New Booktalk Booklist on BookGuide: Biographies & Memoirs - 2023 with Jen J.

On April 14th, 2023, Jen J., a librarian at the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, presented a new talk at the Bethany Branch BookTalks, on the theme of recently published biographies and memoirs. Her selections covered everything from entertainers (actors, singers) to criminologists to journalists. Altogether, she included 10 new biographies.

Check out Jen's selections in this new booklist on BookGuide at the following link:

Biographies and Memoirs - 2023

Book Review: How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't by Lane Moore

How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don’t
by Lane Moore (Biography Moore)

How to Be Alone is a memoir that could almost just as easily be shelved in the self-help section. If you consciously or unconsciously use humor to deal with intense emotions, this book will introduce you to a kindred spirit. It surprised me with many authentic laugh-out-loud moments. You can tell that the author is on an arduous journey of self-love and self-discovery, and thankfully she’s willing to share her therapy lessons with us all. More specifically, author Moore grew up without a family in the traditional sense, she raised herself, and her romantic and platonic attachment issues have led to some heartbreaking and heartwarming (mostly heartbreaking) tales.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try anything by Samantha Irby, Jenny Lawson, or David Sedaris, The Misfit’s Manifesto, by Lidia Yuknavitch, Fresh Off the Boat, by Eddie Huang, Assume the Worst, by Carl Hiassen or Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed.]

[ official How to Be Alone page on the official Lane Moore web site ]

 

Recommended by Naomi S.
Eiseley Branch Library

 

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Customer Review: The Distance Between us by Reyna Grande

The Distance Between Us
by Reyna Grande [downloadable audio format only]
 
This memoir weaves the universal story of a family’s resolve to reach their goal against all odds. By the same token, her memoir raises the question of how much should one be willing to sacrifice to obtain the impossible dream? Her memoir also makes clear how arduous the road to a better life can be, while at times also offering hope and inspiration. Her memoir tells a story as much about poverty as it does immigration, and should serve as encouragement to press on when life gets tough.

reviewed by Allison H.-F.
customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library
May 20, 2017

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New Customer Reviews appear whenever we receive submissions on the Customer Reviews page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually shortly after they appear on our site.

New Booktalk Booklist - Memoirs and Biographies

Did you miss Katie M.'s March 2012 booktalk at the Gere BooksTalk group? Here's your chance to see her recommendations. She discussed 12 biographies for youth and adults. Check out her booklist below, which is hotlinked to the library catalog!

Memoirs and Biographies

Bloom: A Memoir

Bloom: A Memoir
by Kelle Hampton [Biography Hampton]

An emotional rollercoaster of a story when author Kelle Hampton's second child is born with Down's Syndrome. Follow her journey from grief to joy and the slippery spots along the way of Baby Nella's first year and redefining what the words 'special' and 'different' mean. Laugh, cry, and grow as an individual....whether your are a parent or not. -- recommended by Sarah J. - South Branch Library
 
[ "Bloom" blog entry on the official Kelle Hampton blog ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Born Standing Up

Born Standing Up
by Steve Martin [Compact Disc 791.432 Mar]

Based on friends' recommendations, I listened to the book-on-cd version of Steve Martin's recent autobiography, narrated by Martin himself. This book is a look back by Martin at his life during the period in which he was performing stand-up comedy, which he hasn't done now for over 20 years. It was fascinating to see the intense work that went into creating his routines, and the evolution of those routines over the years. My earliest memories of Martin are from just before he became the "wild and crazy guy" with the bunny ears or arrow through his head. He seemed like such a natural humorist that it is interesting to hear him describe how much practice and development went into creating that kind of performance persona. In reference to the audiobook -- Martin is a fine narrator, although in the early portions of the book he seems rather emotionless and speaks in almost a monotone. The further into the book he goes, though, the more animated and energetic his narration becomes. Also, a benefit you get from the audio version rather than the print version is that between chapters you get short bits of Martin playing his own original banjo music -- one of his passions. I found it particularly interesting that Martin felt as if he was writing a "biography" rather than an "autobiography" -- he says he felt as if he were writing about another person, since he hasn't been that "stand up guy" for over two decades. [Martin's sense of humor also comes across well in his novels and other printed books, including Cruel Shoes. The libraries have a couple of his comedy albums from the time period he discusses, as well as a Saturday Night Live compilation, The Best of Steve Martin.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [subscribe to Scott's monthly booklist newsletter - It's All Geek to Me! - or any of our other custom email newsletters!]

[Also available in traditional print format.]

