Memoirs give the reader a peek into an author's life as they remember it.
Government Girl: Young and Female in the White House by Stacy Parker Aab (2010)
Written by a White House intern and staffer during the Clinton years, this memoir provides an insider's view of a young woman's life in a high-pressure environment that demanded extreme dedication, professionalism, and an ability to handle occasional highly charged moments. Aab masterfully uses flashbacks to tell her story, which includes scenes from her none-too-easy childhood in Detroit and the busy college years when she interned in George Stephanopoulos' office. Later, when working as a special assistant to Paul Begala, Aab experienced the media frenzy when the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal broke--and felt the shadow that fell over female White House interns who had done nothing wrong. A sobering look at the challenges faced by ambitious, intelligent young women who do all the right things but who still must use caution when dealing with the powerful men who hold sway over their professional opportunities. (SC)
Ecco; ISBN: 9780061672224
Iron Heart by Brian Boyle (2009)
This is an amazing story about the indomitable human spirit and the resilience and inner strength of one young man. Brian Boyle was a star athlete and had just graduated high school on his way to college when tragedy stuck. He was involved in a head on collision with a dump truck that should have killed him. Instead it left him in a vegetative state with severe injuries. This book is about his determination to fight back and take control of his life and come back strong. He not only survives his ordeal but three and a half years later crosses the finish line for the Ironman Triathlon in Kona Hawaii. (TS)
Skyhorse; ISBN: 9781602397712
Losing Mum and Pup by Christopher Buckley (2009)
Christopher Buckley has accomplished the nearly impossible: he has written a sometimes-laugh-out-loud-funny book about the death of his parents. In this account of the year during which both of his parents died, Buckley's tone is a pitch-perfect blend of loving respect and wry humor. Buckley's famously stylish mother, Patricia Taylor Buckley, died first, which led to a battle royale between her husband and son about the nature of her memorial service. The author's father, William F. Buckley, already in declining health, took a turn for the worse after his wife's death, dying less than a year later. By the time Christopher takes the TV remote control--which his elderly father had used with great abandon (and in blatant disregard of the viewing preferences of others)--and places it in his father's coffin, you know these people well enough to appreciate the moment and cry/laugh yourself. (SC)
Twelve; ISBN: 9780446540940
This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett (2010)
"It was 1972 and the Carol Burnett Show was in the middle of its run. There was never a day at work that wasn't fun." This quote from This Time Together summarizes just about everything in the book--FUN! Wouldn't it be amazing to have a job that was always fun? Reading this book brought back so many wonderful memories from both The Carol Burnett Show, as well as The Garry Moore Show. (Most people younger than I am have probably never heard of Garry Moore or Durwood Kirby and to those people I say--sorry, you missed a treat.) Carol, and it just seems right to refer to her as Carol, mentions many of the high points from her shows including the now famous dentist sketch with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, reoccurring characters like crazy Mrs. Wiggins, costumes such as the Gone with the Wind dress--curtain rod and all--and special times with Julie Andrews, Beverly Sills, Jim Nabors, and even Elizabeth Taylor. It's not possible to read this book without smiling. What a treat! (LK)
Harmony Books; ISBN: 9780307461186
Paula Deen, a Memoir: It Ain't All about the Cooking by Paula Deen (2007)
The ebullient, bordering on bawdy Paula Deen, maven of "Southern Cooking" both on the Food Network and in her popular Lady and Sons restaurant in Savannah, bares her soul in this engaging memoir. Severely agoraphobic following the deaths of her parents and trapped in a marriage to an alcoholic, it took many years for Paula to realize that her cooking expertise and innate vivacious and friendly personality could be the keys to a successful career. Along the way she sprinkles in recipes which were symbolic of or key to the significant stages of her struggle and helped her to be the lady she is today. If you enjoy reading about women who overcame distress and huge barriers to find happiness, this memoir is for you. (RN)
Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9780743292856
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (2005)
A few days before Christmas, Didion's only daughter fell ill with what seemed at first flu, then pneumonia, then complete septic shock; she was put into an induced coma and placed on life support. A week later, just as Didion and her husband were sitting down to dinner, he suffered a massive and fatal coronary. Didion copes with these traumatic events by writing about the year that followed, detailing in stark, powerful prose how she survived intense personal loss and what she learned about the meaning of illness and death, marriage and motherhood, and finally, life itself. Long revered as one of America's most brilliant and uniquely talented writers, Didion bravely confronts her painful experiences and crafts an unforgettable memoir. (TB)
Alfred A. Knopf; ISBN: 97807394696
Thin is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel (2008)
