--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as there can be a hole in these…" description: "\"“Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's remembered.”\" — Jane Alison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg" --- # Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir… ![“Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's remembered.” quote by Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg) > ““Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's remembered.”” [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A memoir should address both memory and omission, acknowledging what is left out as part of the story. **In simple terms:** Memoirs involve remembering and forgetting. Key Takeaway Embrace gaps as narrative elements. Themes memory forgetting storytelling truth identity Mood reflective introspective Type analytical literary When to use this quote - Writing a memoir - editing personal essays - archiving family histories - teaching creative nonfiction Key Concepts Narrative gaps subjectivity historicity Questions to Reflect On - What does the omission reveal about the author? - How do forgotten details shape your own story? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on gaps can obscure essential facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Memoirs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoirs/) [Narratives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narratives/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“A shaman and a writer each serve as their communities’ seers by engaging in extraordinary acts of conscientious study of the past and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-shaman-and-a-writer-each-serve-as-their-communities-seers-by/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [I had read too many memoirs that were written after the writer or the director was past his or her prime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-eszterhas/i-had-read-too-many-memoirs-that-were-written-after-the-writer-or-the/) [Joe Eszterhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-eszterhas/) > [I don't read memoirs. But if you write a memoir, I would think you'd want people to know, "O.K., look, I've taken some liberties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-don-t-read-memoirs-but-if-you-write-a-memoir-i-would-think-you-d/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [We are all looking for something of extraordinary importance whose nature we have forgotten; I am writing the memoirs of a man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/we-are-all-looking-for-something-of-extraordinary-importance-whose/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [The parts in which I elaborated on the sexual life of the doctor herself, the personal life, her relation with men \[in Memoirs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/the-parts-in-which-i-elaborated-on-the-sexual-life-of-the-doctor/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [“All forms of writing are an act of conception; writing must lead to creation. Each time that we write, we begin again. Writing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/all-forms-of-writing-are-an-act-of-conception-writing-must-lead-to/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Listen, in England people are already writing their memoirs at the age of 23.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/listen-in-england-people-are-already-writing-their-memoirs-at-the-age/) [Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/) > [Interest in reading memoirs is universal. What has happened is that people are writing about more and more outrageous things. Our threshold for weirdness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/interest-in-reading-memoirs-is-universal-what-has-happened-is-that/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [Whatever shall we do in that remote spot? Well, we will write our memoirs. 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If there are too many books right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-phillips/the-memoir-industry-is-what-s-the-word-under-regulated-i-think-it/) [Arthur Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-phillips/) > [My memoirs are full of humor, I had to change jokes because it was a little too dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/my-memoirs-are-full-of-humor-i-had-to-change-jokes-because-it-was-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I think the secret of memoirs is keeping those parts of yourself off the page, which makes what you do share more valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-barr/i-think-the-secret-of-memoirs-is-keeping-those-parts-of-yourself-off/) [Damian Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-barr/) > [I put off writing the first Left Behind book for a year because I got invited to assist Billy Graham in his memoirs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/i-put-off-writing-the-first-left-behind-book-for-a-year-because-i-got/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [Memoirs are going to be problematic sells for a while, though, because even if memoir means "based in memory," right now, in the collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-monroe/memoirs-are-going-to-be-problematic-sells-for-a-while-though-because/) [Debra Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-monroe/) ## More by Jane Alison > [I know that I was able to find my way out of most of my feelings by writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-know-that-i-was-able-to-find-my-way-out-of-most-of-my-feelings-by/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [When you get immersed in whatever you're writing, the world does suddenly get so filtered through what you're writing. And then of course what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-get-immersed-in-whatever-you-re-writing-the-world-does/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [In order to have a real life of any romance, there has to be a level of fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/in-order-to-have-a-real-life-of-any-romance-there-has-to-be-a-level/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [The state of love is this constant flux back and forth between who's saving and who's rescuing, who's wanting and not wanting, who's needing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/the-state-of-love-is-this-constant-flux-back-and-forth-between-who-s/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“Making a self can be like writing, and now I think writing can be like home: a space you make that you dwell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/making-a-self-can-be-like-writing-and-now-i-think-writing-can-be-like/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I was born in Australia and grew up in the foreign services. I had this kind of trans-Pacific life. I think I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-was-born-in-australia-and-grew-up-in-the-foreign-services-i-had/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [When you're waiting for a bus, the thing to do is smoke a cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-re-waiting-for-a-bus-the-thing-to-do-is-smoke-a-cigarette/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I think sometimes