It really depends on the life lived of an individual. Memoirs pertain to overcoming great odds appeal to me most. The Autumn Balloon by Kenny Porpora is one example.
That’s fantastic! I’m a firm believer that everyone should write their story, even if they decide to share it only with future generations of their own family.
Janet Malcolm wrote an insightful study of the various biographies of Sylvia Plath entitled “The Silent Woman.” Essentially, it calls into question the entire undertaking of biography asserting that each biography is really one version of a life. By extension, we might apply this to memoir as well. Even though a memoir is a form of autobiography, it is still one version told through the lens of the memoirist. Thus, truth is a somewhat slippery fish in this regard.
Hmm, I was always taught and beleive, Biographies are only “Written” once, and memiors are about events that happened, and you can have a million memiors but only one full story of your life (biography).
@Tiffany, that is how I look at it as well with the exception that the autobiography is written once, but biographies are written by others and therefore could be slanted based on the research of the authors.
I think it’s great. Granted she collaborated with someone, but I still think her honest voice, with an unglamourized feel to her story, comes right through. So many actors are not honest about their lives.
@Bob they had better not ruin it in the movie. The trailer I saw made it look like a perfect relationship between father and daughter. I wanted to hurl my phone at the wall. The whole book is almost the exact opposite. ?
Love them…among my favorite (Bio, Autobios, and Letters, too)
Letters are a favorite of mine as well.
❤️❤️
Depends on the memoir I guess. It’s a truly difficult art to make a life into a narrative without it being either boring or untruthful.
It really depends on the life lived of an individual. Memoirs pertain to overcoming great odds appeal to me most. The Autumn Balloon by Kenny Porpora is one example.
Excellent point!
I’ve read some and liked some.
Care to share one that you liked?
I am reading “Talking as fast as I can” and I really like that. And all of Amy Pohler’s are really funny.
I agree that they are often hit or miss
Is there a hit that you’d like to share?
Depends. I have to be really into the person I am reading about.
Sure. That’s understandable.
Love them ❤
I love your name!
Depends. I’m actually writing a memoir right now.. I’m hoping everyone finds my adventures as interesting as I do. 😛
That’s fantastic! I’m a firm believer that everyone should write their story, even if they decide to share it only with future generations of their own family.
I am too. I have not lived a mundane life, but even those that have can help someone else in their stories. That’s my belief.
Janet Malcolm wrote an insightful study of the various biographies of Sylvia Plath entitled “The Silent Woman.” Essentially, it calls into question the entire undertaking of biography asserting that each biography is really one version of a life. By extension, we might apply this to memoir as well. Even though a memoir is a form of autobiography, it is still one version told through the lens of the memoirist. Thus, truth is a somewhat slippery fish in this regard.
Hmm, I was always taught and beleive, Biographies are only “Written” once, and memiors are about events that happened, and you can have a million memiors but only one full story of your life (biography).
Interesting.
@Tiffany, that is how I look at it as well with the exception that the autobiography is written once, but biographies are written by others and therefore could be slanted based on the research of the authors.
“The Silent Woman” is now on my TBR list. 🙂
That’s very true Bob.
@Bob it’s not too long. It appeared originally in sections in the NYer. Always enjoy Malcolm’s writing.
Depends on the memoir.
Love them…
I go with Paula. It depends–I read two recently, one by Barbara Eden and the other by Ann-Margret. The first I loved, the second I hated.
I didn’t realize Barbara Eden had one. I’ll have to check it out.
I think it’s great. Granted she collaborated with someone, but I still think her honest voice, with an unglamourized feel to her story, comes right through. So many actors are not honest about their lives.
Thanks for the recommendation! ?
I had to read The Glass Castle in high school, and I loved it so much. Such an emotional story, but it was amazing ?☺️
The Glass Castle is in my library – to be read. I need to add it to the queue soon. They’ve made a movie based on the book.
@Bob they had better not ruin it in the movie. The trailer I saw made it look like a perfect relationship between father and daughter. I wanted to hurl my phone at the wall. The whole book is almost the exact opposite. ?
OK. No spoilers. 🙂 Haha!
I like them.
Love them
The Glass Castle – one of my top three ❤️?
Mine too
Love them
Love them…they can be so inspirational as it is real life not just fantasy and if they can overcome…then there is hope for me
Love them. I read so many biographies too!
Love them!!
Depends…
Same here
Not my thing
It all depends on who it is. As to be someone that I like, or have an interest in. Don Rickles was fantastic. Laughed the whole read.
Read Tim Conway’s book. Hahaha
I’ll have to check that out. Thank you.
Called “What’s So Funny?”
Thank you.
Love them!
Depending on who it is and why it was written. Betty White had me in tears laughing and sadness
Not my thing. The word “I” is typically used so much that it becomes annoying to read.
Isn’t that the word you use to describe yourself ?
It is, and I do understand why it is necessary. But it still annoys me. Just my own personal quirk.
I am the same way, Sabrina. I found writing my own story was difficult because i do not prefer first person in any manner!
Depends on the person writing it.
Depends on whose it is
I’d say like them. I read them as they catch my eye. My first love will always be fiction though.
I enjoyed the new Alec Baldwin memoir
Depends
Depends on who the book is about,
IMHO?
I am not a big fan
I can read them. But not a fan.
I’ve read and enjoyed a few, but I usually prefer to wait until I can find out how it ends, I prefer biographies.
It depends on who wrote them.
I am not big on celebrity memoirs because it was probably ghost written most times.
I agree. Letters and memoirs of writers engage me the most.