After years of compulsive dieting, Frankel decided to investigate why her self-esteem was so attached to her weight. She went on the "no-diet' which involved throwing away her scale, eating what she was in the mood for and instead of exercising she "exorcized;" digging into her past to trace the roots of her self-image problem. She describes her "fat phobic" mother, being the victim of relentless bullying in high school, her high pressure job at Mademoiselle, her first marriage ending with her husband's death from cancer, and falling in love again. What results is a bittersweet, funny memoir of the ways our bodies both serve and rule women. (JH)
St. Martin's Press; ISBN: 0312373929
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, Indonesia and India by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
When Elizabeth Gilbert divorced her husband and subsequently went through a major depression, she decided that she would travel through Italy, Indonesia and India in search of answers to her own spiritual quest. During her travels she had many adventures (and plenty of good meals) and met a wide variety of people from many different countries and walks of life. Like much of the best travel writing, Gilbert's real journey is her own discovery of what she wants out of life and what is most important to her. (GU)
Viking; ISBN: 9780670034710
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert (2010)
At the end of her memoir Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman�s Search for Everything Across Italy, Indonesia, and Italy, Elizabeth Gilbert met the man she wanted to spend her life with. However, both she and her partner had been badly scarred by previous marriages and were quite fearful of marrying again. In this thoughtful memoir, Gilbert describes their relationship and journey to commitment and also explores the evolving institution of marriage through the centuries. (GU)
Viking; ISBN: 9780670021659
Official Book Club Selection: a Memoir According to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin (2009)
Used to dishing the dirt on A-list celebs, outspoken comedienne Kathy Griffin is not beyond exposing the intimate details of her own life. The clever title (of course!) is in reference to her hope to score the coveted Oprah Book Club endorsement. What really shines through, however, is Kathy's work ethic. Instead of trying to be someone else, she took the best parts of who she was and constantly tried to improve upon them, resulting in her own unique voice. Her focus and determination are inspiring; her loyalty is endearing. A fun, smart read. (MCB)
Ballantine Books; ISBN: 9780345518514
Climbing the Mango Trees: a Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey (2006)
And what a childhood it was for this actress and Indian cuisine cookbook author. Unlike the typical story of poverty and deprivation coming out of the subcontinent, Madhur grew up in a loving and robust upper middle class family living in Delhi in a virtual family compound. The foods, subcultures and history of India before and after Independence suffused her childhood, all while she witnessed Gandhi, British schooling and the brutal rending of a multicultural society brought on by forced partition. Stretching from her childhood through her departure from India, this memoir shows a different view of a vibrant country and includes her family recipes as a bonus. (RN)
Alfred A. Knopf; ISBN: 140004295X
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen (2009)
This is a story of Rhoda Janzen, who was raised a Mennonite but went on to marry outside her community. It would appear Rhoda was leading the perfect life; she had a fulfilling job, a beautiful lakeside home, and a brilliant husband. But just as she turns forty her life turns upside down. Her husband announces he's leaving her for another man, someone he'd met on Gay.com. As the author relates her difficult story her humor alleviates some of the pain and you are left with this extremely moving memoir. Learning the ways of the Mennonite community was an extra bonus for me. (TS)
Henry Holt and Co.; ISBN: 9780805089257
Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish (2007)
You might think that a book about a girl raised by strict Methodist grandparents in rural Depression-era Iowa would be yet another tale of bleak childhood. But you'd be wrong. As the "high spirits" of the subtitle indicate, Little Heathens is a convivial romp full of warmth and humor. Kalish doesn't downplay the hardships faced by her family, but she describes how making do in tough times translated into an upbringing of joy, character and imagination. (AM)
Bantam Books; ISBN: 9780553804959
Lit by Mary Karr (2009)
Memoirist Karr opens up about her struggle with alcoholism and the toll her drinking took on her marriage and her ability to raise her young son. A painfully honest look at addiction with an artist's eye for heartbreaking detail and a poet's ear for irreverent and much-needed humor. A brutal and beautiful book. (KK)
HarperCollins; ISBN: 9780061959684
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (2010)
Piper Kerman had a few wild years after she graduated from college, becoming involved with smuggling drugs and money internationally. But ten years later, long after reforming her life, she has to spend a year in a federal prison. In her recounting of daily prison life, she acknowledges the positives--namely, the strong camaraderie with her fellow inmates�without glossing over the crushing negatives. Kerman is one of the fortunate ones--with a huge support network, a long list of regular visitors, and a job waiting for her--but nonetheless finds it impossible to avoid the effects of institutionalization in this world of regular strip searches and fear-based regimentation. This is another memoir of living through the unthinkable, and Kerman tells her story with a balanced tone and an absolute minimum of "poor me" self-absorption. (AS)
