Category: Memoir

Memoir · Non-fiction

Untamed

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Title: Untamed

Author: Glennon Doyle

Page Count: 352

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher:  March 10, 2020 by The Dial Press

Format: eBook

Review: It is really hard to review self-help books. They either resonate with you or they don’t, and the reasoning is usually deeply personal. For this reason, after finishing this book, my book club has decided to ban self-help books from being selected for future meetings.

This book did not resonate with me personally. I did think there were some valuable insights, and though I did agree with many of the points the author made, the whole book had an air of pretentiousness that did not sit well with me. It felt like the author was trying so hard to be authentic, that she instead came off as inauthentic. She overexplained her life decisions and although I am happy that she found happiness with her partner, it felt like she was trying to vindicate her actions through these long winded descriptions of their connection to one another.

I know other people enjoy her style of writing, but bottom-line is, I was not the right audience for this memoir.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_Gold
All_Star_Gold
Memoir · Non-fiction

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

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Title: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

Author: Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman

Performer: Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman

Length: 6 hr, 40 min, 10 sec

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 2018 by Penguin Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This was a love story that tackled many topics other than a love story.  Megan and Nick talk about how they met, fell in love, and continue to stay in love, but they also talk about things like achieving fame, past relationships, and their childhoods.  I listened to this book in audiobook format, and I don’t know how this story could have been read in print format.  There is a lot of banter between the couple and I am curious as to how this was accurately captured.  At some point I may check out the hardcover and flip through it just to assuage this curiosity.  I also want to see the photos that were described in some detail by the authors that are apparently included in the book.

There isn’t a lot of depth to this book, so if you are looking for something pleasant to have playing in the background while accomplishing other tasks, this is a good option.  I had some familiarity with these two actors, but I really did not know much about them prior to listening to their story.  A lot of what they include is mundane and boring, if I’m being perfectly honest, but it’s refreshing to hear from a famous couple that is still very much in love after 18 years together.  Nick’s worship of his wife was over the top in some chapters…we get it, Megan Mullally is great…however I found these were good times for my attention to drift off without feeling like I needed to rewind and re-listen.  I never felt like I missed much when I tuned back in, which is nice when you have a toddler screaming commands at you from the backseat of your car.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Memoir · Non-fiction

Down Among the Dead Men

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Down Among the Dead Men: A Year in the Life of a Mortuary Technician

Title: Down Among the Dead Men: A Year in the Life of a Mortuary Technician

Author: Michelle Williams

Page Count: N/A

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: Soft Skull Press

Format: eBook

Review: The dead deserve respect, and this author says as much, and then promptly calls the body of an obese person a ‘monstrosity’ and then writes a whole chapter about all the laughs they got out of a man who died while dressed as a woman. Absolutely unacceptable. It also serves no purpose in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t teach anyone anything and it’s basically just the sticky-note version of what happens in a morgue. I couldn’t finish this book, nor do I want to, and I wouldn’t recommend to to anyone. That half star is me being generous.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating: 

half star

Memoir · Non-fiction

Ordinary Girls

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Title: Ordinary Girls

Author: Jaquira Díaz

Page Count: 336

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: October 29, 2019 by Algonquin Books

Format: eBook

Review: Every so often I get in the mood to read memoirs.  I am especially interested in coming-of-age stories, so this one immediately appealed to me when I read the synopsis.  I did enjoy the book, especially the parts that took place in Puerto Rico, but I found that Díaz jumps around too much in the chronology for my personal taste.  As a reader I found myself getting frustrated by the tangents she would go on in the midst of telling a story.  I find that a lot memoirs take place in snapshots of a life; however in this case it was just too many things at once and it was difficult to get a clear picture.

At the conclusion of this book, I couldn’t help but feel that it was unfinished.  It is clear that at some point Díaz pulls herself out of the cycle of poverty and self-loathing she grew up in, but this is not really explored in this memoir.  Each time I thought she was going to make it out of the tunnel of darkness, she would throw herself back in.  Clearly she achieved her goal of becoming a writer and I just wanted to know more about that journey. I wouldn’t consider this book uplifting or particularly inspiring, but it was very real and didn’t sugarcoat anything. Díaz seems to have a lot of self-awareness in writing this memoir, so it was overall an interesting and revealing read.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Memoir · Non-fiction · Young Adult

Shout

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Title: Shout

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Page Count: 304

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 12, 2019 by Penguin Young Readers Group

Format: Hardcover

Review: Laurie Halse Anderson has been a powerhouse in the realm of Young Adult Fiction, so it was interesting to learn a little bit more about her through this poetry memoir.  I like the format in verse because I think it will make the book seem less daunting to reluctant readers.  I was able to breeze through it in a couple hours, and despite it’s brevity, there is still a lot to unpack.

I think this is an important book because it reveals the gap in education regarding consent, and really just sex in general.  Because sex is still such a taboo topic, society is failing to educate youth about their own bodies and the importance of respecting others.

One of the most tragic aspects of sexual abuse/assault is that the victims often do not fully understand what has happened/is happening to them.  They push down their shame and internalize their trauma, which often manifests itself in destructive ways.  Because of this, it is so important that we talk through these issues with our youth, and let them know that it is ok to speak out if someone is doing something that doesn’t feel right.

I personally think this should be required reading in middle schools, because it is important to start this conversation early.  It is not graphic, but it absolutely gets it’s point across, which I think makes it appropriate for both middle school and high school students.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Memoir · Non-fiction

Educated

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Title: Educated

Author: Tara Westover

Performer: Julia Whelan

Length: 12 hrs, 15 min, 32 sec

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 2018 by Random House Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This memoir was truly fascinating.  I thought the audiobook version was incredible.  I have greatly enjoyed this performer for other books, and she really does a fantastic job with this one.

It is hard to believe this is a true story.  The fact that someone can go to college and excel without a formal education is a concept I had never considered.  As a librarian, I am a huge proponent of books, but this story really puts into perspective how powerful literacy, books, and internet access can be.

The physical, emotional, and psychological abuse in this book is difficult to stomach, so this is a serious trigger warning.  It is incredibly frustrating to see the cycle of abuse perpetuated on so many different levels, and it demonstrates how difficult it is to truly cut ties with an abuser, especially one that you love.  This story is a powerful example of how one can break the cycle and move forward in life.  My heart broke for Tara on so many occasions, and some of the choices she had to make for her own mental health and wellbeing brought tears to my eyes.  She is an incredibly resilient human being and I have great admiration for all she has accomplished.

I highly recommend this memoir.  I think it provides important insights into a world that few know about, and it tackles issues, such as mental illness, that have a lasting impact on more people than we realize.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Memoir · Non-fiction · True Crime

In the Name of the Children

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Title: In the Name of the Children

Author: Jeffrey Rinek and Marilee Strong

Page Count: Unavailable

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 17 July 2018, BenBella Books

Format: eBook

Review: While it deals with a very difficult subject matter, this book is extremely well written. Rinek and Strong are natural story tellers, making you feel like you’re sitting down with them and just talking and listening to Rinek’s tales of the FBI.

I would give this 5 stars, but the topic gives me pause. It doesn’t feel right, considering it’s about kidnapped children. However, it’s so, so well written. I can’t stress that enough. Rinek expertly describes the processes he went through and the people he dealt with. He shows a lot of respect for his fellow law enforcement officers, stating that many of them became friends over the years, which makes sense; not many people go through what they go through and that forms bonds.

This book is clearly not for everyone, however, if you think you can handle it, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold