Dear Rose # 13 - On Helen Garner, scrubbing toilets, and the 'blameless' husband

Rose is an amalgam of us - women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who are looking for somewhere they are seen, heard and listened to.

Dear Rose,

I’ve been reading Helen Garner’s diaries lately—specifically the collected works, How to End a Story. I’ve loved her writing since I first read The First Stone back in the 90s.

A few weeks ago, at a family gathering, my aunty came up to me and asked, “What are you reading?”

“Helen Garner’s diaries,” I told her.

Her face lit up. “That’s what I came to talk to you about! I’m reading them, too.”

“I’m obsessed,” I said.

“Me too.”

Today, I had to email her:

Hi H,

I’m almost through the second diary (I’ll finish it this morning), but I just had to write...

A few pages ago, Helen and V (her third husband) had a heated conversation while Helen scrubbed the toilet. She recalled him saying he’d never in his life cleaned a lavatory.

And then, I hit this part:

H: “Would you say that most of our difficulties are basically due to me?” V: “Well… I do think for the most part I’m pretty… blameless.”

Oh my god!!

Love, Emma x

What do you think?

Love,

Em xx