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Bringley brings emotional depth to his experiences, struggling to heal from his brother’s death and immersing himself in the museum’s beauty. Despite minor quibbles, this audio should find a welcome home in most audio collections.
PREMIUM
Bang Bang Crash: A Memoir
Recommended for fans of Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller or Carrie Brownstein’s Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl.
Potts’s compassionate and sensitively read memoir is a challenging but timely listen, illuminating a little-known side of rural America.
Share with listeners interested in history, climate change, feminism, and narrative nonfiction. The intriguing plot, homesteading history, and insights into climate change make this a winner.
This heartfelt and honest book about life after loss is a must-listen for anyone looking to feel seen in their grief. Those who enjoy memoirs, stories of persistence through hard times, and those looking to learn more about America’s opioid crisis will want to listen.
PREMIUM
The Critic’s Daughter: A Memoir
Even if listeners aren’t familiar with Gilman or her parents, listeners will likely enjoy this rich, well-written memoir about flawed relationships and the lasting trauma of divorce.
PREMIUM
A Heart That Works
Delaney’s visceral memoir and love letter to his child will leave listeners’ hearts aching. A powerful audio that communicates the wholly personal yet terribly unifying experience of grief.
PREMIUM
Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir
This memoir detailing Regan’s relationship with her body, her family, and the world around her resonates with sincerity and passion.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an upbeat and honest animal lover autobiography, as much about people as it is about pets.
PREMIUM
Sink: A Memoir
Stunningly written and eloquent in its despair, this book is unforgettable; Thomas’s expressive narration elevates his story into a work of art.
Armchair travelers and history buffs interested in political and social issues, including immigration, civil rights, and environmental justice will appreciate this unique, solidly narrated title.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a lyrical life story about faith and foraging. Recommended for fans of honest, inspiring memoirs.
A must-listen for fans of Shapiro’s work on NPR and journalism memoirs. Purchase multiple copies (perhaps even forgoing the print), and put in the hands of sure-to-be-delighted patrons.
PREMIUM
Token Black Girl: A Memoir
A unique exposé of fashion media that is recommended for fans of Kenya Hunt’s Girl Gurl Grrrl or Tressie McMillan Cottom’s Thick.
PREMIUM
My Road from Damascus: A Memoir
This riveting memoir of a Syrian dissident, featuring an outstanding, often musical performance, deserves comparisons to Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning in its ability to find the beauty of human connection in utterly inhumane conditions.
Listeners will relate to the disasters and triumphs of Tate’s friendships and will likely respond to her transparent, often humorous delivery.
A timely and compassionate memoir that will appeal to anyone looking for connections and trying to bridge their own chasms.
The audiobook’s hybrid of truth and tale may give some listeners pause. Give to those who enjoy eccentric, lyrical nonfiction.
PREMIUM
Hijab Butch Blues
While this memoir addresses weighty and sometimes painful topics, the essays shine with hope for a better future and deeper understanding. Listeners will end up hoping for more from this trailblazing writer.
Listeners who enjoy memoirs about self-discovery will enjoy Pennington’s candid debut. Suggest to fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.
Fredriksson’s honesty about her often abrasive past behavior, her frustration at being discounted in the men-dominated music industry, and her attempts to find alternative lifesaving treatments makes for an engaging read. Most poignant is her vulnerability as she opens her closets and photo albums that showcase a life well lived.
Neither an excoriation of the sex industry nor a reclamation of it as a source of empowerment, this memoir adds a needed complexity to the conversation about both.
In LJ’s yearly examination of this reader-favorite genre, we found four leading trends that examine trauma and mortality, offer insight into the impact of war, readily confront mental health concerns, and experiment with hybrid forms and genres.
PREMIUM
Knocked Down: A High-Risk Memoir
A candid account of marriage and motherhood, and an excellent choice for book groups.
Readers looking for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the world of television production, as well as those searching for inspiration and motivation to pursue their own dreams, will enjoy this memoir. It’s a great addition to a collection looking to round out its entertainment section.
Blake’s message of empathetic compassion and coming together as a community is a balm for a divided country that leans on sensationalism, hate, and scare tactics. An essential purchase for all libraries, especially those with DEI collections. It will likely appeal to readers who enjoyed How To Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.
Campbell merges memoir and hardboiled mystery to create a fascinating and revealing portrait of how world events impact an individual’s sense of self and creative drive.
This book ranks as a powerful reminder of the resilience it takes for women to rise professionally in spaces traditionally reserved for men.
PREMIUM
Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire
Suitable for career collections and all that support fire science, environmental programs, and women’s studies.
