Traces the authors close friendship with the late fellow writer caroline knapp, describing their shared experiences with sobriety, a love of dogs and caroline s battle with cancer. This week, i read lets take the long way home by gail caldwell. Which isnt a terrible criticism as her weakest book is better than most writers best books. I was excited to read this book because im such a huge fan of caroline knapp, the friend about which this memoir written. Lets take the long way home is a celebration of the profound transformations that come from intimate connectionand it affirms, once again, why gail caldwell is recognized as one of our bravest and most honest literary voices. She was the daughter of the noted psychiatrist peter h. From 198895, she was a columnist for the boston phoenix, where her column out there often featured the fictional alice k. Highly recommended for dog lovers and people interested in the bonds people develop with animals. She died in 2002 of lung cancer before this book was published. Then caroline died, leaving gail to untangle their intangible, spooky bond.
In lets take the long way home, pulitzer prizewinning author gail caldwell offers a powerful and moving memoir about her comingofage in midlife and her extraordinary friendship with caroline knapp, the author of drinking. So, when a dog trainer commented that she reminded her of another cambridge. Caroline knapps readers are known not just for their number, but for their intense connection to her work. Share your condolences, send flowers, find funeral home information. A bittersweet tale of friendship gail caldwell wasnt looking to make friends when she met caroline knapp. I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and so we shared that too. Revisiting critic gail caldwells memoir of friendship. She talks honestly and openly about what it was like to write about her friendship with caroline knapp and how she coped with her death. Caldwells best friend was caroline knapp author of drinking. This is a 190page book we dont get to carolines illness until page 125.
In her younger years, caldwell defined herself by rebellion and independence, a passion for books, and an aversion to intimacy and a distrust of others. Gail caldwell is a fiercely private, independent, talented writer with a pulitzer prize for criticism and a dog enthusiast. Aug 17, 2011 this article is more than 8 years old. Although gail caldwell first met caroline knapp at a party in the early 1990s, that brief exchange merely paved the way for a reintroduction when caldwell encountered knapp near a duck pond in cambridge years later. A love story became best friends, talking about everything from their love of books and their shared history of a struggle with alcohol to their relationships with men. Caroline knapp is an excellent writer and her prose distinguishes this book from the plethora of dog books published each year. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mar 7, 2012 my favorite author, caroline knapp, passed away 10 years ago.
Caldwell a strong west wind has managed to do the inexpressible in this quiet, fierce work. In lets take the long way home, pulitzer prize winning author gail caldwell offers a powerful and moving memoir about her comingofage in midlife and her extraordinary friendship with caroline knapp, the author of drinking. After reading caldwells lets take the long way home, the story of her soulmate friendship with writer caroline knapp who died in 2002 of a brain tumor i wondered what caroline herself had written. Through rowing, swimming, writing, their dogs, and sharing life experiences, they nurture a connection that we would all love to have with someone.
An honest and unforgettable tribute to best friends. In the meantime, a prescient dog trainer who knew both women had suggested to caldwell that she and knapp spend some time together. Intensely moving, without a hint of sentimentality, lets take the long way home part memoir and part biography of a friendship should be read and cherished by bark readers. I want to go out, come in, eat something, lie here, play with that, kiss you.
But gradually the womens lives became thoroughly intertwined, and they. Everythings heightened, brighter, sharper in lives lived this acutely. Though they are more different than alike, these two fiercely private, independent women quickly relax into a friendship more profound than either of them. I just read it again for the second time, last month, and decided to look her up, and learned she died i think i had heard something about that over the years, but. A love story the dial press, 1996, who died of lung cancer at age fortytwo in 2002. I can still see her standing on the shore, a towel around her neck and a postworkout cigarette in her handhalf gidget and half splendid. Revisiting critic gail caldwells memoir of friendship here. Its been called a memoir of friendship a lovely sounding phrase if you ask me. Her downtoearth, conversational tone pulls you in, and paints a very credible picture of someone who goes beyond the singular, selfserving notion of merely writing a memoir. I found the use of initials throughout the book annoying as hll. It the authors story about her friendship with caroline knapp, author of drinking, a love story, who tragically died in 2002 from cancer. New york times bestseller they met over their dogs. These columns by the late knapp, who wrote for boston phoenix, and other publications, span her career from the 80s until her death in 2002, at age 42.
Gail caldwell wasnt looking to make friends when she met caroline knapp. Then she met caroline knapp, another writer living in boston, and. Gail caldwell and caroline knapp were athletes, sisterly competitors, best friends. So, when a dog trainer commented that she reminded her of another cambridge writer who. Sep 01, 2010 the photo shows caroline knapp, about whom caldwell wrote in her book. Drinking a love story is great book while a pack of two is her finest. At the age of 36, caroline knapp, author of the acclaimed bestseller drinking. Caroline knapps final book is both the smartest anorexia memoir ever written and a fascinating journey along the tortuous pathways of female desire.
