From a birthday spent in a Nazi concentration camp to a comedic scene in the lavish home of a wealthy heiress, the Fall 2011 issue of “Writings from Emeritus” is a collection of compelling short memoirs.
The newly released issue is the sixth volume of an annual publication from an autobiography writing class at Santa Monica College’s Emeritus College for older adults.
Pieces in the latest journal include a recollection of one of the writer’s 11th birthdays in the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp; a story of a wealthy woman who served Kentucky Fried Chicken food at her expensive home; and the tale of a young African American widow’s struggle to make sense of her loss.
In all, there are 25 pieces that provide first-person accounts of events big and small, in war and in peace, going back decades and bringing readers the depth and breadth of the human journey.
“Some students are experienced writers, and for some, this is their first published story,” said Monona Wali, the instructor of the autobiography class. “Together, they provide powerful evidence of why the memoir is such a popular and powerful art form.”
The journal is available for $7 through the Emeritus College at 1227 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401. For information, contact Wali at mononawali@mac.com or 310.459.4942.
Emeritus College, started in 1975, serves more than 3,400 students annually and offers more than 160 classes and special programs to older adults.
