There are a lot of difference aspects I wish that I could talk about with this specific nonfiction story. The layers of this piece go deeper and deeper every page you turn. The story really starts to unfold and bring life with every sentence. At the beginning I am questioning why this is such a unique story. Yes, this is her life of being an actor, but how would this relate to me. By the end, I am connecting every thought she is having with something in myself.
There is one thing I do not feel about myself that I see in her. I believe that she may be an alcoholic, but she does not want this to be so obviously stated in the text. I started getting this feeling from the beginning, but by the end she is talking about how she drinks in excess. I do not know why this is the most important thing that I am drawing from the text. How many others must be also thinking about this? I cannot get my mind off the idea that I believe she is an alcoholic.
I believe that at the end of her story, she seems optimistic. I am hoping that in this optimism she realizes that she does not need to drink any more. By drinking she is trying to numb her pain rather than allow herself to feel it. She is afraid to see who she really is, just like in the Lucy Grealy mirrorings story. I hope that she too, had an epiphany that allowed herself to be happy with the skin she is in, just like Lucy.
Great exploration of your response to Jamison’s essay. I love how you weren’t sure this story had anything to do with you and by the end of the essay you say “… I am connecting every thought she is having with something in myself. ” This is what it means to be a good writer, to share just the right detail and emotion that allow readers to see things in themselves. On another note, I wondered about the drinking as well. I think it may have had something to do with her wanting to escape and numb herself.