Memoir / Autobiography
Plot/Idea: Finding America's Farmworkers is Durbin's venture "beyond [a] life of privilege" to seek out migrant farmworkers and shed light on their experiences. That journey transforms his perceptions not just of the people he interviews, but of his own life as well.
Prose: Durbin's prose is intelligent, descriptive, and direct, never hesitating to point out the inherent cruelties of the system. He explains the plight of the farmworkers America so desperately needs, and delves into why their sacrifices—leaving their families for the better part of a year, every year—drive them.
Originality: Finding America's Farmworkers is singular and fascinating. Durbin takes readers back in time to explore how the planet Theia impacted Earth, tilting the planet and creating growing seasons. He then brings readers forward through English and Spanish colonization, expanding road systems that made transporting migrants far easier, and more recent programs that have impacted immigration. Along the way, he humanizes his prose with stories of farmworkers, their families, and the many sacrifices they make for the opportunity to come to America for years and years of back-breaking work.
Character/Execution: Durbin personalizes the migrant experience by introducing readers to individual farmworkers and their poignant stories, including Domingo, who leaves his family in Mexico every February and returns every November, and Arturo, who must leave his children every growing season but manages to stay positive, even as he comforts them over his impending departure. Through it all, Finding America's Farmworkers is never preachy, only realistic, closing with suggestions on how the system can be improved to benefit everyone.
Plot/Idea: Object is Duncombe's devastating, deeply brave memoir that details the sexual abuse she survived as a child—and how those dark days colored the rest of her life, both professionally and personally. She transports readers through her healing journey, an arduous and painful path, and shares breathtaking insights on her loss, trauma, and resilience.
Prose: Duncombe's prose is lovely, even when describing horrifying situations. She makes the mundane sound wondrous and renders the extraordinary in lyrical, stunning imagery.
Originality: Object is singular, from Duncombe's unconventional upbringing as a globe-trotting child of the U.S. Embassy to her abuse at the hands of an embassy higher-up to the State Department's cover-up. Her decades-long struggle to come to terms with what she endured—and the indifference of a system that should have been protecting her—is skillfully developed, as she describes the consequences of repression alongside the terrifying exhilaration when justice, of a sort, is finally served.
Character/Execution: Duncombe's voice is strong and clear throughout, bouncing from her perspective as a child and as an adult, giving readers both an intimate and more expansive viewpoint. Duncombe crafts realistic, tense situations—such as her family's horror upon being told of the abuse, to her amusing best friend, Rose, and her husband's stubborn loathing of all things American. As she struggles to make sense of the abuse and works to reclaim her autonomy, Duncombe portrays the therapists and teachers she relied on for support in warm, convincing tones.
Plot/Idea: Jones capably retells her life events, particularly those from her youth that shaped her adulthood. The narrative is clear and adheres to a logical progression, and readers will feel compelled to immerse themselves into Jones's experiences.
Prose: Jones is able to evoke sympathy in readers for herself as a young child who, adopted as an infant, always felt like she didn't measure up. Her isolation and insecurity are palpable, and she writes in candid, sometimes stark, prose that plunges readers into her world.
Originality: Dr. Beare's Daughter boasts uniquely idiosyncratic characters who come alive in Jones's skilled hands.
Character/Execution: Jones excels at characterization; her younger self in particular is sharply defined, making readers want to console and validate her in contrast to the adults in her life.
Plot/Idea: Mueller invites readers to walk alongside her as she battles to discover meaning in life, through an enticing narrative chronicling her steps towards practicing Zen, set against the larger context of history and its enduring impact on her journey. From America's terrifying entrance into the Vietnam War to Mueller's experience gambling at a casino with a Buddhist Roshi, readers will be riveted by this offering.
Prose: Mueller is a capable writer, employing an almost conversational style that welcomes readers while providing them intimate glimpses into her storied life. Her skill at detailing her own experiences in light of American history—and, more specifically, women's role in it—is a stunning backdrop for this memoir.
