Book 6: The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy
The first time I read Deborah Levy was when I was doing my world reading challenge in 2016. She came up as my writer for South Africa, somehow. Now that I think about it, I could have read something else for South Africa. At the time, her memoir called Things I Don’t Want to Know fit perfectly into my life, though. It somehow soothed me to know that amid such tumult, one could still live with hope. For this reason, I had already expected The Cost of Living to make me feel warm inside, to offer me comfort.
In this book, Deborah talks about her life after her divorce, how she moves into a ramshackle apartment with her old-enough daughter, and tries to continue writing her books in a shed provided by her landlord. She talks about her changed life, writing in the winter cold, and grief of parting from a long-time partner who wasn’t right for her, and she wasn’t right for him.
I read this book at the beginning of the year, so I apologise for the tardy posting schedule. However, I do think that some memoirs offer a solace by providing a vulnerable look at who we are in times of grief, and yes, in times of joy. Perhaps that’s why I enjoy reading (some) memoirs. They take us closer to the pulse of our beating hearts.
🌟 3/5
amarllyis 
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