The Trapeze Diaries

by Marie Carter

Fiction. Marie Carter graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA in English Literature. She also worked for a variety of literary organizations in Scotland including Chapman magazine. In 2000, she moved to New York City where she is currently an Associate Editor at Hanging Loose Press. She is the editor of Word New Fiction from Scotland (Hanging Loose, 2003) and co-editor of Voices of the City (Hanging Loose, 2004). In 2004, she ran the Scottish Writers in New York readings series at the New York Public Library. Her work has been published in Hanging Loose, The Brooklyn Rail, Bloom, Spectacle (circus magazine), turntablebluelight.com, among others, and in The Best Creative Nonfiction (W. W. Norton, 2007). She recently completed a residency at the MacDowell Colony. She studies fixed trapeze and yoga. "This is a brave and heartwarming book"--Donald Breckenridge.

95 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2007

About the author

MARIE CARTER is a Scottish writer, editor, writing teacher, and tour guide, based in Astoria, NY.

Her first book, THE TRAPEZE DIARIES, based on her experiences of learning trapeze, was published by Hanging Loose Press. Her novel HOLLY'S HURRICANE will be published in November 2018.

Marie has been a guest on NPR and has been written about or featured in THE NEW YORK TIMES, QUEENS GAZETTE, HUFFINGTON POST, QNS, and many other media outlets.

Marie currently teaches Memoir and Creative Writing at Gotham Writers' Workshop.

Fascinated by New York City's macabre and little-known histories in her writing and life, she decided to further her interest by becoming a licensed tour guide with Boroughs of the Dead. She created and guides the "Haunting Histories and Legends of Astoria" tour and also leads other tours in Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, and Roosevelt Island. She also lectures on various aspects of New York City's history on a regular basis at Q.E.D. in Astoria, Queens.

Marie graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA in English Literature.

Reviews

[Justė · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short collection of thoughts on grief and mastering trapeze. Both intertwine, mix up, unravelling the story of letting go. Easy and light read.

[Matthew Salesses · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why these reviews are so low. This book is a marvel of essay/fiction/poetry. Carter captures the struggle of life through the window of a trapeze. In THE TRAPEZE DIARIES, a young woman whose father died a couple of years ago starts learning trapeze, drawn to the pain and difficulty and fear. She sees her father's ghost and struggles with her self-identity, an identity, like all of ours, informed by her parents and where she grew up (Scotland) and left. The story, though, is secondary. Here the prose is allowed to do the work of poetry, revealing through objects and steady reflection the mystery of life and death and identity and fear.

The most fascinating aspect, for me, is the idea that the narrator feels alive as she faces her fear. Her father's death is just over her shoulder, and she fears death as we all do. As she learns the trapeze, she is afraid of dying. She loves New York and yet is afraid of it--the city where she was almost raped. She fears losing her family, yet she distances herself from it. The narrator throws herself into fear, and this is what tells her, and us, that she is living, that she can beat back death enough to "want what she has."

A beautiful book, and well worth the small time commitment it takes to read it. Please don't let the reviews here keep you from this experience.

[Mike Keren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book and wasn't sure what I was going to rate it. I picked it up because another writer was telling me about it, about the author and it's novel structure. It's an easy read, I think it took me two sittings. Initially I found the structure of the book annoying. More journal or blog posts than narrative, I was turned off and didn't want to like it. However, as I was finishing the book and reflecting on it, I found that the authors challenges -- coping with loss and challenging her fears -- were universal and her presentation of them stayed with me for a while. So I give the book 4 stars because it isn't perfect, but it's interesting, new, and definitely worth the read.

[Emily Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone gave me this book after my dad died but it took almost 2 years before I was ready to read it. I liked Marie Carter's disconnected style. It reads almost like an internal dialogue and reminded me very much of how untethered I felt after my father's death and during the initial stages of my grief.

[Rozsa Gaston]

It resonated for me. She really captured the zen of the trapeze. It forces you to be here now. A healing and healthy sport that isn't really a sport. It's a practice. Read The Trapeze Diaries if you have ever wondered what to do when you can't stop thinking about the past or worrying about the future. It will point the way to your answer.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to discover this book (I'm studying trapeze and have lost a parent), but then hesitant to actually read it, since I find I often dislike books which have a subject too close to my own life. However, this book was a real pleasure to read, and felt both familiar and very surprising. There are many beautiful moments here, and I quite enjoyed the episodic nature of the text.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

my mom gave this to me for my birthday
not that great. was a slightly interesting reminder how different other people's reactions may be & made me grateful for not having a life consumed with fear and doubt

[eb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. I was annoyed by the Deep Thoughts on yoga, the defensiveness of the narrator, and the cutesy ghost.

[Sarah Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book - I really wanted to like it but the narrator grated and there wasn't enough trapeze in it.