In this episode, Peter Biello and Orlando Montoya dive into In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf by Heather Christle. The memoir blends personal trauma, family history, and literary obsession, as Christle explores her past through the lens of Virginia Woolf’s life and work. The hosts discuss Christle’s emotional journey, from revisiting the site of a childhood assault to breaking into the grounds of a historic house tied to Woolf’s novel Orlando. It’s a thoughtful, surprising read about healing, memory, and the power of art to make sense of pain.

In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf by Heather Christle

Credit: Algonquin Books

 

In this episode of Narrative Edge from Georgia Public Broadcasting, hosts Orlando Montoya and Peter Biello explore In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf by Heather Christle. The book blends personal memoir with literary exploration, as Christle draws deep parallels between her life and that of Virginia Woolf. Peter and Orlando reflect on the book's unique structure and how Christle uses Woolf’s writing and biography to unpack her own experiences with trauma, identity, and family.

Christle’s memoir begins with a painful recollection of a sexual assault she endured as a teenager in London. Through multiple visits back to the site and through the lens of Woolf’s life and work, she attempts to reclaim the narrative of that experience and better understand her complicated relationship with her mother. The episode delves into how writing became Christle’s source of strength, with her literary “companion,” Woolf, helping guide her through the healing process.

The conversation also touches on themes of literary tourism, intergenerational connection, and how writers use art to make sense of their lives. Orlando Montoya shares how the book inspired him to reflect on his own past and the idea of facing one’s personal history. The hosts conclude by celebrating Christle’s bold storytelling and the memoir’s emotional depth, calling it a “surprisingly good read” that offers both insight and inspiration.