I struggle with some demons, they were middle class and tame: HORROR STORIES.

Horror Stories: A Memoir by Liz Phair
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

HORROR STORIES the sixteenth book in my alphabetical author challenge. It is Liz Phair's memoir, featuring snippets of her version of horror, which she deems every day moments that can make us who we are. These moments can form us into who we are as the small indignities we suffer can affect us just as much as the bigger moments of our lives. Rather than go into the more traditional look at her life and career, Phair focuses on such moments: a particularly bad relationship; memories from college of ignoring a girl passed out at a club; being trapped in a NYC blizzard; and more. She zeroes in on these incidents and how they affected her.

"Horror can be found in brief interactions that are as cumulatively powerful as the splashy heart-stoppers, because that's where we live most of our lives."

This is definitely not a traditional memoir. I'm pretty sure I'm not cool enough to read something like this, because I think I would have enjoyed a linear tale more, or least learning more of the mundane "stuff" about Phair's career. She grew up the daughter of wealthy parents (that was interesting) and clearly bounced around various schools before becoming famous, but we never really learn how, or get any real insight into her career or her songs. We do get a vibe that's she a bit pretentious and she whines about how hard it is to be famous, so there's that. (I hate that in memoirs.)

Some of the anecdotes are interesting, though I was confused why two of them centered around New York City weather events, and she certainly offers some profound thoughts and good quotes. There's no argument that Phair can write; you know that just by listening to her songs, and HORROR enforces it. However, this starts off intriguing and then just drags as you realize nearly every chapter will be the same... somewhat self-centered, woe is me, and nearly always mentioning the need to be loved/failed relationships. Sometimes it was all a bit much.

For the most part, this proved she lived the kind of life Liz Phair would lead--emerging unscathed after trudging blocks in a blizzard, for instance, and just generally seeming "above" everything--yet she's also a mom, wife (sometimes), sister, and daughter, like the rest of us. But, it felt lacking (and often annoying) to me. 3 stars.

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