to still be angry is appropriate, but you want to be able to live with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-think-sometimes-to-still-be-angry-is-appropriate-but-you-want-to-be/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“This stream of watching made what was watched wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/this-stream-of-watching-made-what-was-watched-wanted/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I can't say that fantasy instead of the 3D world is fine or good, but I know in my own life I have certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-can-t-say-that-fantasy-instead-of-the-3d-world-is-fine-or-good-but/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I've always wanted to figure out how to do a walking story. I'd never figured out how to do one and have it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-ve-always-wanted-to-figure-out-how-to-do-a-walking-story-i-d-never/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [You have to want something or you're finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-finished/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I suppose you retire from trying. If you retire from trying, you think, "Maybe love will just come my way if I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-suppose-you-retire-from-trying-if-you-retire-from-trying-you-think/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“When you're sixteen or seventeen meaning can be anywhere. A drop of rain running down the window is a symbol, a song comes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-re-sixteen-or-seventeen-meaning-can-be-anywhere-a-drop-of/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [Sometimes there isn't a way to hug and make everything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/sometimes-there-isn-t-a-way-to-hug-and-make-everything-better/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) [Explore all 31 Jane Alison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) ## More Memoir quotes > [The memoir by women, read by female readers, is considered a market form, not "great literature."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-zambreno/the-memoir-by-women-read-by-female-readers-is-considered-a-market/) [Kate Zambreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-zambreno/) > [“A bookshop is a peaceful sanctuary of silent voices waiting to heard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala-naidoo/a-bookshop-is-a-peaceful-sanctuary-of-silent-voices-waiting-to-heard/) [Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/) > [I think some of the best sex writing is going to come from the unexpected sources, not the same old same old. Like I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kramer-bussel/i-think-some-of-the-best-sex-writing-is-going-to-come-from-the/) [Rachel Kramer Bussel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kramer-bussel/) > [“When I first met Billy I thought about sucking his eyes right out of their sockets. They’re like turquoise gum drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-treggiari/when-i-first-met-billy-i-thought-about-sucking-his-eyes-right-out-of/) [Jo Treggiari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-treggiari/) > [“I am not and autobiographical writer--one can't be without a solid and explicable self--and read all autobiographical writers with the same curiosity. What kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiyun-li/i-am-not-and-autobiographical-writer-one-can-t-be-without-a-solid-and/) [Yiyun Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiyun-li/) > [Memoirs are going to be problematic sells for a while, though, because even if memoir means "based in memory," right now, in the collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-monroe/memoirs-are-going-to-be-problematic-sells-for-a-while-though-because/) [Debra Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-monroe/) > [“FROM a six-year-old: Told by a well-meaning friend, ‘Alex, do you know what the one thing is that the more you give, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hamilton/from-a-six-year-old-told-by-a-well-meaning-friend-alex-do-you-know/) Susan Hamilton > [“I used to teach at an abused children's home. I told the kids, "You all have a manure pile of memories. Nothing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-o-donnell/i-used-to-teach-at-an-abused-children-s-home-i-told-the-kids-you-all/) [Rebecca O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-o-donnell/) > [A memoir takes some particular threads, some incidents, some experience from a person's life and gives an account of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/a-memoir-takes-some-particular-threads-some-incidents-some-experience/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [By calling it a memoir, I meant is as a collection of memories. I thought it was (a more) artful (title) than documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-merchant/by-calling-it-a-memoir-i-meant-is-as-a-collection-of-memories-i/) [Natalie Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-merchant/) > [“One thing I always admired about Daddy was the way he could bounce back from adversity. From the very beginning of his life, he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-k-campbell/one-thing-i-always-admired-about-daddy-was-the-way-he-could-bounce/) L.K. Campbell > [“As well as writing, 2004 saw my first attempt at wine making: the elixir of life. Unfortunately, my effort tasted more like the elixir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-briggs/as-well-as-writing-2004-saw-my-first-attempt-at-wine-making-the/) Craig Briggs > [A tree's wood is also its memoir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-jahren/a-tree-s-wood-is-also-its-memoir/) [Hope Jahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-jahren/) > [Maybe I will write a memoir, perhaps I'll do some essays, or maybe I will write a mystery story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-donald/maybe-i-will-write-a-memoir-perhaps-i-ll-do-some-essays-or-maybe-i/) [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) > [The man is always the last to know when Cupid has struck him -Anonymous, Memoirs of a Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/the-man-is-always-the-last-to-know-when-cupid-has-struck-him/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) [Browse all 1,163 Memoir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's remembered.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Alison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-narratives-a-memoir-can-be-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Memoir" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-narratives-a-memoir-can-be-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/jane-alison-19956_memoir_just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-nar_713583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's…” — Jane Alison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jane Alison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Just as there can be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-narratives-a-memoir-can-be-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-narratives-a-memoir-can-be-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```