Sweet Soliloquies

I’ve heard the siren call of a new challenge, one I believe is important and should be shared with the world.  I do not read many memoirs or biographies, perhaps because I have enough to deal with and do not care to take on the troubles of others, feeling too deeply as I do sometimes.  However, not every memoir is gut wrenching and it is true that we can be inspired by reading or watching how others overcome obstacles.  We might even glean a few tips on gardening, score an excellent new recipe, travel the world, be outraged over an injustice, or discover new methods for determining whether or not a spouse is being untrue.

There are plenty of fictional stories written by and about women, but what about their reality?  Have women received their due in the past, oh, several thousand years?  I want to know what women really think about various matters of import.  Oh, sure, I can talk to any of my female friends or family members, but what about women around the world, now and in the past, who have led a different type of lifestyle than mine?  Why do they think or believe they way they do?  What makes them tick and why are their fondest memories just that?

A fabulous group of women I am just beginning to discover have created the HerStories Memoir Challenge, which is now in its second run.

“”Telling HerStories” is all about encouraging women to tell their life stories. And not only to tell their stories, but to embrace and share them. Some women choose to publish their memoir, others write for themselves. Whatever your ultimate publication goals are, writers learn best by reading other writers. What better way to explore the wonderful world of women’s memoir than to host a book challenge?”

The book requirement is 3 books in 3 months, beginning September 1, 2009 and ending November 30, 2009.  Here are the rules:

• Choose 3 women’s memoirs to read over a 3 month period.  If you need some ideas, click on over to the Story Circle Book Reviews web site.
• Post your book list below.
• Check back here every month of the challenge to add your new review to our monthly post.  But there’s a cath here:  I want you to summarize your review in 4 sentences.  That’s right.  We’re also a writing organization, after all, so hone your skill by summing up your review in 4 sentences.
• If you have a blog, feel free to add the badge shown above to your own blog.

We’ll post on the first of every month to kick off the month’s activities and show your prizes.

Prizes

Every month the best 4-sentence review will be awarded a copy of Susan Albert’s An Unthymely Death and Other Garden Mysteries and have their review published on the Story Circle Book Review site.

A monthly door prize will also be awarded of Susan’s Starting Points: Weekly Writing Pompts for Women with Stories to Tell. Then, at the end of the 3 months, we’ll hold a final prize drawing, chosen randomly from all of the entries over 3 months, for a year membership (new or renewal) in Story Circle Network national and Internet organizations. So, you improve your chances of winning the membership if you post your review all 3 months.

For information on how to sign up, please click here for the Challenge post.

Here are the three books I’ve chosen to read for this challenge:

1. The Woman Who Spilled Words All Over Herself: Writing and Living the Zona Rosa Way by Rosemary Daniell
2. Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally by Patty Digh
3. Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir by Lisa Dale Norton.

Please consider joining us in this challenge.  Iit will be fascinating exchanging thoughts and ideas on women’s memoirs.  I hope also to discover new authors and gain knowledge on the art of writing memoir for my own life story.