In Writing a memoir, I found it interesting that after WWI and WWII that only few had written a memoir. Rather than what had happened after the Civil War where Vets couldn't wait to gather his or her thoughts and write down what they had experienced. Memoirs are not something based off of fiction or lies but rather they are the memoirist own truth and honest words. The style of writing that he or she wants has no set rules. A memoir becomes a sort of art. No rules, only your story in your way of writing. But there is something that may stop people from writing a memoir, the exposing of oneself. The person becomes vulnerable to criticism and some can't handle that. The memoir needs to have life, let the story speak for itself otherwise one may be caught in the"professional curse", explaining every detail.
Sing with Me Somehow by Alison Slusarczyk told about her home life growing up. It started with an attention grabber of a short poem that had relevance to her story. She told of how she was the youngest of four sisters. She goes on to say her sisters personalities and habits while still keeping the readers attention. She also tries to find common interest by describing what she sees and how everyperson can see nature like that.
Katrina Memoirs
Maria tells of how she got more than she bargained for when Katrina it New Orleans. She says how she moved from school to school for a month during her senior year and how she wished everything would go back to the way it once was, seeing the same people in the same hall day in and day out. Everyone of these memoirs tells of what they lost in Katrina. Whether that would be friends or family to even his or her schools. A great loss that can only help the next generation prepare for the worst of things in life.
Reflection
I thought that all these had their own respective styles. Whether they are historically told or if they describe a certain event that effected his or her life dramatically. They exposed themselves to in a way relieve the pains that they had encountered.
Questions
Why is it that after WWI and WWII that not many people wanted to wirte a memoir than during the Civl War, is it because the pains of the World Wars were to much to recall or is it something deeper than that?
Why is it that we would rather read of someones pains in life than the joys that they have experienced?
Is it possible to recall events of wars and not be a memoir if it is from one person's point of view or would that be considered to be a historical writing?
