Top 5 Memoirs I’d Recommend to a Memoir-Reading Newbie

I’ve found over time that I’ve read a number of very good memoirs. Using a creative, narrative approach, these authors embrace and dig into their lives with a no-topic-off-limits approach, discussing everything from race relations to tragedy, murder and more.

I’d recommend the following memoirs to someone who hasn’t embraced the genre:

Brother, I’m Dying (Audiobook)
By Edwidge Danticat
Read by Robin Miles

Danticat’s clear, strong voice shines in this memoir about the two men who raised her–her father and her uncle. America may be the land of progress and second chances, but Danticat and her younger brother found themselves left behind in Haiti while their parents tried to and succeeded in creating a new life for the family in New York. This memoir is touching, moving and, at times, infuriating.

The Solace of Open Spaces
By Gretel Ehrlich

Ehrich has lived in and loved Wyoming for years. Her clear, open writing paints a beautiful picture of the quiet, wide-open prairie where she chose to make her home.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
By John Berendt

Berendt brought his journalistic profile approach to this book. Part memoir, part nonfiction mystery and so much more, this book tells the story of Berendt’s time in Savannah, GA, and the trial that changed the face of the city.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
By Jon Krakauer

Krakauer is a celebrated outdoor writer. In this memoir, he recounts his experience climbing Mt. Everest during a particularly deadly season.

My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile
By Isabel Allende
Read by Blair Brown

Like Haiti, Central American countries such as Chile experienced great political strife in the 60s and 70s. While many of these continue today, Allende provides background to Chile’s struggle and the events that would shape her celebrated fiction work.

What memoir(s) would you recommend to someone who hasn’t experienced the genre?

**Linked up with The Broke and the Bookish**

Favorite Books from School

Don’t we all have favorite books we read in school? From time to time, I did dislike the books we were forced to read, but there were plenty of books from school that I love to this day. Now that students have returned to school, I wanted to share my favorites.

In no particular order, here they are.

Bridge to Terabithia
By Katherine Paterson

My fifth grade teacher read this out loud to the class. I was spared listening to the sad ending in class because I was sick. My entire class loved the book so much and thought I should finish it, so it was given to me as a gift. I still have it on my shelf!

Angela’s Ashes
By Frank McCourt

I discovered this book by chance in high school, and I’m so happy I did. I was instantly mesmerized by McCourt’s ability to tell a story and the way he incorporated dialogue. I found it all so captivating. I read all three books and mourned his death.

Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer

My outdoorsy aunt lent her copy to me when I was in high school. As with McCourt, I was fascinated by how Krakauer was able to make nonfiction so interesting. It wasn’t just the ridiculous story of Christopher McCandless that intrigued me. Since discovering this book, Krakauer has become one of my favorite authors.

To Kill a Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

I think you should have seen this coming, but I forgive you if you didn’t! I no longer really consider this one of my favorite books ever because it’s been so long since i‘ve read it, that I don’t remember it as well as I think  I should. Nevertheless, I still recall enjoying it a lot.

The Hobbit 
By J.R.R. Tokien

I felt oddly smug about having read this book when I was in junior high. First off, I really enjoyed it, but that’s not why I felt smug. No, the reason for that is because I was one of two who read it for a book report. My friend and I who also read it scored the highest in the class on our subsequent reports. I feel odd about the smugness because I didn’t go on to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy. They’ve always intimidated me. 

Daughter of Fortune
By Isabel Allende

I found a water-damaged copy of Daughter of Fortune in a Goodwill in high school. I loved this story, and like Krakauer and McCourt, reading this book started me on a life-long love of the authors’ works.

What were your favorite books from school? Have you reread them?