Helpful Score: 1
Ann Patchetts Truth and Beauty is a memoir of her friendship with fellow-author Lucy Grealy and it has lots of detail about Grealys medical issues and problems. As a huge Patchett fan I really didnt know what to expect because Lucys sister & family accused Patchett of using facts from their relationship to slander and demean and minimize her accomplishments. I dont think they deny though, that Lucy was a rather peculiar person and may have traded on her childhood cancer experiences and her damaged physique to manipulate others. It felt honest in spots, in others less so. When Patchett describes her needy & dramatic friend actually climbing onto her lap (sober no less) and demanding to know if Ann loved her in public I had to catch my breath. Perhaps some skepticism about female friendships spoiled my appreciation and kept me from appreciating some of the wonderment of their friendship through 20 yrs. Certainly I considered the authors mothers advice to save all Lucys letters in case Lucy becomes more famous as a writer. Maybe I got caught up in the way every sentence Patchett writes is so beautifully tuned that it sounds profound even if its just straight narrative. Anyway, it didnt ring as true as the rest of her books thus far & I finished not knowing if Id enjoyed it or not.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