Originality: The stories Mueller shares will entertain, provoke deep thought, and gently encourage readers to implement her wisdom when reflecting on their own life journeys.
Character/Execution: Mueller has a gift for penning gripping tales, as she strikes a nearly-flawless balance between spiritual discovery/meaning and the traditions of this world.
Plot/Idea: Vuković shares her own experience as a caregiver for her daughter, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while attending college, as well as her daughter’s journey as she battles the disease and slogs through the medical system. Regardless of the bleak outlook—and devastating life changes that result from it—neither Vuković nor her daughter, Mia, lose hope.
Prose: Vuković pours her heart onto the page, gifting readers an intimate understanding of the concern she has for her daughter. While the future is unclear, her writing breathes a sense of optimism and determination for the best outcome.
Originality: Writing from the perspective of a patient as well as a caregiver is refreshing, as there is little rest for either one. Vuković allows readers to glimpse deep emotions in both herself and her daughter, rendering their powerlessness and positivity in equal shades.
Character/Execution: Vuković never wavers from her goal: to help her daughter achieve the best life despite her illness. Her fast paced approach radiates a need to find help and get results as quickly as possible, and her ability to contrast the slow moving treatment plan with the speed in which the condition debilitates her daughter will leave readers reeling.
Plot/Idea: Oak, a self-described "former educator in the southern United States and a disabled queer," pens a rich memoir detailing her life from childhood to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the hazards and triumphs she experienced in between.
Prose: Oak's prose illuminates her attention to detail and irrepressible sense of humor. She describes the challenges of teaching while enduring homophobic bosses and active shooter drills, her struggles to reach troubled students, and her reluctant, ultimate decision to leave the classroom behind.
Originality: Voices Carry is thoroughly engaging, and Oak is fearless as she details the struggles of navigating life with her disability (worsened by her battle with long COVID) and the trials of being a liberal queer in the American South. Her clever wit shines through, even in the chapter titles, resulting in a memoir that is as engaging as it is funny.
Character/Execution: Oak's characters are vibrant and relatable, and she brings her past to brilliant life for readers.
Wild Running: Lessons from Dogs, Wolves, and the Natural World (A Memoir)
by Rebecca WallickRating: 8.50
Plot/Idea: Wallick both entertains and educates in this polished and endearing memoir. The author delivers a personal narrative while tackling tough issues relating to wildlife and, more specifically, the important relationship between dogs and their ancestors, and people. Readers will learn plenty about dogs and will come to see wolves with different eyes.
Prose: Wallick's writing is descriptive but simple, allowing the wilderness settings to fully come alive on the page.
Originality: The author's passion for running, the outdoors, dogs, and wolves shines through her work, while her emotional and psychological suffering is also movingly conveyed. Rather than purely advocating for the lives of wolves, Wallick provides an intimate framework that will impact readers.
Character/Execution: Wild Running proves alluring through its blend of autobiography and its examination of wolves–misconceptions about them, their status in the wild, and their importance to ecological systems.
That Voice: In Search of Ann Drummond-Grant, the Singer Who Shaped My Life
by Marcia MenterRating: 8.50
Plot/Idea: This clever offering blends memoir with the biography of a mid-century opera singer who died at a young age from breast cancer. The narrative is intelligent and knows its subject matter well, effectively conveying information and insight through personal experience and reflection.
Prose: The writing is strong, with neat and polished prose. Menter has a strong sense of diction and phrasing, and the narrative imparts a sense of authority as well as an inviting voice.
Originality: The subject matter is unique, focusing on a lesser-known historical figure, with rich descriptions of artistic industry alongside the author's personal experiences.
Character/Execution: The book's structure effectively subverts the typical fabric of a memoir by focusing on Annie Drummond Grant's biography as an informational and emotional thread.
The Longest Road: To Hell and Back Again from Addiction to Advocacy
by Joe Calendino and Gary LittleRating: 8.25
Plot/Idea: The Longest Road is a clever, fascinating memoir that continues the story of Joe Calendino's spiral into addiction and journey back to sobriety; it is the sequel to To Hell And Back, but can be read as a standalone book.
