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Split
In this compelling anthology of personal essays, curated by award-winning author Lee Kofman, some of Australia’s most beloved writers reveal, for the first time, powerful, occasionally funny and often heartbreaking stories of significant endings and their aftermath. Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, shares how he discarded his past – perhaps autistic – self, while comedian Sami Shah writes about his public split from Islam, the religion of his birth. Ramona Koval delves into the bittersweet end to her career at the ABC and Fiona Wright explores how her anorexia has affected her romantic relationships. Whereas Kate Holden suggests that for some, splitting – whether from memorabilia, books or lovers – is unimaginable. Join eighteen acclaimed storytellers in their candid and courageous reflections on the intrinsic human experience of loss and leaving, that acknowledge the price we can often pay for a much-needed end, or new beginning.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2019
8 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Lee Kofman
11 books135 followersLee Kofman is the author of 6 books, including the latest, The Writer Laid Bare, as well as creative nonfiction works Imperfect (2019, Affirm Press), which was shortlisted for Nib Literary Award and The Dangerous Bride (2014, Melbourne University Press), editor of Split: True stories of leaving, loss & new beginnings (2019, Ventura Press), an anthology of personal essays longlisted for ABIA 2020 and co-editor of Rebellious Daughters (2016, Ventura Press), an anthology of prominent Australian memoirists. Her short works have been widely published in Australia, UK, Scotland, Israel, Canada and US, including in Best Australian Stories, Best Australian Essays, Griffith Review, Malahat Review and Creative Nonfiction. . Her blog was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014.
Lee has been mentoring writers and teaching creative writing courses since 2003. Her blog about creative processes The Writing Life was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014.
More at www.leekofman.com.au
You can also follow her on Twitter @LeeKofman or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lee-Kofman-3...
Lee has been mentoring writers and teaching creative writing courses since 2003. Her blog about creative processes The Writing Life was a finalist for Best Australian Blogs 2014.
More at www.leekofman.com.au
You can also follow her on Twitter @LeeKofman or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lee-Kofman-3...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 14, 2019
From the moment I heard about this one I knew it was for me. I’ve had a recent obsession with essays and can’t get enough of this format, not to mention the list of incredible Australian writers that contributed. Split is a collection essays, personal observation, of significant endings and their aftermath. A split from something significant within their lives. After I read Kofman’s introduction I was hooked and I loved the glimpse into each of these writers’ lives. From countries to religion to many personal relationships the reader sees life and their splits as a reality and not just as a motivator for life change. As Kofman points out social media often uses events like this to sell the reader something but the honest truth is that not all moment like this gives you your “aha” moment. Not every split is going to make you better, faster, stronger. I revelled in this honesty and found this a powerful and intriguing collection.
These essays are great to peruse, slowly savour, take in a story at a time. I slowly read this collection over a few weeks and was not ready for it to end. I particularly loved the essays by A. S. Patric, Fiona Wright, Sami Shah and Peter Bishop, although, I feel as though I took something from each and every essay. With these essays the reader feels as though they get a glimpse behind the curtain at some familiar voices within Australian writing and you can see just how relatable each of these writers are. I would highly recommend this collection for a change of pace, a different perspective and with some of them something that felt a bit lighter but nonetheless important.
These essays are great to peruse, slowly savour, take in a story at a time. I slowly read this collection over a few weeks and was not ready for it to end. I particularly loved the essays by A. S. Patric, Fiona Wright, Sami Shah and Peter Bishop, although, I feel as though I took something from each and every essay. With these essays the reader feels as though they get a glimpse behind the curtain at some familiar voices within Australian writing and you can see just how relatable each of these writers are. I would highly recommend this collection for a change of pace, a different perspective and with some of them something that felt a bit lighter but nonetheless important.
May 28, 2019
This book is an anthology of personal essays of “leaving, loss and new beginnings.” Split aims to show real stories that don’t necessarily end in satisfying or happy ways, just as in real life sometimes endings don’t end up being for the best or teach us anything, but they still happen and they still hurt and we have to come to terms with that. Every one of these stories felt so raw and genuine and real.
My absolute favourites were the contributions by Sami Shah, Myfanwy Jones, Kerri Sackville, Lee Kofman, Kmetri Kakmi, Ramona Koval and Fiona Wright. Some of the stories did feel uplifting and end in happy circumstances, but most were sad tales of loss or splitting with something that really made you want to reach out to the author and give them a hug. However, although the subject matter might seem somewhat depressing, I actually didn’t feel down at all while I read them. I felt like it was nice to read real stories of people’s lives, instead of the constant amazingly perfect lives that we see all day every day while we scroll through social media, making us feel that we are the only ones that may be suffering or feeling down or going through a tough time in comparison to everyone else. It was a nice feeling of genuineness and solidarity to view the low points of other’s lives, and how they moved on (or attempted to do so). As much as we all love a happy ending, this book reminded me that in real life, it’s common for things to not end perfectly as well. We’ve got to take the good with the bad.
