kendranicole28's review against another edition
4.25
I think we have all, at some time or another, taken a look at the objects around us and marveled at the stories each item could tell—about ourselves, our histories, our dreams (languishing or fulfilled), or our relationships. In this collection of interconnected essays, character actress Dinah Lenney transfers her “object reflections” to the page. Each essay is titled after one object (some remarkable but most rather mundane) that serves a conveyer of stories from the actress’s storied life. Through Lenney’s things, we visit memories of her time in New York, her move to Los Angeles, her troubled relationship with her mother, and her devotion to her children. Lenney ages with the book, in years as well as wisdom, with essays growing increasingly insightful and nuanced.
The essays here can be read individually, but together they form a poignant memoir spanning every emotion, every type of relationship, and nearly every life stage. I found the portions related to motherhood especially moving, and I marveled at Lenney’s transparency regarding less-than-admirable character tendencies and flaws. This is an honest and imminently relatable memoir, told through lovely prose that can be read at multiple levels. The metaphors are heavy, at times heavy-handed and occasionally too opaque for me to fully comprehend, but I was drawn to Lenney’s reflective style and complex ways of viewing her world and her experiences.
It was the premise of this collection that caught my attention, and I think it would make a great journal prompt for any aspiring writer or introspective soul. In fact, I’m liking the idea of doing something similar this on the blog. Stay tuned!
My Rating: 4.25 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
The essays here can be read individually, but together they form a poignant memoir spanning every emotion, every type of relationship, and nearly every life stage. I found the portions related to motherhood especially moving, and I marveled at Lenney’s transparency regarding less-than-admirable character tendencies and flaws. This is an honest and imminently relatable memoir, told through lovely prose that can be read at multiple levels. The metaphors are heavy, at times heavy-handed and occasionally too opaque for me to fully comprehend, but I was drawn to Lenney’s reflective style and complex ways of viewing her world and her experiences.
It was the premise of this collection that caught my attention, and I think it would make a great journal prompt for any aspiring writer or introspective soul. In fact, I’m liking the idea of doing something similar this on the blog. Stay tuned!
My Rating: 4.25 Stars // Book Format: Kindle
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