- Written in the first person; told from one persons point of view
- Based on the truth
- Reveals the feelings of the writer
- Focused on one event; about one point in the authors life
Some great memoirs have been written - here are two good ones and some excerpts showing some great language from others:
The Back of Gisborne
Retardis roaring, crates rattling and my video camera is rolling. As we
sweep down the first corner it seems like we just nicked a little road out of
this vast landscape. ‘Look at those woolly ewes, ’I say. As we roll pass the
ewes Dads dog starts barking.
The RT start’s crackling, “Here we go, ’I say rolling my eyes. Dad
and one of the boys are talking like normal, yapping on about the history of
this magnificent gorge and the station. Look at the width of that river! It has
to be at least 300m across. Just now there’s only a little stream in the middle,
but it would be a different story if it was raining. The boulders must be up to
six or seven tonnes scattered across the river. It is just mind blowing being
lucky enough to get a glimpse of this vast landscape.
As we clambered down the track I saw in the distance pine trees
blanketed over hectares of farmland, well what used to be farmland. We finished
following the track, now we’re at the bridge it seems way longer from this side.
I ask Dad ‘’why do they have all these bumps across the bridge’’
‘’I don’t know,’’ he replies.
‘’What are we doing next? ‘’ I ask.
‘’Going to pick up some bush cattle’’ Dad replies, he always talks a lot,
but not to me.
‘’Oh no they will be mad ‘’ I say, I know why because they always run
wild.
Bye bye spectacular gorge.
Fletcher
Our Mansion of Wood
I roared through the lush green field on my motorbike soon we arrived at
our mini forest in the middle of the farm.
We tumbled down the jagged bank at the base of the forest, OUCH the
stupid blackberry bush, how did I not see that, I tore the thornnow my poor hand is bright red
I tore the thorn out, now my poor hand is bright red. I continue fighting my way through the
terrible overgrowth. The forest is not on my side I thought.
I finally got through the what felt like I have just struggled through least
1kilometre of whirled and twisted scrub, suddenly…..I hear a blood curdling scream.
I looked straight up. A magnificent
hawk was gliding through the crystal clear sky with a fluffy, brown, rabbit
brawling for its life. Poor little rabbit I thought.
“Go get wood for the hut,” I yelled
“Nah,” moaned Kirsten.
“Get lost then,” I said.
“Yeah,” echoed Zaid’s voice as he was collecting sticky pine bark and
wood [branches].
The sound of trees rustling and birds chirping filled the forest air
fantails fluttering around engulfing us, gathering bugs in their smooth beaks.
“We’ve got lots of wood!” yelled the three others.
“Let’s get building” I replied.
We started creating the wooden hut. I found a box of old rusty nails lying
in a pile of pine needles. I got a piece of strong wood and started whacking
the nail into the branches. As I turned to grab a nail I got a glimpse of a
stoat jumping from tree to tree.
“What!” I yelled.
“What did you say?” replied Zaid.
“Nothing,” I said acting innocent.
I continued whacking the nail into the wood. “Yawch” I screamed I know
it was a bad idea. We finally finished building our hut, we covered the ground
with pine needles. 10 or so minutes later it collapsed. “Too bad,” we all said.
We roared back through the lush green paddocks and we returned home.
Thomas
“We’ve had a house fire” mum said sadly.
What! I
thought, I felt my whole world shrink and then crumble away like dust in the
wind. I didn't believe her.
Maddi
My Aunty’s sparkly pink nails were finished and mine were complete
too, then an idea popped into my head.
I know we can get our toes done
too and so we did.
Hoana –
Rose
When the razor started, it sounded like a million bumble bees and
it vibrated like a machine. I was terrified, and all the people looked worried.
The tears ran down my Mum’s face like a mini waterfall, it felt like
butterflies were flying around in my stomach. Tiffany was starting to shave,
when she shaved near my fringe the whole thing just fell off; it felt like my heart
was breaking.
Riley
My heart was pounding then it stopped. We stopped there was
complete silence you could hear people screaming on other rides and the sound
of rides spinning. I’d never been this high before. I heard metal screeching I
was really scared…
Keelan
Suddenly we are going real fast, I feel like Superman flying
through the air, I wonder if maybe that’s why they call it the Superman ride.
Jackson
Mum blows a kiss good-bye and I
catch it into my heart. I want to turn back, but I know it’s all been paid for
and I will have to go no matter what.
I take my last gasp of New Zealand air, then headed off for my first gasp of Australian
air.
Faith
NO backing down. DON’T think just do. 3.2.1. I put my arms straight
up in the air, my body was so tight, my butt was squeezed, my tummy was sucked
in, my toes were pointed and my body was level with the beam.
I smile and present then I start to think I want to
back down, I don’t know if I can do this!
Aliana
Sitting on the chair was a….. Puppy i felt
gobsmacked. I ran to him and hugged him he squirmed like a jiggly jelly “Stop
squirming” I said.
He was huge; his lips hung down like a
necklace! Ewww he dribbles… Saliva!! His bronze coat shimmered in the sun, His
brown eyes twinkled.
“Can’t wait till he gets
older,” I said excitedly. “I think I
will call him Fizzy!”
Milan
When my bag was full I put it in the boat. I dived back under to
get another kina, but from the corner of my eye I saw the biggest, ugliest
stingray come up from the long green seaweed. It went straight underneath me I
thought I was going to die; I tried to stay still as it swam around me. I felt
the power of its wings up against my arms.
What a relief the stingray
just ignored me and swam away.
Lucas
“It’s no use no one can hear us!” I shouted to my sister. “Why did
we lock ourselves in this terrifying, small, stupid cupboard in the first place?”
“Because we thought it
might be funny,” my sister replied.
Ashlyn
Even
though she is very sad, my Mum tells me that my Nan is now in a better place
and she is in no more pain. This makes me feel better knowing Nan is in a
better place but, It also makes me sad because I want to have her here with us.
Elijah
The Stratosphere is a new
ride at Rainbows end. As I walk nervously to the huge ride, my feet start
shaking, the ride stares at me with dark red eyes. “I might regret this” I
think to myself.
Brodan
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