Part memoir, part historical non-fiction, part social critique; this book brilliantly weaves together many genres. Neumeyer takes this book to tell hePart memoir, part historical non-fiction, part social critique; this book brilliantly weaves together many genres. Neumeyer takes this book to tell her story of domestic violence and connects it to a greater whole, specifically on the American college campus. Neumeyer is a historian so I wasn’t surprised to find history within these pages but for me, the history of Europe slowed the pacing and distracted from the social issues and my overall enjoyability of the book. Even with that, I found this to be a very interesting and informative piece of work that shines the light on how violence against women is perceived and handled.
Thank you Public Affairs and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/20/2024!...more
In The Mother Artist, Ricketts explores the relationship between caregiving—specifically mothering—and creativity. Drawing upon mothering artists fromIn The Mother Artist, Ricketts explores the relationship between caregiving—specifically mothering—and creativity. Drawing upon mothering artists from past and present—Morrison, Didion, Jamison—Rickett’s begs questions such as: How does one create and flourish in their art while tending to another? Is motherhood “incompatible with artistic ambition”? Blending memoir with art history, this unique book provides deep insight and makes for inquisitive conversation.
The questions posed within this book felt reminiscent of the conversation Jamison has with readers in her recent memoir, Splinters, so I would recommend that for further reading on the topic.
Recommended for women who are trying to find balance between mothering and their craft or for readers who know women who are trying to find balance between mothering and their craft.
Thank you Broadleaf Books and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/20/2024!...more
A heart-touching, tender recount of a daughter's life with her beloved father: a soldier from WWII with a dark, haunting past dripping with PTSD. I enA heart-touching, tender recount of a daughter's life with her beloved father: a soldier from WWII with a dark, haunting past dripping with PTSD. I enjoyed Ellis's writing and thought it a treat to see the father-daughter relationship mend and grow as you progress through the memoir....more
Milholland grew up in a home with playful, carefree parents who were always inviting others in. Never mind why they were there, where they came from, Milholland grew up in a home with playful, carefree parents who were always inviting others in. Never mind why they were there, where they came from, or how long they needed to stay—all were welcome. Home was a place of acceptance and community.
“My parents had an unspoken philosophy about the house: We only deserve it if we share it.”
Milholland continued this trend of communal living for herself as she moved through her twenties and in to her thirties. In the many homes that she shared, food acted as an offering of love; her and her housemates cooking up delectable meals for one another.
“By cooking for and eating food made by other people, I give and receive each day, which feels as central to my life as inhaling and exhaling.”
Group Living and Other Recipes tells the tale of unforgettable meals, lively gatherings, and the complexities of communal living. The stories are as warm and inviting as the recipes listed inside.
Thank you Spiegel & Grau and Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/06/2024....more
The defining moment in Hanson’s life was when she left home at seventeen. This memoir gives readers the before and the after. Hanson reflects on her lThe defining moment in Hanson’s life was when she left home at seventeen. This memoir gives readers the before and the after. Hanson reflects on her life at home as a child and then as an adult, where she is living her own life free from the daily abuse and neglect but not free from the guilt of leaving her younger siblings behind.
As a child she grew up in a large but poor family, surrounded by neglect and physical and emotional abuse. Her father beat on her brothers and her detached mother waved her belief in God around, using His teachings as a way to isolate the children from the outside world and keep them from an education. For much of her childhood and young adult life, she acted as a second mother to her five younger siblings.
The End of Tennessee offers a unique writing style of non-linear, fragmented prose—essays? vignettes, almost?—and allows glimpses in to Hanson’s life, leaving room for readers to fill in the space between the lines. It is a relentless display of pain and suffering that was challenging to read much less imagine.
In many ways this book reminded me of Educated: a large brood of children living in the hills with neglectful parents; a house full of abuse; a daughter desperate to escape; exploring similar themes of family, generational trauma, devoutness.
In the end, I applaud Hanson for so brutally and honestly laying herself bare and I believe that she possesses a great talent but the lack of structure and the jagged prose took away from my reading experience.
Thank you University of South Carolina Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/20/2024!...more
“Few people can live in denial for their entire life without eventually reaching a breaking point.”
Frighten the Horses opens with a vivid scene of Rad“Few people can live in denial for their entire life without eventually reaching a breaking point.”
Frighten the Horses opens with a vivid scene of Radclyffe at the barber sharp, internally beaming with pride that he was “man enough” to make it on to his barber’s Instagram page. After I read this, I just knew this book was going to be a hit.
