Summary of Mary Karr's Lit

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 I have been sober for many years, but I have still hurt my son with my actions. I have spent my life trying to understand my mother’s psychic mysteries, but now I am her Plumbee.

#2 I’d never thought to go over this footage myself, but for you, Dev. You were showing my life to me through a new window. Your birth altered my entire posture on the planet, not to mention my relationship with my mother.

#3 I wanted to tell you my story, so you could understand the woman you’ve become. I started getting drunk, and it got harder and harder to stop. I was a monster to myself and to others, but I couldn’t die because of you.

#4 I was empress of my small kingdom, and I ruled it in all weathers. I had control over only that small space, and I was happy there. However, I thought things were going well in my marriage, when in reality, everything was falling apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: May 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822522343

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

Book preview

Insights on Mary Karr's Lit

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

I have been sober for many years, but I have still hurt my son with my actions. I have spent my life trying to understand my mother’s psychic mysteries, but now I am her Plumbee.

#2

I’d never thought to go over this footage myself, but for you, Dev. You were showing my life to me through a new window. Your birth altered my entire posture on the planet, not to mention my relationship with my mother.

#3

I wanted to tell you my story, so you could understand the woman you’ve become. I started getting drunk, and it got harder and harder to stop. I was a monster to myself and to others, but I couldn’t die because of you.

#4

I was empress of my small kingdom, and I ruled it in all weathers. I had control over only that small space, and I was happy there. However, I thought things were going well in my marriage, when in reality, everything was falling apart.

#5

I am the bad mom in the afterschool special, the example other moms go to the principal about. I turned out half okay; well, a quarter okay. I used to cup my son’s downy head with wild tenderness, but now I avoid looking at him for fear he’ll see the gutshot animal I’m morphing into.

#6

I had trouble connecting with my son, and I felt alone with him night after night. I would get up while my husband slept like a hog in his wallow with a white-noise machine to mask the loud misery I gave off.

#7

I was a sissy at heart, but I wanted to be like my family, who I thought were surfers. I showed up at the Pacific Ocean with a truckload of extremely stoned surfers. The surf was too shallow for the California guys to waste their wax on.

#8

I knew right away I didn’t want the acid, but I allowed Doonie to swallow it for me anyway. The acid kicked in, and I was unable to move or scream. I just body-blocked the heavy car door open.

#9

I once had a conversation with Doonie, one of the boys in the car, about Quinn, who was always mocking me when I recited poetry. Doonie said that Quinn’s mother had died or run off, and that Quinn had brought a pistol to kill the