehab and AA meetings.