You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir
Ruminate:
1: to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly;
2: to chew repeatedly for an extended period
Maggie Smith writes about ruminating.
She writes about her life before marriage, while being happily married and raising a family. She writes about the shift in her marriage that led to a separation and a long-drawn-out divorce. She writes about the father of her children moving out-of-state. She writes about her professional life as a writer and her ex-husband’s perception of her work.
The memoir is easy to navigate: some pages consist of a sentence or two. The author sets the stage for what is to follow. This reader enjoyed the ease of reading even when the content was emotionally heavy. A non-sequitur: Be prepared to Laugh Out Loud! Smith captures some real gems in regard to comments made by her children.
Readers gain insight in step with the author. All readers will appreciate what Smith has written in regard to her life – as a writer and as a woman – but women, especially women raising children, may identify more strongly with Smith’s experiences.
All memoirs are an exposé. The bravery of the writer must be acknowledged. Smith shares her losses. More importantly, she shares what she has learned. The author ends on a pragmatic, hopeful note.
Note: Maggie Smith is an award-winning author and poet.