Beauty Laid Bare

Beauty Laid Bare is Lisa Brener's lyrical coming-of-age memoir set in vibrant and moody New Orleans in the 1950's, '60s and '70s. Her parents' unhappy marriage and its impact on the family creates an emotional void for Lisa. At 11, she bravely reaches out to the larger world and discovers a place in the local theatre. We follow her trajectory from early success on the stage to a competitive Performance Arts Boarding school, far from home. There Lisa has an emotional breakdown, resulting in a traumatic stay in a mental hospital for much of her teen years. Despite the abuse she suffers at the hospital, Lisa finds the inner strength to transcend circumstances and pursue her deep desire to live, for creative expression and connection. Her inspiring journey chronicles how Lisa overcame obstacles and challenges, succeeding in college and then law school. Lisa not only survives, but also finds love and creates a family while becoming a pioneer in women's rights, and possibly the most influential employment attorney in Louisiana. Beauty Laid Bare is ultimately a profound meditation on forgiveness and gratitude, and our ability to see beauty everywhere in our lives.