Spiegel & Grau; ISBN: 9780385523387
Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor (2009)
In alternating chapters between mother and daughter, each reveals a spiritual journey taken through France, Greece and Turkey. Each finds inspiration and strength through icons and statues of women--religious and mythic--found on their travels, Sue's becoming the inspiration for her novels and Ann's guiding her out of her depression and towards her purpose in life. And along the way in this beautifully written book, mother and daughter reveal their passions and their dreams to each other and to the lucky reader. (BK)
Viking; ISBN: 9780670021208
A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel (2001)
In a series of vignettes, novelist Kimmel tells the reader of her upbringing in an Indiana town with a population of only 300 people. Kimmel recounts her happy life with loving parents, but there are enough quirky characters, hilarious situations and conflict here to keep the story moving. This is Kimmel's personal story, but it is also a love letter to the people, places, and circumstances that together make small town America such an idyllic place. (BS)
Doubleday; ISBN: 0385499825
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (2000)
If you are or know an aspiring writer, he or she must read this book! On Writing is comprised of two distinct parts. In the first half, King recounts how he turned his life around and became one of the best-selling novelists in the world, including a frank discussion of his recovery from the car crash that almost killed him. The second half of this inspirational memoir is a step-by-step guide on how to turn your ideas into a successful novel. Written by an author who has managed to capture the hearts of American readers, On Writing is a must read for anyone who loves reading. (BS)
Scribner; ISBN: 0684853523
On Rue Tatin: Living and Cooking in a French Town by Susan Hermann Loomis (2001)
As a student in 1980, Susan Hermann Loomis went to cooking school in France and, like many other Americans, fell in love with the country. She loved the fresh food and the people, but she came home to work and hoped that one day she would go back there to live. It wasn't until 1994 that she and her husband finally moved to Normandy so she could write cookbooks and found that the idealized life she had dreamed of wasn�t quite what she found. In the town of Louviers, she and her husband buy a rundown medieval convent that he works to restore while she works on her cookbook. The restoration took a number of years, and there were numerous setbacks, but the family continued to live there. She relates run-ins with crotchety neighbors, her discovery of new foods, and the birth of her son. However, her descriptions of everyday life in a small French town will take the reader to a beguiling place that they will want to visit. Loomis ends each chapter with a delicious recipe of Normandy foods that she has developed for her cookbooks, but readers may have trouble finding a leg of wild boar at their local Jewel. (MJ)
Broadway Books; ISBN: 0767904540
A Ticket to the Circus by Norris Church Mailer (2010)
How does Barbara Jean Davis--Arkansan, high school art teacher, strict Free Baptist--morph into Norris Church Mailer�New Yorker, fashion model, sixth wife of Norman Mailer? Barbara/Norris takes us on her life journey in this gossipy, big-hearted memoir about living in the same spotlight with one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. Brace yourself for name-dropping, sex romps and of course, tales of marital infidelity (it's Norman Mailer after all!). (JB)
Random House; ISBN: 9781400067947
Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry (2008)
You probably know McMurtry as the celebrated author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Western saga Lonesome Dove, plus many other great books. But were you aware that he is also the owner of a vast bookstore in his hometown of Archer City, Texas--an establishment that holds 400,000 used, rare, and collectible volumes? With charm, grace, and good humor, McMurtry writes about how he grew up in a largely "bookless" world, but because of his uncontrollable passion for books and reading, evolved into one of America's most prominent bookmen. This entertaining memoir is packed with wonderful anecdotes and engaging gossip about authors, book collectors, literature, and McMurtry himself. It is irresistible reading. (TB)
Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781416583349
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci (2009)
The loves and losses of the former Vice President of Public Relations for Harper's Magazine--Giulia regales us with her litany of ex-boyfriends and the meals she cooked for them (and sometimes in spite of them)! But, alas, even after eating her fabulous meals, they all still left her! Humorous stories and wonderful recipes will delight and entertain readers who enjoy Helen Fielding and Sex and the City. (BK)
Grand Central Publishing; ISBN: 9780446534420
The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer (2005)
Have you ever wondered why the corner bar appeals to so many people? J. R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for the Los Angeles Times, explains the appeal of this local pub in his memoir, The Tender Bar. He grew up on Long Island with a single mother who was always struggling to make ends meet so he found his male role models at Publicans, the local saloon. He learned how to throw a ball and bet on the horses from Bob the Cop, Stinky, Fast Eddy and the other regulars who spent their evenings perched on the bar stools. This unusual coming of age story will leave you smiling. (NM)
