One day I'll remember this by Helen Garner

Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330277.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. These are Garner's personal diaries from 1987-1995, published together in a hard cover book. They are snippets of poetic descriptions, humorous incidents, dreams and thoughts, and accounts of interactions wth V, her love, the esteemed but married author. For people who are intrigued by the art of writing, Garner lays it bare, the gathering of ideas, thoughts and impressions, that weave together somehow, in contrast to the planned layout of V's approach to writing.
Then there is her record of the male female interaction that makes up a relationship. I found myself thinking 'No, don't submit to him', because that is how it so frequently turns out - the silencing of thoughts, the catering to his wishes, his needs; but in reality that is what happens so often in a relationship. Women do become the nurturer and carer, they do silence their criticisms, and assume the guilt. I had to read out one passage to my partner - where V takes down from the wall a drawing by one of Garner's friends, because it was the perfect place to put V's newly acquired piece of art, and then he wonders why she seems sad. The scene ends with him tearing down his picture and storming out of the flat. (My partner didn't think it was funny.)
But on the other hand, as Garner realises, there is no perfect man, no perfect partner. She has a man she loves to spend hours with, talking about writing and art. And she has many other friends, male and female, who provide thoughts, sustenance and insightful support.
These memoirs make up a different kind of story - it is like reading bits of poetry - but the pieces do combine to provide a picture of a person's life, the joys and torments of writing, and the ups and downs of a relationship that many could identify with.
Themes: Writers and writing, Art, Life, Male female relationships.
Helen Eddy