Why Munson's book-journal is so appealing
Part 2 of 2 on the memoir, This is Not the Story You Think it Is
It’s not surprising that like reality TV, Munson’s ‘reality writing’ should strike a chord with so many Americans. Many of us long for the things (stories, advise columns, self-help products) that give us insight into increasingly challenging daily lives. The more visceral these tools are, the better we like them.
In an interview she had in April with Kerri Miller on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning show, Munson revealed that her approach to writing about the experience was more like journaling and one of complete candor, even when her reactions didn’t make sense or weren’t flattering. In fact, she acknowledges that because she is a writer by trade, her compulsion during times of personal stress is to write her way through it in real-time. It helps her process what she’s feeling as well as the impact of actual events.
“That’s what we writers do,” she confesses. “We write about what we know, and some of us write what we know for the greater good. That’s what occurred for me as the chapters accrued. I knew that since I needed that book on my bedside table and it didn’t exist, there must be thousands of people who were going through a crisis alone, who needed to hear from the trenches, and who could benefit from my story. Not a self-help book, nor a specifically spiritual tome. But a common story. I’ve been told that while my message may be as old as the hills, in today’s reactionary society it’s also seemingly revolutionary.”
Because Laura understood the roots of her husband’s unhappiness, she found a way to continue nurturing her family, hold herself together, and wait while he sorted through his life and priorities. There were many nights when she didn’t know where he was or when he would come home. She says that during this time, she didn’t know whether they would be able to stay married. In some cases, staying married isn’t the solution.
In the Munson’s case, it has been the solution. Eventually he realized he did need to rethink how much he had let his professional situation define him. Several years later, they are back to a loving relationship.
And there was a bonus in it for Laura. Her husband was so comfortable with their relationship that he actually encouraged her to write about the experience. Which is how, after 14 failed attempts at publishing fiction, she has a more seminal published work than she dreamed possible.
Links:
Laura Munson author site> http://lauramunsonauthor.com/
New York Times article in Modern Love column by Laura Munson >
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/fashion/02love.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
Divorce interrupted, Midmorning broadcast of interview with Laura Muson>
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/04/28/midmorning2/
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