A bit of a meandering tale about the how, why and what being Catholic meant to Mary McCarthy at various times throughout her life.

Mary McCarthy's relationship with Catholicism was a complex and evolving one. At certain points in her life, the tenets and rituals of the Catholic faith provided her with a sense of structure and meaning. The liturgy, the sacraments, and the community of believers all contributed to this feeling.

However, as she grew older and gained more life experiences, her views on Catholicism began to change. She started to question some of the dogmas and traditions that she had once accepted without question. This led to a period of spiritual turmoil and self-reflection.

Despite these challenges, Catholicism continued to play an important role in Mary McCarthy's life. It was a part of her identity, and she could never completely sever ties with it. In the end, her relationship with Catholicism was a unique and personal one, shaped by her own experiences, beliefs, and values.

"Memories of a Catholic Girlhood" is a memoirs book club selection. It is the only book I have read by Mary McCarthy.

In this book, the reader discovers that both of McCarthy's parents died due to the influenza epidemic of 1918 - 1919. This left Mary and her siblings as wards of their strict Catholic paternal grandparents in Minneapolis. However, the title can be a bit misleading. Her Catholic upbringing only lasted partway into her adolescent years. Subsequently, Mary lived with her maternal non - Catholic grandparents and attended an Episcopalian seminary in Seattle. We also learn that her heritage was mixed. Her maternal grandmother was Jewish and her grandfather was Presbyterian, in a way.

One of the more interesting aspects of this work is that McCarthy included a section after each chapter. This section contrasts reality with her fading memories, perceptions, and sometimes literary license. Mary McCarthy seems determined to let the reader know that telling the truth was not always something she thought was convenient! I liked the author's writing style and her extensive vocabulary. I hope to read more of McCarthy's fiction in the future.

I first read this remarkable piece in a house that Mary McCarthy visited. It was her Vassar '33 classmate's residence at Westport Harbor.

This was a truly grand house, featuring glazed bookshelves that were filled with classic literary works. Among them was McCarthy's "Group", which included the hostess as one of the characters.

This autobiography had a profound impact on me, both appalling and delighting in equal measure. It was like a collection of humans, almost as if in a zoo.

I read it in a magnificent corner room located above the library. There were a few other books present, such as Lenin's "Lettres à sa famille". Over the fireplace hung a Cambodian bow (intended for the hunt), and the bow windows offered a view of a non-archery foxhunt.

The hunt took place over a turnip field that has since witnessed the construction of the giant home of a society architect. This architect has a summer home a half mile down the road, right on the beach.

It is sheer genius to minimize the travel distances between seasonal homes. However, one might speculate that the seasonal change between homes may be, well, fewer and less dramatic.

This unique setting and the captivating story within the autobiography combined to create a memorable reading experience.

I didn't really enjoy this work.

Although it is a memoir penned by an established author of fiction, the author confessed in the introduction and in certain sections at the conclusion of each 'chapter' or'story' that the events might not have occurred precisely as she had just described them!

I'm afraid I'm not terribly impressed. In fact, I would rate it a 4.5 out of 10.

The lack of certainty regarding the accuracy of the accounts made it difficult for me to fully engage with the memoir.

While I understand that memory can be fallible and that creative license may be taken in a memoir, the repeated admissions of possible inaccuracies detracted from the overall credibility of the work.

I was hoping for a more straightforward and reliable narrative, but unfortunately, this memoir did not meet my expectations.

Perhaps other readers may have a different perspective, but for me, the uncertainties presented in this memoir made it a less than satisfying read.

Whew, what an upbringing she had! It was absolutely Dickensian. Her guardians were abusive, unloving, and essentially horrid. The way they treated her must have been truly traumatic.

McCarthy has an amazing laser-beam ability to cut right to the heart of people and their motivations. It is very interesting to read her thoughts on religion especially. She seems to have a deep understanding and unique perspective on this complex subject.

McCarthy is best known as the writer of the book "The Group." After reading her memoir, I have become really interested in reading one of her fiction books. I'm curious to see how her writing style and themes translate into fictional stories. I'm sure it will be a fascinating read and will give me a deeper appreciation for her talent as a writer.

This wasn't as coherent as I was expecting.

However, it was still interesting nonetheless.

It seems that there were some aspects that didn't quite flow as smoothly as they could have.

Perhaps there were some ideas that were not fully developed or connected properly.

Despite this, there were still elements that caught my attention and made it worth reading.

Nonetheless, it doesn't hold a candle to her fiction.

