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A review by ktxx22
You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie Smith
5.0
I wrote the below when I had barely started this book…
(I’m barely 10% of the way into this memoir and I can tell you it’ll be a favorite of the year. First because of the authors voice in her lyrical writing, she’s a poet and it’s really coming through. And second because unbeknownst to me pre-reading that Maggie is a Local Author and Poet who I’ve met before. (Don’t get special credits for this when I review fyi but…) This book takes place in Columbus where she lives and has always lived. She eats at restaurants with core memories attached to them for me. And describes part of this gorgeous city that I love with lyrical writing that puts me down in the streets of my life.
There is something to say about the special kind of transportation a book that describes so vividly the place you live, the places you’ve loved, and grown up in. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Columbus, Ohio I cannot recommend this book enough. While the subject matter of Maggie’s broken marriage is a heavy one I think the cathartic nature of knowing exactly the place she’s speaking of will ground you with her and her healing. )
I’ve just finished it and I’m sat her on my couch crying because Damnit if it’s not my favorite memoir I’ve read since I finished “In The Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado which was one of my favorite books I’ve read. Shoot. This is going on the shelf next to that memoir. Beautiful and unique. Close and eloquent. Full of love and hope and also deep sadness and heartbreak. I’m so blessed to be able to read books like this that make me feel all my emotions and thank you so much for that chapter near the end about your children choosing you because that one took me out with joy and happiness and love. Everyone has to read this even if you’ve never been divorced or never had kids just read it. It’s special.
(I’m barely 10% of the way into this memoir and I can tell you it’ll be a favorite of the year. First because of the authors voice in her lyrical writing, she’s a poet and it’s really coming through. And second because unbeknownst to me pre-reading that Maggie is a Local Author and Poet who I’ve met before. (Don’t get special credits for this when I review fyi but…) This book takes place in Columbus where she lives and has always lived. She eats at restaurants with core memories attached to them for me. And describes part of this gorgeous city that I love with lyrical writing that puts me down in the streets of my life.
There is something to say about the special kind of transportation a book that describes so vividly the place you live, the places you’ve loved, and grown up in. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Columbus, Ohio I cannot recommend this book enough. While the subject matter of Maggie’s broken marriage is a heavy one I think the cathartic nature of knowing exactly the place she’s speaking of will ground you with her and her healing. )
I’ve just finished it and I’m sat her on my couch crying because Damnit if it’s not my favorite memoir I’ve read since I finished “In The Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado which was one of my favorite books I’ve read. Shoot. This is going on the shelf next to that memoir. Beautiful and unique. Close and eloquent. Full of love and hope and also deep sadness and heartbreak. I’m so blessed to be able to read books like this that make me feel all my emotions and thank you so much for that chapter near the end about your children choosing you because that one took me out with joy and happiness and love. Everyone has to read this even if you’ve never been divorced or never had kids just read it. It’s special.