Books
Psst…Karr? This Sex Scene Is a Really Bad Idea
What do you do with a memoir that details in four pages a graphic display of child molestation?
What if its the author as a young child that’s the subject…
Does that change the make up of the story from autobiography to something more sinister–like pornography?
Does it matter that this is an event in the past? Does it make it any less real or problematic?
Those were some of the questions I asked myself as I finished reading Mary Karr’s 1995 memoir The Liar’s Club.
The book was Karr’s first memoir [she's since written two more--Cherry and Lit--I've read neither of them] and the idea to write it came from her friend Tobias Wolfe.
In her own words, Carr said it was an agonizing task that involved a mountain of emotional labor–not just to revisit dark places but to merely get the words on the page. Here she is in a Salon interview:
“I would lie down on the floor and go to sleep after about an hour and a half’s work. Literally go to sleep like I had been driving all night. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I went to a shrink and said, ‘Am I repressing something, bah bah bah bah.’ And she said, ‘Well, I think you are just really exhausted by it.’”
Fortunately, her herculean effort paid off.
The Essence of The Liar’s Club
She wrote a compelling, hilarious and haunting autobiography about growing up as a child in Leechfield, Texas–oil refinery country–raised by a hard-working, hard-drinking, but sturdy and surprisingly gentle father who managed to marry a displaced New Yorker living on the outskirts of madness.
The book ended up being a runaway bestseller–a justified judgment given the quality of the writing and a decent payoff for the task of exposing herself.
But the question is–did she go too far?
In Carr’s defense, as a child she played the hand she was dealt–and as a child that’s sometimes all you can do.
What you get is a gritty, foul-mouthed eight-year-old girl who fought hard for survival and security, revenge and love–things hard to come by when you have a mother who’s head is in a perennial cloud of vodka, methamphetamine diet pills, suspect men, brooding jazz and fatalistic literature.
So it comes as no surprise when I tell you that Karr’s mother lacked a woeful amount of judgment, most clearly seen in her decision to allow questionable men to babysit her daughters.
The scene was terrible. And you saw it like a dark storm slowly sweeping in from the sea. At one point I wondered if Carr was going to actually go there. Or would she pull out early enough to avoid the explicit?
I had hope she’d pull out. Earlier in the book Carr handled a case of rape very sympathetically without giving an uncomfortable amount of detail.
That’s why it surprised me that she dove into this particular scene with no holds barred.
Where I’d Like to Have Not Gone
At least that’s my guess because the moment I saw where she was going and had no intention of stopping, I bailed and counted the pages before the scene was over.
Four pages.
Granted, as I quickly skimmed the pages looking for the end (it came, by the way, when the chapter ended) the scene covered mostly emotional territory, like her mental activity during the event.
And I’m glad to say she never revisited the topic again.
But here’s the deal: This scene would NEVER make it to the movie screen. In fact, if you owned a video of this event, you’d be arrested.
Why, then, is it okay in a book? I argue it’s not. It permits us to go to dark places we should never visit.
Naturally, this uncorks a litany of problems, namely censorship. But should the world thank Mary Carr for “going there” on this particular topic and being candid about it?
No.
All this does is allow us to inch our moral boundaries back, calibrated by our sense of appropriate indiscretion–and that’s, unfortunately, what you get when you don’t have absolute boundaries.
Gore Vidal–who defended cannabis laws–once said that some people should be told not to do drugs.
I agree. And the same goes for morality. Mary Karr’s book would’ve been a runaway bestseller without this scene.
A curious–if not disturbing–side note about the The Liar’s Club is it’s viewed as the book that jump-started the memoir explosion. Naturally, in it’s wake we have self-expression without guardrails.
One has to wonder where this will take us if we don’t provide those boundaries.
5 Posts to Make You Wise [A Reading Primer]
Reading is the cheapest and easiest way to grow your brain.
Cheap because you can get most books at your local library–or at Google Books.
And easy because you can learn about the history of gravity…
The political career of George Washington…
Or Augustine’s view of free will from your favorite reading chair.
That’s why I put such a high premium on reading. And spend a smidgen of time here writing about reading.
With that in mind, here are five posts on how to get the most out of your reading routine.
How to Absorb a Book into Your Bloodstream
One of the most important rules when it comes to reading.
