Story Circle Network

Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

February 2005

Unreliable Truth
Maureen Murdock

If, as Murdock says, we use memory to create our identities, then at last there's an explanation for why members of a single family will remember in radically different ways an event that affected them all...

(Please read Linda Wisniewski's review of this book on the SCN website, here.)

  1. Did you agree or disagree with Murdock's reasons for writing memoir? Can you add to her reasons? (pg. 111-118)

  2. What was your reaction to all that Murdock attempted to accomplish in her book? Did it seem like too much for one book or did it work for you? She told her personal story, discussed what memory is, gave instructions for memoir writing, referenced ninety-five other memoirs, offered writing exercises, etc.

  3. How do you react to this statement made by Murdock: "Without self-reflection there is no memoir. You must examine, digest and assimilate an event to find true meaning." (pg. 161)

  4. Was anything missing that you expected to find in this book?

  5. Did you use Murdock's writing exercises? Did they work for you?

  6. Did you use Murdock's Glossary of Terms? Was it necessary for your comprehension of the book?

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