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Essay: On why we enjoy memoirs

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Revisiting the past and producing a personal account of one’s experiences can be therapeutic for the author just as reading these accounts can be cathartic for the readers who, perhaps, have been through similar experiences. The memoir exists in the sweet spot between autobiographies and journals, and remains an immensely popular literary genre, with sales growing by 26% in 2021 according to research and analytics group WordsRated. Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, which divulged the long-kept secrets of the British monarchy and discussed the effect of his mother Diana’s death on the author’s mental health, But what is it like to write a memoir When an author revisits a past experience are they likely to find closure? Or can it bring back unpleasant memories? Mehezabin Dordi, Clinical Psychologist Sir HV Reliance Foundation Hospital says "Revisiting past events and reflecting on them can be therapeutic and also aid the author in self-discovery" She believes memoir writing can be empowering "Memoirs help authors heal from past wounds, reclaim their narrative, and give them agency over their post, she says. This possibly rings true in the case of Speers, who might have been fearless during her conservatorship but is now regaining control over her life by sharing her side of the story, thus transforming her pain into something more meaningful

Publication: Hindustan Times

Essay: On why we enjoy memoirs

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