Memoir / Autobiography
Plot/Idea: Caraballo's compelling narrative recounts his remarkable life, beginning with a religious upbringing and later rebellion before his powerful journey of self-discovery and acceptance. His experiences are dynamic and impactful, and his voice throughout the memoir carries impressive weight, as he offers readers inspiration for their own resilience.
Prose: Caraballo's prose is thoughtful and flows smoothly from story to reflection. The tone is comforting, even in the memoir's darkest moments, and readers will sense his desire to encourage and uplift throughout.
Originality: Struggles with mental and physical health, addiction, and identity are common memoir themes, but Caraballo's willingness to engage in deep reflection, combined with his empathy for others, is stirring.
Character/Execution: Caraballo strikes a balance between complexity and introspection that will resonate with readers, as he offers them a warm, hopeful example of tenacity and inner strength.
Plot/Idea: True is a powerfully written memoir of strength and resilience as Ada Campbell attempts to recover from complex trauma. She takes a deep dive into studying the nature of abuse and therapy, educating not only herself but the reader too, as she navigates her personal healing journey.
Prose: Catherine Ada Campbell's text is written in a simple and effective manner, enabling the reader to absorb potentially complex themes in a straightforward way. She expertly relates disturbing and traumatic events in a measured and articulate fashion which is at once devastating yet ultimately inspiring.
Originality: True is a bold and absorbing memoir that is enhanced by Campbell's focused and relatable writing style. True's strength lies not only in its striking retelling of traumatic events, but in its ability to explore and transmit educational ideas related to therapy in a dynamic and unpatronizing manner.
Character/Execution: Catherine Ada Campbell is a fearless and convincing narrator whose personal story is related in a raw, honest and refreshing fashion. Her experiences with therapy, medication and coping strategies are eye-opening, intriguing, and inspirational.
Blurb: An engrossing and deeply affecting memoir.
I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey with Liver Cancer
by Andrea Wilson WoodsRating: 7.50
Plot/Idea: I'd Rather Be Dead Than Deaf is a poignant compilation of journal entries, poems, and art left behind by Adrienne Wilson, who died from liver cancer at just age 15. The author's sister includes a moving introduction to young Adrienne, while also providing context for the narrative.
Prose: In many respects, Adrienne's writings resembles the musings of any teen girl. But she emerges as intelligent, endearing, and with a vibrant, if dark, sense of humor. Readers will come to know her well and mourn her passing.
Originality: As a collection of personal journal entries and other expressive works, I'd Rather Be Dead Than Deaf offers a unique and intimate look into the the mind of a girl persevering through a heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal illness.
Character/Execution: Adrienne often comes across as older than her years, while her courage, quirky interests (including references to 90's cultural touchstones), and zest for life make her especially memorable.
Plot/Idea: Strong themes of how war impacts families, the importance of peace, and the protective influence of education form the basis of this striking memoir. McCarthy's stories are memorable and will resonate with readers.
Prose: Simply written but powerful, McCarthy’s memoir speaks of a yearning for independence and peace, the prose painting a parallel setting inside her life as a young girl as well as the war torn area in which she lived. McCarthy’s descriptive words probe the oppression she feels from her father, and her uncertainty as to why her mother stayed married to him, as she explores her family dynamics in an almost curious, quizzical voice.
Originality: McCarthy's World War II memoir stands out for its treatment of the time period after the war, heavily focused on the toll it exerted on children, families, and education.
Character/Execution: Characters are the backbone of McCarthy's writing, particularly her father—who she portrays as driving her mother to a nervous breakdown—and her mother, who McCarthy recalls doing little to protect her children from the family's dysfunction. Still, the main characters are appealing in their own right, and McCarthy's search for independence and solace, much of which she discovers through reading and education, is inspiring.
Blurb: Well-executed memoir depicting life in a post-WWII war torn city.
The Divorce Seekers: The Intimate True Story of a Nevada Divorce Ranch Wrangler
by William L. McGee and Sandra V. McGeeRating: 7.25
Plot/Idea: The Divorce Seekers details a little-known but fascinating piece of Western American history, recounting the experiences of a Nevada dude wrangler on a divorce ranch in the late 1940s. The idea is engaging, though the book's format detracts somewhat from the appeal.
Prose: Bill McGee is charming as he candidly recounts his experiences, dropping entertaining snippets of life on the ranch that are lighthearted and fun to read, from time period specific lingo to snapshots of major historical events.
Originality: This is a nostalgic, diverting glance at an unconventional time in American history. The illustrations add context to the book's stories, and the narrative is rich with colorful characters and happenings.