[ official Steve Martin web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Bossypants (on CD)

Bossypants (on CD)
by Tina Fey

I've enjoyed Tina Fey's writing and acting on both Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, and was pleased to see she was the narrator of the audio version of her own book. Her sarcastic, witty attitude comes across perfectly as she reads Bossypants, and it's obvious she's having fun sharing her memories. At the same time, however, I sort of felt as if this biography was very light -- she doesn't really go into any serious depth about any of her topics, instead breezing through her experiences almost like an outsider, or teasing us with hints of a greater story, which then she doesn't share. Still, if you enjoy biographies about the making of television shows, or you're a die-hard SNL fan, or you grew up making jokes or "putting on a show", you'll probably enjoy this one. I definitely enjoyed listening to this more than I did reading it...Fey's personality comes across very effectively on audio. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in downloadable audio and print formats.]

[ Publisher's official Bossypants web page ] | [ Tina Fey page on Wikipedia ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide

website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far

Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far
by Bristol Palin [Biography Palin]

This was interesting to me. I am not really into politics, this book is about an Alaskan young lady. Bristol told her story including the struggles she faced as an unwed mother, with the support of her loving family, while in the political spotlight. She spoke of many struggles young people face today. She said her faith led her to aspire to find ways to help other young people. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try: The Memory Keeper's Daughter-fiction by Kim Edwards; The Help, historical fiction by Kathryn Stockett; Lavender Morning, contemporary romance fiction (1st in Edilean series), by Jude Deveraux; Married to Laughter, a love story featuring Anne Meara, non-fiction by Jerry Stiller.] -- recommended by Kathy H. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in downloadable audio and book-on-cd formats.]

[ Wikipedia page for Bristol Palin ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

My Word is My Bond

My Word is My Bond
by Roger Moore and Gareth Owen [Biography Moore]

Actor Roger Moore, best known as "The Saint" and James Bond 007, recounts his life, nearly chronologically, from his childhood in Englad, his plays, his movies, and his work with UNICEF. He mostly sticks to his ideal of "if you can't say anything nice about someone then say nothing at all" so this is NOT a kiss-and-tell book with nasty gossip about celebrities. As all good biographies do, this one has photos in the middle of the book. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Elizabeth: The Queen Mother: A Twentieth Century Life by Grania Forbes.] -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ Page for this book on the official Sir Roger Moore web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Talk Show

Talk Show
by Dick Cavett [791.45 Cav]

After years in the entertainment industry as the host of his own titular TV talk show, Dick Cavett was invited by the New York Times to pen a regular "column" for that august publication. Knowing that Cavett came from Lincoln, I was happy to find Talk Show on the new books display recently. Cavett has a witty, observational tone to his writings. He's also very funny, in that dry, intellectual, "New Yorker" way. Still, despite the type of sophisticated image that he projects, it is fun to hear him talk of his formative years living in Lincoln. Cavett's subject matter for his columns varies wildly, from the expected remembrances of his talk show days and the many celebrities he interacted with, to his childhood, to his public battles with severe depression. Cavett is easy to listen to -- I sampled the book-on-cd version of this title. However, whether you're reading this or listening to it, I caution that Cavett is an unapologetic liberal, and conservatives or supporters of George W. Bush are likely to be put off by some of Cavett's angrier columns. Never-the-less, it's a pleasure to re-visit one of the 1970s and 1980s TV icons I grew up on...especially with the "local" connection! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Cavett's earlier books. Also, the libraries have several DVD compilations featuring "best of" collections of bits from the Dick Cavett Show...these are definitely worth checking out!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in book-on-cd format.]

[ Dick Cavett entry on Wikipedia ] | [ official Dick Cavett NYT blog from which this book originated ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Two Kisses for Maddy

Two Kisses For Maddy
by Matthew Logelin [Biography Logelin]

