Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction

[oceanplease]

This book was fantastic; has anyone else read it?


I think it's changed my life-and just made me look back on my past and understand things on a whole new level. I can relate to almost all the stories.

[kc]

interesting title, is it a self-help book? or like one of those chicken soup?

[oceanplease]

It's a collection of different kinds of art-all done by female artists who have had self-destructive tendencies.

From the back:

A visceral look at the bizarre entanglement of destructive and creative forces, Live Through This is a collection of original stories, essays, artwork, and photography. It explores the use of art to survive abuse, incest, madness and depression, and the often deep-seated impulse toward self destruction including cutting, eating disorders and addiction. Here, some of our most compelling cartoonists, novelists, poets, dancers, playwrights and burlesque performers traverse the pains and passions that can both motivate and destroy women artists, and mark a path for survival. Taken together, these artful offer and artful an honest and hopeful journey through a woman's silent rage, through the power inherent in struggles with destruction and the ensuing possibilities of transforning that burning force into the external release of art.

Also on the back:

"The women in this collection give courageous insights and inspiration to any artist struggling with self-destruction."
-SARA QUIN, of Tegan and Sara

I guess it's a self-help book, maybe, in a way. It's more about exploring the connections between destruction and creativity in a really intimate way.

[kc]

sounds like a good read and deep too, had me at burlesque queens*wink* jk
cool, sara has a comment on it.

[featheroflead]

This book was fantastic; has anyone else read it?


I think it's changed my life-and just made me look back on my past and understand things on a whole new level. I can relate to almost all the stories.

Yes! Oh my God! yes.
I finished reading it a second ago. It's f*cking AMAZING. seriously.

I think my favourite quote from the book has to be from the preface;

It got to the point where it became logical: If a woman was fiercely intelligent, outspoken and passionate, I'd look towards her arms for the scars. They were almost always there.

[oceanplease]

I think my favourite quote from the book has to be from the preface;

It got to the point where it became logical: If a woman was fiercely intelligent, outspoken and passionate, I'd look towards her arms for the scars. They were almost always there.

That was one of my favorites, too; it's poignant and very true.

I also loved "Fighting Fire With Acid Rain".

[featheroflead]

That was one of my favorites, too; it's poignant and very true.

I also loved "Fighting Fire With Acid Rain".

Yes! The picture with the heart out of the chest. Love it.

[oceanplease]

My guess as to how Sara got involved is that Kate turned her onto it; Sara wrote the foreword for Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives To Suicide For Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws

[featheroflead]

I was thinking the same tbh. I do love Kate Bornstein.