Prose: Calendino and Little's prose is by turns blunt ("The drug had me by the balls.") and poetic. ("I lived in a state of absolute and constant disarray, another zombie like so many other lost souls down there.") The co-authors pull zero punches, frankly and brutally describing Joe's descent, ascent, and relapse.
Originality: Memoirs about addiction and recovery abound, but few like The Longest Road. The authors offer a grueling yet engaging story, told via differing points of view and tenses that uplift it from typical memoir fare.
Character/Execution: Calendino emerges as a full, complex figure who proves to be more than the sum of his parts or the demons that plague him. The authors also bring humanity and nuance to additional friends, family, and adversaries who appear throughout Calendino's story.
Plot/Idea: Loveland offers readers a thoughtful and eloquent account of an expatriate’s experience living in China amidst a cultural shift across the globe. The book introduces a wealth of characters and settings, painting an evocative story of a place and culture while exploring the experience of a man far from home.
Prose: The writing is strong and flows nicely, with a smart and consistent narrative voice. Loveland's intelligence, thoughtfulness, and regard for others is apparent in his word choice and diction.
Originality: Beijing Bound features Loveland's unique experiences while successfully blending his impressions and extrapolations with the descriptive recounting of places and experiences.
Character/Execution: The book is endearing and engaging, rich with tender moments of vulnerability that highlight relatable human experiences through a distinctive lens. Loveland calls attention to the heart and compassion of the people he met and spent time with in China and weaves a rich cultural tapestry when comparing the traditions and ways of life in America to his time in a foreign country.
Plot/Idea: Rönn boldly shares her story of a prenatal chromosomal abnormality finding that prompted her to undergo an abortion. She recounts the heart-wrenching emotions that accompanied that journey, touching on the political environment of this typically taboo topic, and advocates for women across the board to have access to abortions as part of their healthcare.
Prose: The prose is clear and immensely thoughtful, rendering Rönn's experiences in down-to-earth writing that empowers the book's focus to stay centered on her overlying theme of safeguarding abortion rights.
Originality: The content of Rönn's writing can be generalized to a wide audience, and the open, candid way she lets readers into her very intimate experience makes this book incredibly engaging.
Character/Execution: Rönn's personal story is just the start of this striking narrative; she takes into consideration contemporary events, political happenings, and other outside sources that round out the book's message.
Plot/Idea: This lovely recounting of Mary Daubenspeck's role in determining the fate of the Nauset Light Keeper's House reveals the enduring legacy she left behind for the people of Cape Cod. The lighthouse functions as a symbol of hope and inspirational presence in the community—one that is beautifully reflected and expertly collated by Mary's brother, Timothy Daubenspeck.
Prose: The text is largely based on Mary's sprightly and delicately written journal entries. Wonderfully enhanced by sharp and illuminating photography, Mary's affecting personal experiences weave a passionate, resonant, and dynamic story of strength and resolve.
Originality: Nauset Light is a lovingly created homage to Mary Daubenspeck's passion to preserve the Nauset Light Keeper's House. The dual narrative between Timothy and his sister effectively transmits the raw power and emotion of an inspiring historical landmark and its importance in the community.
Character/Execution: Mary Daubenspeck is painted as a bright and formidable presence as she tackles various obstacles in order to maintain the Nauset Light Keeper's House during the 1990s erosion crisis. Her journal entries in particular reveal an articulate and deeply personal individual who was highly driven, self-motivated, and generous.
Blurb: A powerful tale of hope and resilience.
Plot/Idea: SOS Podcasts is an ex-pat's charming memoir detailing her adventures as a wife, mother, and international traveler, transporting readers from New York to the Vatican to the "the borderlands of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium," along with Mancini's tears, travails, and triumphs during the journey.
Prose: Mancini's prose is sharp and true to life. A self-described "big pain," she's fearless about detailing her anxiety, parenting woes, and pizza palate (she describes Gouda on pizza margherita as "a food crime"). While her accounts can come across as defensive, it doesn't detract from her observations or wry humor.