Vrecek’s passion for her ride goes far toward offering a fresh take on traveling the difficult road to self-actualization.
This is an impassioned nonfiction narrative that interweaves the author’s personal and professional lives to relate the hostile environment of a global migration crisis.
While exploring a life in music, this book also outlines trying to fit in, finding and retaining a job, and adjusting to fellow workers, all experiences that many readers may find to be universally relatable.
PREMIUM
Don’t Call Me Home: A Memoir
With humor, love, and some giddiness, Auder tells her singular survival story.
Will have wide appeal for general audiences, particularly those who enjoyed memoirs such as Tara Westover’s Educated and Deborah Feldman’s Unorthodox.
This fast and breezy diary reveals a man who is happiest not on camera but when he’s curled up in bed reading picture books to his children.
PREMIUM
Soul Survivor: The Autobiography
A story of survival with a bird’s-eye view of Swinging Radio England that pop music aficionados will likely enjoy.
Fans will enjoy Ralph’s stories of courage and perseverance and her positive messages for future divas.
Warren’s insightful memoir brings readers vividly into the work and mindset of first responders. This is a vital resource for readers facing or supporting someone with similar stressors and situations or considering this career. This book also offers insight into the effects of PTSD.
Recommended for memoir lovers and for those who are searching for the path to healing after a traumatic experience.
An important addition to any library, this book is an excellent educational guide to topics surrounding the transgender experience. It will be helpful to readers looking for guidance along their own journeys and to those looking to support trans people.
In these reissues of his memoirs (reviewed in the April 2023 issue of LJ), record producer Simon Napier-Bell, known for his work with Wham! and the Yardbirds, gives readers a racy but shrewd glimpse of the British music scene.
![We Are Too Many: A Memoir [Kind of]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ArchiveImages/LegacyReviews/LJ/9781250869043.jpg)
Recommended for readers who enjoy memoirs that deal with personal relationships and the journey of discovering oneself.
This debut author’s writing style, experimental and intimate, enables her to effectively put words to wounds that seem unspeakable. Memoir fans will find much to like in this one.
This book is recommended for those interested in memoirs, connective tissue and cell disorders, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and also for people living with disabilities.
Jones turns it up to 11 with his latest collection. These are captivating and absolutely delightful tales of rock’s wonder and power.
PREMIUM
I’m Coming To Take You to Lunch: A Fantastic Tale of Boys, Booze and How Wham! Were Sold to China
A breezy but insightful snapshot of an era implausible even to those who lived it. For fans of Wham! and pop culture aficionados.
Lewis provides a straightforward, candid, and lively account of his more than 60-year-long musical journey that will appeal to general readers and jazz fans.
The author’s journey will be a familiar one to many readers who struggle to find meaning in their day-to-day existence and their ability to conquer any threats against it.
PREMIUM
Tell Me Everything: A Memoir
Use caution when recommending this particular celebrity memoir. It should come with a trigger warning, considering its cover-to-cover instances of abuse, neglect, drug use, violence, and trauma.
A sweet gem of a tale that will appeal to McCarthy fans and those who appreciate a challenging journey.
PREMIUM
Getting Lost
An interesting choice for libraries where patrons are looking for more of Ernaux’s work, but an optional purchase for most.
An irresistible and supremely eloquent look inside the British royal family by the son who was forced to escape its stranglehold.
PREMIUM
Brown Boy: A Memoir
A memorable memoir with relatable themes of race, religion, identity, and family.
At times poignant, this memoir is an intimate look at the adoption process and life after adoption; will resonate with parents and guardians.
A smooth and energetic read about the making of one of Aotearoa’s most prominent drag queens. Recommended for readers who enjoy getting a peek behind-the-scenes of reality television and entertainment culture.
PREMIUM
The Elephants of Thula Thula
Malby-Anthony brings Thula Thula and its inhabitants--humans and animals--to the forefront in this beautifully descriptive work that demonstrates the importance of protecting wildlife and their natural habitats while sharing their space with tourists.
Anachronistic tales throughout and Bellamy’s sometimes overly simplistic lessons and advice take away from the book’s allure. This title is best to give to his fans, especially those who grew up watching him.
Honest and raw, this book serves a slice of an inspiring life that reminds readers to keep trying. Williams’s story will likely appeal to readers interested in music, poetry, literature, or mental health.
PREMIUM
Twist: An American Girl
Bertei’s childhood is harrowing, and her memoir does not hold back on the details, which are horrific at times. But the author sounds her voice loudly in this book, and her sense of self is captured throughout the pages. The end result is likely to captivate readers.
