The mourning diary

2 stars, only because it's Barthes, I think, since otherwise it might be 1, if anything at all.

What drivel.

Sensationalizing the sensation-less: how we continue to make "stars" -- or heroes? -- out of people who have nothing left to say. The only reason this piece of drivel was ever printed, is because it's Roland Barthes -- as if Barthes never had stupid moments in his life, like the rest of us. (Witness that even I am falling for it, since I otherwise would have given this book 1 star. Shame on me.)

The most ironic passage?

"I don't want to talk about it, for fear of making literature out of it -- or without being sure of not doing so -- although as a matter of fact literature originates within these truths."

There are numerous show more passages in here that remind me of "Poetry -- by Henry Gibson" -- as appeared on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in in the late 60s/early 70s.

The book takes less than an hour to read -- if you're going slow. Might be a good pick-up for a train journey, and then toss it at the end so you don't have to carry it anywhere. Or I guess in the day of the Kindle, just delete. show less

I bought this book on a whim, as I've never read Roland Barthes. I knew of him, of his prolific careers and different types of writing, but not of his heft.

This book is written after Barthes’s beloved mother died. Its contents are detailed on the cover of the book: it contains details of his feelings from just after his mother died.

Don’t say mourning. It’s too psychoanalytic. I’m not mourning. I’m suffering.

The book says it all. This is a collection of pain, of temporal and temporary relief, of despair, anguish, and anger. In spite of how we currently, as human beings, tend to hide our pains, Barthes displayed them and the world is a far better place for it.

The Notting Hill Editions version of this book is very well made: it show more allows the writing to breathe and make the room that it needs.

This book is needed by all. show less

A study in grief of the author's diary of the year following his mother's death. It came during a time of mourning for me and I found it worthwhile, sometimes profound, sometimes self-pitying but helpful.

A study in grief of the author's diary of the year following his mother's death. It came during a time of mourning for me and I found it worthwhile, sometimes profound, sometimes self-pitying but helpful.

I didn't connect with this emotionally, although there were some profound entries.

"I am either lacerated or ill at ease
and occasionally subject to gusts of life"

Devastating.

Gay Men Write About Their Moms (and Death) – a reading list

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41880609-on-earth-we-re-briefly-gorgeous

Bettyville, by George Hodgman
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571772-bettyville

Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, by Philip Kennicott
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45894127-counterpoint