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Memory Card Full
Liz Weber's life was far from dull. Whether serving drinks to a gaggle of quirky regulars at a bar or walking around in her skivvies for extra cash, she fought hard to remain a self- proclaimed "professional free spirit" and aspiring writer, even if it meant enduring a lush for a manager or a cranky, Israeli-folk-music-loving boss. None of it really mattered as long as she had Rufus, her oddly proportioned dog who taught her about unconditional love in an untraditional way, at her side. When Rufus dies, Liz is forced to let go of the one constant in her life and move forward without him. Alone and brokenhearted, her life spirals downward while her friends and family struggle to understand how to help her through. The journey to right herself leads her to an unexpected encounter where the long unheard voice of the woman inside makes its debut. And it is on water skis at an adult sleepaway camp that Liz learns there are important things in life that Rufus' love had caused her to avoid. Embracing her power and strength and finally letting go of him is the best way to go on. Memory Card Full is a frank, funny, and deeply moving memoir, a book for anyone who has loved and lost and found the space in that loss to become the person they were meant to be. Liz Weber is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn whose work has appeared on national websites such as Narrative.ly, Apartmenttherapy. com and Planetwaves.net. She's been a regular contributor for lifestyle website Citypath.com and Boredandthirstynyc.com and has doled out dating advice to the urban female set on the popular website Thefatwhiteguy.com.
- GenresMemoir
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2014
1 person is currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Liz Weber
2 books2 followersA native New Yorker and graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Liz has pursued a career in music, voice over, modeling and just about anything that sounded fun. The one thing she's always stuck with is writing.
From her short stories in high school to songs she later performed around NYC, Liz has always come back to writing. She's doled out dating advice to lonely hearts on websites like That Fat White Guy, rounded up the best of the best at Citypath.com, and contributes regularly as a writer and copy editor to the award-winning digital publication, Narratively.
She raised over $8K on Kickstarter to self-publish her very first book which launched late last year. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Sadie.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 15, 2014
Originally posted at http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com...
Losing a pet is never easy and when Liz Weber’s dog Rufus begins showing signs of old age and ill health she knows that sooner or later she will have to face the fact that she may lose him. Memory Card Full is a memoir of Liz’s life before, during, and after losing her Rufus. As any pet owner knows our pets are a constant in our lives and they love us no matter what and with Liz going through some issues in her own life Rufus was the one thing she could always depend on. Needless to say the loss of a pet makes for an emotional story.
Liz had a pretty busy life with working in a bar, as a part time model, and at a lawyers office. Her dream is to become a writer but in the meantime she has to do whatever she can to pay the bills although she has very supportive parents who help her out if she really needs it. Still Liz feels stuck in her life. She can’t seem to move forward though and it’s driving her crazy. So when Rufus starts to show signs of something being wrong Liz is concerned about being able to pay the bills but will do what it takes to get Rufus help. As Rufus gets worse Liz has to make one of the hardest decisions of her life and put her boy down. Afterwards even though she continues to work her emotional state seems to spiral downwards. As time goes on though Liz decides to take a writing class, attend a conference, and even start dating. Liz began to feel as though having Rufus had kept her from really living her own life and she knows that finally she needs to let go of her grief and move on.
I have mixed feelings on this memoir but I think really the reason is that all of us have different ways of dealing with loss and our feelings on things. There were many decisions and thoughts that Liz had that I disagreed with but again each person does things or feels things their own way and can’t be judged on that. I lost Buddy four years ago and the pain is still there for me and I’m not always positive I’ve moved on from it despite having the wonderful Sammy to love. The raw emotion of having to put her dog down really hit me hard as the anniversary of losing Buddy passed just a few weeks ago so that made some parts of this memoir really difficult for me. All in all I enjoyed reading Liz’s memoir. It was a fun read in a lot of parts because to me she lives a fairly exciting life that I never will but other than the shared experience of losing our pets I couldn’t really connect as I would have liked to which I’m positive is due to the differences in our lifestyles and our thoughts on some things. Despite that Liz seems like a really great and caring person and hopefully the writing of this memoir was one more way for her to heal in her own life.
Recommended for those who enjoy memoirs!
