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by Julia Cameron
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 97)
recommends it for:
fans of Julia Cameron, fans of memoir
Yay! I was excited to see that Julia Cameron wrote her own memoir. After encouraging us all to free our own inner artists, she left me curious as to her own body of work (besides the Artist's Way, Vein of Gold, Right to Write self-help titles she is famous for).
I have to warn you--at least with the hardcover version--if you are one to set aside a book and leave it face-down (as I am), her photograph on the back may frighten you. It sure did me.
Anyway, to get to the meat of the book...JC ...more
I have to warn you--at least with the hardcover version--if you are one to set aside a book and leave it face-down (as I am), her photograph on the back may frighten you. It sure did me.
Anyway, to get to the meat of the book...JC ...more
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The difficulty in critiquing memoirs is that it's near impossible for me to critique the writing without critiquing the life. In this case, there is much to raise one's eyebrows at in Julia Cameron's long, fruitful, and erratic life (she seems to be ruled by the winds as much as by the muse).
But her writing is clear, her life has been an interesting one, and she seems to hold little back when writing about her challenges and struggles with mental illness and alcoholism. A fragile, yet indom...more
But her writing is clear, her life has been an interesting one, and she seems to hold little back when writing about her challenges and struggles with mental illness and alcoholism. A fragile, yet indom...more
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Read in September, 2008
I love Julia Cameron and have read everything I can find that she has authored, which, as it turns out, is quite a few titles from creative recovery to fiction, poetry, and even musicals. She is a genius and I absolutely adore her. One of these days I intend to write her a long letter and tell her how much her work has meant to me. I was thrilled to see that she had written a memoir and read it happily over a several weeks. It was especially meaningful to me having read The Artist's Way years ag...more
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Read in July, 2007
I really enjoyed this memoir, especially the first half. Reading about the life of a writer made me want to start writing again. It was the creative shot in the arm I needed. But it was disturbing to read about her decline into psychosis. I kept expecting a happy ending in which she finds the right meds and writes happily ever after. But it's clear that is not where she leaves off. And after she's moved across the country for the 104th time in yet another attempt to find a place that feels...more
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Read in April, 2007
The Artist's Way and Cameron's other writings about money and the creative process have been of huge benefit to my life, and I respect Ms. Cameron's complete honesty in exposing her own mistakes, inspirations, and creative processes so completely in this autobiography.
But let me also say: She crazy.
She's mostly good-crazy, but after a while the book gets a bit repetitive with the "I suddenly realized I HAD to live in Tuscon and so I moved my family and all our stuff there and he...more
But let me also say: She crazy.
She's mostly good-crazy, but after a while the book gets a bit repetitive with the "I suddenly realized I HAD to live in Tuscon and so I moved my family and all our stuff there and he...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Writers, artists, right-brained people
Julia Cameron is best-known for her eponymous book The Artist's Way, which outlines methods for "creative unblocking." Basically, Cameron's method follows the tenets of AA "one day at a time" philosophy. This is her memoir, which documents her descent into alcoholism, followed by her struggle to stay sober and get her writing career back on track. The story is compelling and a fast read (who doesn't like to read about drugs, alcohol and psychotic breaks?) but it's not too int...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Fran by:
Los Angeles Times Book Reviewrecommends it for: Anyone who knows Julia Cameron's work and would like to see the whole person.
Because I personally learned so much from Julia Cameron in The Artists Way, I make it a point to read every book she writes. This one chronicles Cameron’s tumultuous life as a journalist, screenwriter, author, composer, mother, wife, while often battling alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental illness. I had read a review in the L.A. Times so I knew I would be seeing a different side of Cameron than the woman I thought she was. It was an extremely painful read for me because of her brutal hones...more
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very interesting memoir from julia cameron, the author of one of my most favorite books on creativity. it was interesting to hear about her struggles with depression, relationships, lack of confidence. i can relate to her experiences with bursts of inspiration and creativity that lead to a change in perception with one's surroundings. she became ultra sensitive, hearing the electricity or any noise was too much to handle. i can relate to the hypersensitivity. there are times when i have to retre...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Rita
Whoa. Well Julia Cameron's writing races, races, races. Her life is surreal but pretty plausible. Sometimes the book sees like a series of moves, horse purchases and break down. It's compelling, but moved a little too fast for me. And the bits about Scorsese were interesting too.
Oh yeah and I forgot to say the alcoholism stuff was interesting too. It was interesting to see how getting sober truly colored her whole life
Oh yeah and I forgot to say the alcoholism stuff was interesting too. It was interesting to see how getting sober truly colored her whole life
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I respect Cameron's non-fiction work (The Artists Way, Vein of Gold) a great deal, so I was deeply disappointed with this memoir which seemed like a very rushed out account of her life. Her struggles with alcoholism and drugs were interesting, and she hung out with an interesting crowd (she was married to Francis Ford Coppola), but I wanted more details about her creative life.
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Read in February, 2008
Julia's life is remarkable, varied, and embarrassing. She was married to Martin Scorsese for a short time; moved over and over again to different parts of the country; and had a couple of mental breakdowns. Gives an interesting perspective on Cameron and makes you realize that it takes someone very special to create the Artist's Way.
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I was completely enthralled with this book. I have completed several of Julia Cameron's creativity books before. So it was so interesting to read what was going on in her life during the time she was writing them.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
JC fans, anyone struggling with life
Very truthful and at times so scarily honest that I worried for Julia myself and wanted to reach into the book to help her. It tended to unearth my own demons but also gave me the courage to build my own sword and slay them. It's a book of a life in progress, an extremely creative life riddled with self doubt.
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Read in October, 2007
I just read this for my next book discussion -- heart-wrenching and often depressing, it's easy to see why Cameron has the problems she does.
I hope that writing this book acted as a sort of therapy for her in the short term and hope that she continues to stay sober and grounded in the long term.
I hope that writing this book acted as a sort of therapy for her in the short term and hope that she continues to stay sober and grounded in the long term.
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if you are at all a fan of julia cameron and/or love to see how completely crazy creative, successful people can really be, read this book. it got more insane with each passing chapter and i loved every minute!
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Good autobiography of the author of the "Artist's Way" series. This follows Cameron through her life, including her first marriage to Martin Scorsese, her struggle with drugs and mental illness. Compelling.
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Read in August, 2007
PIcked this book/autobiography all about the life of Julia Cameron today at my local library.. I can't get enuf of her work lately! I'm devouring her books, and taking hoards of notes in my journals!
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julia cameron is the author of the artist's way, which was always a little too touchy feely for my liking.
this is her memoir and in it she reveals her struggle with mental illness. it's okay.
this is her memoir and in it she reveals her struggle with mental illness. it's okay.
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Read in September, 2007
While this book was not a difficult read, she had quite a difficult life. I finish the book amazed at all she has done and fought, but sad.
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Read in January, 2007
Struggled through it. Not bad writing, just a little slow and self-indulging at points.
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