Live to Tell it

A great memoir doesn't just record the details of another person's life, it provides a new lens for examining worlds you may never visit. In recent years, the genre has produced books that re-shape our notions of poverty, addiction, and literary life. As Gabriel Garcia Marquez observes in his memoir, "Life isn't what one has lived, rather it is what one remembers and how one remembers it to tell to others."

Myths about the writing life are so widespread, it's hard to believe you'd ever meet a writer who isn't a drunk, a junkie, or a sex addict. In reality, it takes so much discipline to write, edit, publish, and sell sell sell your work, that most working writers have little time for dereliction. Vivir Para Contarla, by Garcia Marquez, offers an antidote to the image of the self-destructive scribe. His memoir is a picaresque blueprint for writers who dream of seeing their work in print. Like many authors, Garcia Marquez thought up his masterpieces while toiling for small, low-paying publications. The one thing he never overlooked, while knocking out stories and mooching meals, was to live with brio. He formed friendships with people from every profession. The dreams of idealistic politicians and diligent prostitutes formed part of his life story. And his life story shaped the visions of many authors who followed him. Reading his work makes you want to live, and write, like you really mean it.