Comments on: The Persistence of Memoir http://kerryhowley.com/2008/05/24/the-persistence-of-memoir/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:29:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sonny Bunch http://kerryhowley.com/2008/05/24/the-persistence-of-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-624 Sonny Bunch Tue, 27 May 2008 13:46:59 +0000 http://kerryhowley.com/?p=104#comment-624 I actually agree with you, in a way--the operative word in my post was "dreck," not "navel-gazing." It's just a bad, bad essay, personal or no. But that terribleness is certainly compounded by the obsessively personal nature of the subject matter. I would also argue that the difference between Didion's work and Gould's essay is more than talent. Didion's essays were personal, yes, but there was typically something deeper at work--the lead essay in 'After Henry,' for example, is personal AND a tribute to a fallen friend AND an examination of the relationship between a writer and an editor. Gould's 'New York Times Magazine' piece had the potential to be a really interesting, subversive look inside the workings of a gossip blog and how that impacted her life, and, most importantly, what that means to the rest of us. Instead, we're treated to 8,000 words about her problems. There's no deeper insight than "Man, I sure have made a mess of my life. Maybe if I keep writing about it people will still care. Please care. I'm lonely out of the spotlight. I need your attention. I crave it. You want personal secrets? Here, here you go! Love me!" Just one man's thoughts... I actually agree with you, in a way–the operative word in my post was “dreck,” not “navel-gazing.” It’s just a bad, bad essay, personal or no. But that terribleness is certainly compounded by the obsessively personal nature of the subject matter.

I would also argue that the difference between Didion’s work and Gould’s essay is more than talent. Didion’s essays were personal, yes, but there was typically something deeper at work–the lead essay in ‘After Henry,’ for example, is personal AND a tribute to a fallen friend AND an examination of the relationship between a writer and an editor. Gould’s ‘New York Times Magazine’ piece had the potential to be a really interesting, subversive look inside the workings of a gossip blog and how that impacted her life, and, most importantly, what that means to the rest of us. Instead, we’re treated to 8,000 words about her problems. There’s no deeper insight than “Man, I sure have made a mess of my life. Maybe if I keep writing about it people will still care. Please care. I’m lonely out of the spotlight. I need your attention. I crave it. You want personal secrets? Here, here you go! Love me!”

Just one man’s thoughts…

]]> By: Ok, Fine. Emily Gould. | J. Beaman - The Magazine http://kerryhowley.com/2008/05/24/the-persistence-of-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Ok, Fine. Emily Gould. | J. Beaman - The Magazine Mon, 26 May 2008 19:55:25 +0000 http://kerryhowley.com/?p=104#comment-618 [...] Kerry Howley puts it [...] [...] Kerry Howley puts it [...]

]]> By: Obligatory Emily Gould Post « Matt Zeitlin: Impetuous Young Whippersnapper http://kerryhowley.com/2008/05/24/the-persistence-of-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-617 Obligatory Emily Gould Post « Matt Zeitlin: Impetuous Young Whippersnapper Mon, 26 May 2008 04:55:28 +0000 http://kerryhowley.com/?p=104#comment-617 [...] sociology or anthropology) of being an oversharer. Instead, we get Gould’s redemption story (replace drink too much with overshare and you get James Frey without the lying!), with very little insight into why people share so much and why readers are so fascinated with [...] [...] sociology or anthropology) of being an oversharer. Instead, we get Gould’s redemption story (replace drink too much with overshare and you get James Frey without the lying!), with very little insight into why people share so much and why readers are so fascinated with [...]

]]> By: Obligatory Emily Gould Post « A Culture Blog http://kerryhowley.com/2008/05/24/the-persistence-of-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Obligatory Emily Gould Post « A Culture Blog Mon, 26 May 2008 00:38:30 +0000 http://kerryhowley.com/?p=104#comment-616 [...] sociology or anthropology) of being an oversharer. Instead, we get Gould’s redemption story (replace drink too much with overshare and you get James Frey without the lying!), with very little insight into why people share so much and why readers are so fascinated with [...] [...] sociology or anthropology) of being an oversharer. Instead, we get Gould’s redemption story (replace drink too much with overshare and you get James Frey without the lying!), with very little insight into why people share so much and why readers are so fascinated with [...]

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