I'm currently reading Memoirs, an autobiography by Hungarian conductor and pianist, Georg Solti. (Apparently he's a "Sir," but I haven't read about him being knighted yet, so we'll cross that bridge when the time comes.) I'm frustrated. As someone who values the ability to write well as an attractive attribute in a person, I get nervous about autobiographies. The disclaimer that needs issuing preceding this blog post is that I'm only half way through the memoir, so perhaps the second half will really get me excited.
I know that's not his intention in writing this memoir, but I can't help but think he's just kind of a jackass. (At this point perhaps some of you are up in arms, how dare I say this about one of the greatest conductors, what grounds do I have? etc, etc. That's fine. Stop reading.) I think that Solti felt entitled enough to just verbally vomit everything he's ever done under the assumption that it would speak to his fans. And I'm sure that it does. I'm sure there are aspiring conductors and musicians out there who eat this up. I'm sure that with every name drop they intake a sharp breath and their hand covers their mouth while they think, "My God, Solti worked with him? He is my absolute hero." But you know what? I don't know who these people are, and I'm positive that they played their part in changing the shape of music forever, but reading this memoir hasn't told me a single thing about them.
My point is as follows:
I believe that everyone should write their memoir. But don't look at your resume and use that as the outline.
I guess I'll just have to make a list.
IF KARLIE WROTE A MEMOIR,
HERE ARE THE THINGS SHE'D WANT TO INCLUDE.
-The People. So yes, like Georg Solti did, but I'd want to really write about them. Write about who they are, write about why they were important to me, how they impacted my life. I'm only 20 and writing about the people who have changed me would fill up all the pages of Harry Potter and more.
-The Events. So yes, like Georg Solti did, but I'd want to write about what the events meant to me, how they changed the course of my life, what I took away from them. I'd want to share with the reader what I learned from my experiences, not make them envious or in awe or angry or whatever I'm currently feeling for Solti.
-Describing Words. I've read one hundred+ pages and I bet I could count the number of adjectives and adverbs on my fingers. You're writing your memoir. Certainly the reason you have memories in the first place is because they evoked some sort of emotional reaction, they involved your senses, you had opinions. Write about them. Care at least a little bit about the picture you are painting.
So now I'm interested. People write me some memoirs. I want to read about y'all and see if you're more interesting to me then one of the world's greatest conductors. Oops, Georg. Knight or not, I'm underwhelmed by your thoughts.
Because I do want to pay tribute to him, because, yeah he is awesome- here's a video of him conducting. Even though he's speaking German, one can still understand his musical ideas. Oh, what? Music as a universal language? Crazy.
And another:
PS: unrelatedly, this is an AMAZING idea, bringing bartering back into style, helping people to survive, building community, reminding us what it is like to be a person. Check it out:
