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jennitarheelreader's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you, @atriabooks and @librofm, for the gifted book and ALC.
During the pandemic, I was fortunate to have been made aware of Maggie Smith’s poetry, in the form of Keep Moving and the Keep Moving journal. I think the title says it all perfectly. Since then, I want to scoop up all her books, and I could not wait to read/listen to You Could Make This Place Beautiful, a memoir about Smith’s past marriage. She narrates audiobook.
Maggie Smith hooked me from the start when she said that the book would not be the story of a bad man and a perfect woman (I’m paraphrasing). It absolutely wasn’t. She was open and vulnerable while still protecting the privacy of her ex husband, and especially, her children. Another thing she said that grabbed me was that this is obviously her deeply personal story, and she wasn’t sure if it would help anyone. I found many universal truths, and you may have seen my story shares of some of the passages. The title comes from a poem Smith wrote about motherhood that is filled with openings and universal truths many can relate to.
Highly recommend the book and audio. Highly recommend anything by Maggie Smith. This will be a re-read many times over.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
During the pandemic, I was fortunate to have been made aware of Maggie Smith’s poetry, in the form of Keep Moving and the Keep Moving journal. I think the title says it all perfectly. Since then, I want to scoop up all her books, and I could not wait to read/listen to You Could Make This Place Beautiful, a memoir about Smith’s past marriage. She narrates audiobook.
Maggie Smith hooked me from the start when she said that the book would not be the story of a bad man and a perfect woman (I’m paraphrasing). It absolutely wasn’t. She was open and vulnerable while still protecting the privacy of her ex husband, and especially, her children. Another thing she said that grabbed me was that this is obviously her deeply personal story, and she wasn’t sure if it would help anyone. I found many universal truths, and you may have seen my story shares of some of the passages. The title comes from a poem Smith wrote about motherhood that is filled with openings and universal truths many can relate to.
Highly recommend the book and audio. Highly recommend anything by Maggie Smith. This will be a re-read many times over.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
tlctara's review against another edition
5.0
captivating and beautiful and sad all at once
I appreciated the format with short chapters and repeated titles. Her story is raw and honest, and relatable even for someone happily married.
I appreciated the format with short chapters and repeated titles. Her story is raw and honest, and relatable even for someone happily married.
herlitjourney's review against another edition
4.0
Poetic and beautifully written. Certainly a moving memoir and a gift idea. I will keep in mind for anyone going through a separation.
amestes83's review against another edition
5.0
Maggie Smith is one of the most talented poets of our time & this memoir marries her ability to create beautiful images with a unique structure that keeps the book moving forward. The way she tells the story of her divorce manages to be introspective & thoughtful & lacking the vitriol that some stories about divorce carry. It’s beautifully written, & the structure is inspiring.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this copy.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this copy.
aaron_mg's review against another edition
5.0
This is a grand canyon of a book. Nooks and crannies carved by deep grief. It’ll be a book you return to because the light will change in your life and you’ll see something new and look closely, lantern in hand, climbing down to sit in the hard, eroded truths. One that, stepping back, will be filled with so much beauty. Which is the title yeah, but, I mean, it’s true.
kriseggert's review against another edition
5.0
I’m likely to rate most memoirs highly. Some I enjoy more than others but how do I criticize a persons memories of their own life? This memoir was beautifully written, real and poetic, unique to the author’s experience while also a shared experience with wives and mothers across generations.
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. That made the poetry come alive.
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. That made the poetry come alive.
uncommongrace25's review against another edition
5.0
Poignant. Memoir of divorce and walking through the questions to find the new way forward told with a poet’s tongue.