the liar's club

I finished this novel by Mary Karr a couple of months ago but haven't found time to write about it until now. In some ways I am glad to have had time to just let the stories and themes rest in my mind before putting words to all the emotions her memoir stirred up. 

I read Karr's later memoir, 'Lit' a few years back and was inspired by her honesty and talented storytelling. I could relate to some of her struggles regarding relationships and self concept. Karr refers to instances from her childhood throughout 'Lit,' so it was compelling to read these stories in more detail, knowing how they would affect the woman she becomes. 

Though Karr writes "The Liar's Club" from her adult self's point of view, she does an excellent job capturing the perspective of a child raised in a dysfunctional home. Karr recalls horrific events as this child would- as just a day in the life, a thread in her tapestry. The reader is abhorred at some of what young Karr experiences, yet Karr shares these events in a usually nonchalant manner. 

As someone who works with children, I see the daily impact of trauma and family dysfunction on young people. Karr's reflections in 'The Liar's Club' reveal how easy it is for people to get used to, and ultimately accept dysfunction as the norm. Somehow Karr eventually escapes this mindset, but as evidenced in 'Lit,' she still has to work to manage the symptoms. 

I have read quite a bit about children growing up with an alcoholic parent, and how this can lead to codependency and other issues as an adult. Karr's memoir could serve as a case study regarding these themes, especially when paired with 'Lit.' I've yet to read 'Cherry,' Karr's reflection on her teenage years, which falls between 'The Liar's Club' and 'Lit.' I am curious to read about how Karr transitions from a girl practically raising her alcoholic parents into an alcoholic parent herself. 

Just as reading 'Lit' likely ties up some loose ends for those who read Karr's three memoirs in order, reading 'The Liar's Club' helped answer some questions I had after reading 'Lit.' After reading 'Cherry,' I plan on revisiting 'Lit' to reflect on Karr's talent at knitting together moments, and illustrating how the tapestry of our lives are made up of beautiful, tragic and everyday moments. We are the sum of all our parts.