"Life and death. All in a 27-hour period." This is the heart-wrenching memoir of a man who welcomed his premature baby into the world only to lose her mother the next day. The book envelops us from the first page into two stories. We are immersed in Matt's thoughts and feelings as he navigates the memories of meeting and building a relationship with his wife Liz - from high school to delivery, the anticipation of meeting their daughter Maddy. and everything that comes with losing a spouse and raising an infant. From the emotional highs and lows, to the struggle to live daily with tangible memories of his wife surrounding him and reflected in his daughter Maddy's face. This story will move the reader from tears to laughter along with him because of the gripping, unedited, raw emotion. The book does contain 'rough' language - as did his corresponding blog.. However, it is used to capture his voice and honest reactions. The tale also brings hope for Matt and Maddy - and hope for the future, that things can change for widows/widowers and society in general. An added bonus is that you can jump onto his blog and see how the Logelin family's life has evolved and how Maddy has thrived.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try a fiction book called Good Grief written in 2005 by author Lolly Winston. She is widowed at the age of 36. For her, the death of her husband sets off a sprial of events in the first year - some crazy, some sane. In her journey, she rediscovers who she is and re-prioritizes her life to reflect who she has become. Not only does our heroine become a Big Sister to a troubled teen, but there is an element of romance and re-birth. Written with comedic tone, this quick read gives us another look at how grief can equal growth. (But not without the dreaded growing pains.)] -- both recommended by Sarah J. - South Branch Library

[ official Matt Logelin blog -- where this book began! ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

All Over But the Shoutin'

All Over But the Shoutin'
by Rick Bragg [B B2785]

Rick Bragg wrote All Over But the Shoutin' for his mother, a woman abandoned by an alcoholic husband and left to raise three sons in the hardscrabble country of northeastern Alabama. His tribute to his mother is touching, but never too sweet: the pathos of poverty and hopelessness tempered with humor and everyday acts of kindness. Bragg's birth at a drive-in movie theater seemed to portend his eventual career as a journalist, on assignment and packed suitcase at the ready. "I am told it was a hot, damp night in late July 1959, one of those nights when the setting of the sun brings no relief. It might have been the heat, or something that she ate - an orange slush and a Giant Dill Pickle - but about the time Charlton Heston laid eyes on that golden calf and disowned the Children of Israel as idol worshippers and heathen sons of lewd women, I elected to emerge. Some births are marked by a notation in the family Bible, others are acknowledged with the hoisting of glasses. For me it all began with wandering Hebrews, flying gravel and a dangling speaker." He writes of his childhood in the backwoods of Alabama, the feel of the rich, red clay soil, the whisper of the wind through the pines in the evening and the smell of the sweat on people trying to eke out a living there. "The only thing poverty does is grind down your never endings to a point that you can work harder and stoop lower than most people are willing to. It chips away a person's dreams to the point that the hopelessness shows through and the dream accepts that hard work and borrowed houses are all this life will ever be. While my mother will stare you dead in the eye and say she never thought of herself as poor, do not believe for one second that she did not see the rest of the world, the better world, spinning around her, out of reach." Read this book because you like to read memoirs, read this book because you like characters who are hardworking and down-to-earth, or read this book because you long to read a beautifully written and fitting tribute to all the ordinary people, those people so important in each of our lives. -- recommended by Evelyn D. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia page for Rick Bragg ] | [ publisher's official Rick Bragg web page ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Long Walk

The Long Walk: A True Story of the Trek to Freedom
by Slavomir Rawicz [940.547 Raw]

Slavomir Rawicz is in the Polish Calvary in 1939 in his early twenties as Europe is becoming a hot zone, mobilizing towards WWII. Rawicz fights in a few skirmishes, but early on before the war begins, he is arrested by the Russian secret police. His personal narrative in The Long Walk describes his horrific experiences as a prisoner in Russian prison and a Siberian work camp. Leading up to his escape, Rawicz recounts the brutality of his life as an inmate. The meat of his story lies in a 4,000 mile walking escape from the Siberian work camp. Rawicz and a small group of man trek through the Siberian Arctic, Gobi Desert and over the Himalayan Mountains with little more than the clothes on their backs. It is an epic journey of man against nature. The group of escapees experiences every physical hardship one could. Rawicz writes so concisely and eloquently that you are propelled through their journey as physically and emotionally as possible as a reader. One of the most touching aspects of the story is in the relationship between the escapees. The group of men can only survive through the complete trust of one another and their ability to share resources and ideas. Their story is an account of the depth of team work, human suffering, endurance and the conquering of mind over body. The truth of the story has been disputed although it is considered nonfiction. Read it anyway, for a thrilling story and do some research later to decide whether or not you believe. The Long Walk is an enthralling quick read for historical/personal narrative fans, veterans, adventurists, or inspirational reading for someone recovering from an illness or accident. P.S.: Read the book first! The Long Walk has recently been adapted into the film The Way Back, but don't miss out on Rawicz's writing. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder, Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran by Roxana Saberi.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia entry for Slavomir Rawicz ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Vietnamerica

Vietnamerica
by G.B. Tran [741.5 Tra]

