Margaux Fragoso
Memoirist & Poet
Author of Tiger, Tiger
“The cosmic profundity of what [Fragoso] has experienced…is inextricable from her gift as a narrator and contemplator of her own experience.” —The New York Observer
"Fragoso writes with unguarded grace....” —Susanna Sonnenberg
Margaux Fragoso is the author of the memoir Tiger, Tiger. Fragoso’s short stories and poems have appeared in Literary Review and Barrow Street, among other literary journals. She received her PhD in English and Creative Writing at Binghamton University in New York. She lives near New Orleans.
Of her memoir, Alice Sebold wrote, “Tiger, Tiger will start a thousand conversations. Margaux Fragoso achieves the unthinkable with empathic clarity: she humanizes a pedophile. In doing so, she makes his crime unimaginably more frightening. Her portrayal of their relationship is shocking, revelatory, and fearless. As the story of a victim, it is gripping; as a work of literature, it’s a triumph.” Nick Flynn writes, simply, “Tiger, Tiger is stunning, in all the possible manifestations of that word.” The book was named an Outstanding Debut of 2011 by Kirkus—one of twelve books and just three memoirs.
(This review is copied and pasted here from "The Blue Flower Arts" website. They are "A literary speakers agency representing some of the most acclaimed authors of our time.)
I have always been drawn to reading biographies and auto-biographies. Being a survivor I was interested in someone elses important story of survival so I picked the book up at the library. I can not say anything more about the author than the wordsmiths above in the critiquing of this book. The one thing that I am interested in is of course.....The next step.
What happened with the relationship with Margaux and her parents when everyone found out about Peter?
Was there any more investigation if he had molested the two boys in his care?
Did anyone else come forward to claim they had been molested by Peter?
What of any of the people who may have been molested?........Have any of the survivors gone on to molest others?
I believe in looking forward to the next step in order to make sure it will slow down the occurrences of child sexual abuse.
I did think it very kind and loving the way Ms. Fragoso finished her book. She spoke of a time with her young daughter. It was a tradition she would continue while there were other traditions that would not continue.
I send good energy to the brave Ms. Margaux Fragoso and thank her for sharing the story of her bravery. I would welcome another book to explain what her "next steps" were after Peter killed himself. Writing out your personal step by steps may not be the exact steps the next survivor would take but having some kind of healthy steps written down of your account may be just the ticket to help someone get out of a tradition they find themselves groomed into. Once again Thank You to Ms. Margaux Fragoso.
