Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir of Loss and Rediscovery

By Natasha Trethewey

Memorial Drive is a moving and lyrical memoir about loss, grief, family, and the power of music. The author, Natasha Trethewey, explores the complex relationship with her father, a jazz musician who died suddenly when she was 19. Through vivid memories and evocative prose, Trethewey weaves together a tapestry of her life, from her childhood in the South to her adult life in Boston.

The book's title, Memorial Drive, refers to the road that runs along the Charles River in Boston. It was a place where Trethewey often walked with her father and where she found solace after his death. Memorial Drive is more than just a memoir; it is a meditation on the nature of grief and loss and the power of art to heal.

A Story of Grief and Loss

Memorial Drive opens with Trethewey's father's death. She is 19 years old and a college student in Atlanta. The news of her father's death is sudden and unexpected, and Trethewey is devastated. She does not know how to cope with her grief and finds herself lost and alone.

Trethewey's father was a jazz musician, and his music was a central part of her life. After his death, Trethewey turns to music for comfort. She listens to his records and sings his songs. Music helps her to connect with her father and to feel his presence in her life.

Trethewey's memoir is not just a story of grief and loss. It is also a story of hope and redemption. Through her journey, Trethewey learns to heal her wounds and to find joy in life again. She discovers the power of love and friendship and the importance of forgiveness.

A Celebration of Family

Memorial Drive is also a celebration of family. Trethewey writes about her relationship with her mother, her sister, and her grandmother. She explores the complex dynamics of family life and the ways in which family can both hurt and heal.

Trethewey's mother is a strong and independent woman who has always been there for her daughter. She is a source of love and support, and she helps Trethewey to cope with her grief. Trethewey's sister is a talented artist who is always there for her sister. She is a source of inspiration and laughter, and she helps Trethewey to see the beauty in life.

The Power of Music

Music plays a central role in Memorial Drive. Trethewey's father was a jazz musician, and his music was a central part of her life. After his death, Trethewey turns to music for comfort. She listens to his records and sings his songs. Music helps her to connect with her father and to feel his presence in her life.

Trethewey also finds solace in music after her father's death. She writes about the power of music to heal and to bring people together. She writes about the way that music can express emotions that words cannot.

A Journey of Self-Discovery

Memorial Drive is also a journey of self-discovery. Through her journey, Trethewey learns to heal her wounds and to find joy in life again. She discovers the power of love and friendship and the importance of forgiveness.

Trethewey's memoir is a powerful and moving story. It is a story of love, loss, family, and the power of music. It is a story that will stay with readers long after they finish reading it.

Awards and Recognition

• National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography
• Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
• Hurston/Wright Legacy Award
• NAACP Image Award