The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr, Educated by Tara Westover, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, With or Without You by Domenica Ruta, The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer, Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy, Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
I’ve read the first 4 and those are books that will stay with me forever. Educated was by far the most difficult to read emotionally, but so worth it. The human spirit is amazingly resilient.
I loved it, so did my son. After reading it, he bought Pepin’s book on technique and has been making his recipes. Unfortunately, he lives too far away for me to taste test! ?
I love to watch him cook. Especially the shows with Julia. Never was a big fan of him working with his daughter – there was always some weird awkwardness going on. But I am now enjoying the ones he does with his grandaughter. I love his style as he cooks.
SLIPSTREAM: A Memoir by Elizabeth Jane Howard. A very candid, honest, easily readable memoir by a most remarkable writer whose literary career extended from 1950 to 2013. (Elizabeth Jane Howard is best known for her 5-novel series, ‘The Cazalet Chronicle’.)
So I’m not a non-fiction fan. I tend to read weird things in that genre. Last was “Escape” by Carolyn Jessop who escaped an abusive, polygamous marriage. It was a fascinating look into the FLDS and plural marriage.
CONFESSIONS OF A WALL STREET INSIDER: A Cautionary Tale of Rats, Feds, and Banksters by Michael Kimelman.
“Although he was a suburban husband and father, living a far different life than the ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ Michael Kimelman had a good run as the cofounder of a hedge fund. He had left a cushy yet suffocating job at a law firm to try his hand at the high-risk life of a proprietary trader — and he did pretty well for himself. But it all came crashing down in the wee hours of November 5, 2009, when the Feds came to his door—almost taking the door off its hinges. While his wife and children were sequestered to a bedroom, Kimelman was marched off in embarrassment in view of his neighbors and TV crews who had been alerted in advance. He was arrested as part of a huge insider trading case, and while he was offered a ‘sweetheart’ no-jail probation plea, he refused, maintaining his innocence.”
YOU DON’T LOOK YOUR AGE … AND OTHER FAIRY TALES by Sheila Nevins. In ‘You Don’t Look Your Age’, the famed documentary producer (as President of HBO Documentary Films for over 30 years, Nevins has rightfully been credited with creating the documentary rebirth) finally steps out from behind the camera and takes her place front and center.
In these pages you will read about the real life challenges of being a woman in a man’s world, what it means to be a working mother, what it’s like to be an older woman in a youth-obsessed culture, the sometimes changing, often sweet truth about marriages, what being a feminist really means, and that you are in good company if your adult children don’t return your phone calls.
In 1989 I read this delightful/autobiographical book covering the period of 1935-1939when Gerrald Durrell (1925-1995) was a boy. I read it after our visit to Corfu for two weeks. I recommend it highly. Gerald Durrell became an naturalist who rescued many endangered animals till his death.
ANYTHING FOR A QUIET LIFE – Jack Hawkins This is one of most candid, unsparingly honest memoirs you’ll ever read from the distinguished actor who starred in such films as ‘The Cruel Sea’, ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’, and ‘Lawrence of Arabia.’
NO PLACE TO LAY ONE’S HEAD by Françoise Frenkel. In 1921, Françoise Frenkel – a Jewish woman from Poland – opens her first bookshop in Berlin. It is a dream come true. The dream lasts nearly two decades. Then suddenly, it ends. It ends after police confiscations and the Night of Broken Glass (Kristalnacht), as Jewish shops and businesses are smashed to pieces. It ends when no one protests. So Francoise flees to France, just weeks before war breaks out. In Paris, on the wireless and in the newspapers, horror has made itself at home. When the city is bombed, Francoise seeks refuge in Avignon, then Nice. She fears she may never see her family again. Nice is awash with refugees and terrible suffering; children are torn from their parents; mothers throw themselves under buses. Horrified by what she sees, Francoise goes into hiding. She survives only because strangers risk their lives to protect her.