Of course there were a handful of stories that didn’t resonate with me as much, as there is in any short story collection, but the majority of the stories really tugged at my heart strings. If you’re a lover of short story or essay collections, I highly recommend picking this one up.
My absolute favourites were the contributions by Sami Shah, Myfanwy Jones, Kerri Sackville, Lee Kofman, Kmetri Kakmi, Ramona Koval and Fiona Wright. Some of the stories did feel uplifting and end in happy circumstances, but most were sad tales of loss or splitting with something that really made you want to reach out to the author and give them a hug. However, although the subject matter might seem somewhat depressing, I actually didn’t feel down at all while I read them. I felt like it was nice to read real stories of people’s lives, instead of the constant amazingly perfect lives that we see all day every day while we scroll through social media, making us feel that we are the only ones that may be suffering or feeling down or going through a tough time in comparison to everyone else. It was a nice feeling of genuineness and solidarity to view the low points of other’s lives, and how they moved on (or attempted to do so). As much as we all love a happy ending, this book reminded me that in real life, it’s common for things to not end perfectly as well. We’ve got to take the good with the bad.
Of course there were a handful of stories that didn’t resonate with me as much, as there is in any short story collection, but the majority of the stories really tugged at my heart strings. If you’re a lover of short story or essay collections, I highly recommend picking this one up.
July 21, 2019
Split is a book of personal essays written by Australian authors on significant endings in their lives and the aftermath.
This is a fantastic collection, I loved the breadth and interpretation of the word ‘Split’. We read about relationship breakdowns, divorce, the ending of abusive relationships. There is splitting from a country, a job, a lifestyle, religion. I savoured these essays, reading each one was a journey into an important time in the authors life. Not every story has a happy ending, which is true in life. I loved the emotion in each and every essay.
Diverse, courageous, sometimes funny, always personal, I highly recommend Split. If you’ve never read essays before this is the perfect place to start!
This is a fantastic collection, I loved the breadth and interpretation of the word ‘Split’. We read about relationship breakdowns, divorce, the ending of abusive relationships. There is splitting from a country, a job, a lifestyle, religion. I savoured these essays, reading each one was a journey into an important time in the authors life. Not every story has a happy ending, which is true in life. I loved the emotion in each and every essay.
Diverse, courageous, sometimes funny, always personal, I highly recommend Split. If you’ve never read essays before this is the perfect place to start!
July 25, 2020
Author Lee Kofman has done a fine job curating and editing the collection of creative non-fiction essays about ‘leaving, loss and new beginnings’ in the anthology Split (Ventura Press 2019). A cornucopia of well-known names features in Split, each contributing a very different take on the notion of splitting, whether from someone, someplace or something, or even perhaps from some part of themselves. The writing in this collection is consistently of a very high standard. Some contributions are more literary in style, some more academic, and some are more colloquial, but all are engaging, compelling and thought-provoking. The personal essays are about transformations and the powerful, funny, poignant, joyful or tragic aftermaths. Each writer explores their own particular experience with candour and honesty, often vulnerability, seeking a truth about what has occurred.
Lee Kofman contributes not only a personal essay, Bruised, but a thoughtful introduction to the anthology. In this foreword, she examines her discomfit with a certain type of redemptive ending common in current narratives: closure, acceptance, personal growth and happy endings. She proposes that while these types of stories are more palatable, they imply that if only the people involved ‘learn their lesson’ or become sage, astute or wise, this will result in a perfect ever after. Instead, she is open to hearing storytelling that has room for ‘doubt, setbacks, unredeemable failures’ that don’t ‘give rise to unrealistic expectations’; she asks that if we don’t recover and improve from our experiences, does that mean ‘have we then failed? And should we keep these ‘failures’ to ourselves, as shameful secrets?’ She admires the ‘humility and realness of narratives about defeat’. In the whole messy business of life, isn’t it just as authentic to tell the stories of our ongoing grief and defeat about aspects of our lives, alongside our happier endings? She sought essays about ‘breaking up – severing ties – with anyone/anything deeply meaningful to you’, regardless of how the split happened, and what shape life has taken in the aftermath. And the response by writers was varied – some spoke of lovers or jobs, geographic spaces or identities, some used philosophy, fairytales, or the ugly viscera of real life. The result is a tender and vulnerable reckoning of the human condition from a variety of perspectives, comfortingly and familiarly unresolved, as most of our lives are.
