Herman Roth manages to pull himself out of his darkest moments only through these stories and also his near constant criticisms of his partner, Lil, whom he meets not long after his wife passes away, and who can never measure up in Herman’s estimations. It turns out to be a rare type of brain tumor, and the news sets off associations with Roth’s mother’s recent death, the author’s loneliness, and as we discover as the narrative evolves, his father’s almost constant recitation of events and recollection of individuals from his, his neighborhood’s, and his fellow Jews’ past as a coping mechanism. Patrimony begins with a frightening sudden change in Roth’s father’s health. Some of my various starter pieces clearly demonstrate this struggle, and so reading Roth’s deeply personal exploration of his father’s decline and death, preceded by his long life as an insurance man, husband, father, etc., was an excellent primer. To be honest, one of my small concerns is just this, and it rubs right against my desire and determination to write my truths. No matter how small the detail, unless it paints a perfectly nice and normal picture, there’s a chance that someone you love will take issue with it and with you. One of the biggest struggles many memoir writers deal with is writing honestly and deeply about family. Patrimony: A True Story, Philip Roth (Simon & Schuster, 1991) That said, and with more to come in the future, let me get to Roth’s memoir. I’ve had moments where I thought it might be better not to write CNF and avoid all the hassles, guilt, etc., but I’m committed now to carrying on. So far, I’ve completed a short essay and lots of notes, and I’ve realized how difficult it is to write factually and to deal with all the related worries that it brings. Lately, however, I’ve been thinking about my life and my progress in dealing with my mental health, and with the encouragement of my partner (a licensed psychologist), I’ve begun to explore the possibilities of essay/memoir. I also have another novel (my second) that’s about halfway complete, so I don’t intend on abandoning the genre any time soon.

I’m still writing and submitting fiction, and in fact, I have a novel that I’m trying to place at this time.

Not only was I reminded that I already own Roth’s memoir, but also that I’ve read it before, years ago.

My current craft guide is Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir, and I’ve gathered some of her recommended readings for study. I’m relatively new to creative non-fiction/essay/memoir writing, and I’d like to blog some short review-ish pieces about what I’m reading as a way to stoke closer reading.

Patrimony by Philip Roth