It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure

by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser

Book Overview

"A perfect distraction and inspiration, and a collection that begs to be shared. Be warned, though. If you plan to lend out your copy, start out with two. Once it leaves your hands you'll never see it again."
--Denver Post (on Not Quite What I Was Planning)

The editors of the New York Times bestseller Not Quite What I Was Planning are back with its much-anticipated sequel, It All Changed in an Instant. With contributions from acclaimed...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061719439
• ISBN13: 9780061719431
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.8" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

it all changed in an instant....

although i am a contributing memoirist to this particular 'smith magazine' tome, and am totally addicted to submitting six worders and stories on-line to smith (when i have a working computer), this book is a meal for the mind! it is amazing what one can convey in the space of six little words. it is small enough to fit in a backpack, but don't let the small size fool you - it has a BIG heart! a great gift idea! just try to NOT write your own sixes once you finish with this latest volume! i am hooked on six words!

READING THIS BOOK YOU LAUGH ALOT

All groups should have a copy of, IT ALL CHANGED IN AN INSTANT... Everyone I know who has seen this book thought it goes through all emotions. Lots of laughter. You will be surprised at all the Celebraties who are included. WARNING: You may start thinking in six-word memoir format! Which your friends will find funny. Great Valentine's Day gift for anyone .

Fantastic book, great for all occasions.

I can't believe it's finally out! After obsessively looking at six word memoirs online these editors have gleaned the best of the best. There's so much diversity in thought and storytelling in a hyper-limited platform. Whenever I tell people about the book they usually say that they're really into the idea or they've already got one or gets them religiously for friends in hospitals or are at a turning point in their life. At first I thought the idea was a too precious, but there's so much depth and humor in these books--- I became addicted and started writing ones of my own. I think this book is a must have for writers. It inspires and is a great exercise.

A New Poetic Form

What the authors of the Six-Word Movement have done is create a new poetic form. It's a universe, a story in six words, the briefest of prose poems. Their latest book incorporates all the whimsy and intelligence of their other books and I recommend It All Changed in an Instant--to everyone!

fun and irreverent yet poignant

This is a fun, often irreverent, with many poignant entries in this entertaining succinct memoir collection. The selected contributors use six words to describe their "thoughts". With commentary like Edward Doerr's "Age twenty-tree, scored pallbearer's hat trick" or "Wife away, pizza today, diet tomorrow" by David Logan, the audience will empathize or laugh with some as for many of us they hit home. Others are sad like Noema Abbott's profound "Tiny son dying in my arms". Best read leisurely over several weeks, It All Changed in an Instant is entertaining yet deep as summed up by Lisa Anne Auburch's "Everything I touch turns to mold" and Brooke Marie Gorman's "Story of my life? bad timing" as compared with the ultimate optimist Phil Skversky when he says: "Alzheimer's meeting new people every day". Readers will appreciate the short and snappy deep collection that includes classic concise Yogi-isms while making up their own - even the shopping list, I critique. Harriet Klausner