Kofman’s Bruised is a dark tale of passion, violence, desire and how we can allow ourselves to be subsumed by another. Graeme Simpson writes of his childhood and his investigation into whether or not he is – or once was – a person with autism. Virginia Peters tells a chilling tale about her daughter’s lover, which resonated strongly with me and is a frighteningly open and vulnerable account of what we fear regarding our children’s relationships with others. Alice Pung writes of her childhood, her family, their Shop, her culture and familial expectations. There are moving contributions by Gabrielle Lord, Myfanwy Jones, Peter Bishop, Kerri Sackville, Sunil Badami, A. S. Patric, Hayley Katzen, Damon Young, Dmetri Kakmi, Fiona Wright and Kate Goldsworthy. Forget Me, by Sami Shah, is a poignant and shocking story of the loss of self through the grandiosity of statehood and religion, and the subsequent loss of culture and nationality. In Goodbye and Good Luck, Ramona Koval writes of her split with the Corporation, her beloved ABC, after being a fixture for decades, and summaries this collection best with the quote from Ovid: ‘Be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you.’ And the book concludes with an essay from Kate Holden called Clinging. Rather than splitting, Holden’s contribution is all about the desire to hold on, to gather, to hoard and accumulate and possess.
I enjoyed every single essay in this collection and could practically feel the emotions seep from the pages, the anguish, the desire, the sensuality, the pain, the heartache, the determination, the frustration, the recognition and the remembering. Rarely do you come across a book in which the authors so brutally slice open their chests and reveal their beating hearts. The truth and the vulnerable exposure of their stories ensure this collection is uncomfortable and disquieting, but also reassuring in its candour.
Lee Kofman contributes not only a personal essay, Bruised, but a thoughtful introduction to the anthology. In this foreword, she examines her discomfit with a certain type of redemptive ending common in current narratives: closure, acceptance, personal growth and happy endings. She proposes that while these types of stories are more palatable, they imply that if only the people involved ‘learn their lesson’ or become sage, astute or wise, this will result in a perfect ever after. Instead, she is open to hearing storytelling that has room for ‘doubt, setbacks, unredeemable failures’ that don’t ‘give rise to unrealistic expectations’; she asks that if we don’t recover and improve from our experiences, does that mean ‘have we then failed? And should we keep these ‘failures’ to ourselves, as shameful secrets?’ She admires the ‘humility and realness of narratives about defeat’. In the whole messy business of life, isn’t it just as authentic to tell the stories of our ongoing grief and defeat about aspects of our lives, alongside our happier endings? She sought essays about ‘breaking up – severing ties – with anyone/anything deeply meaningful to you’, regardless of how the split happened, and what shape life has taken in the aftermath. And the response by writers was varied – some spoke of lovers or jobs, geographic spaces or identities, some used philosophy, fairytales, or the ugly viscera of real life. The result is a tender and vulnerable reckoning of the human condition from a variety of perspectives, comfortingly and familiarly unresolved, as most of our lives are.
Kofman’s Bruised is a dark tale of passion, violence, desire and how we can allow ourselves to be subsumed by another. Graeme Simpson writes of his childhood and his investigation into whether or not he is – or once was – a person with autism. Virginia Peters tells a chilling tale about her daughter’s lover, which resonated strongly with me and is a frighteningly open and vulnerable account of what we fear regarding our children’s relationships with others. Alice Pung writes of her childhood, her family, their Shop, her culture and familial expectations. There are moving contributions by Gabrielle Lord, Myfanwy Jones, Peter Bishop, Kerri Sackville, Sunil Badami, A. S. Patric, Hayley Katzen, Damon Young, Dmetri Kakmi, Fiona Wright and Kate Goldsworthy. Forget Me, by Sami Shah, is a poignant and shocking story of the loss of self through the grandiosity of statehood and religion, and the subsequent loss of culture and nationality. In Goodbye and Good Luck, Ramona Koval writes of her split with the Corporation, her beloved ABC, after being a fixture for decades, and summaries this collection best with the quote from Ovid: ‘Be patient and tough; one day this pain will be useful to you.’ And the book concludes with an essay from Kate Holden called Clinging. Rather than splitting, Holden’s contribution is all about the desire to hold on, to gather, to hoard and accumulate and possess.
I enjoyed every single essay in this collection and could practically feel the emotions seep from the pages, the anguish, the desire, the sensuality, the pain, the heartache, the determination, the frustration, the recognition and the remembering. Rarely do you come across a book in which the authors so brutally slice open their chests and reveal their beating hearts. The truth and the vulnerable exposure of their stories ensure this collection is uncomfortable and disquieting, but also reassuring in its candour.
June 29, 2019
Split.An engrossing anthology of personal essays curated and edited by award-winning author Lee Kofman, some of Australia’s most beloved and talented writers reveal deeply personal stories of loss, leaving and new beginnings.
