The Reenactments: A Memoir

In "The Reenactments", Flynn recounts the making of the film based on his autobiographical "Another Bulls*** Night in Suck City". He is deeply engaged in the film, "Being Flynn", and he describes the uncanny experience of having his memories being portrayed by actors on sets designed to fit his own past. Along the way, he cites a number of theories on the process of consciousness and of memory.As one would expect, Nick is deeply shaken by the experience of watching Paul Dano act out his days working in a homeless shelter only to encounter his own father walk through the door. De Niro plays his father, and Flynn finds himself coaching him on the props and mannerisms that his father had used. Even more startling is watching Julianne Moore portray his mother's suicide. Flynn's observations are wry, and self deprecating. He successfully endeavors to share the regrets and the emotions he experiences in this almost surreal experience.This book snuck on me sneakily and steadily. I started reading this book at a remove, but became more ensnared little by little each page. The neurological and philosophical asides are well chosen and add to our understanding of Flynn's experience. The language is beautifully considered and discreetly spiced with irreverence. After all, who has not played that game, who would play me in a movie? Flynn has found out.

Flynn's work continues to astonish. Life -how he's lived it- does keep giving him fascinating material to draw on (how many writers consult on set to DeNiro and Julianne Moore on the portrayals of their own family members? Watch their wife interact on set with Paul Dano playing their younger self?) What Flynn does with this material is weave straw into gold. What a master weaver he has become.Flynn's philosophical and sociological musings are astute, not over-reaching. The lens of his narrative is continually refocusing, from the most microscopically personal to the widest angle macro view, and back again.Flynn explores the remarkable reenactments within and beyond his life with humility. His reflections are deep, and his identification with (and respect for) down -on -their -luck -folks is genuine. He doesn't romanticize their (or his own) struggles, or the pain their (or his own) shortcomings may have caused others. There's a sense of bemusement about his life, and of gratitude, which softens the impact of the ugliness he doesn't shy from confronting, in himself and in the world.The captain calls for a show of applause - bravo, Mr. Flynn!

Nick Flynn has long been one of my favorite poets, and this intense book reads like a series of prose poems. It moves back and forth in time, as current events evoke past experiences, allowing the reader to follow Nick's brave journey as he watches and participates in the reenactment of his difficult past. Even those familiar with the stories of Nick's father's homelessness and his mother's suicide will gain new perspectives. They will also have the opportunity to celebrate the craftsmanship of a powerful writer.

Nick Flynn brings it to a whole new level with this dreamy but solid finale to his memoir trilogy about his parents. The poet is in full roar with explorations of reproduction as theme weaving through the ever-heartbreaking tale of his indigent father and suicidal mother.I would buy and read a grocery list if Nick Flynn wrote it. As always, cannot wait for his future work: I'm a hardcore Flynnstonian.

I was at a reading of Nick Flynn's notes for this book about two years ago. I was so waiting for this book as the reading was fabulous and I am a huge Nick Flynn fan. Unfortunately, only parts of this were what I was expecting (something really fabulous) from that reading. It was wonderful in parts, but also annoying in parts.

Overall, very interesting! The author has literary talent, in my opinion.

The emotion in this book was palatalbe. I would recommend it to everyone, but I would read the other two memoirs first.Nick Flynn is a truly great writer.

Read the first book, see the movie and then read this book - each experience is excellent. One of my favorite writers.