Will likely appeal to and attract many sports fans and general readers. Highly recommended for public libraries and collections with a sports emphasis.
PREMIUM
Bad Mormon: A Memoir
Recommended for fans of the show, of course. This memoir will also appeal to readers who enjoy reading about women successfully navigating adulthood and motherhood.
Mewshaw’s account, especially of Greene’s last years, is moving and perceptive. This lovely book can be read alongside Richard Greene’s The Unquiet Englishman: A Life of Graham Greene.
PREMIUM
Third Girl from the Left
A deeply personal, emotionally wrenching memoir and eyewitness account of the AIDS pandemic.
PREMIUM
Paris: The Memoir
Hilton’s fans and supporters, along with readers interested in pop culture and books by celebrities, might request this one.
Nikolidakis’s story is difficult to hear, but she leaves listeners with a message of positivity and redemption. An uplifting story that speaks to her bravery while providing hope that it is possible to find strength in oneself without turning to self-destructive coping mechanisms.
Ideal for those interested in descriptive, insightful stories about what it is like to not quite fit in anywhere, to inhabit many spaces at once, and to be challenged with the formation of one’s own identity in a sometimes chaotic and contradictory environment.
Readers seeking an honest portrayal of one gay man’s voyage in the masculine imaginary will find a rich source of companionship.
PREMIUM
Bibi: My Story
Patrons interested in modern Middle Eastern history, the back channels of diplomacy and negotiations, and the life of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister will be riveted by this audio presentation.
An uplifting and humorous memoir that should resonate with patrons. Share with fans of Delia Ephron’s Left on Tenth or Kelsey Miller’s Big Girl.
This title will appeal to activists but is also recommended for anyone who values making spaces and life more inclusive. Wong’s memoir, which so effectively highlights the need for accessibility, is an essential audio purchase.
PREMIUM
Drinking Games: A Memoir
A deeply personal, highly relevant memoir that details the challenges and hard-won success of a woman who has chosen sobriety.
PREMIUM
Stay True: A Memoir
A deeply emotional memoir and an elegant tribute to an enduring friendship that was brutally cut short. Hsu’s narration shines just ahead of his brilliant writing. Recommended for public libraries.
A heartfelt memoir that addresses the importance of artistic expression and never taking life for granted. This work will have wide appeal, not just for those who love tattooing and the arts.
Providing background and insight into Ukraine’s current struggles, this timely work will be a winner for patrons interested in current events.
This wickedly fun look at the adventures of aging should appeal to Notaro’s many fans and to readers who enjoy Jen Mann, Annabelle Gurwitch, and Jessi Klein.
PREMIUM
The Family Outing: A Memoir
Beautifully written, this thoughtful and unique literary memoir may appeal to audiences interested in LGBTQIA+ studies. Share with readers who appreciated the works of authors Putsata Reang, Dani Shapiro, and Carmen Rita Wong.
PREMIUM
Local: A Memoir
A moving portrait of a woman navigating culture and identity, elevated by the use of beautiful Hawaiian language. A good addition to round out any audio memoir collection.
An essential purchase. This powerful work speaks eloquently to the importance of advocating for trans people’s rights and promoting understanding of gender as a social construct.
PREMIUM
README.txt: A Memoir
An essential purchase in modern military history, U.S. history, and LGBTQIA+ history. Recommended for readers of activist memoirs and LGBTQIA+ memoirs and history.
Recommended for fans of memoirs that combine food and culture like Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart and Michael W. Twitty’s The Cooking Gene.
Obama’s candid narration adds a level of intimacy between the book and the listener. This engaging performance should be available to all public library patrons.
Listeners will feel the joy, pain, and love in Totenberg’s voice as she weaves her way through decades of intimate and large-scale gatherings, revealing a powerful and ever-evolving friendship. This superb audio is an essential purchase.
A strong work from a gifted writer; recommended for medium to large public libraries or for communities.
This is a well-written memoir of a scientific field study season. De Gracia engages and pulls the reader into the Antarctic summer, its climate, and its creatures; the penguins are, of course, completely enchanting. Recommended for all types of libraries.
This enthralling story is highly recommended for readers specifically interested in the fall of Saigon or in memoirs generally.
Chin’s family stories are important and relevant, and her memoir gives readers a better understanding of immigrants’ pasts and presents in the U.S. and an idea of how to move forward.
This innovative memoir will attract readers who are drawn to poetry hidden in well-written prose and memoirs and will appeal to those who seek meaning in reinventing their lives.
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