Marion Roach Smith’s alternate sisterly reality, with Margaret Roach.
THE MEMOIR PROJECT is the name of my new book. Accompanied by the subtitle, A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life, the book’s title reflects it contents – a little irreverent, while being very how-to about writing what you know. When it was time to give a title to the book, those words seemed to sum it up best. [click to continue…]
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ALL SHE KNOWS, she learned from the birds. It’s a slight exaggeration, but only slight, as sister Margaret explains in her gorgeous piece from PARADE magazine of this week. A lovely piece of memoir, read it here.
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MY SISTER’S MEMOIR is not mine. My sister’s new drop-out memoir is her own version of a life I know a lot – as well as little – about. Maybe the Chinese have a word for the unique feeling it is to read one’s sister’s memoir. If anyone does, it would be the Chinese, who combined words in ways that allow for the exquisite to meld with the uncomfortable; the peeking that I felt I was doing, to alchemize into an unutterable joy and pride at the generosity of this book, the other version of a life I knew well, and yet not at all. I can say with all honesty that I’ve never felt anything like it. [click to continue…]
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ON THE ROAD. That’s where Margaret will be in the next few months, promoting her fabulous new book, and welcoming spring in her own inimitable way. And you, friends of TSP, are going to get lots of chances to hear her speak, and get some fabulous tips on gardening – and life – when you do. Her first speaking engagement of the season is coming up this weekend, at a fundraiser for the always-marvelous Berkshshire Botanical Garden. But there’s more. [click to continue…]
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SISTER SHEILAA SAYS that I am to take some time out this month and “visit a zoo, botanical garden or butterfly reserve.” How convenient, since guess who will be speaking at just such a venue in February?
Margaret, that’s who. That would be big-sister Margaret, whose new book is out this month, and who will be making many speaking engagements, including one at the Berkshire Botanical on Saturday, February 19th. I am so glad that this is my February prediction, since it serves as a great reminder to me to get my tickets to the events, as well as a reminder of just how spot-on Sheilaa is each month in her predictions here on TSP.
Want to come along and do the sisterly thing and listen in? You can. Make your reservations now and join us as we celebrate the new book, Margaret, and the promise of spring.
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MY BIG SISTER is in the finals for a real sweet honor. Well, her blog is, actually. So get the vote out, everybody, and let’s see that she makes it. Here at TSP, we love Apartment Therapy, so we are particularly pleased that it’s their contest in which Margaret is in the stretch. Vote early, sisters. And let’s give Margaret the boost she deserves.
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I’VE BEEN WRESTLING with the damnedest feelings. Vague one minute, sharp as knives the next, they make me toss, turn, and turn up the oddest diagnoses for them. That is, until I consulted the oracle of upstate, my big sister, and while what she had to say may not sound all that therapeutic to you, it saved my life. [click to continue…]
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MY SISTER’S GARDEN is famous. My sister’s garden is almost as amazing as she is. My sister’s garden is (almost) as eccentric as she is. My sister’s garden is not mine, but because of hers I do have a hand-me-down collection of some wild and crazy plants. [click to continue…]
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ICALL IT “OUR GREAT EXPERIMENT.” My big sister Margaret calls it “Why not, and can-do.” It’s the release today (on the occasion of my “29th” birthday) of my fourth book by none other than big sister-turned-publisher. I think that’s the most unusual gift Margaret ever got me. Both of us Roach sisters also think it’s a must-have for anyone doing any memoir-style writing–whether in print or on a blog–which is what I’ve been teaching to sold-out classes for 13 years. Margaret says my writing tips helped her finish her own memoir, due out next February, which is how she got the idea to publish them. Get the details (and the book). What a birthday this is turning out to be! [UPDATED 1/11: My self-published book sold to a major publisher and will be re-released in an expanded version in late spring. Meantime, it is unavailable; I'll let you know when orders can be taken for the even more exciting version.]
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I LOVE THIS SONG BY RICHARD THOMPSON, called “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” after the bike model, and every time I hear it, I think of my red-haired sister, Marion. I don’t even know if she knows the song (or Richard Thompson, or his ex-wife, Linda Thompson, or their son, Teddy Thompson, glorious musicians all). Do you, Marion? But as Richard’s cult hit says…Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme… [click to continue…]
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MARION LOVES WATER, Margaret (left) earth.
First time here? Here's the idea: The Sister Project is a network of blogs about the many facets of the word sister, and the concept of sisterhood. A sisterhood of sister blogs, you could say. Whatever sister means to you, from identical twin to sister-in-law (or in friendship or in feminism), we’ll make room to listen in about it or express it on TSP. Like the slogan up top on our homepage says, “Don’t you have something to say to your sister?” We've got galleries of art and literature by and about sisters, and a Sisterpedia of sisterly trivia...but now we're getting ahead of ourselves. The quick study: Learn more about TSP, and how to find your way around. And oh—a giant, sisterly welcome.