How to Abandon a Book
You probably didn’t know this, but there’s an instinct to abandoning a book. An instinct you can develop.
How Do You Read?
Narrow, wide or something completely different? Share your reading style with me.
How to Read a 291-Page Book in 2 Hours
Want to read more books in less time–and even catch up on the classics you’ve missed? Try chapter pacing.
Drop-Dead Easy Guide on How to Journal
Twenty cool and easy tricks on how to get started with your journal. [A guide for those who don't want to spoil the pages of their books with a pencil.]
Granted, reading alone won’t make you wise. But it’s a start. By the way, do you have any reading tips? Please share.
A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study–Part 3
**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**
Four weeks ago we launched a 5-part series on how to study the Bible.
This is a Christ-centered approach where we use the acronym T. H. I. N. C. as a study aid.
Part one was T for “Trust”—that’s where we begin—and part two was H for “Halting”—when Scripture causes us to put on the brakes.
What’s next?
Immediate Context. The I in “T.H.I.N.C.”
Immediate Context
Reading Scripture is not a solo activity. There are two things I mean when I say this.
1. You are physically not alone. When you trust the words of God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you read and understand, He will come and help you.
You are not alone.
2. The passages you are currently reading are not alone either. They are surrounded by other words…that are surrounded by other words…that are surrounded by other words.
And this matters. Don’t neglect it.
If you do, you risk uncharitable results. Scripture is meant to be read in the practice of exegesis, not eisegesis.
Exegesis is the embracing of a Scripture-derived theology. Eisegesis is man-centered theology.
Let’s take a look at the passage I mention in the previous entry of this study series.
“I have come to fulfill the law.” Matthew 5:17
What is the immediate context of this passage?
It is in the context of similes. Matthew 5 is full of illustrations to point to a significant truth.
For instance, just before this passage Jesus says that we are the light of the world. Does that mean we glow as a light bulb?
No. It means the Gospel in us causes us to radiate its message of hope to the world.
Therefore, we need to look at it with careful eyes.
Just after he says he came to fulfill the law, he says,
“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19
Remember, we must look carefully at what Jesus is saying.
Is he teaching that we must teach the law, insinuating a works-based salvation?
By no means! When Jesus says that, He is referring to Himself.
Jesus is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven because He alone is the one who not only taught that the law must be fulfilled, but also fulfilled that very teaching in order that we might partake in His perfection and be His witnesses.
This is the only way this makes sense because the very next verse (v.20) Jesus says,
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
What shall we say about this?
That we must “perform” greater deeds of righteousness than the pharisees?
Of course not! Our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees because the Pharisees had no real righteousness!
Therefore, we must trust in Jesus’ righteousness, and His alone. By this we inherit a righteousness that is beyond that of the Pharisees—one where Christ lives in us, which is one that pleases the Father.
Now that we’ve looked at this in the context of its immediate surroundings, we realize—contrary to what I used to believe—that Christ is not upping the annie on a works-based salvation.
Jesus Points to Himself
If we take this into context of the entire chapter of Matthew 5, we see how Jesus is pointing to Himself through it.
Even when He says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), He is speaking in a particular context, which is wrapped up in Himself.
And now that we understand that reading Scripture properly is reading in the “light” of other Scripture, we understand it’s immediate context is of utmost importance, followed by its immediate context, followed by its immediate context, and so on.
But what do we do with this knowledge?
Glad you asked. That will be covered in the next installment of this Bible study series when we get to the N in “T.H.I.N.C.”!
But for now, what are some passages that you have once interpreted without taking into consideration its immediate context? And how has that changed?
A Christ-Centered Approach to Bible Study-Part 2
**Guest article by Jonathan Woodward at Sorting Beans.**
Three weeks ago we launched a 5-part series on how to study the Bible.
This is a Christ-centered approach where we use the acronym T. H. I. N. C. as a study aid.
Part one was T for “Trust.” That’s where we began.
What’s next? Halting. Let me explain.
Halting
No doubt, when we read Scripture—all the while trusting in it—we are bound to be stopped in our tracks.
Sooner or later it will happen.
Why? Because that’s what Scripture does–impedes you, seizes your attention and beseeches your accordance.
That is the point of this post. When you read the Bible, you’re going to find something that is halting.
The question to ask yourself when reading Scripture is “What in this passage seems halting?”—that is, what causes you to stop and think?
