Between Mexico and Poland

by Lily Brett

Brett's style makes a virtue of candour - SYDNEY MORNING HERALDLily Brett's third book of non-fiction once again offers the unsparing Brett candour full-on as it traces a number of physical and emotional journeys. This is the voice her readers have come to rely on - insistently honest, unflinching, self-mocking and always hilarious.In Mexico, she tries to write a novel, while the toilet explodes in the house, the gardener hoses her notes and the young maid questions her about plastic surgery. In Poland she retraces the steps of her much-loved character from Too Many Men, Ruth Rothwax, and finds herself surprised to hear Ruth's words coming out of her own mouth. In between she writes for the first time about the devastation of losing her New York home to fire and having to rebuild not only a life but a history. She also offers powerful insights into her adopted city New York, both before and after the tragic events of September 11.Brett's witty and audacious eye captures thos moments of humour, pain and love in life that move and haunt us all. Between Mexico and Poland is Lily Brett at her very best.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club, Essays, Biography

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lizp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book.

The book progressed well. It’s about Lilt Brett herself, a brilliant author and a neurotic person,
who suffers from many anxieties. She’s an Australian, the daughter of Holocausr survivors, who lives in New York with the love of her life, her husband David who’s a great artist, and their kids. It's a truly personal account of Lily’s life. It explains the adverse impact on her life of being the daughter of holocaust survivors very effectively. It speaks of the devastating loss of her New York home by fire. It also covers the impact first hand of the 9/11 attacks extremely well.

This is a very witty, well written book. I’m a big fan of Lily Brett’s writing.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very personal, in many ways dovetails with her fiction although this is nonfiction. At times boring and too detailed at other time enthralling, fascinating and well written. I would suggest reading Too Many Men before reading this book

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just now finished this book ( recommended by Tracey Reid) and although I found the first quarter pretty slow, I was mesmerized by the rest. It's a very personal account of the life of lovable but neurotic author lily Brett. It explains the impact on her life of being the daughter of holocaust survivors, as well as the impact first hand of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. If you love Too many Men, one of my all time favorite book, you will love this insight into its remarkable author.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a pleasant book to read. Brett's anxiety is palpable, it made me feel tense the whole time i was reading it. I found her self centredness quite annoying, but that actually added to the impact of the book, rather than detracting.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Towards the end of this book, Lily Brett describes herself as having "a lot of trouble restraining (her) less than rational, less than reasonable, impulses" when she's in Poland, but it seems to me that this statement applies to her personality no matter where she is. While this can be somewhat irritating, I do really enjoy her honesty and her ability to acknowledge her "less than rational" side, her extremes of highs and lows, her anxieties and obsessions. Her emotions can change from moment to moment and often for no apparent reason and so often verge on the extreme.
While this certainly can be classified as a travel book, taking us to Mexico, New York and Poland, it seems to be more about Lily than the places she visits, despite some very detailed descriptions and imagery of these places and their inhabitants.
Of particular interest and poignancy are the descriptions of the writing process, the devastating fire in their New York loft, the 9/11 experience and visits to Auschwitz and Birkenau. Lily's Jewishness is also a very central theme, as is her love for her parents, her husband, artist David Rankin, and her children.
Despite some irritating, and self indulgent idiosyncrasies and self absorption, I really enjoy the honesty and openness in Lily Brett's writing. ****

[Sally Edsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could also be titled Between Too Many Men and Gotta Have Balls, two of Brett's novels.

The divide between her fictional characters & self is often very porous.

I loved the section about the experience of being in NYC & seeing the twin towers come down on 9/11, and the personal impact on Brett, her family & friends & New Yorkers generally.

Equally as wonderful was her most recent (then) trip to Poland, a trip Brett has made many times, once in the company of her father, a survivor of Auschwitz-Buchenwald.

Brett makes a heartfelt case against racism, and mistreatment of Others, be they gay, Muslim etc.

Brett is neurotic - something she readily acknowledges with candid wit.

Her great life partner, husband, artist David Rankin, and father are lovely support cast in this.

There's a terrific section dealing with an intense period of writing ( Too Many Men) that I found fascinating.

I love reading Lily Brett, and recommend this one.

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Lily Brett and I deliberately took my time savouring each section of this very personal book of reminiscences.Mexico, The Fire,New York, The Attack and finally Poland. All five sections had their own highlights some poignant & others incredibly funny. I think only Lily Brett could combine the horror of walking into the barracks where her father endured such misery with stories of buying stacks of Polish Wedel’s chocolate only a page or two later. I now have to eat some of this chocolate.

[Estela Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Lily Bret's very personal writing, both fiction and non fiction, very real, very moving. I enjoyed seeing my Mexico through her eyes. To glimpse at her inheritance as a Holocaust survivors child. To relive 9/11 through her New Yorker eyes.

[Velvetink]

8/10/2013 1 of 20 books @ $10