For Andrea Robin Skinner

 

Our family has not been left untouched by domestic violence. My wife comes from a community shattered by alcoholism and by the entire gamut of abuse, stemming in large part from war and cultural implosion.

 

She has worked with a vast array of victims of domestic violence, sexual and otherwise.

 

My father was verbally abusive, terrifyingly corrosive, volatile, and vituperative.

 

The story of Andrea Robin Skinner is a reminder of the horrors of sexual abuse, including its repercussions and its prevalence; one in every three girls and one in every six boys are victims of molestation, an unspeakable horror which takes so many shapes.

 

The iconic Alice Munro has well and truly tumbled from her pedestal, sending shockwaves through the relatively small, relatively homogenous Canadian culture establishment, the academic  Can. Lit. community, and the large, entrenched, many-headed Alice Munro industry.

I have frequently written  about my love of Alice Munro’s work, including here:

The Incomparable Alice Munro 1931-2024 – Robert McBryde (robertmcbrydeauthor.com)

 

While the wonders of her work obviously remain, lionizing the author as person has dissipated with the revelations of her complicity in her husband’s crime. As the writer Allan Stratton puts it:

 

Halos sit uncomfortably on human beings. The more we know about the lives of our leading lights, the better. Knowledge adds context to our understanding of their achievements and their failures. This is especially true when it touches areas that polite society prefers to keep secret. Child abuse is one of the worst crimes imaginable, and one of its worst effects is the shame felt by the victims. To know that it happens at all levels of society helps break the silence that creates that shame.

 

This is Andrea’s story, and the story of all victims.

 

Here are a series of links providing various perspectives on Andrea’s revelations:

 

https://thegatehouse.org/andrea-to-heal-is-truth-peace/

 

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/in-defence-of-alice-munro

 

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/how-did-what-happened-to-alice-munros-daughter-stay-quiet-so-long-start-with-our/article_98234b6e-3e38-11ef-95c0-d331023027ee.html

 

https://www.vox.com/culture/359588/alice-munro-daughter-andrea-skinner-gerald-fremlin-sexual-abuse

 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jul/08/alice-munro-knew-my-stepfather-sexually-abused-me-as-a-child-says-nobel-laureates-daughter-ntwnfb

 

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/how-did-what-happened-to-alice-munros-daughter-stay-quiet-so-long-start-with-our/article_98234b6e-3e38-11ef-95c0-d331023027ee.html

 

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion/the-literary-world-s-response-to-alice-munro-s-daughter-s-disclosure-1.7257489

 

The poem that begins this post is a Tanka, as described here:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tanka-poem-defined-plus-examples

Tanka poems follow a set of rules. They all have five lines and each line follows a pattern: the first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, the third line has five syllables, the fourth line has seven syllables, and the fifth line has seven syllables.

When written in English, tanka poems must meet criteria concerning their structure and content. The number of syllables in each line is the only stylistic constraint of tanka—there’s no need to rhyme or follow any specific meter.

Additionally, the third line must transition from the descriptive and image-focused beginning lines (called kami-no-ku) into a reflective metaphorsimile, or personification for the closing lines (shimo-no-ku). The subject matter can vary, but many poets choose a subject that’s emotionally stirring or quietly profound.

Robert McBryde Author: IndieReader Approved, nostalgia, hippies, pop music, 1960s, 1970s, psychedelic, blogging, social media,  CBC radio, literary non-fiction, tales, short stories, vignettes, immigrant experience, Quebec anglos, living in France,  childhood and animal stories, creative memoirs, satire, autobiography, family relations, fathers, raising children, aging, facing death, travel, social commentary, love and marriage, translation: English-French; French-English

 

Publisher’s Note:  Funny, manic, and wistful… self-deprecating creative nonfiction…The author, Robert McBryde, a professional translator, has been compared to David Sedaris for the sometimes-snarky autobiographical satire characterizing his literary sketches. Many of the stories in his new book, titled My Time with You Has Been Short but Very Funny, have been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio network.

Author’s Note:

I’ve written a new book of creative non-fiction titled My Time with You Has Been Short but Very Funny, recently published and now on the market. The book is based on stories that I told over the years as a writer/ broadcaster and host on CBC radio based in Quebec City, Canada.

The book is available via my website. The purchase links are at the bottom of the home page.

https://robertmcbrydeauthor.com/

Normally I will post at least two morning blogs per week. Stay tuned!

If you purchase a book via the platform of your choice, please leave a review!

Here is an excerpt from my IndieReader review:

“[This] memoir is… an enjoyable and touching read. Radio listeners in Quebec are already familiar with the wit and wisdom of Robert McBryde. The non-fiction collection, MY TIME WITH YOU HAS BEEN SHORT BUT VERY FUNNY, gives the rest of the world access to the author’s inimitable style.”

https://indiereader.com/book_review/my-time-with-you-has-been-short-but-very-funny/

“Please note that [this] book received a rating of 4 stars or above, making it “IndieReader Approved”, a designation we created to make it easier for readers and booksellers to identify quality indie titles. Post the sticker proudly, knowing that your title was judged by top industry professionals—not as merely a great indie book—but as great book, period.”

Here is a link to a cool group book review blog:

My Time With You Has Been Short But Very Funny, a review by Di

thebookreviewcrew.com

 

And this is a link to Goodreads. A great place to learn about new books and to read reviews.

Di’s review of My Time with You Has Been Short but Very Funny

goodreads.com

Here is a review from Amazon…

 

A Spirited Dive into Life’s Laughter and Tears (amazon.com)

 

Zipporah A five star review

A Spirited Dive into Life’s Laughter and Tears

This book is nothing short of a literary rollercoaster! The tales resonate with a unique vibrancy that perfectly captures the frenzied wit of someone who has clearly lived a spirited life. Each tale is imbued with an electrifying vibrancy, subtle notes of wistfulness, and some sharp edges of melancholy. McBryde seamlessly intertwines moments of frenzied humor with poignant reflections, making readers oscillate between laughter and tears. It’s a rollercoaster of a read!

If you’re looking to embark on a reading journey that will evoke deep laughter, contemplation, and an occasional tear, look no further. This book is a gem, and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

 

 

And lastly a review from The Quebec Chronicle Telegraph newspaper:

 

“This 124-page volume is indeed short, and funny, but at times dark and sad. Such is life…[That Robert McBryde] emerged as an enlightened and gentle man…is almost astounding.” The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph

 

You can follow me on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/robertmcbrydeauthor/

And on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-mcbryde-44051122/

Happy reading! 😊

Your friend,

Robert

https://robertmcbrydeauthor.com/