Several prominent authors write for the first time about some of their most uncomfortable, painful and devastating life experiences. Graeme Simision, author of The Rosie Project shares how he discarded his past as a possibly autistic little boy, while comedian Sami Shah writes about his very public split from Islam which has left permanent scars. These writers along with sixteen others share their stories and reflect on the cost a new beginning brings.
Split brings together writers such as Fiona Wright, Graeme Simsion, Sami Shah and Kate Holden to share their experiences of loss, leaving and new beginnings. Some of these stories are so raw, detailed and devastating that it can make for difficult reading, but the writing is so eloquent and the stories so resonating, you can’t stop turning the pages.
The collection of essays are not all about loss when it comes to love. Yes, divorce is discussed along with the wounds of a relationship break up or the sordid details of a cheating partner commonplace, however, loss can be borne of many things. Abusive fathers, a religion who turns it back on you, a memory or social disability shaken off as a child and leaving a company after years of pouring your heart and soul into it.
Split. A collection of essays on loss, leaving and new beginnings by Australian most talented writers.
Split. A 5 Star read. Click the image to grab your copy
If you enjoy reading and admire the talent of writers, Split is a special body of work which should be on your bookshelf or nightstand. Be prepared though, to sit for a while and reflect on your own experiences of heartbreak and loss.
Split is a cathartic, clever, deeply personal book and a great opportunity to read some of the best Australian writers we have today.
Several prominent authors write for the first time about some of their most uncomfortable, painful and devastating life experiences. Graeme Simision, author of The Rosie Project shares how he discarded his past as a possibly autistic little boy, while comedian Sami Shah writes about his very public split from Islam which has left permanent scars. These writers along with sixteen others share their stories and reflect on the cost a new beginning brings.
Split brings together writers such as Fiona Wright, Graeme Simsion, Sami Shah and Kate Holden to share their experiences of loss, leaving and new beginnings. Some of these stories are so raw, detailed and devastating that it can make for difficult reading, but the writing is so eloquent and the stories so resonating, you can’t stop turning the pages.
The collection of essays are not all about loss when it comes to love. Yes, divorce is discussed along with the wounds of a relationship break up or the sordid details of a cheating partner commonplace, however, loss can be borne of many things. Abusive fathers, a religion who turns it back on you, a memory or social disability shaken off as a child and leaving a company after years of pouring your heart and soul into it.
Split. A collection of essays on loss, leaving and new beginnings by Australian most talented writers.
Split. A 5 Star read. Click the image to grab your copy
If you enjoy reading and admire the talent of writers, Split is a special body of work which should be on your bookshelf or nightstand. Be prepared though, to sit for a while and reflect on your own experiences of heartbreak and loss.
Split is a cathartic, clever, deeply personal book and a great opportunity to read some of the best Australian writers we have today.
September 28, 2019
Via this compilation, I have come to know a bit about these eighteen writers (people). I wanted to try a different genre and I was lucky to find this book. Every story in there has something to connect to.
July 8, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with all its stories, so varied in their experiences and interpretations of loss. Well worth reading and reflecting on.
Read
May 20, 2023I did realise I do not enjoy short stories.
One story, ‘Divorce, Turkish style’ by Dmetri Kakmi, really resonated with me after long discussions at work about this very topic: “I have heard Aboriginal Australians say similar things and I never really understood what they meant. Now I do. It is the fate of the dispossessed native to be displayed on a pedestal by the victor, like a trophy. Outwardly, it is a respectful acknowledgement of history and culture. Underneath, it is the victor, announcing triumph over a cowed indigenous population.”
One story, ‘Divorce, Turkish style’ by Dmetri Kakmi, really resonated with me after long discussions at work about this very topic: “I have heard Aboriginal Australians say similar things and I never really understood what they meant. Now I do. It is the fate of the dispossessed native to be displayed on a pedestal by the victor, like a trophy. Outwardly, it is a respectful acknowledgement of history and culture. Underneath, it is the victor, announcing triumph over a cowed indigenous population.”
Read
May 31, 2021Split is such a brutally honest book that I couldn't put down the first time I read it. I've now read it three times to absorb the stories shared by the authors in their essays. It is a deeply moving collection of stories about the pain of loss, but also resilience and reinvention. I relate to so many of these personal accounts of love and loss and feel thankful that the authors generously shared their stories with us readers. Highly recommend.
July 15, 2021
I was surprised and delighted at how good these essays were. Most of them were 5 star quality and mostly about relationships---but some about leaving a job or a place or a religion. My favourite stories were by Gabrielle Lord, Kerrie Sackville, Lee Kofman, Fiona Wright and Kate Holden. A remarkable collection of heartfelt essays.
8/10
8/10
November 26, 2019
Some great essays and some terrible essays.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews