Unreliable Truth ─ On Memoir and Memory

Beginning with the idea that memory is nothing more than “an angle of perception,” Murdock explores the recurrent question asked by writers and readers of memoir alike: what actually happened? Prompted by the loss of identity that accompanied her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s and subsequent lost memories, Murdock proposes that perhaps the faithful recording of the past isn’t where the strength of memoir lies. Instead, Murdock looks at the basic components of memoir writing and the process of self-reflection it requires and how they bring awareness to the underlying patterns of life. This captivating treatise on the corruptibility of memory, willed identity, and the self as reflected through the lens of memoir speaks to all attracted to this most intimate of genres, and provides tools for exploration of the self and soul through personal narrative. Included are practical tips and writing suggestions for the aspiring memoirist and a glossary of writing terms.