memorable memoirs

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ifyouneedme.jpgThe 6 Word Memoir Meme is still going strong, a big thanks to all of you who played and passed it on, it’s been a lot of fun! Larry Smith, one of the authors of the book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure contacted me and wrote, “I’ve been meaning to email you and say you’re: a) awesome b) [you have] fully set forth a dream I’ve had since I read the first issue of Wired a million years ago: to be a part of a meme.” I’m so glad you liked the meme Larry! While I’m on the subject of memoirs…I finished reading Kate Braestrup’s memoir, Here if You Need Me today. I like to have a non-fiction book going along with a fiction selection and I always enjoy a good memoir. Ms. Braestrup’s writing style is right up my alley; spare, lyrical at times, and it’s a lovely heartfelt story, all in all one good read. Other memoirs I’ve enjoyed are Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, The Color of Water by James McBride (he has a cool website, click on his name to check it out!) Blindsided by Richard Cohen, Saving Milly by Morton Kondracke, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, and The Camino: A Journey of Spirit by Shirley MacLaine.

9 thoughts on “memorable memoirs”

  1. I enjoyed Kate Braestrup’s book very much, too. I live in Maine, so that might have been part of it, but the chapter on her husband’s death (2nd chapter, I think) was the most beautiful description of love that I have read in a long time. It’s a good book to pass along.

  2. For some reason Maine is another state that I always thought I could live in Beth, I’ve visited a couple of times and loved it. A friend of mine is writing a memoir and I’m going to lend her this book as an example of a well written memoir.

  3. How refreshing to hear from those of you who still read for entertainment. Just when I think we are about to spiral out of control, you guys come along. Thanks for sharing.

  4. I read and enjoyed “Here if You need Me” also. Another memoir I read that I reread as soon as I finished it was “Still Life With Chickens” by Catherine Goldhammer and “A Girl Named Zippy” by Haven Kimmel. I love to read well written memoirs. Glad to see someone else does.

  6. Thanks Kathie! I also liked “A Girl Named Zippy” but haven’t read “Still Life…” I’m going to look it up right now:)

  7. Oh please do let me add to this list a few of my favorites: “Dry” by Augusten Burroughs (memoirs of a drunk), “Liar’s Poker” by Michael Lewis (memoirs of a trader on Wall Street), and the two books by Stephen Clarke: “A Year in the Merde” and “In the Merde for Love” which are probably more fictionalized reality than true memoirs BUT for anyone who has had any dealings with the French, these can keep you roaring with laughter every minute of a transatlantic flight.

  9. This is so cool! I had no idea this meme was based on a book! I am going to have to find out more about it. How amazing to be contacted by the author and to fulfill one of his dreams! I would be smiling for days.

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