Losing a pet is never easy and when Liz Weber’s dog Rufus begins showing signs of old age and ill health she knows that sooner or later she will have to face the fact that she may lose him. Memory Card Full is a memoir of Liz’s life before, during, and after losing her Rufus. As any pet owner knows our pets are a constant in our lives and they love us no matter what and with Liz going through some issues in her own life Rufus was the one thing she could always depend on. Needless to say the loss of a pet makes for an emotional story.
Liz had a pretty busy life with working in a bar, as a part time model, and at a lawyers office. Her dream is to become a writer but in the meantime she has to do whatever she can to pay the bills although she has very supportive parents who help her out if she really needs it. Still Liz feels stuck in her life. She can’t seem to move forward though and it’s driving her crazy. So when Rufus starts to show signs of something being wrong Liz is concerned about being able to pay the bills but will do what it takes to get Rufus help. As Rufus gets worse Liz has to make one of the hardest decisions of her life and put her boy down. Afterwards even though she continues to work her emotional state seems to spiral downwards. As time goes on though Liz decides to take a writing class, attend a conference, and even start dating. Liz began to feel as though having Rufus had kept her from really living her own life and she knows that finally she needs to let go of her grief and move on.
I have mixed feelings on this memoir but I think really the reason is that all of us have different ways of dealing with loss and our feelings on things. There were many decisions and thoughts that Liz had that I disagreed with but again each person does things or feels things their own way and can’t be judged on that. I lost Buddy four years ago and the pain is still there for me and I’m not always positive I’ve moved on from it despite having the wonderful Sammy to love. The raw emotion of having to put her dog down really hit me hard as the anniversary of losing Buddy passed just a few weeks ago so that made some parts of this memoir really difficult for me. All in all I enjoyed reading Liz’s memoir. It was a fun read in a lot of parts because to me she lives a fairly exciting life that I never will but other than the shared experience of losing our pets I couldn’t really connect as I would have liked to which I’m positive is due to the differences in our lifestyles and our thoughts on some things. Despite that Liz seems like a really great and caring person and hopefully the writing of this memoir was one more way for her to heal in her own life.
Recommended for those who enjoy memoirs!
March 16, 2021
This is a well written memoir. Weber's life is relatable; work drama; losing a pet; I loved reading about her life. It's cool that this was a book backed by a KickStarter campaign! It was a quick an easy read.
August 24, 2015
I’d like to thank TLC Book Tours and Liz Weber for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Memory Card Full is a memoir about a young woman, Liz who is trying to figure her life out. She is a bartender/writer/model with a busy, hectic sort of life whose balance is found in her dog Rufus…her constant companion for twelve years. As Rufus gets older, Liz is confronted the mortality of her best friend and ultimately with herself.
When I was younger, I used to adamantly refuse to read memoirs and nonfiction books but when I entered college and got more exposure to the genre I decided that I absolutely love memoirs. When a memoir is well written it can be interesting to catch a glimpse into someone’s life and take to heart the lessons they have learned through time and experience. When I read that this book involved a dog, I knew that this would be an emotional ride for me but I had to read it. Being a fur mommy myself, especially one who will start crying at the mention of my dog’s someday passing which I know is inevitable but really hard to bear all the same, this was hard for me to read at times but I loved it. Honestly, I started crying during the Prologue so at that point I was like, here we go!
I really loved this book. I felt like it could have been so much sadder in the hands of another writer but I’m glad that it wasn’t because I don’t know if I could have gotten through it (I’m exaggerating, I’m a completionist so I would have). I can totally relate to everything Liz went through in the months leading up to Rufus’ passing and the inner struggle she felt in trying to figure out when he was ready to go because putting myself in that position I don’t know what I would do…it’s like you care so much about them you don’t want them to suffer but you also want to be selfish and keep them in your life when you know you can’t. I totally get the wanting to curl up in bed and just wallow after his passing, honestly when I think of that dark day in the future that I know I will have to face I feel like I’m going to die and not know what to do with myself because my dog is with me like 98% of the time since I work at home and am pretty much an extreme introvert.
But I loved that this book wasn’t 100% about Rufus’ passing. I love that it’s about Liz and her journey to becoming Liz..her journey to being okay on her own and finding out what makes her happy. I love that she points out a few times throughout the book that Rufus would want her to move on and want her to have fun, a lesson I think all of us dog owners need to learn and understand in the aftermath of our loved ones passing. Although it’s not a fun subject for me, I think having read this book would help me through the process, and help me to handle it a little better (hopefully a day that is a long time away).
