Post #61 – Women’s Memoirs, Book Raves – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Imagine that comedy and tragedy find themselves in a boxing ring, ready to duke it out. When the last bell clangs, which one will be declared the winner? That’s my take on comedian Wendy Shanker’s new memoir Are You My Guru?: How Medicine, Meditation & Madonna Saved My Life
You may know Shanker’s previous book, The Fat Girl’s Guide to Life
Shanker was out on tour, talking to many women’s groups, when she had to admit that her sinus condition wasn’t getting better. It’s true that all her joints ached, but she figured that was because she was fat and the weight on her joints was just too much.
Numerous doctor appointments and tests later, she was told she had Wegener’s granulomatosis, a disease without a cure.
As a memoirist interested in other memoirs, why would you want to read this one? Although there are many reasons, I like to discuss three. First, of course, is the compelling story. Probably all of us worry about a disease changing our life. In this memoir, we get to view a story of crisis and survival. It gives us a chance to reflect on what we would do and say and think.
Second, as a writer, this is a valuable book to read because it shows how writing is key to sense making. Shanker tried traditional medicine and when it didn’t work she moved on to about every alternative that friends and family could suggest. She tried them all, well not all of them. Her father was quite excited about a cure suggested by a Rabbi that seemed to involve rubbing a pigeon over her body. She told her father she did not want to talk about that ever again. She writes:
“Besides, I still felt guilty about taking any tips from my father’s spiritual advisers. It was like the Ohel situation again. I refused to be a believer when I was in trouble but a skeptic when I wasn’t in the mood.” (p. 246)
And third, Shanker has a knack for describing people and gestures that may help you to understand the importance of characterizations. For example, in the story I just mentioned, Shanker visits her mother who asks if she’s going to get a pigeon. Shanker says she won’t discuss it. Her mother responds:
“‘Fine, fine,’ she said with a shrug. It was an ancient Jewish shrug born in shtetls across Eastern Europe and featured frequently in Fiddler on the Roof.” (p. 247)
Memoir allows us to look deep into ourselves. Wendy Shanker with her comedic twist finds her own way to share what she found on this journey.
Wendy Shanker created a book trailer for her new memoir. I’ve included it here for two reasons. First, you’ll get a better feel for the author and the memoir. Second, you will need a trailer for your memoir–whether you create it or your publisher does–and this is an excellent one.
