I read an equal amount of fiction and memoir and freeze whenever someone asks me for a favorite. Instead of “favorite,” I think along the lines of, “What book am I still thinking about long after the last page?” The list below focuses on memoir.
The reasons I’m still thinking about these particular memoirs vary. Sometimes it’s the nature of the story. More often it’s the writing style and voice. Several of my choices below are not groundbreaking in the events described, rather, the way the authors told their stories drew me in. I suppose a combination of story and style/voice is the winning “formula” for me. A bunch of witty lines with no larger point doesn’t do it for me either. I’ve read many more memoirs than the 5+ below, but these particular titles are the ones I find myself recommending repeatedly. Any unforgettable memoirs you’d add to my list? Let me know in the comments!
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
by Jeannette Walls: I read this book in 2006 and still remember so many details. I think The Glass Castle is the gold standard of memoirs with its incredible story of a dysfunctional family and how Walls and her siblings survive. I read this book in one sitting. If you liked The Glass Castle, you will also like Pretty Things Don’t Break
by Lauren Jayne, which is also an impossible-to-put-down story of family dysfunction and a child who creates a better life for herself.
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
by David Sedaris: I love all of the Sedaris memoirs for the expert storytelling with spot-on commentary about society in general and family in particular. This one, however, has a chapter, “Consider the Stars,” that I’ve come back to in my writing classes and even casually in conversation. Considering I first read the book in 2004 it’s saying a lot that I still reference that chapter regularly. If you like David Sedaris, you might also like Sloane Crosley. I liked I Was Told There’d Be Cake more than her more recent essay collection.
Bossypants
by Tina Fey: I have allowed several friends to borrow this book and if they take too long before returning it, I start asking when I’m getting it back. That’s how much I love it. I especially loved and frequently reference the honeymoon chapter. If you liked Bossypants, you might also like Jessi Klein’s essay collection You’ll Grow Out of It, which I listened to while driving around or walking. I cried a few times from laughing so hard. I had to pull over my car once to collect myself. I’m not exaggerating. I wish I could remember the chapter. Might have been the Disney one.
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
by Nora Ephron: Ephron manages to say what’s on many of our minds, and she does so in the classiest way possible while still being hilarious. I respect someone who can write in a way that’s clever and relatable without resorting to constant swearing or relying on the too-much-information method of drawing in readers. If you like Nora Ephron’s work, you might also like Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
and her follow-up collection, Why Not Me?
.
Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: I’ve mentioned this book and this author a dozen times between my blog, Facebook, and Twitter. You might remember Rosenthal’s heartbreaking NYT Modern Love piece, “You May Want To Marry My Husband,” which was published right before she died from ovarian cancer. Rosenthal’s two memoirs and all of her work is the rare example when I can say there is nothing else like it. If you liked Textbook, I can only recommend Rosenthal’s previous and equally unusual memoir Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
.
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18 Responses
The Tender Bar is one of my favorites. It’s actually the book that got me into memoirs.
Oooh! Good to know. I will look it up.
Nina, if you’re on Goodreads and want to friend me there I have a “memoir” shelf. There are so many good ones out there. Everybody had a story….
yes! Find me here so I can find you back. I’m TERRIBLE about keeping track there since I keep track on my site, but I like it for finding books. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3848274-nina
Devotion by Dani Shapiro for me. I’m sure there are others, but that’s the one I immoderately thought of. And I can’t believe I’ve never read The Glass Castle. On my bedside.
I loved Devotion too. Also Slow Motion!
Thanks for sharing some new titles – I can’t wait to talk about them!
I’ll say it over and over again but I loved Stories I only tell my friends – Rob Lowe. This was my favourite non-fiction of last year. Then I saw Sam Jones has a podcast with Rob Lowe and I found it really helped me appreciate the book even more (as if that were even necessary :)). I know you like podcasts, Nina, so give it a listen, and definitely get the audiobook. It’s amazing!
PS I just don’t get the Mindy Kaling book. It was a 6 out of 10 for me. I don’t know if you had to be a fan of hers already?
I love Bossypants, quote it regularly (especially the prayer for my daughter) and give it often. This is such a great list. Must check out the others!
Glass Castle is on my list. I just finished Hourglass by Dani Shapiro and her words have stayed with me. Another must on my list- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.
I’ve read three of these (Fey, Rosenthal, and Walls) and agree they’re really good ones. In fact, I think GLASS CASTLE may have been one of my first memoir reads hooking me on the genre. On my memorable memoir reads I’d add Mary-Louise Parker’s DEAR MR. YOU (the format is so good), and PIECES OF MY MOTHER by Melissa Cistaro (loved the way she handled the topic of her relationship with her dying mother with such brutal honesty). And though I liked Steve Martin’s BORN STANDING UP, I actually wish he’d write another one because I find this part of his life almost as fascinating as his early days as a comedian.
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Thanks Nina. I love memoirs, but haven’t red any Sedaris or Amy’s books. I’m sacred to read her memoirs, were they pre-diagnosis?
I did love Bossypants, so now I know I need to read “You’ll Grow Out of It Too!”
I thought Tina Fey’s stories were ones that stuck with me.
I don’t usually pick up a memoir unless I’m familiar with the author already. That said, I loved, loved AKR’s memoirs. She was a true original, not gimmicky.
(And of course you know I read everything Sedaris! Can’t wait for his new diaries to come out.)
I haven’t read most of these, and I do love a good memoir. Thanks Nina!
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Great list, Nina! I’ve read a couple and now I have a few more to add to my list. I’ve become a huge fan of memoir myself.
The Glass Castle and Bossypants is on my shelf to read – must get them this summer. Thanks for these :
BTW, just saw you Glory of Love obsession reference – totally get it, hahahaha!
Right there with you on all of these except the Glass Castle. I read it so long ago.. I can’t say it didn’t stick with me but I also wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. I don’t even remember why, all these years later. I just remember going “Wow I think I am the only person on earth who didn’t LOVE this book.” I read AKR’s per your rec… Great choice. I would add “Drinking: A Love Story” by Caroline Knapp and Nora McInerny Purmort’s memoir (another one I think I found via you and/or GRB). Oh and All But My Life by Gerda Weissman Klein. I read it in 7th grade and I still think of it sometimes.
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