So while it was sad for me to read and I cried multiple times, this was a really really good memoir – heartbreaking at times but also funny and lighthearted. I felt like Liz was my best friend and we were sitting on my couch talking.
If you are a fan of memoirs or have a furry companion, I recommend reading this book. I loved it and gave it a very deserved five star rating!
Memory Card Full is a memoir about a young woman, Liz who is trying to figure her life out. She is a bartender/writer/model with a busy, hectic sort of life whose balance is found in her dog Rufus…her constant companion for twelve years. As Rufus gets older, Liz is confronted the mortality of her best friend and ultimately with herself.
When I was younger, I used to adamantly refuse to read memoirs and nonfiction books but when I entered college and got more exposure to the genre I decided that I absolutely love memoirs. When a memoir is well written it can be interesting to catch a glimpse into someone’s life and take to heart the lessons they have learned through time and experience. When I read that this book involved a dog, I knew that this would be an emotional ride for me but I had to read it. Being a fur mommy myself, especially one who will start crying at the mention of my dog’s someday passing which I know is inevitable but really hard to bear all the same, this was hard for me to read at times but I loved it. Honestly, I started crying during the Prologue so at that point I was like, here we go!
I really loved this book. I felt like it could have been so much sadder in the hands of another writer but I’m glad that it wasn’t because I don’t know if I could have gotten through it (I’m exaggerating, I’m a completionist so I would have). I can totally relate to everything Liz went through in the months leading up to Rufus’ passing and the inner struggle she felt in trying to figure out when he was ready to go because putting myself in that position I don’t know what I would do…it’s like you care so much about them you don’t want them to suffer but you also want to be selfish and keep them in your life when you know you can’t. I totally get the wanting to curl up in bed and just wallow after his passing, honestly when I think of that dark day in the future that I know I will have to face I feel like I’m going to die and not know what to do with myself because my dog is with me like 98% of the time since I work at home and am pretty much an extreme introvert.
But I loved that this book wasn’t 100% about Rufus’ passing. I love that it’s about Liz and her journey to becoming Liz..her journey to being okay on her own and finding out what makes her happy. I love that she points out a few times throughout the book that Rufus would want her to move on and want her to have fun, a lesson I think all of us dog owners need to learn and understand in the aftermath of our loved ones passing. Although it’s not a fun subject for me, I think having read this book would help me through the process, and help me to handle it a little better (hopefully a day that is a long time away).
So while it was sad for me to read and I cried multiple times, this was a really really good memoir – heartbreaking at times but also funny and lighthearted. I felt like Liz was my best friend and we were sitting on my couch talking.
If you are a fan of memoirs or have a furry companion, I recommend reading this book. I loved it and gave it a very deserved five star rating!
November 13, 2014
The second I found out Memory Card Full was published with the help from Kickstarter backers, it immediately caught my attention. It’s understandable, since I’m currently writing the weekly column series on Vulcan Post. If you’re looking for creative product designs, you know where to go to!
But, back to the book. I’m kind of on a memoir kick for the past couple of months. So when Trish from TLC Book Tours contacted me about this charming read, I knew I had to read it.
Evil coworkers, horrible bosses, life crisis, the author has been through them all. Her life is relatable; in fact, I had no trouble reading it in one sitting! Memory Card Full is written with great compassion. Plus, the author has a great sense of humour. She’s extremely charming and likeable, so it didn’t hurt.
Well-written and tragic, reading Memory Card Full, reminds me of Little May’s Dust. I’ve never had a dog, so I don’t know what it’s like to lose one. What I got from it is that it’s a passionate personal account. It’s sad, sensual and real.
I’m giving Memory Card Full a four-star rating because I feel like the author is holding back. It’s a great book, but it’s missing a certain spark. Maybe it’s because I’m too used to longer memoirs, but the book just lacks something for me. On a different note, I found several other great quotes. Take a look!
“Sometimes things have to fall apart in order for us to put them back together again.”
“You’ve got to stop and give yourself some credit, or else it’s never going to be enough. Use your progress as leverage for your process.”
“You are never satisfied. No wait. It’s more than that. You don’t stop to recognise your accomplishments, always moving on to the next thing, never taking the time to acknowledge your progress.”
For more quotes, check out the full book review here:
http://pressedupinabook.com/memory-ca...