Hyperion; ISBN: 1401300642
Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival by Norman Ollestad (2009)
This memoir neatly alternates between harrowing survival story and reflective study of the complicated relationship the author had with his driven and larger-than-life father, considering how that very relationship caused a series of catastrophic circumstances to occur in the first place, at the same time giving the author the very skills needed to survive the calamity. As the narrative shifts back and forth, the intricately woven see-saw effect creates a uniquely-paced book that is in equal measure philosophical and heart-pounding as it explores the nature of the will to live from the perspective of a personal culture that courts reckless behavior almost guaranteed to lead to pain and disaster. Would everyone want to have had Norman Ollestad's dad? Perhaps not so much, but readers who are intrigued by extreme sports and sportsmen will find this story fascinating reading, and the father-son relationships explored in the memoir will be of interest to fathers and sons who might wish to compare it to their own family experience. (DTW)
Ecco; ISBN: 9780061766725
A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz (2004)
Award-winning Israeli writer Amos Oz gorgeously recounts his youth in the newly formed and war-torn Jerusalem, his mother's depression and subsequent suicide, and his decision to leave his distant father and join a kibbutz. Jerusalem of the 1940s and '50s comes alive under Oz�s sweeping pen. Illuminating and a pleasure to read. (KK)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; ISBN: 9780156032520
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston (2004)
Trapped when a boulder fell and pinned his right arm, mountaineer and outdoor adventure addict Ralston recounts the five days he spent in a remote Utah canyon and contemplated his life and imminent death. His first person account involves the reader absolutely, as his musings and struggles document his near-death experience and eventual miraculous escape. The visceral description of his amputation of his own arm�finally the only way he could free himself--chills with its matter-of-fact report of the clinical details. Tales of previous adventures along with color photographs taken in the past and during his ordeal supplement this harrowing tale of survival. (JS)
Atria Books; ISBN: 9780786271955
Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger�s by John Elder Robison (2007)
John Elder Robison's life story would be fascinating in itself--after escaping a dysfunctional home life in his teens, he briefly lived in the woods, went on tour with Kiss by virtue of his skill at building functional flaming guitars, climbed the corporate ladder for a while, then started his own business restoring fine automobiles. What makes the telling especially unique is his Asperger's Syndrome. Not officially diagnosed until his mid-thirties, Robison spent his life developing strategies for coping with "the way he was" years before the autism spectrum was in the common lexicon. A natural storyteller like his brother Augusten Burroughs of Running With Scissors fame, Robison shows the reader life through a unique lens in his engaging and dryly funny memoir. (AS)
Three Rivers Press; ISBN: 9780307396181
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt (2010)
Roger Rosenblatt's legendary skill as an essayist takes a personal turn as he writes about the sudden death of his 38-year-old daughter Amy. He and his wife move in with their son-in-law to help manage their three young grandchildren, and in his slow and simple style, Rosenblatt chronicles the everyday activities of daily life that float on top of a sea of grief. His story is tender, moving, sometimes funny, almost always heart-breaking. (JB)
Ecco; ISBN: 006182593X
Beneath the Sands of Egypt by Donald P. Ryan (2010)
Egyptologist Donald Ryan relates his introduction to archaeology through a subscription to National Geographic as a young boy. He was fascinated by the articles on ancient Egypt and went on to read Hans Baumann's World of the Pharaohs, but he never thought he would become an archaeologist. Instead he became interested in mountain climbing and chose a college in the Northwest so he could climb Mount Rainier. Even after college, he continued mountain climbing until he realized professional climbers don't have long lives. Going back to graduate school, Ryan was again attracted to archaeology and began his career by helping on one of his professor's digs in Egypt and learning the basics of uncovering the past. As Ryan relates, most digs are short on adventure and long on hard, dirty work sifting large piles of sand for relics. His later field work in the Valley of the Kings followed in the footsteps of Howard Carter�s discovery of numerous small tombs in the Valley. Ultimately his discoveries led to one of the most important finds in recent Egyptology. In a conversational tone, Ryan shows the joys, hazards, heartbreak, and ultimate rewards in a lifetime of seeking the past. (MJ)
William Morrow; ISBN: 9780061732829
Naked by David Sedaris (1997)
If you need a little cheering up, reach for a copy of Naked, a memoir by humorist David Sedaris. The author remembers his childhood tics, life with his Greek grandmother, his summer at a camp for Greek Americans, his homosexuality, the months before his mother's death, and his trip to a nudist colony. If you enjoy satirical humor, these seventeen essays based on life with his dysfunctional family will have you laughing out loud in no time. (NM)
