Friday, April 15, 2011
Book Talk: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
by Anne Gudger
Anne teaches the Spring Craft class with me,
has thirty years of teaching & writing experience,
and is just a fabulous human!
Memoir is an evolving genre. Ten years ago critics scratched their heads and struggled to classify memoir in either the autobiography or fiction camps. They were uncomfortable with the whole “memory” aspect and wanted to know, “but is it true?” Book stores and libraries weren’t sure where to shelve memoirs. I remember needing to find a title in the self-help section not too long ago.
But times are changing. The need and the demand for memoir is on the rise. Why? I don’t know but I can’t help but wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with our high-tech-leave-me-in-my-own-bubble culture. Even though we’re plugged into our IPhones, IPods and IPads, we still want to connect to people. We still want to hear stories full of all the things that make us human: heart, tears, laughter, understanding and lack of it too.
The Other West Moore is a new memoir with a new twist that stretches our concept of memoir beyond memory. Moore’s book explores the stories of two kids, unknown to each other, with the same name who are near the same age. They both grew up with single mothers in fatherless homes in the same decaying city. They had rough childhoods: by the time they were 11 they had both been handcuffed by the police. And there the similarities end. Through family support and intervention at a crossroads, the author grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, a decorated veteran, a White House Fellow and business leader. The other Wes Moore had less family. By 14 he was dealing drugs; at 16 he became a father; at 24 he was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.
What made the difference? The author asks the question, tells the stories of the two Weses, and lets the reader decide.
What intrigues me about this memoir is that Moore combines his story with another man’s story. This look at two Weses elevates his story beyond the classic hero’s journey where a boy faces challenges, overcomes them, and returns to make a difference.
Would Moore’s memoir be as popular if it were just his story?
Life handed Moore a coincidence that he turned into an interesting narrative to show how two boys nearly lost their way: and one did. They other didn’t. As Moore says, “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his . . . . It’s unsettling to know how little separates each of us from another life altogether.”
Moore could have written his memoir as a success story: one person beats the odds. But he didn’t. He did something more. And it works. I haven’t seen this done before. If you’re writing your memoir and searching for a fresh way of looking at your story, try The Other Wes Moore. Maybe Moore’s way isn’t your way but maybe his book will spark you.
Jennifer Note: Anne and I will have a small discussion about this book in the comments section. Follow along or chime in!
4 Comments:
Nice post Anne! Okay, so this is a very unique idea for writing a book! Since I haven't read it, I have a ton of questions. 1) Did these guys know each other? 2) Did you like the way he did this? I mean...did the format work?
Thanks Jennifer! They got to know each other through a series of interviews at the prison where the one Wes is incarcerated. So they didn't know each other growing up, but as adults.
I think the format works. I like the idea that it stretches our concept of memoirs. Where it falls a little short for me is that the topic is gigantic (two people's lives!) so the author doesn't do much ruminating and that's an important part of memoir.
In an interview the author said that father loss played a huge role for both Weses. I would have liked him to explore this in the book.
What a curious approach! How did this Wes learn about the other Wes? And do you think he (the writer Wes( just use this similarity as a "device"?
Author Wes's mom saw an article in the paper about the other Wes's arrest and she told her son. The author wrote to Wes in prison. For a while they wrote, then the writer started visiting.
On one level Moore uses the similarity as a device: his success story is stronger against the backdrop of the other Wes's tragedy.
However, I believe the writer truly wants to make a difference in young people's lives. He spends time touring now and talking to youth. The back of the book has pages of resources listed. He sees the value in the intervention he was lucky to get from his family.
In an interview he made the point that he was not interested in showing a "good" Wes and a "bad" Wes. What he was trying to get at was what made the difference and how can we learn from that and help other kids so they can use their talents and avoid the troubled paths that can lead to destructive behavior.
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