‘Absolute Pandemonium’ by Brian Blessed. There are a few sad bits but I would say 90% of it is fun and funny. Definitely worth a read. My hubby also recommends ‘My word is my bond’ by Roger Moore. He said it’s packed full of very funny anecdotes about his life. 🙂
Not Quite Lost by Roz Morris – it is a travel memoir, and it is absolutely lovely, not the least bit depressing (funny). If you search for me or my blog (The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog) you’ll find it posted this past September, entitled “The Guestbook Spy”!
Funny in Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen are both one long giggle. They are wonderfully funny memoirs by Iranian-American humorist Firoozeh Dumas.
Angela’s Ashes.
I have read it, extremely depressing
I’ve been told this is depressing. I didn’t feel that way because it turned out well in the end but many find it too sad.
The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr,
Educated by Tara Westover,
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls,
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs,
With or Without You by Domenica Ruta,
The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer,
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy,
Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
I’ve read the first 4 and those are books that will stay with me forever. Educated was by far the most difficult to read emotionally, but so worth it. The human spirit is amazingly resilient.
I second Mary Karr. She has two other memoirs, Cherry and Lit. I fell in love with her after The Liar’s Club.
Harpo Speaks.
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
They aren’t going to be great without depressing chapters?
Agreed. But then you get to the end and think…wow.
The Road From Coorain by Jill Ker Conway, from the outback of Australia to president of Smith College, EXCELLENT!
Ty, I love memoirs, will put on my tbr list.
A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King
Do you like to cook? The Apprentice, by Jacques Pepin.
I own that one – have not read it yet,
I loved it, so did my son. After reading it, he bought Pepin’s book on technique and has been making his recipes. Unfortunately, he lives too far away for me to taste test! ?
I love to watch him cook. Especially the shows with Julia. Never was a big fan of him working with his daughter – there was always some weird awkwardness going on. But I am now enjoying the ones he does with his grandaughter. I love his style as he cooks.
October Sky by Homer Hickman
SLIPSTREAM: A Memoir by Elizabeth Jane Howard. A very candid, honest, easily readable memoir by a most remarkable writer whose literary career extended from 1950 to 2013. (Elizabeth Jane Howard is best known for her 5-novel series, ‘The Cazalet Chronicle’.)
My favorite upbeat memoir is Spitfire Girl by Jackie Moggridge. Its about an Australian girl who becomes a transport pilot for Britain during the war.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. Not depressing at all. A truly lovely book.
Glorius book. Great movie
Loved all of her books & the movie!
@Shaina me too. But loved Glass Castle the most.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41mDFTjymZL.jpg Loved this one.
One of the best memoirs I’ve read! Deserves to be more well known.
I have never even heard of this one.
So I’m not a non-fiction fan. I tend to read weird things in that genre. Last was “Escape” by Carolyn Jessop who escaped an abusive, polygamous marriage. It was a fascinating look into the FLDS and plural marriage.
Sir Richard Francis Burton read like an adventure novel, he was the real Indiana Jones.
Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I, Asimov.
I also really enjoyed Born a Crime.
‘Sean Connery: A Biography’ by Michal Freedland
‘On Writing’ by Stephen King (I found the more times I read it, the funnier I found it. Really strange that).
‘Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself’ by Alan Alda
‘A Life in Time and Space – The David Tennant Biography’ by Nigel Goodall.
Daring to Drive : a Saudi Woman’s Awakening
CONFESSIONS OF A WALL STREET INSIDER: A Cautionary Tale of Rats, Feds, and Banksters by Michael Kimelman.