- I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
But, back to the book. I’m kind of on a memoir kick for the past couple of months. So when Trish from TLC Book Tours contacted me about this charming read, I knew I had to read it.
Evil coworkers, horrible bosses, life crisis, the author has been through them all. Her life is relatable; in fact, I had no trouble reading it in one sitting! Memory Card Full is written with great compassion. Plus, the author has a great sense of humour. She’s extremely charming and likeable, so it didn’t hurt.
Well-written and tragic, reading Memory Card Full, reminds me of Little May’s Dust. I’ve never had a dog, so I don’t know what it’s like to lose one. What I got from it is that it’s a passionate personal account. It’s sad, sensual and real.
I’m giving Memory Card Full a four-star rating because I feel like the author is holding back. It’s a great book, but it’s missing a certain spark. Maybe it’s because I’m too used to longer memoirs, but the book just lacks something for me. On a different note, I found several other great quotes. Take a look!
“Sometimes things have to fall apart in order for us to put them back together again.”
“You’ve got to stop and give yourself some credit, or else it’s never going to be enough. Use your progress as leverage for your process.”
“You are never satisfied. No wait. It’s more than that. You don’t stop to recognise your accomplishments, always moving on to the next thing, never taking the time to acknowledge your progress.”
For more quotes, check out the full book review here:
http://pressedupinabook.com/memory-ca...
- I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 18, 2015
I finished the book, MEMORY CARD FULL, today, and I am still digesting it. It was very rich. I just want the author to know that, though I knew it was coming, I cried when her dog, Rufus, died. Liz Weber painted so gently and delicately the gradual stages of his physical decline and her ongoing love for him. He was such a beautiful character. Her parents were so supportive.
She described all her characters so carefully--their features (often outstanding), their stylish clothing, lovely hair textures--glossy or Afro--gestures, hang-ups, mannerisms--I could see them all. Her work was like a drama or comedy. And she juggled so many balls at once, it was exhilarating, exhausting, and fascinating.
I didn't know where the memoir would lead after Rufus' departure. But she didn't disappoint me. It was then about further discovering Liz! And what a woman she is! So honest about her own hang-ups and anxieties, and yet she triumphs and accomplishes so much, time after time. And I was so glad she kept threads of her beloved Rufus running throughout the book till the end. And at the end, what a miracle. Another dog greets her in--of all places--Mexico! It was a wonderful note to end on.
I would just like to add, I very much enjoyed the rhythm of her prose. It was so musical.
I am 70 years old and am currently trying to provide for my cat if I should die before she does. I just want Ms. Weber to know, if it's any consolation, that she can realize she was there for Rufus up until the very end. He licked her hand at the Vet's Office to say goodbye. And though I know it's an inconsolable loss, may she find comfort in the knowledge that she never had to leave him an orphan. I sign off with empathy and admiration for a very accomplished writer. Any pet-owner will love this book!
She described all her characters so carefully--their features (often outstanding), their stylish clothing, lovely hair textures--glossy or Afro--gestures, hang-ups, mannerisms--I could see them all. Her work was like a drama or comedy. And she juggled so many balls at once, it was exhilarating, exhausting, and fascinating.
I didn't know where the memoir would lead after Rufus' departure. But she didn't disappoint me. It was then about further discovering Liz! And what a woman she is! So honest about her own hang-ups and anxieties, and yet she triumphs and accomplishes so much, time after time. And I was so glad she kept threads of her beloved Rufus running throughout the book till the end. And at the end, what a miracle. Another dog greets her in--of all places--Mexico! It was a wonderful note to end on.
I would just like to add, I very much enjoyed the rhythm of her prose. It was so musical.
I am 70 years old and am currently trying to provide for my cat if I should die before she does. I just want Ms. Weber to know, if it's any consolation, that she can realize she was there for Rufus up until the very end. He licked her hand at the Vet's Office to say goodbye. And though I know it's an inconsolable loss, may she find comfort in the knowledge that she never had to leave him an orphan. I sign off with empathy and admiration for a very accomplished writer. Any pet-owner will love this book!
November 12, 2014
When Liz Weber travels to Mexico, she wants to document parts of experience; when her camera tells her that the memory card is full, Liz must finally decide to delete some pictures of her dog Rufus that passed a year ago and fully come to terms with his death and the fact that she has finally moved on.