A love story recounted her 20year battle with alcoholism. Traces the authors close friendship with the late fellow writer caroline knapp, describing their shared experiences with sobriety, a love of dogs and carolines battle with cancer. Jul, 2010 the bond between caldwell and writer caroline knapp began with their mutual love for dogs, and as the author so eloquently writes, remains far stronger and more permanent than death. The memoir describes the friendship between the author and fellow writer caroline knapp who died at the age of 42 in 2002, and it takes place in cambridge, massachusetts. Alcoholism caroline knapp tisseri read that book for the first time in april of 2002, the first time i stopped drinking. This is a 190page book we dont get to caroline s illness until page 125. Both single, writers caldwell was then book critic for the boston.
Caldwells friend, caroline knapp, was a columnist for the boston phoenix and the bestselling author of several books. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading drinking. Knapps close friend gail caldwell has recently published a memoir of their friendship. In their dogs clementine and lucille they found the same love and companionship. Feb 17, 2010 maybe the story of gail caldwell and caroline knapps friendship is an old story. Caroline knapp was an american writer and columnist whose candid bestselling memoir drinking. Gail caldwell memoir mines the depths of grief, memory the. She had faced the loss of both her parents, given up a twentyyear relationship with alcohol, and, as she writes, i was wandering around in a haze of uncertainty, blinking up at the biggest questions. Caroline knapp, an ivyleague educated columnist and editor, shares the story of her slide into alcoholism and her road to recovery with brutal honesty. To explain the power of the friendship and the book, myerson returned again and again to the themes of marriage and romantic love.
A memoir of friendship, julie myerson says this about caldwells friendship with caroline knapp. In this extraordinarily candid and revealing memoir, knapp offers important insights not only about alcoholism, but about life itself and how we learn to cope with it. By laura miller may 22, 2003 the late caroline knapp was not everywoman, but there were enough women and men who felt that her writing spoke directly to them to put her first book, the. A love story, found herself confronted with a monumental task. This is the heartwarming and heartwrenching story of the authors deep friendship with writer caroline knapp.
Read an inspiring interview with gail caldwell about her memoir, lets take the long way home. Writer gail caldwell and caroline knapp met, like many. Many of them, like caroline knapp, started in their early teens and began to use alcohol as liquid armor, a way to protect themselves against the difficult realities of life. If female friendship is the beating heart of this book, then a bond.
Former boston globe book critic gail caldwell and fellow writer caroline knapp had a deep friendship born out of. Knapp s close friend gail caldwell has recently published a memoir of their friendship. Caldwells friend, caroline knapp, was a columnist for the boston phoenix and. Knapp connected so well in part because of the intense focus she brought to her subjects. Gail caldwell memoir mines the depths of grief, memory. In caroline knapp gail caldwell found a friend we all would wish to have. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The title of this book spoke to me, the merry recluse because i could so easily become a recluse myself. A pulitzer prizewinning authors heartfelt memoir of her midlife friendship with a fellow writer. Maybe the story of gail caldwell and caroline knapps friendship is an old story. A familiar yet emotionally complex story that can bring a reader to tears.
Reaching for an expression of her admiration for the friendship, the. A love story, by caroline knapp, succinctly captured the essence of the late authors gradual descent into. I just read it again for the second time, last month, and decided to look her up, and learned she died i think i. Brief essays exploring universal themesfriendship, loneliness, and loveand observations on contemporary life, from barbie dolls and linda tripp to computer solitaire. Walking the woods of new england and rowing on the charles river, these two private, selfreliant women created an. Mar 01, 2017 this book serves as a good reminder that laughter is possible even in the midst of tragedy. This book serves as a good reminder that laughter is possible even in the midst of tragedy. Of all the passages worthy of dogearing or highlighting in lets take the long way. Jul 25, 2012 this week, i read lets take the long way home by gail caldwell. Former boston globe book critic gail caldwell and fellow writer caroline knapp had a deep friendship born out of not only a shared love of words, but also a. A love story became best friends, talking about everything from their love of books and their shared. Buy this book freelance journalist knapp began drinking in her.
Besides writing and dogs, the two women had much in common. The title refers to their habit of taking the long way home so that they could. Why women want comes this unforgettable collection spanning fifteen years of observations on modern culture and womens lives. The photo shows caroline knapp, about whom caldwell wrote in her book. Gail caldwell and caroline knapp author of drinking. A love story became best friends, talking about everything from their love of books and. The memoir describes the friendship between the author and fellow writer caroline knapp. A memoir of gail caldwells friendship with caroline knapp, and an anguished chronicle of knapps death from cancer. The bond between caldwell and writer caroline knapp began with their mutual love for dogs, and as the author so eloquently writes, remains far. A memoir of gail caldwells friendship with caroline knapp, and an anguished chronicle of knapp s death from cancer.
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