If you are new to memoirs and looking for a
few recommendations, these books are well worth a look.
If you like witty hilarity and outrageous
extremes, read 'Running with Scissors' and
'Dry' by Augusten Burroughs. His
writing is amazing as well.
Like a beverage or two? I do not mind a
drink myself, and I am now desperate to go out drinking and hanging on every
word Judith Lucy says after reading 'The
Lucy Family Alphabet'. To be fair I have wanted to go out drinking with
Judith Lucy ever since I first saw her comedy…
One of my favourite books from childhood, 'The Story of my Life' by Helen Keller,
stands the test of time. An amazing piece of writing, and an insight into
living in the world as a deaf and blind person.
'Angela’s
Ashes' by Frank McCourt plunges you into the wet
misery of extreme poverty in Ireland. Set amongst a backdrop of Catholic guilt,
and told with wonderful lyricism and humour, it was one of the books that changed
the way we now think of memoir. Read this if you love a good tale, well told.
If you want to run away and live in an
abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside (yes please!), read 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes
I was transfixed by A.B. Facey’s, 'A Fortunate Life', when I read it as a
teenager in the Rocky High library. Such an open, emotionally vulnerable
account of a child’s relationship with his mother, especially given the era. Read
this if you want to learn something about Australian history and hardship and
how to keep rising above the circumstances you find yourself in.
I was completely captivated by the way James
Frey described his rage in 'A Million
Little Pieces'. I don’t care if he
made up some of the book, his emotional truth is indisputable.
If you like Amy Poelher, you will love her part
memoir/ part manifesto, 'Yes Please', for its wisdom and laugh-out-loud
moments.
I wanted to become part of Ahn Do’s family
after reading his memoir, 'The Happiest
Refugee'. Some of his stories made me snort with laughter, others made me
cry. Read this if you love a positive take on life.
If you like the idea of going on a
pilgrimage from the comfort of your own home, you will like 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed. Wonderfully
written, it made me want to take off into the bush on my own, though I did
spend the entire book thanking my lucky stars that it was she, not me, carrying
her ridiculously heavy backpack.
I have always loved Alan Cumming as a
performer, but I mostly loved his book 'Not
my Father’s Son', as it is one of the few memoirs I have read that covers
the terrain of a child’s experience growing up with a violent father, and the
way that relationship evolves into adulthood. I related to so many aspects of
his life.
'Too Close to the Falls' by Catherine Gildiner was an absolute pleasure to read. A wonderfully quirky story of a girl who didn't fit the normal mold, but carved a niche for herself regardless. Read this if you love beautiful writing and delightful characters.
Magda Szubanski’s 'Reckoning' is a wonderful memoir. Though Magda is a celebrity, this
is not the story of her public life. It is a far deeper and more meaningful
search for authentic identity and a quest to understand more about her father,
a World War II veteran, all underpinned by a love for her family that was
palpable throughout.
I could go on, but these are a few to get
you started.
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