“Although he was a suburban husband and father, living a far different life than the ‘Wolf of Wall Street,’ Michael Kimelman had a good run as the cofounder of a hedge fund. He had left a cushy yet suffocating job at a law firm to try his hand at the high-risk life of a proprietary trader — and he did pretty well for himself. But it all came crashing down in the wee hours of November 5, 2009, when the Feds came to his door—almost taking the door off its hinges. While his wife and children were sequestered to a bedroom, Kimelman was marched off in embarrassment in view of his neighbors and TV crews who had been alerted in advance. He was arrested as part of a huge insider trading case, and while he was offered a ‘sweetheart’ no-jail probation plea, he refused, maintaining his innocence.”
YOU DON’T LOOK YOUR AGE … AND OTHER FAIRY TALES by Sheila Nevins.
In ‘You Don’t Look Your Age’, the famed documentary producer (as President of HBO Documentary Films for over 30 years, Nevins has rightfully been credited with creating the documentary rebirth) finally steps out from behind the camera and takes her place front and center.
In these pages you will read about the real life challenges of being a woman in a man’s world, what it means to be a working mother, what it’s like to be an older woman in a youth-obsessed culture, the sometimes changing, often sweet truth about marriages, what being a feminist really means, and that you are in good company if your adult children don’t return your phone calls.
My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell!
Yes! I’ve been binge watching seasons 1 & 2 of “The Durrells in Corfu”!
So funny.
In 1989 I read this delightful/autobiographical book covering the period of 1935-1939when Gerrald Durrell (1925-1995) was a boy. I read it after our visit to Corfu for two weeks. I recommend it highly. Gerald Durrell became an naturalist who rescued many endangered animals till his death.
Thanks i am a huge fan
ANYTHING FOR A QUIET LIFE – Jack Hawkins
This is one of most candid, unsparingly honest memoirs you’ll ever read from the distinguished actor who starred in such films as ‘The Cruel Sea’, ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’, and ‘Lawrence of Arabia.’
NO PLACE TO LAY ONE’S HEAD by Françoise Frenkel.
In 1921, Françoise Frenkel – a Jewish woman from Poland – opens her first bookshop in Berlin. It is a dream come true. The dream lasts nearly two decades. Then suddenly, it ends. It ends after police confiscations and the Night of Broken Glass (Kristalnacht), as Jewish shops and businesses are smashed to pieces. It ends when no one protests. So Francoise flees to France, just weeks before war breaks out. In Paris, on the wireless and in the newspapers, horror has made itself at home. When the city is bombed, Francoise seeks refuge in Avignon, then Nice. She fears she may never see her family again. Nice is awash with refugees and terrible suffering; children are torn from their parents; mothers throw themselves under buses. Horrified by what she sees, Francoise goes into hiding. She survives only because strangers risk their lives to protect her.
Just finished Educated, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, seldom for me.
THE VANITY FAIR DIARIES, 1983-1992 by Tina Brown.
Sisters-In-Law by Linda Hirshman…
A Fortunate Life – A.B Facey. Such an amazing Aussie life
So my favorite favorite is Nikki Six’s Heroine Diaries. It’s still pretty sad but a page turner.
My Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston. And I second the Trevor Noah suggestion!
Sh*t My Dad Says
‘Absolute Pandemonium’ by Brian Blessed. There are a few sad bits but I would say 90% of it is fun and funny. Definitely worth a read. My hubby also recommends ‘My word is my bond’ by Roger Moore. He said it’s packed full of very funny anecdotes about his life. 🙂
Not Quite Lost by Roz Morris – it is a travel memoir, and it is absolutely lovely, not the least bit depressing (funny). If you search for me or my blog (The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog) you’ll find it posted this past September, entitled “The Guestbook Spy”!
Personal History by Katherine Graham
“A lotus grows in mud” by Goldie Hawn
Funny in Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen are both one long giggle. They are wonderfully funny memoirs by Iranian-American humorist Firoozeh Dumas.
Animal, vegetable, miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
Also, I haven’t read it yet, but I am told ‘My Life with Animals’ by Gerald Durrell is hilarious.
I loved this one https://amzn.to/2H3zAf2
I will never write my memoirs by grace jones