Is it something powerful? Is it a difficult concept? Is it a charge? A mandate? Bizarre?
What is causing you to do the head tilt—those difficult passages of the Bible we just cannot live without?
When you begin reading the Bible this may not happen as frequent…mostly because it is something new to you…
But the more you grow in Christ and your understanding of Scripture increases the more you will find these halting moments.
Here’s an example of a halting passage. It comes from the Sermon on the Mount:
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
What in the world does Jesus mean by this? Can we be perfect just as God is perfect? I thought that was the whole reason Jesus came to this planet!
If this is not halting, then I don’t know what is.
It can either be personally halting, or objectively worthy of halting yourself to examine the text.
For instance, earlier in Matthew 5, Jesus says some other really good stuff (which happens a lot, mind you):
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17
When I first read this passage, I thought Jesus was talking about how the laws of the Old Testament was now going to be fully followed. But I think quite differently now.
In other words, I thought Jesus was bringing the smack down on puny mortals!
Is this really the case? I’m afraid that you will have to wait for the next post in this series before we go into what we do from here.
Until then, ask yourself these questions when you read Scripture:
What seems to be the topic, or point of this passage?
What is “jumping” out at you in this text?
What is shocking about this passage?
What is bold about this passage?
What is it that seems to be speaking directly to you?
What is making you “put on the brakes”?
The more we read, the more we learn, the more we find halting text. Your job is to not skip over it as though it has no immediate, or even future bearing in your life.
It does.
Want 7 Books and 3 DVDs Free? Here’s How
Update 1.14.09: We’ve got us a winner, folks. Who was it? If you didn’t hear from me, then that means it wasn’t you.
Happy New Year’s Eve, folks…
And thank you for the last 365 days of rabid and roughshod fun!
To celebrate I’m giving away seven books and three DVDs.
To enter the drawing simply drop your name and email address in a little form…
Drawing closes midnight Thursday, January 7, 2010.
What books and DVDs am I giving away? Here’s a quick look.
Dug Down Deep
Josh Harris of I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl fame writes an intelligent narrative on classical Christian doctrines. [Note: This book isn't released until January 16, so if you win it, you'll be ahead of the crowd.]
The Mirage of Peace
Former Time magazine journalist for Jerusalem explains the rich social, political and religious history that makes the Middle East so volatile.
Hard to Believe
John MacArthur doing what he does best: shatter contemporary misconceptions about Christianity. This time what it actually means to follow Jesus. Adult diapers not included.
Darwin’s Dilemma
The same team who gave us The Privileged Planet and Unlocking the Mystery of Life are back. This time to demonstrate the bankruptcy of evolution in a documentary that travels around the world.
Open Their Eyes
Quintessential Piper articulates how our evangelistic efforts are actually embedded in the sovereign, persuasive power of God.
Herman Who? Hermeneutics Primer
Wretched Radio star and former comedian Todd Friel is an unlikely hermeneutics hero. But he manages quite well to save the day. His opening demonstration is a must-see.
Free Indeed
Sick of bondage to cigarettes? Sex? Lying? Richard Ganz–former psychologist turned pastor–will show you how to truly break free. Short, systematic chapters make this an easy read.
The Easter Answer
Small-town Wisconsin pastor Stephen Kingsley answers Dan Barker’s notorious “Easter Challenge.” Does he succeed? You decide.
Follow Me to Freedom
This is New Monastic prophet Shane Claiborne’s and African-American civil rights leader John Perkin’s out-of-the-box approach to church leadership. [Warning: I have not read this book.]
Unfashionable
Tullian Tchividjian insists Christians make a difference in the culture. Then he sells you on how to do it. [Note: Cover jacket is wrinkled. Some pages water-stained. I must've had a hole in my chin the day I read this book.]
Enter the drawing now that you know what books and DVDs I’m giving away.
By the way, there’s something you should probably know. The books. I’ve already read them. Yeah. You know what that means…
They are marked up, dog-eared and annotated with my rogue thoughts. In other words, they’ve got character.
Outside of that they’re in great shape. Honest.
One more thing. A handful of gracious people gave some of these items to me. People like Al Hartman. John Payne. Stephen Kingsley. Lynette Kittle. To you I say: Thank you for being so kind to me.
Now, what are you waiting for? Enter the drawing.
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