Character/Execution: The Divorce Seekers stays fairly carefree, though it touches on a handful of American milestones that impacted McGee's life, such as the Second World War. The bulk of the memoir is devoted to McGee's charismatic stories of the celebrities he worked with during his time at the ranch.
Plot/Idea: In short bursts of abstract thought, Chan dives into the meaning and purpose of life, highlighting for readers the abiding connections we have with each other and the world around us.
Prose: The prose is symbolic and rich with metaphor, probing the deeper significance of such mundane events as headlights splintering a dark night or strange dreams about distant relatives.
Originality: Chan's philosophical musings, combined with relatable experiences, are a unique way to present his profound reflections on life's aims.
Character/Execution: Chan's writing meanders at times, but that fits with the book's themes, particularly his perspective of an ill man reflecting back on his life's value. The book's structure adds intrigue, keeping readers invested in Chan's introspections while challenging them to contemplate their own existence.
Plot/Idea: A Perfectly Good Fantasy is a humorous and eye-opening journey into the world of addiction and romance. This delicately told memoir flows at a brisk pace, punctuated by Walker's lashings of stark observations, from trying to adjust to college life without relapsing to her deep insight on the painful push-and-pull relationship she has with substances.
Prose: Walker's text is laced with dark, biting humor and a writing style that is convincing and relatable. Her excellent attention to detail often creates a tense and evocative atmosphere, which gives the book a sharp literary flair.
Originality: A Perfectly Good Fantasy is full of wit and wise nuggets of information, dealing with the issue of addiction head on in a frank and affecting manner. Walker's eloquent narration—and willingness to let readers in to the darkest moments of her life—gives the book a vivacious, intimate energy.
Character/Execution: Walker is a survivor, telling her story in an open, direct, and often extremely amusing manner. Her character descriptions are sharp and humorous while her revelations are presented with a charisma that immediately draws readers in.
Blurb: A bright and impactful story of addiction and romance.
Plot/Idea: Dalton and Plant lovingly compile vibrant stories of their relationships with Diana, Princess of Wales, providing compelling and fascinating insight into the royal lifestyle in a bold, refreshing book.
Prose: The prose brilliantly emits the enthusiasm and giddy excitement Dalton and Plant have for their subject matter; effervescent and vivacious language permeates the book, with beautifully enhanced photographs and other fascinating documentary evidence of their encounters with Princess Diana sprinkled throughout.
Originality: It's All About the Hair is a heartfelt homage to one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century, a striking and eye-catching look at a globally loved icon as well as an intelligently presented memoir that is an absolute must for fans of the British royal family.
Character/Execution: Plant and Dalton are affable and meticulous narrators who share an unbridled affection for Diana that literally seeps through the pages. The behind-the-scenes photos add an extra layer of depth to their relationship while the co-authors' backstories are intriguing in their own right.
Blurb: A passionate and colorful tribute to Princess Diana.
Plot/Idea: Cutler's heated memoir details his contentious divorce in candid language, transporting readers through years of painful battles, hostility between Cutler and his ex-wife, and, eventually, a new romantic relationship with an old friend. Cutler recounts his myriad experiences all while navigating court bureaucracy and COVID lockdowns.
Prose: Cutler's prose is razor-sharp as he shares his hard-won lessons. Though many of his observations are amusing, his tongue-in-cheek references to people he dislikes may be off-putting to some readers; however, he does make several intuitive reflections amid the nicknames, generalizations, and grievance-bearing.
Originality: Cutler bares all for the reader, often describing situations in which he appears to be his own worst enemy. That willingness to frankly share his analyses of legal processes—appropriate relief, procedural fairness, errors of law—and copies of various petitions, appeals, and other relevant paperwork makes this memoir singularly intriguing.
Character/Execution: Characters are portrayed as fairly black and white in Cutler's writing, and while his sharp contemplations can be on point, his antagonists come across as almost cartoonishly evil. True to his promises, he infuses this sometimes-sticky topic with humor and moments of lighthearted mirth.
Plot/Idea: This stirring memoir describes a woman in a troubled marriage who rediscovers herself—and her faith—as she puts her life back together after divorce and shattering loss.
Prose: The narrative effectively reflects the author's voice and emotion but lacks the more nuanced thematic undercurrents necessary to provide deep emotive response.
Originality: A Quest to Discover the Essence of Faith is a unique, touching story of pain, growth, and redemption.
Character/Execution: There is a tenderness to this book, as the narrative appears to have been an act of healing for the author. Readers who have experienced similar life events will find it relatable and comforting.