Originality: Mancini's memoir stands out from similar titles; as she raises a family on the other side of the world—while doggedly pursuing her PhD—she candidly describes her anxiety and uncertainty, opening up about how she turned those emotions around once she discovered podcasts. Her taste is delightfully eclectic, and, fittingly, she closes with the hope that she can transform what she's learned into her own podcasts.
Character/Execution: Mancini describes her family with loving detail, recounting how her ailing father endured much to buy time for her to reach his bedside, while vividly depicting her family, in-laws, and the many people she met all over the world.
Gaman: The Story of a Japanese American Prisoner in a War That Never Ended
by Kenichi YabusakiRating: 7.75
Plot/Idea: Gaman centers on Yabusaki’s experiences as a Japanese American man born in an American interment camp during the Second World War, but this is much more than a memoir; Yabusaki depicts the challenges of navigating an American culture saturated in racism, alongside the quiet resilience and strength of his fellow Japanese Americans. His writing provides a unique cultural backdrop for readers that explores not just his own heritage, but the roots, traditions, and legacies of Japanese immigrants in general.
Prose: Yabusaki relays events from his upbringing in clear, fluid prose, with an obvious skill for drawing readers into his storytelling. He punctuates his main themes of racism, war hysteria, and resilience with entertaining snapshots from his past—like Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to his high school or his father’s nighttime stories when he was young—that give the writing an almost cinematic feel. Throughout, he scatters Japanese words and explains various customs, transforming the memoir into a culturally rich narrative that readers will enjoy.
Originality: Though Gaman’s themes have been touched on in similar titles, Yabusaki’s reflections on how the internment impacted his emotional development and self-worth are compelling. He threads the Japanese cultural practices of gaman and shō ga nai throughout his writing, using them to illustrate how he—and his family—coped with and managed the racism and abuse they experienced. Those practices are portrayed as a constant in his life and give this memoir profound meaning.
Character/Execution: Yabusaki’s recollections are powerful and provide a meaningful glimpse of American culture during the mid-20th century. Some of the memories he shares lack smooth transitions, but that doesn’t detract from his dynamic insight, as he skillfully depicts how America’s false narrative of “yellow peril” wrought devastation for generations of Japanese Americans. The inclusion of personal photographs allows Yabusaki to connect on an intimate level with readers.
Plot/Idea: This touching memoir—chronicling Smith's battle against brain cancer—is organized chronologically and gifts readers with an intimate view of Smith's years-long fight, as well as her long-term recovery. The snippets of humor, emotionally wrought moments, and, above all, powerful determination to never give up, are striking.
Prose: Smith writes conversationally, recounting her journey through simple but profoundly inspiring prose.
Originality: Smith's candid, down-to-earth treatment of a devastating diagnosis makes this memoir relatable, moving, and emotive.
Character/Execution: Welcome to Katie's Brain shares the author's day-to-day experiences in heartfelt tones that will inspire and deeply impact readers, particularly for those who have faced serious illness themselves.
Plot/Idea: Baker openly and honestly delves into her past, covering her years growing up in the1960’s and her relationships with various men after leaving her husband. Throughout the book, she embeds lyrics from The Rolling Stones to illustrate different events and phases of her life, revealing the secrets she kept, the heartache she experienced, and her many awakenings.
Prose: Baker is a talented writer, constructing scenes with a relaxed tone as she sweeps readers into her story. Her narrative approach offers a fair amount of detail and expressive wording, and her obvious adoration for the power of music rings throughout.
Originality: Melding music and memoir entertains, and fans will relish the slice of nostalgia Baker evokes by sharing meaningful lyrics.
Character/Execution: Baker cleverly interjects her passion for music throughout this appealing memoir. Her ability to use shame and guilt as springboards to move forward is admirable, as she spends time reflecting on her past to harness it as a catalyst, rather than allowing it to hinder her progress.
