Seeing Mary Plain: A Life of Mary McCarthy

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: Frances Kiernan's biography experiments with form to get at the essence of an exceedingly complicated and complex writer. By combining excerpts from McCarthy's published writers, letters to and from her, and the comments of many people (famous and not) who knew her, the book shows us a woman who is talented but capricious; a loyal friend and a fierce enemy, a sharp intellect and a charming hostess. Ms. Kiernan provides just enough narrative thread to stitch these disparate voices together, and while she clearly admires McCarthy, she is not afraid to criticize her subject. By presenting so many contrasting viewpoints, the book invites us (much like the film Rashomon) to draw our own conclusions. This is a worthy biography and one that should compel the reader back to McCarthy's own stories, novels, and essays.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I had been a fan of Mary McCarthy since high school and therefore was excited when this book came out. I ordered it as soon as it was available but still have not finished it. The text is jumpy and jerky and definitely not presented in an organized, smooth manner. Biographical information is interesting but then is supported by repetitive gossip or other information that interupts one's train of thought. I would have not purchased this book if I had previewed it first. I believe that I wasted my money on this one.

Rating:
Summary: HAIL MARY!
Review: It took Frances Kiernan nine years to research and write this biography of America's first lady of letters. It was well worth the wait. To see McCarthy "plain" -- simple, yet with sharp clarity -- Kiernan pieced together her subject's life, from years spent in Seattle, New York, Maine, Italy and Paris, by interviewing more than 200 people who knew her. What emerges is an intellectual,, affectionate yet judgmentally balanced portrait of a woman, mother, stepmother, wife, ex-wife, lover and friend ... as well as an important literary voice. With Kiernan on the scene, make that two important voices.

Rating:
Summary: HAIL MARY!
Review: It took Frances Kiernan nine years to research and write this biography of America's first lady of letters. It was well worth the wait. To see McCarthy "plain" -- simple, yet with sharp clarity -- Kiernan pieced together her subject's life, from years spent in Seattle, New York, Maine, Italy and Paris, by interviewing more than 200 people who knew her. What emerges is an intellectual,, affectionate yet judgmentally balanced portrait of a woman, mother, stepmother, wife, ex-wife, lover and friend ... as well as an important literary voice. With Kiernan on the scene, make that two important voices.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Book on a Very Interesting Subject
Review: This biography takes the form of a listing of what people havesaid about Mary McCarthy, bold-faced names followed by their quotes,with little or no narrative line. In my opinion, Frances Kiernan has done the work of an editor, not an author. "This is typing, not writing" comes to mind. Had I flipped through the book in a book shop, instead of ordering it from Amazon.com, I never would have bought it.

Rating:
Summary: An impossible book.
Review: This book is tedious and nearly impossible to read. When one gets into the narrative, wham! Quotes and comments are jerked onto the page and the reader gets lost again. It's a shame that such a marvelous topic should be presented so poorly. Give this one a miss.

Rating:
Summary: An impossible book.
Review: This book is tedious and nearly impossible to read. When one gets into the narrative, wham! Quotes and comments are jerked onto the page and the reader gets lost again. It's a shame that such a marvelous topic should be presented so poorly. Give this one a miss.