Memoir: Molly Shannon

I just finished Molly Shannon’s memoir Hello, Molly! and rarely have I been more emotionally affected by a piece of writing. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve been so taken and moved by a memoir or story.

I should first acknowledge that more than likely, I’m simply the right audience for her story. It is also likely that my life experiences make this book a good emotional fit for me.

That said, there’s a lot that works very well in this book. Too much to go into depth in a single blog post, but there is one element of craft I want to note.

As with all good writing, she deftly delivers to the reader exactly what the reader needs as the reader needs it. There is no sense of her offering significant expository because she feels the reader will need that information for what follows to work. Her voice is sparse, simple, and elegant as each sentence delivers exactly what it must.

The effect is a wonderfully compelling read where the reader fills the open spaces with their own emotions.

I highly recommend this book.