LG Thomson Interview (Part 1)

By Sebastian Vice and LG Thomson

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Modernist Dreams Brutalist Nightmares is killing it in the UK, but only doing decently in the US. Why should us Americans read this memoir (beyond it being outstanding)?

My guess is that most of the early UK sales were down to people who were familiar with the setting and then word spread about how it is so funny and relatable no matter where you are from. People who grew up in London in the 1950s see themselves and their lives reflected within the book. Readers born this century have told me how much it resonates with them, and I even had someone who grew up in Colorado tell me that my granny was like her granny except that her grannywore cowboy boots. It’s that word relatable, over and over again. Though the time and place of the book are specific – 1970s Scotland – the themes and truths of Modernist Dreams Brutalist Nightmares are universal. If you have ever felt like an outsider this book is for you. If you have ever had a difficult relationship with your parents this book is for you. If you hated school, were sexually abused, or ever wanted to self-destruct, this book is for you. If you are into twentieth century popular culture, this book is for you. Also it’s brutally funny and laughter is good for the soul. People of America – you need this book in your lives.

What’s your process for writing a memoir?

The first thing was that if I was going to do it at all, I had to do it honestly. I had to write from the sore place, as Tom Spanbauer would say. Even though I’d been thinking about it for a long time, this was much harder than anticipated, especially when it came to writing about the sexual abuse I’d endured, so I came up with a tactic where I imprisoned the perpetrator and everything about him within one chapter. Although what was in there was the truth, trying to confine it in that way wasn’t. In fact it was scarcely more honest than trying to ignore it altogether and because of that, the book wasn’t working. That’s when I realised I had to confront my fears head on, not just my fears about the abuse and the other things I was writing about, but also the fears I had about exposing myself. I spent the winter before the book came out in a state of terror and confided in Sebastian. He said that if I wasn’t scared it would be because I was writing weak shit and that my book wasn’t weak shit. That was a great boost - I laughed so much at the idea of writing strong shit – but ultimately it was extremely empowering to just let the fear go.

What are a few of your favorite memoirs?

I love David Sedaris’ writing. He doesn’t shy away from showing himself in a bad light and he’s very funny. He’s pretty prolific but if I had to pick one of his books it would be Calypso. With Sedaris, it’s all about the writing. He elevates the mundane and takes delight in the absurdity of life.

Castaway by Lucy Irvine tells the story of what happened after Irvine replied to a want ad by writer Gerald Kingsland seeking a “wife to live on a lonely island for a year”. It’s been a while since I read the book so I can’t vouch for the writing, although I’m sure it’s great as I zipped through it without complaint, but I have long-held fantasies about surviving on a tropical island so for me this one was all about the adventure.

A much more recent favourite is Fish Town by John Gerard Fagan. It tells about Fagan’s time living as an outsider in a small Japanese fishing village. He wrote the book on his phone, beginning the process when he was in the airport waiting for his flight home. Fish Town is an extraordinary book. The writing is evocative yet incredibly spare and Fagan is beautifully honest about his own failings.

Coincidentally, Castaway was written not far from where I live in the Scottish Highlands and John Gerard Fagan grew up not far from me and went to school in my home town. I didn’t know either of these facts until after I’d finished the books.Unfortunately, I have no coincidences with David Sedaris.

What did you learn about yourself in writing a memoir?

I don’t think it was so much about learning about myself as untwisting myself. I’d spent years – decades - bending myself out of shape, trying to please other people and fit into their – and society’s – ideas of what I should be like.

Now that I’ve written that statement, I realise that actually, I did learn a couple of things. I finally learned how to be myself. And, after years of being told there’s something wrong with me, I learned that although I am indeed a flawed individual - show me someone who isn’t - I am happy with who I am. That’s a pretty good feeling.

Any advice you have for people considering, or in the process of writing a memoir?

Be honest. Otherwise, what is the point?