Making sense of a life.
There's something very special about meeting writers, especially published authors, being in the same room - same Qi field - hoping a little of their writerly success and magic rubs off on you.
Recently I met Adam Courtenay, writer, journalist and son of the literary legend, Bryce Courtenay, at a fabulous writing weekend with Lisa Clifford.
I can’t say I knew too much about Bryce Courtenay beyond knowing he was a BIG literary name in Australia and that he wrote the worldwide bestseller, The Power of One, which I am pretty sure I had to read at school. Anyway, after hearing Adam speak I knew I had to read his memoir My Father Bryce. It sounded like an act of pure writual - that is creativity, expression and healing
This book had SO MANY syncs for me. I won't go into all of them but as a ‘POM’, I loved ‘meeting’ the rock that was his mother, Benita, or Bee (how gorgeous to have your nickname be the same as these little creative honey-making powerhouses!) and I absolutely loved reading about 70s, 80s, and 90s Sydney, especially Bondi and Vaucluse. Plus, being ex-London and ex-Sydney ad agency too, I loved hearing about Sydney’s own Mad Men era. Think John Singleton and Siimon Reynolds.
There is one fabulous story about a review of Qantas that Bryce wrote. I was literally reading it while sitting on a Qantas flight. I laughed out loud and had to share it with my travelling buddy. Another part that was particularly ‘gas’ (IYKYK) was when Adam, as a Communist Party member, had to own up to being a Vaucluse resident.
There were many other parts that synced and/or made me smile, but ultimately, while I enjoyed every page, it is a sad story about two things:
First, a brother who was much loved and tragically died as part of Australia’s slow response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Second, a father and husband who experienced great loss and never really loved himself and, as a result, could never fully love those who loved him. Somehow his son Adam finds compassion and understanding despite all the 'dad facts'.
So, don’t skip this because you don’t know who Bryce Courtenay was or you have no connection to Sydney. Read it because you love a story that uncovers everything that is fabulous and flawed in human beings, and will reveal something true about your own messy relationship with truth, identity, and family.
Finally, I should comment on the writing, though it's never about that for me. As with Writual it's always about the expression, the story and message, the act of creativity. (Plus, for me, there is something spiritual running this memoir. Perhaps it's the compassion that runs through it. Or perhaps it's that Adam has undoubtedly been through a journey of transformation and healing and that energy exudes from the page.) Anyway, I did find it effortless to read...brilliant writing IMHO!
Unfortunately, friends, I can't lend you my copy. It's signed by the author ;-). Please do buy your own. It's a brilliant read. xxx
p.s. There is something in this memoir writing (and reading!). Stay tuned for more on that. I feel a new type of Writual coming on...
