Read any good memoirs lately?

ficbot · 06-28-2011, 09:43 PM

I have been going through a memoir phase lately where I have been really enjoying reading memoir-type books of various sorts. Here are some I have enjoyed:

- You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers: excellent memoir comparing the author's experience with her mentally ill mother and her realization that she suffers from a condition called face blindness where she cannot remember faces.

- The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks: a doctor recounts some of his memorable patients with quirky medical conditions. The first story was about a musician who loses the ability to read sheet music, then letters, then shapes, but can write and compose fluently.

- Sh*t my Dad Says by Justin Halpern: if you can get past the frequent cursing, a hilarious account of a college-aged guy who moves back home with his mother and wise-cracking dad.

- On the Outside Looking Indian by Rupinder Gill: author grew up with old-fashioned Indian parents who never let her and her sisters participate in certain childhood activities (camp, sleepovers etc.) which, at thirty, she decides to finally experience.

- The Winter of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart: author decides to unplug herself and her three teens from the internet and cell phone for six months.

- Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua: much buzzed-about memoir of a woman raising her daughters the 'traditional' Chinese way. In places it was rather shocking, but there was some food for thought underneath it all.

Anyone have any good recommendations for other books I might enjoy?

jgray · 06-29-2011, 12:38 AM

It's fiction, but this is quite a good read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_...idow_Tells_All

I read it years ago and it reads like a real life, although some parts are a bit strange. Don't bother with the TV movie - it sucked.

Joe

mediax · 06-29-2011, 08:42 AM

I'm currently reading - make that devouring - For Richer, For Poorer by Vicki (sorry, Victoria) Coren. It's an absorbing account of how she came to be a professional poker player - some knowledge of poker improves the experience, but it's far from a hardcore poker book.

(I hope this qualifies as a "memoir"!)

DianNC · 06-29-2011, 04:47 PM

Come to the Edge: A Memoir
(By Christina Haag - a longtime friend/girl friend of JFK, Jr.)

Lady Blue Eyes
(By Barbara Sinatra, chronicling her friendship/marriage to Frank)

Checked out both ebooks from my local library.

SeaBookGuy · 06-29-2011, 04:50 PM

Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet -- story of a gay, Christian, Asperger's savant.

vxf · 07-01-2011, 10:03 PM

I recently read Son of Hamas, by Mosab Yousef:
http://www.amazon.com/Son-Hamas-Grip.../dp/1414333072

The above link carries the following synopsis:

Since he was a small boy, Mosab Hassan Yousef has had an inside view of the deadly terrorist group Hamas. The oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, young Mosab assisted his father for years in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status . . . and power. But everything changed when Mosab turned away from terror and violence, and embraced instead the teachings of another famous Middle East leader. In Son of Hamas, Mosab Yousef—now called “Joseph”—reveals new information about the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization and unveils the truth about his own role, his agonizing separation from family and homeland, the dangerous decision to make his newfound faith public, and his belief that the Christian mandate to “love your enemies” is the only way to peace in the Middle East.

I have mixed feelings. First, the bad. The writing is dry, journalistic. And, frankly, more than once I thought that the author was just, ahm, 'full of it'. It's really hard to believe that everything he says is true. His sense of self-importance and his tendency of portraying himself as an innocent victim do get annoying. And his outlook on the morality of the conflict is, at best, simplistic. Where he is in a position to offer some superior insight into the perspectives of the different sides, he often falls into stereotypes. Personally, I found him to be overly partial to seeing Christianity as the solution to all problems - I personally do not agree, nor do I see how someone growing in the midst of religious fanaticism and militancy can possibly get to the conclusion that religion - albeit, a 'different' religion - could be the solution. But it's not the personal opinions that bother me - it's the way he exposes this point, in a clearly biased manner, that got on my nerves.

Yet, for all its faults, this books is a very interesting read and a somehow fresh perspective, even if you are already well informed on the topic. There are some extremely lively anecdotes giving a personal feel for a tragedy that, too often, we give for granted. Largely, he does not take sides and presents in a very fair manner the motivations - and flaws - of both sides - but, as above, he seems to lose objectivity when talking about Christians. He does also shed light on the back-story behind some big events - if you are willing to believe every word.

Overall, I think it is worth picking up, but it needs to be read cum grano salis.

JSWolf · 07-01-2011, 10:17 PM

Read Unbroken. It's just that good.

Todd Young · 07-01-2011, 11:54 PM

Angela's Ashes is a great book. More misery literature than memoir.

DianNC · 07-02-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Read Unbroken. It's just that good.

YES, it is.

JSWolf · 07-02-2011, 10:49 PM

Another recommendation is Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand. I forgot to mention that she also wrote Unbroken.

issybird · 07-03-2011, 03:26 AM

Seabiscuit wrote a memoir?!

DianNC · 07-03-2011, 03:36 PM

Neigh.

(He was just horsing-around)

JSWolf · 07-03-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Seabiscuit wrote a memoir?!

Laura Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit's memoir.

issybird · 07-03-2011, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Laura Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit's memoir.

