5 Memoirs Worth Reading
Have you ever had a moment when you thought “You couldn’t make this stuff up?” – -that is why I like memoirs. Real life can be sooo much more interesting and poignant, funnier, than fiction. About 10 years ago I started reading memoirs and it QUICKLY became one of my top (if not THE top) favorite genres. So as part of my January Top Lists. Here are five memoirs worth reading –in no particular order.
#1 – Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Okay. Don’t read this one. LISTEN to it. David Sedaris is perhaps the funniest memoir-ist alive and he is even funnier if you listen to him read his own writing. I was listening to part of this book one day while driving through the U-District in Seattle (a place that demands your attention) and I had to pull over into a Burger King parking lot because I could not SEE from all the TEARS of laughter running down my face.
#2 – A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle. Bragging rights here – I have an autographed copy of this book that my friend Me Ra got for me when she met Ms. L’Engle. L’Engle just simply knows how to WRITE! Here she talks about God, writing, family and life. She is one of my favorite writers and philosophers of all time.
#3 – Traveling Mercies by Anne Lammott. Really any of Lamott’s memoris are suburb. You could pick up any of her memoirs and be changed. She is also one of my influences as a writer (and human being).
#4 – The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells – This one hits way too close to home for me. I had to read with my hand on my stomach. But, this book is amazingly well-written, compelling, and worth everyone’s time.
#5 – Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert But, of course…
Honorable Mention: Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams. I have not actually gotten past the 1st few pages of this book (only due to trying to find the time to deal with a emotional memoir.). But it came recommended to me by someone I really trust. A story of William’s mother’s death parrelled in the lives of the birds in the marshes of the Great Salt Lake.
I love how similar our taste in books is, Kari! And, this is almost spooky, I have an autographed copy of a Madeline L’Engle book that a friend got for me! It’s not “Circle of Quiet” though but rather one of her YA novels “An Acceptable Time.” Isn’t that a fun coincidence? Keep up the reading recommendations!
Thanks for the recommendations. Love Elizabeth Gilbert and Anne Lammott. Memoirs are quickly becoming my favorite as well. Reading The Middle Place by Kelli Corrigan right now and loving it. Savoring each page like a piece of fine chocolate.
I confess to only having read A Circle of Quiet, but the general public seems to agree with your choices! This was a fun post and I enjoyed hearing your reasons behind your selections.
I’ve only read The Glass Castle which I really enjoyed. Although I have read a few memoirs that I found self-indulgent, mostly I really enjoy the genre. I appreciate your suggestion about David Sedari’s book. I’m going to look for an audio version at my library.