Likewise, parents are not wise oraclestheyre just people trying to shepherd other people through the world. We may know the right path to take, but knowing the way and consistently walking it are two different things. Everything we learn, we learn from someone who is imperfect.
Summary - Smiths memoir about marriage, divorce, and parenting is a beautiful example of how metaphor and imagery can capture the essence of experiences that are difficult to explain, and it will lead readers to think more deeply about the relationships in their own lives.
I can completely see why this book won’t be for everyone – Smith opens up about a lot of personal events and feelings about her life that involves her husband and two children. I, however, think that Smith did an amazing and beautiful job finally saying her piece. She discusses how throughout her marriage she was the person to stay small so that her husband’s life could be all that he wanted it to be and in doing that Smith shrank, she allowed toxic behaviors control her life and she had the final straw when she learned her husband was cheating.
Upon finishing, I was curious about how this book was being received and I found an article written by Carmine J. Passarella that said this:
“This book offers a wide array of interpretations depending on the reader. Divorced adults may take solace in Smiths ability to find joy and independence in her post-marriage life. Mothers may find the discussions of Smiths parenthood anxieties the same ones that led to the writing of Good Bones all those years ago to be extremely cathartic. Younger readers may learn the importance of choosing a partner carefully, and that forever is never guaranteed.”
It was that last sentence that really hit home for me and why I probably loved this book so much. I witnessed a few extremely toxic marriages growing up and it led me to be profoundly confused about what a marriage should look like, maybe if my own mother opened up like Smith did, I could have learned from her mistakes instead of make them myself.
How do you feel about memoirs that open up about personal elements of their life? Have you read this one?
Find You Could Make This Place Beautiful at the publisher →
Toni Rocchetti is a copy editor helping authors strengthen their narratives, deepen character arcs, and find the story that is already in the draft. She reads 80+ books a year across literary fiction, memoir, and nonfiction — and writes about what she is learning along the way. Work with Toni →
