#unreadbookshelf2020 ( )

At first blush, it looks as if Julia Cameron told the unvarnished truth about herself and let her husbands off the hook. But in the balance of things, it seems more that she gave the devil his due. Her first husband, filmmaker Martin Scorsese, was having an affair with actress Liza Minnelli at the demise of their marriage. Shame on Scorsese. But it wasn’t the affair that doomed the marriage, says Cameron, it was her alcohol and drug addictions. Several times during the years following their divorce, Scorsese came to Cameron’s aid, once covering the bill for an expensive stay in a London hospital. The argument could be made that he only did it because of the daughter they both adored. It was still a really, really nice thing to do.

Second husband Mark Bryan continues to reap financial benefit from the workshops that he and Cameron developed based on her bestselling The Artist’s Way. The divorce decree permanently protects Bryan’s financial interests in the work they did while they were married. That’s not as predatory as it may seem. It was Bryan’s vision and support that pushed Cameron along as she wrote The Artist’s Way, which is now nearing four million copies in print worldwide. She does not hesitate to give him credit for his contribution to her success, nor does she hesitate to chastise his hurtful behavior during their painful split and divorce.

Practicing what she preaches, Cameron’s daily morning pages, plus three pages of daily writing, has resulted in the publication of more than thirty books. Floor Sample is a page-turner, with a little bit of Hollywood insider, a lot about the challenges of an alcoholic’s sobriety, and the harrowing life of someone living always on the brink of inherited madness. Interwoven is the story of becoming an artist, step by step, with fierce focus and hard-won success.

Art is a process, she tells us, and for those among us who have the will to follow that process--over and over and over again--the rewards are there for the taking, both in the world of the mundane and the world of the spirit. ( )

This is a truthful book that delves into some very painful areas of Ms. Cameron's life. I admire the tenacity it takes to be a clear, productive, and prolific writer. ( )

Julia Cameron is probably best known as the author of The Artist's Way and many other books about creativity. I always find her advice helpful. I raced through her memoir. She's had such an interesting life. I didn't know that she was married to Martin Scorsese or that she was a recovering alcoholic. Knowing that I can see how she applies the principles of AA to dealing with creative blocks. ( )

At first I thought the book seemed to be preachy and as a result I had trouble relating. But, I think ultimately it is a book that all can relate to because she really is a 'Floor Sample' for her writings and teachings. She has worked through serious issues yet continues to struggle foward in life, both personally and professionally. She doesn't rest on her laurels or use her issues as a crutch or an excuse. ( )