Stay Me, Oh Comfort Me: Journals and Stories, 1933-1941 by M.F.K. Fisher

Stay Me, Oh Comfort Me: Journals and Stories, 1933-1941 Reviews

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  Elizabeth

  Sadly M.F.K Fisher destroyed a huge amount of her writing—almost everything she had—sometime, I believe, in the 40s, and it would have shed a lot more light on her fascinating and complex life and relationships. However, the 3-volume set of journals and papers, of which this is one, are very helpful in addressing our need to know more about the mysterious MFK. As always, the writing is wonderful. This book covers one of the most turbulent emotional periods for her.
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  Alison

  I love MFK Fisher and this collection of journals is much more personal than others. It's a lot about her marriage and the health of her husband. I love hearing about what it was like to be in California in the late '30s and '40s before WWII. She talks a lot about different houses that they build or renovate and that is fascinating too.
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  Mycala

  I couldn't bring myself to finish this one, so I won't rate it. It was too heartbreaking for me. I do love her writing, but this one I couldn't do. At least not at this point in my life. Perhaps later.
• 
  Fishface

  I loved this one. It explained all the underpinnings of my favorite MFK Fisher memoir ("The Gastronomical Me") and told me so many things I wanted to know about her real life. Lovingly told by her family.
• 
  Libuse

  MFK Fisher’s account of the early years of her life, first during her ill-fated marriage to Alfred Fisher, and then to her mortally ill second husband, Dillwyn Parrish, is a brave account of both a privileged and tormented life. Fisher, best known for her work as a travel and food writer, allows the readers a glimpse into her early years, with regard to both her relationships with her family and both of her husbands. Although her volumes of published work speak to her accomplishments as a writer, she spends much of the book detailing the many impediments to accomplishing what she views as adequate enough work. Not the least of these distractions is her marriage to her second husband, who is ill throughout almost all of their short marriage. His passing and her analysis of their life together and her struggle to find happiness and normalcy despite the many trials his illness presents, make for a fascinating thread that holds much of the book together.
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  Eden

  I preferred reading MFK's books of letters, or stories, separately. I had a hard time getting into the flow of the book. But reading a mish-mash of her work was an interesting idea; seeing how her life at that moment in time affected her art, and how her art seemed to be such a lifeline when time's were tough.
• 
  Dottie

  Fisher's writing simply put is mesmerizing for me -- I love reading her books -- feel as if she's someone who would have been interesting to know -- feel I know her from what she gives the reader of her works.
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  Gloria

  I purchased this book on impulse, mainly because I have admired her writing, but knew nothing about her.
  
  Quite moving.
  
  
  
• 
  Barbara Rice

  So much sadness in one life.
• 
  Laura Alice Watt

  her second volume of memoirs, these following her life from the early days of her first marriage, in 1933, through the death of her second husband in 1941. These aren't exactly memoirs, but rather journal entries (and a few stories) - as I have been keeping a journal myself since the age of 13, it was wonderful to see similarities in how we puzzle over our lives, or chastise ourselves for various misgivings or faults. Her life was so rich, and her writing so evocative, this book inspired me, both to live life more richly and to try to describe it more fully in my writing. (5/98)
• 
  Robin Ryan

  I love a good personal journal read, and this was a good one. MFK Fisher's life was interesting and she wrote it down with honesty and beauty.
• 
  robyn

  one of the really great writers, in any genre.
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  Bridget Rector

  Read this 15 years ago and found it indescribably moving. Rereading it now and happy to find it retains its power.
• 
  Avis Black

  Available at the Internet Archive:
  
  https://archive.org/details/staymeohc...
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  Denise M

  I learned about MFK Fisher through reading books by and on Julia Child, and became a big MFKF fan with the first book of hers I read, the fabulous, The Gastronomical Me. And I have read many more since then, that's how much I like her. She has said wonderful things like (paraphrasing) how cooking is love (you cook for your family, partner, children, with friends and family), and wrote about the foods and recipes she tried in 1930's-1950's France. She had an intelligent sense of humour and was quite a modern woman for her times. While this book is not my favourite of hers, there are some interesting reminiscences that complement my earlier readings. Glad to have read it.