"A horse is a horse of course of course, and no one can talk to a horse of course, that is of course unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed."

crich70 · 07-04-2011, 12:53 AM

More a non-fiction account of several breakthrough's that led to our Modern Medicine but a good read. I picked up a copy during the free period, but it is worth picking up for its insights on how different our world once was, and how some worked to make it a better place.
http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-G...9755001&sr=1-1

06-28-2011, 09:43 PM	#1
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Read any good memoirs lately? I have been going through a memoir phase lately where I have been really enjoying reading memoir-type books of various sorts. Here are some I have enjoyed: - You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers: excellent memoir comparing the author's experience with her mentally ill mother and her realization that she suffers from a condition called face blindness where she cannot remember faces. - The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks: a doctor recounts some of his memorable patients with quirky medical conditions. The first story was about a musician who loses the ability to read sheet music, then letters, then shapes, but can write and compose fluently. - Sh*t my Dad Says by Justin Halpern: if you can get past the frequent cursing, a hilarious account of a college-aged guy who moves back home with his mother and wise-cracking dad. - On the Outside Looking Indian by Rupinder Gill: author grew up with old-fashioned Indian parents who never let her and her sisters participate in certain childhood activities (camp, sleepovers etc.) which, at thirty, she decides to finally experience. - The Winter of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart: author decides to unplug herself and her three teens from the internet and cell phone for six months. - Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua: much buzzed-about memoir of a woman raising her daughters the 'traditional' Chinese way. In places it was rather shocking, but there was some food for thought underneath it all. Anyone have any good recommendations for other books I might enjoy?

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06-29-2011, 12:38 AM	#2
jgray Fanatic Posts: 548 Karma: 2928497 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Clara 2E & Sage	It's fiction, but this is quite a good read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_...idow_Tells_All I read it years ago and it reads like a real life, although some parts are a bit strange. Don't bother with the TV movie - it sucked. Joe

06-29-2011, 08:42 AM	#3
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	I'm currently reading - make that devouring - For Richer, For Poorer by Vicki (sorry, Victoria) Coren. It's an absorbing account of how she came to be a professional poker player - some knowledge of poker improves the experience, but it's far from a hardcore poker book. (I hope this qualifies as a "memoir"!)

06-29-2011, 04:47 PM	#4
DianNC Banned Posts: 1,431 Karma: 5222495 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color, Entourage Pocket Edge, iPod Touch 5th Gen	Come to the Edge: A Memoir (By Christina Haag - a longtime friend/girl friend of JFK, Jr.) Lady Blue Eyes (By Barbara Sinatra, chronicling her friendship/marriage to Frank) Checked out both ebooks from my local library.

06-29-2011, 04:50 PM	#5
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet -- story of a gay, Christian, Asperger's savant.

07-01-2011, 10:03 PM	#6
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I recently read Son of Hamas, by Mosab Yousef: http://www.amazon.com/Son-Hamas-Grip.../dp/1414333072 The above link carries the following synopsis: Since he was a small boy, Mosab Hassan Yousef has had an inside view of the deadly terrorist group Hamas. The oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, young Mosab assisted his father for years in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status . . . and power. But everything changed when Mosab turned away from terror and violence, and embraced instead the teachings of another famous Middle East leader. In Son of Hamas, Mosab Yousef—now called “Joseph”—reveals new information about the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization and unveils the truth about his own role, his agonizing separation from family and homeland, the dangerous decision to make his newfound faith public, and his belief that the Christian mandate to “love your enemies” is the only way to peace in the Middle East. I have mixed feelings. First, the bad. The writing is dry, journalistic. And, frankly, more than once I thought that the author was just, ahm, 'full of it'. It's really hard to believe that everything he says is true. His sense of self-importance and his tendency of portraying himself as an innocent victim do get annoying. And his outlook on the morality of the conflict is, at best, simplistic. Where he is in a position to offer some superior insight into the perspectives of the different sides, he often falls into stereotypes. Personally, I found him to be overly partial to seeing Christianity as the solution to all problems - I personally do not agree, nor do I see how someone growing in the midst of religious fanaticism and militancy can possibly get to the conclusion that religion - albeit, a 'different' religion - could be the solution. But it's not the personal opinions that bother me - it's the way he exposes this point, in a clearly biased manner, that got on my nerves. Yet, for all its faults, this books is a very interesting read and a somehow fresh perspective, even if you are already well informed on the topic. There are some extremely lively anecdotes giving a personal feel for a tragedy that, too often, we give for granted. Largely, he does not take sides and presents in a very fair manner the motivations - and flaws - of both sides - but, as above, he seems to lose objectivity when talking about Christians. He does also shed light on the back-story behind some big events - if you are willing to believe every word. Overall, I think it is worth picking up, but it needs to be read cum grano salis.

07-01-2011, 10:17 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Read Unbroken. It's just that good.

07-01-2011, 11:54 PM	#8
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	Angela's Ashes is a great book. More misery literature than memoir.

07-02-2011, 10:49 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Another recommendation is Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand. I forgot to mention that she also wrote Unbroken.

07-03-2011, 03:26 AM	#11
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,226 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	Seabiscuit wrote a memoir?!

07-03-2011, 03:36 PM	#12
DianNC Banned Posts: 1,431 Karma: 5222495 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color, Entourage Pocket Edge, iPod Touch 5th Gen	Neigh. (He was just horsing-around)

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07-04-2011, 12:53 AM	#15
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	More a non-fiction account of several breakthrough's that led to our Modern Medicine but a good read. I picked up a copy during the free period, but it is worth picking up for its insights on how different our world once was, and how some worked to make it a better place. http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-G...9755001&sr=1-1