Vietnamerica is a personal graphic memoir by G.B. Tran in which he documents the conversations with his immigrant Vietnamese family. They recount their family history in Vietnam leading up to their escape to America. The illustrations throughout are colorful and unique to the graphic novel genre. Tran also incorporates his father and grandfather's watercolors throughout which adds another strong visual layer. The nonlinear story retraces his parents' and grandparents' lives in Vietnam as they were growing up amidst the controversies of French and finally American occupation. Unlike other Vietnam war stories Tran focuses on Vietnamese familial relationships, which were affected by the political conditions of the time. Further he explores his relationship as a Vietnamese American and his place in both cultures. Tran ends his story in tribute to the memory of his family and the importance for all immigrants to appreciate their ancestral heritage. A great read for all first generation immigrants. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try When Heaven and Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip, The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert, Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman, Che : a graphic biography by Sid Jacobson, Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ G.B. Tran's official blog ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Picture This

Picture This
by Lynda Barry, with guest water colorist Kevin Kawula [741.5 Bar]

Picture This is part graphic memoir, part sketch book, part artist’s self help book and part drawing how-to book. Amidst all of these are decorative watercolors and drawings carefully illustrating the aforementioned parts. If paintings and drawings could talk, Barry’s writing is representative of what they would probably say. Strange and interesting musings throughout “Picture This,” cover diverse territories of her thoughts. Barry illustrates moments from her childhood in comic strips peppered throughout. She counters past insulting drawing critiques with written rebuttals, quirky collages and sketches. Her sense of humor comes in various short form drawings from her personification of a dust bunny (they do like gentle breezes, but hate vacuum cleaners) to a summer to-do checklist (don’t forget to stub your toe on a sprinkler or drink green Kool-Aid). All of these elements form a kind of storytelling collage. If you need some creative inspiration, a motivational pick me up after a bad critique or simply a road trip chuckle, this book is for you. Trivia: Friend and college classmate Matt Groening refers to Lynda Barry as, “Funk Queen of the Galaxy." Barry responded by noting that Groening is “Funk Lord of the USA.” [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try What It Is by Lynda Barry, One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel, or Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli.] -- recommended by Glory B. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia page for Lynda Barry ] | [ an unofficial Lynda Barry web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

It All Changed in an Instant!

It All Changed in an Instant! More Six-Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure
edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith [808.88 Fer]

This is the third collection of Six Word Memoirs from Smith magazine, following Not Quite What I Was Planning and Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak. As with the earlier volumes, these were inspired by the (perhaps aprocryphal) tale of Ernest Hemingway being challenged to write an entire novel in just six words. His supposed contribution: "For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn". This collection features works primarily by unknowns, with a few contributions by celebrities or well-known writers. The entries can range from funny, ironic and off-color, to touching, thought-provoking and insightful. There are even a few entries from artists, whose contributions take the form of little comic-book or graphic novel pages. This volume also includes some brief biographical profiles in an appendix, giving more detailed background information behind some of the six word contributions in the earlier part of the book. If you end up finding these to be engrossing, and you're into Twitter, try signing up for the Six Word Memoir of the Day on that service. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Not Quite What I Was Planning, from the same folks.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Six-Word Memoirs page on the official Smith Magazine web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This...

I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This...and Other Things That Strike Me as Funny
by Bob Newhart [817 New]

I've always been a fan of Bob Newhart, ever since getting hooked on The Bob Newhart Show back in the 1970s, and subsequently tracking down his Grammy-winning Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart comedy album(s). So...when this autobiography/memoir appeared back in 2006, I couldn't pass it up. Bob's book is a very entertaining read, filled with lots of recollections of high points in his comedy career, but after finishing it my first feeling is that the book didn't really add up to much. It's very light-weight as biographies go, and even fairly weightless in comparison to other similar humor books. While a lot of page space is taken up with his earlier comedy career in standup, and his first real breakthrough on television (The Bob Newhart Show), his later hit, Newhart, although long-running and tremendously popular, only gets a few pages -- about the casting and about the unforgettable final episode. And his two lesser-know shows, Bob, and George and Leo get less than a paragraph combined. The book came out before he became involved in the recent series of made-for-TV-movies about The Librarian, in which he has a major role. Overall, although this book is a fun read, I don't know that I'd recommend it for anyone but a die-hard Bob Newhart fan, and even then if you're a big fan you've probably heard most of the stories he tells already, in his many talk-show appearances. On the other hand, it will bring back fond memories of seeing him chatting with Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in Large Print format.]

[ official Bob Newhart web site ]

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