In Liz Weber's memoir, she presents a candid and humorous view about the role of her faithful canine companion in her life and then an honest look into the grief process and finally moving on after his death. Liz takes us through her trials and tribulations in the dating world, family squabbles and many jobs (now I know what fit models are!) as she presents the role that her dog, Rufus played in her life through that time. I could easily identify with her feelings as her beloved dog went through the aging process and having to make the decision of when to end his life.
The memoir is split in two; the first section taking place before Rufus passes and the second section after Rufus passes. I felt much more connected to the first part and enjoyed reading about Rufus as well as Liz's life and wacky bosses. The second part of the book deals with the grieving process and moving on. As we all grieve differently, there were some parts of this for me that I could not relate to. I appreciate LIz's honesty within her experience, however, I just was not expecting to read about intimate sexual encounters and drug use within a memoir about the loss of a dog.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
In Liz Weber's memoir, she presents a candid and humorous view about the role of her faithful canine companion in her life and then an honest look into the grief process and finally moving on after his death. Liz takes us through her trials and tribulations in the dating world, family squabbles and many jobs (now I know what fit models are!) as she presents the role that her dog, Rufus played in her life through that time. I could easily identify with her feelings as her beloved dog went through the aging process and having to make the decision of when to end his life.
The memoir is split in two; the first section taking place before Rufus passes and the second section after Rufus passes. I felt much more connected to the first part and enjoyed reading about Rufus as well as Liz's life and wacky bosses. The second part of the book deals with the grieving process and moving on. As we all grieve differently, there were some parts of this for me that I could not relate to. I appreciate LIz's honesty within her experience, however, I just was not expecting to read about intimate sexual encounters and drug use within a memoir about the loss of a dog.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 29, 2015
Pet lovers are sure to shed a few tears while reading this one!! This was a definite tear jerker.
Memoirs are always interesting to me. To get a peak into someone else life as they have seen and dealt with it a very unique experience. This novel was no exception. It's very interesting to see the way someone else deals with stress, grief, and some of life's most profound questions.
Memory Card Full was especially intriguing to me. I think that is because it was so honest. I felt the indecision, the pain, longing, confusion, and determination that was bled into every page. It was also very relatable. It's like getting to know the author as easily as sitting bar with her having a drink. A drink that I think would lead to a fast friendship!
The ONLY reason that I did not give Memory Card Full five stars is that I was hoping for a bit more at the end. But that is life. It's not always perfect and you can't write a happily ever after it just make up an ending. It's "a work in progress". I give this author serious credit for putting it all out there! So really it's more of a 4.5 stars for me!
A must read for all pet lovers. Also a great read for almost any young person who is at one of those cross roads in your life where you realize that it's time to grow up, leave the past behind you, and move on.
** I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review
Memoirs are always interesting to me. To get a peak into someone else life as they have seen and dealt with it a very unique experience. This novel was no exception. It's very interesting to see the way someone else deals with stress, grief, and some of life's most profound questions.
Memory Card Full was especially intriguing to me. I think that is because it was so honest. I felt the indecision, the pain, longing, confusion, and determination that was bled into every page. It was also very relatable. It's like getting to know the author as easily as sitting bar with her having a drink. A drink that I think would lead to a fast friendship!
The ONLY reason that I did not give Memory Card Full five stars is that I was hoping for a bit more at the end. But that is life. It's not always perfect and you can't write a happily ever after it just make up an ending. It's "a work in progress". I give this author serious credit for putting it all out there! So really it's more of a 4.5 stars for me!
A must read for all pet lovers. Also a great read for almost any young person who is at one of those cross roads in your life where you realize that it's time to grow up, leave the past behind you, and move on.
** I received a free copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review
November 15, 2014
Memory Card Full is a sometimes humorous and touching memoir written by a likable woman who finally finds her destiny. It's an easy and fast read and extremely touching. Having dogs myself, these precious members of the family are wonderful monikers of endless love and compassion. To say goodbye is never easy and Liz felt it keenly. Her pain is evident but her ability to turn her life forward with purpose is an example to us all.
“Sometimes things have to fall apart in order for us to put them back together again.” (Memory Card Full)
“Sometimes things have to fall apart in order for us to put them back together again.” (Memory Card Full)
October 27, 2014
review to follow
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews