My Favorite Memoirs
Is the truth stranger than fiction?
*The books discussed in this list contain themes of abuse*
Let me first admit that I am a slow reader. I read my share of Vocal content, but books are a different story. I admire my fellow vocalites, like L.C. Shafer and Heather Hubler, who are prolific readers as well as writers. For me, it is difficult to find books that I can dig into and stick with to the end. I may have undiagnosed ADHD. My mind just wanders in the middle of the page sometimes.
I downloaded the Goodreads app and that seemed to help me find the kinds of books I like. On the other hand, it shows me just how few books I can finish in a year (usually between five and ten). But honestly, I am so proud when I can finish even one book. Gold star!
Memoirs are my favorite book genre. Celebrity memoirs are okay, but I prefer memoirs about people who are famous for something other than a career in entertainment, ordinary people who overcame some unimaginable horror and lived to tell about it. Memoirs are so intimate. It’s like making a new friend who just happens to have an extraordinary life.
Many use ghostwriters, some even give them credit on the cover. It makes sense that not everyone with an amazing story would have the talent to turn it into a bestselling book. In these cases, using a ghostwriter to organize a cohesive narrative and polished prose is for readers' benefit.
The Raft by Robert Trumbull
This is the first memoir I read by choice in high school. I randomly checked it out from the library. It is about three Naval airmen who survive for over a month at sea with no food or water in a rubber raft the size of a bathtub after their plane crashes in the South Pacific. It’s a survival story in the most literal sense of the word.
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
This was the next memoir to make an impression on me. I had seen some news coverage about the Polygamist cult, FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) around the time I picked up this book. I am fascinated by religious cults. What makes people join them? How do they control their members? Why don’t people just leave? I wanted to learn more from someone who lived it. Carolyn escaped with her children in tow, an amazing feat of strength and courage. I could not put this book down.
My Lobotomy by Howard Dully
At this point, I am actively seeking out memoirs to find another as compelling as the last. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is about a young boy whose abusive stepmother chooses an ice pick lobotomy to suppress his ‘behavioral issues.’ It is tragic and gut wrenching. I cried more than once while reading it. More than just a memoir, Dully weaves in information about the infamous ice pick doctor, Walter Jackson Freeman II, who performed the procedure on dozens of women, children and vulnerable individuals from 1946 - 1967.
Educated by Tara Westover
I think ‘Educated’ was in the ‘recommended for you’ section on Goodreads based on my favorites list. ‘Educated’ is an exceptional story about a woman who’s homeschool experience was marred by the dangerously unhinged whims of her father with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
Every time I read one of these heavy-duty memoirs, I get a pang of guilt for enjoying it. This person has been through so much pain and tragedy and here I am reading about it for fun. But then I remember that these folks are proud of what they have overcome, of what they have accomplished despite their circumstances. They want to share their story. Through their stories, I am learning about the human condition, gaining new perspectives and empathy.
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If you enjoyed this article, here is and interview I did with my daughter about her favorite books. She is already a more prolific reader than her mom.
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Comments (21)
Such an interesting collection that I'll definitely need to check out -- thank you so much for sharing! Also, I related heavily to being a "slow reader" and perhaps having undiagnosed ADHD 🤗❤️ I, too, have wandering syndrome. 😅
Great selection. I just loved Educated. Worth trying Jeanette Winterson's Why Be Happy If You Could be Normal? (such a great title) if you liked that...
Awesome. I love non-fiction and poetry. As I read your post, I will add memoirs to the list. Thank you! 😊
Splendid review!!! Loving it!!!❤️❤️💕
I guess we're polar opposites. I just cannot read non fiction. Well, to be fair, I've not tried it. My Lobotomy really intriguid me because I'm into true crime. So I guess I can start with that. Thank you so much for sharing these!
Hi Leslie - This was fun - Butt, since the topic just came-up (below) can you recommend some "Trauma-Porn" Jay
I’ll read these books now! Thanks for the recommendation!
Great article, Leslie! I absolutely love reading and try to get in as many books as I can in a year. I’ve read less books since joining Vocal, as my reading time has become dedicated to reading stories here, but I’m feeling the nudge of the paper calling me back for a nice big inhale (as Cindy so beautiful put it in one of her recent pieces). I do sometimes have a hard time with memoirs because real life trauma is hard for me to read (just because of some things I’ve experienced in life)– but I love the aspect of overcoming. The fist book you recommended looks really awesome! Thanks for the reviews and congrats on top story!
Count me in as a writer that reads - a lot. I have a very long list, and it's probably grown a little bit right here. I enjoy a good memoir. Of the two on my nightstand at the moment, one could be classified as a fictionalized memoir: "Cotton Rock" by Janet Smith Post.
I love to know why people read certain things/genres, the reasons why they connect. It's fascinating to me. And your list is so compelling. I've not read any as I tend to shy away from true-to-life stories in that I've had enough trauma in my own and can empathize too much. It horrifies me what people go through every day and manage to survive (or not). I read to escape all the shit in real life, ironically even if bad stuff happens to them. This was a wonderful piece to share, and thank you for the mention :) Congratulations on Top Story!
I will have to check out these books! I love memoirs! Let me tell you one that is my fav book ever; it's called "Open" by Andre Agassi! So good!
I’m such a bookworm. I read about 75-125 books a year. Memoirs are my favorite too, along with personal essay collections. But I’m the opposite of you. I refuse to read some harrowing tale. To me, it’s trauma porn. Unless they can make it darkly funny like Augusten Burroughs. I like celeb stories, and also stories from ordinary people who’ve made some keen observations. I’ve been wanting to share my list of favorites here, and you’ve definitely inspired me to prioritize it. Congrats on Top Story! 🥂
Congratulations on your Top Story
Congratulations on your Top Story💖😁🎉
Good article. Congrats on the TS
I’ve read the two E’s: Escape and Educated. Both are inspiring lessons in endurance and believing in yourself. What a good list!
Thank you for the suggestions in this well written piece. I’m the opposite though, I love a celebrity memoir with all the nitty gritty exposed, lol. Congratulations on Top Story 🎉
I have not read any of the above. Thank you for the list!
Congrats!!! I need to find a new series to read, I have trouble getting into books with characters that I can’t continue reading about. 🤣
Some of these books contain Everyday Heros. I find myself doing the same thing but with binging on true crime stories on tv. I haven’t tried memoirs in written form yet but It definitely sounds interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Leslie ~ A "Gold Star" from me - Even though I normally grade on a curve - Jay Kantor