Her fictional works are truly remarkable, with engaging plots, well-developed characters, and beautiful prose.

In comparison, this piece feels a bit lacking.

It may have its own merits, but it simply can't match the quality and depth of her fictional writing.

Overall, while it had some interesting moments, it falls short of the high standards set by her fiction.

This was an extremely interesting book.

It delved into the tragic loss of the author's parents during the influenza epidemic in 1918 and the subsequent circumstances.

The four children who managed to survive the illness were unfortunately parceled out to different family members.

There, they were often treated as poor relations, and in some cases, they endured mistreatment and a lack of love.

The book was rather 'wordy'. Maybe this was because it was published in 1946, but I don't truly believe that's the reason.

After all, many of its contemporaries were far less so.

I guess this could be considered the misery memoir of its era.

It was interesting, yet it was also a bit of a hard read.

Overall, it provided a unique perspective on a difficult period in history and the experiences of those affected by it.

Despite its flaws, it was still a worthwhile read for those interested in such topics.

This book made me angry.

From the very beginning, the story seemed to lack a clear direction. The characters were not well-developed, and their actions and decisions often felt random and unconvincing.

The writing style was also a major turn-off. It was overly simplistic and lacked the depth and nuance that I expect from a good book. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the story.

Furthermore, the plot had several holes and inconsistencies that left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. I found myself constantly asking questions that were never answered, and the ending was rushed and unsatisfactory.

Overall, this book was a huge letdown. It failed to meet my expectations in almost every aspect, and I would not recommend it to anyone. I hope that the author will take the time to improve their writing skills and create a more engaging and well-crafted story in the future.

A used book store, which is well organized and has spotless used books, along with a reading seat in the biographies section, enabled me to notice this book by an author whom I had read decades ago.

Her autobiography, with its flowing, descriptive, and candid style, was truly eye-opening. It detailed the early loss of her parents and then the cruel and unconventional family that raised her.

Brilliant, rebellious, and precocious, Mary McCarthy recounts her early years in the same style as her novels.

To read this today, one must be interested in the history of life from 1915 - 1935 and how early experiences can have an impact on a prolific writer of a former era.

This book offers a unique perspective into the life and times of Mary McCarthy, providing valuable insights into her成长经历 and the events that shaped her as a writer.

It is a fascinating read for those who are interested in literature, history, and the human experience.

I found this book truly fascinating.

It provided such profound insights into the intense hunger for beauty that influenced Mary McCarthy's relationship with Catholicism.

It was within the church that she discovered art in the form of beautiful stained glass windows and mass cards.

She also found music there, as she had no access to it at home and thus had to rely on the church to hear it.

Moreover, the group of highly literate and caring nuns played a crucial role in nurturing her love for language and literature.

This is a story that vividly portrays deep deprivation and yet also showcases the remarkable resiliency of the human spirit.

And what makes it even more captivating is that Mary McCarthy writes with such elegance and skill.

Her words draw the reader in and make them experience every emotion and aspect of her journey.

It is a book that not only informs but also touches the heart and leaves a lasting impression.

I absolutely adored this book!

From the very first page, it had me completely hooked. The story was engaging, filled with interesting characters and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author's writing style was so captivating that I found myself lost in the world of the book. I couldn't put it down, and every spare moment I had, I was reading it.

The book had a great balance of excitement, mystery, and emotion. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think. It was a truly unforgettable reading experience.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. It's one that I will definitely be reading again in the future.

I'm truly intrigued by the memoir as a genre. It's fascinating to see the different forms it can take.

For instance, Ms. McCarthy in Memories of A Catholic Girlhood acknowledges the various ways truth can be reshaped when writing one's life story. An author might forget specific details and have to create them to fill in the blanks of her story, or perhaps she just wants to change the details to make the story more engaging. In McCarthy's case, she followed each chapter of her story with a chapter setting the record straight. At first, I found this quite admirable. However, at some point, I began to resent the interruptions to the flow of reading her story. Nevertheless, her writing, especially her description of people, delighted me throughout.

Coincidentally, I listened to the Writer's Almanac podcast on June 21, which, unbeknownst to me, is Mary McCarthy's birthday. The brief bio they chose to highlight her work included a professional spat she had with playwright and memoirist Lillian Hellman. Famously, McCarthy declared on a televised talk show, "Every word she [Hellman] writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'"

This incident has now made me better understand Ms. McCarthy's apparent compulsive need to differentiate between truth and fiction in her own memoir. It shows how seriously she took the concept of truth in her writing and how passionate she was about presenting an accurate account of her life.