Reading memoirs can provide fascinating glimpses into the lives of real people, whether you want to learn more about a beloved celebrity or you are intrigued about an aspect of someone’s life. For example, you may never have heard of Elizabeth Gilbert, but when you learned of Eat, Pray, Love, opens a new window, you were compelled to read about her journey of self-discovery and travels to Italy, India, and Bali.
Unlike an autobiography, which is an account of the writer’s entire life, a memoir might explore a specific experience or theme, such as personal growth. Memoirs tend to be more subjective and read like novels. And, like fiction, memoirs allow us to step into someone else’s shoes and experience what the writer--or character-- experiences, cultivating empathy and a sense of connectedness.
Here are several new memoirs to add to your reading list this fall:
Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, opens a new window by Margaret Atwood
Acclaimed author and cultural icon Atwood reflects on her life and its deep connections to her celebrated literary works. She details her nomadic childhood in the wilderness of northern Quebec with her scientist parents, linking these formative experiences and other key moments—from bohemian gatherings to the political climate of 1980s Berlin—to the creation of iconic novels, such as Cat’s Eye, opens a new window and The Handmaid’s Tale, opens a new window (which happen to be my favorite Atwood works). A fascinating glimpse into the life and imagination of one of our most creative minds.
The 10: A Memoir of Family and Open Road, opens a new window by E.A. Hanks
The daughter of Tom Hanks and his late first wife, Susan Dillingham, E.A. Hanks embarks on a journey to retrace a road trip she once took with her mother, seeking to understand their complex relationship. Guided by her mother’s diaries, Hanks winds along Interstate 10 across the South. Her vivid depictions of Phoenix, White Sands National Park, New Orleans, and other stops contrast with her confrontation of dark family secrets and tumultuous childhood, illustrating how personal history and the places we come from define who we become.
Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice, opens a new window by Rachel Kolb
Born profoundly deaf the same year the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) act was passed, Kolb explores the multifaceted nature of language, communication, and identity. She describes navigating a hearing-centric world by learning to speak and lip-read, expressing herself through American Sign Language (ASL) and literature, and eventually receiving a cochlear implant. Combining personal narrative with cultural analysis, Kolb examines the complexities of Deaf culture, accessibility, and the sensory experience of language, challenging conventional ideas of what it means to be articulate.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: A Veteran’s Memoir, opens a new window by Khadijah Queen
In the early 1990s, Khadijah Queen enlists in the U.S. Navy as a way to escape family hardship and poverty, hoping to fund her college education. However, once stationed on a naval destroyer, her ambition is met with the harsh realities of systemic racism, relentless sexual harassment, and degrading assignments. To cope with long days stuck on a ship and maintain a sense of autonomy, Queen immerses herself in poetry and literature. But when the workplace hostility against women escalates, threatening everything Queen has worked for, she is faced with the difficult choice between conforming to the military's code of silence and staying true to herself.
Truly, opens a new window by Lionel Richie
Music legend Richie presents an intimate deep dive into his life, starting with his early days in Civil Rights-era Tuskegee and spanning his time with The Commodores, breaking out as a solo Motown artist, writing and recording “We Are the World,” and his current gig as a judge on American Idol. Richie regales us with tales of events, both funny and fraught, that cover his painfully shy early years through becoming one of the most recognized, best-loved entertainers of our time. Written with warmth and humor, Richie’s talent as a storyteller shines in this inspiring memoir.
Finding My Way: A Memoir by Malala Yousafzai
At fifteen, Yousafzai became a public figure and activist after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life. Underneath her widely known persona of courage and resilience, Yousafzai was still a teen girl finding her place in the world. With authenticity and openness, Yousafzai details her private struggles with anxiety, self-discovery, and finding a sense of normality while navigating life in the global spotlight. She doesn’t shy away from vulnerability, sharing experiences such as nearly failing exams and getting ghosted. Her candid memoir is an excellent complement to her first work, I Am Malala, opens a new window.
Enhance your reading journey and connect with others by joining one of over 20 book groups for adults at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Visit librarypoint.org/book-groups, opens a new window for locations and details.
Tracy McPeck is the Director of Adult Services at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. This column first appeared in the Free Lance-Star newspaper.
