The Mirror Book by Charlotte Grimshaw
Charlotte Grimshaw Photo: Jane Ussher
‘It’s material, make a story out of it,’ was the mantra Charlotte Grimshaw grew up with in her famous literary family. But when her life suddenly turned upside-down, she needed to re-examine the reality of that material. The more she delved into her memories, the more the real characters in her life seemed to object. So what was the truth of ‘a whole life lived in fiction'?
This is a vivid account of a New Zealand upbringing, where rebellion was encouraged, where trouble and tragedy lay ahead. It looks beyond the public face to the ‘messy reality of family life – and much more’.
Adapted and read by Vanessa Rhodes
Recorded by Phil Benge and produced by Duncan Smith
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The Mirror Book - Pt 1
5:00 AM.Setting the scene, introducing the key characters and identifying the territory that the narrative will cover. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 2
5:00 AM.Telling your story is existentially important. A personal crisis re-ignites an earlier experience of trauma. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 3
5:00 AM.A childhood trek in the bush leads to perilous cliff top experience. The writer explores her relationship with her mother. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 4
5:00 AM.Who defines the family narrative? How much do we shape ourselves to conform to others perception of who we are? Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 5
5:00 AM.The writer makes a new friend and the pair take on the persona of rebels and outsiders. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 6
5:00 AM."My God, your family! It's Shakespearian" The writer's relationship with her mother takes a turn for the worse. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 7
5:00 AM.The father daughter relationship gets put under the microscope as the question of who does a story belong to arises. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 8
5:00 AM.The writers unforgiving eye turns to her own marriage while the wrestling match between mother and daughter goes on. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 9
5:00 AM.A tragic accident and a problematic affair leave a challenge for the perfectionist. Audio
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The Mirror Book - Pt 10
5:00 AM.After many mis-steps and excursions down blind alleys the writer comes around to considering the possible benefits of connection and family. Audio
The Mirror Book by Charlotte Grimshaw
Charlotte Grimshaw Photo: Jane Ussher
‘It’s material, make a story out of it,’ was the mantra Charlotte Grimshaw grew up with in her famous literary family. But when her life suddenly turned upside-down, she needed to re-examine the reality of that material. The more she delved into her memories, the more the real characters in her life seemed to object. So what was the truth of ‘a whole life lived in fiction'?
This is a vivid account of a New Zealand upbringing, where rebellion was encouraged, where trouble and tragedy lay ahead. It looks beyond the public face to the ‘messy reality of family life – and much more’.
Adapted and read by Vanessa Rhodes
Recorded by Phil Benge and produced by Duncan Smith