Little, Brown & Co.; ISBN: 0316777730
Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield (2008)
Long before the iPod Shuffle, there were mix tapes--hand-picked playlists carefully compiled onto blank cassettes and used by legions of music lovers to express themselves in the 1980s and '90s. For Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield, mix tapes aren't nostalgia--they're a way to keep alive the memory of his late wife, Renee. Sheffield sweetly conveys Renee's vivacious, free-spirited personality and their shared affection for music, a passion that helped him work through the pain of losing her only five years into their marriage. Gen X-ers and fans of Nick Hornby should particularly enjoy this big-hearted memoir. (AM)
Crown; ISBN: 9781400083022
The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman (2010)
If you think you might be offended by the humor in this book you won't have to read very far to put it to the test. While I often enjoy the author's on-screen humor I found the book to be almost too much. It's as if she's testing the readers to see how much they can take before slamming the book closed. As Sarah Silverman says about her career "I know that all this crap is what I should expect when I choose to build a career on shock and profanity" so must the reader know what to expect when reading a book by someone who can't write a paragraph without filling it shock and profanity. (I wonder what it was like working as Sarah's editor?) As you might expect from the title, being a bedwetter until well into her teens contributed a fair amount of trauma to her life. But later she has some great stories to tell about her parents, especially her father and how he contributed so much to her humor and outlook, and about her work with other comedians. If nothing else, the photographs are fun. (LK)
HarperCollins; ISBN: 9780061856433
Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx (2007)
Motley Crue songwriter and bassist Nikki Sixx spent most of his days from Christmas 1986 to Christmas 1987 locked in a closet in his home in Van Nuys, California. Surrounded by drug paraphernalia and plagued by paranoid delusions, he kept meticulous track of this time in a notebook. Raw, intense, and personal, this is the year in the life of a drug addict. The unconventional style--journal entries broken up with scribblings, drawings, and lyrics--helps to give a more faithful glimpse into Nikki's mind. (MCB)
Pocket Books; ISBN: 9780743486286
Stitches by David Small (2009)
This illustrated memoir uses only soft washes of black and gray, but manages to portray a universe of feeling in each of the pictures. At the heart of the book is a family, each member holding deep resources of anger, isolated from one another. This contributes to the central event of the book. After being told he had a simple cyst, David awakens from surgery with half his vocal cords removed, only finding out later that it had been cancer. The enforced silence deepens his obsession with his art. Through his drawings, the author struggles to understand his dysfunctional family even as he turns away from them. (JCH)
W.W. Norton and Company; ISBN: 9780393068573
The Kids are All Right by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch (2009)
With four distinct voices, the adult Welch siblings recount the story of their precarious childhood, first as fatherless children, then as orphans. Each child had a unique perspective on his or her place in the family, and for that reason, each voice lends a sort of Rashomon-like quality to the telling of the tale, as circumstances are remembered and recounted differently depending on individual perspective. If you have ever found yourself at a family gathering and heard several versions of the night you and your siblings broke the dining room table, for example, you will immediately identify with the style and charm of this feature of the book. Blending mundane details ("I was listening to Elton John sing Benny and the Jets") with heartbreaking insights into painful isolation and family loyalty, this multi-voice memoir will speak to readers who wish to explore how damaged children make a journey to wholeness through mutual support and love while overcoming tremendous social odds. (DTW)
Harmony Books; ISBN: 978307396044
A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg (2009)
Some of us chronicle our lives through memories of books, but popular blogger Wizenberg documents her life from childhood through her marriage with memories of--and recipes for--favorite foods shared with family and friends. Recipes provide the springboard for the sometimes humorous, sometimes touching stories of her life and those who people her memories. Related in her breezy and engaging style, each brief entry celebrates family, traditions, and food through the provenance of the recipe. Her infectious pleasure in food, cooking, and story will captivate any fan of family tales and the satisfactions of home cooking. Who can resist an author who believes that almost anything is better with chocolate and that cake is the answer to everything? (JS)
Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 9781416551058
Annotations contributed by Adult Reading Round Table Steering Committee members: Mary Constance Back, Ted Balcom, Jo Bonell, Stacey Cisneros, Joanna Hazelden, Karen Kleckner, Linda Knorr, Barb Kruser, Nancy McCully, Annabelle Mortensen, Ricki Nordmeyer, Joyce Saricks, Tuki Sathaye, Anne Slaughter, Becky Spratford, Greta Ulrich, Debbie T. Walsh