Radclyffe seemingly had it all: a loving husband, four healthy children, a house in the suburbs. But that was part of the problem… He was playing the role of devoted housewife, attending PTA meetings and hosting dinner parties, while struggling with his internal narrative. He grew more and more distressed until one random day in September 2011 when it all came crashing down and he realized he that couldn’t keep up the act anymore.
Inside these pages, readers witness Radclyffe’s transition from a straight, cisgender housewife to a timid lesbian to a queer man. The journey is messy at times but absolutely mesmerizing for readers as we watch Radclyffe grapple with his identity and step in to the man that he was born to be.
This memoir is a striking and incredibly touching reminder that it is never too late to step in to your truest self and find your voice. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic account on trans experience.
Thank you Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/17/2024!...more
“How old were you when you first stumbled across the invisible boundary separating normal from other? Man from monster?”
Lee was born with a rare physi“How old were you when you first stumbled across the invisible boundary separating normal from other? Man from monster?”
Lee was born with a rare physical defect: bilateral radioulnar synostosis or for those that haven’t heard of it—like me—a fusing of the bones in the forearm. In this memoir, he explores horror pop culture and their “freaks” and creatures as a way to navigate disability and otherness. What was remarkably fascinating in premise felt, unfortunately, poorly executed.
The writing in this memoir is fragmented which only resulted in an elementary feel for me. The main downfall of Lee’s writing in this memoir is the jump between experiences from his personal life to the comparison to horror pop culture and the history of disability. Any cohesive transition lacks and the aforementioned “comparison” between his life and that of the pop culture that he explores is thin and not fully fleshed out. The onslaught of information provided is done so chaotically and in a brash manner.
The Backwards Hand is an interesting meditation on disability: how society defines it, the expectations that we place on those who are disabled, and the way we treat those who are disabled. And while there is certainly engaging information to be found within these pages, it ultimately fell flat for me and was a real chore to get through.
Thank you Northwestern University Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available now!...more
In More, Please Specter unflinchingly lays bare her relationship with food and her body, focusing specifically on self-harm in the form of binge-eatinIn More, Please Specter unflinchingly lays bare her relationship with food and her body, focusing specifically on self-harm in the form of binge-eating. Specter explores the origin and the development of her eating disorder, her feelings regarding living with a life-long diagnosis, societal expectations on peoples’ bodies, and how eating disorders are not just a personal problem. Blending memoir with investigative journalism, More, Please is a must-read that is piercing, witty, and insightful. ...more
Tia was raised to be a good Christian which meant being raised to be a good wife—one who submits to her husband—blaming herself for the wrong-doings oTia was raised to be a good Christian which meant being raised to be a good wife—one who submits to her husband—blaming herself for the wrong-doings of many Christian men.
Levings lays it all out in this memoir. I was often baffled but never surprised by the ways her Christian upbringing groomed her for the role of perfect, submissive wife. She brings readers through her childhood at the church, through her confusing teenage years, and in to early adulthood where she continued to follow the church’s teachings but grew ever more skeptical. As she was taught, she married young to an angry, Christian man who promised to “train” her properly. The relationship is toxic and abusive from the start and Levings peels back the curtain to let readers see it all.
“Maybe there wasn’t a savior coming. It was up to me to save me.”
This memoir is unflinchingly honest and often times, it was difficult to listen to. Trigger warnings for domestic abuse and marital rape (which apparently isn’t a thing, by the way). It’s a powerful story that is guaranteed to infuriate and move readers. While Levings’s story is full of moments to rage against, she includes her escape from her marriage, her recovery, and her reinvention of her life which was a nice note to end on.
I appreciated Levings as the narrator because I always enjoy when authors read their own stories.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/06/2024!...more
“Where does a woman go on her own?” O’Neill—Korean-born, American-raised—knows very little about her birth mother and until 2020, didn’t much care but “Where does a woman go on her own?” O’Neill—Korean-born, American-raised—knows very little about her birth mother and until 2020, didn’t much care but now she wants some answers. Who is this elusive woman?
The fact that O’Neill knows so little about her mother and hasn’t heard a thing about her in over thirty years means there isn’t much hope of new information but determined as she is, she hires a private investigator to find her “woman of interest”. When that line goes cold, O’Neill sets out to South Korea on her own.
A fascinating memoir in premise but an exhausting read in reality. With prose so clunky, meandering, and edges jutting every which way, it made it difficult to find a flow while reading or to even enjoy. The author seemed detached from the writing and the whole book felt impersonal.
Thank you Harper One and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 06/25/2024...more
You know how you read through some books and think “this book is an arduous task” so you look and it turns out that the book is only 200 pages? And thYou know how you read through some books and think “this book is an arduous task” so you look and it turns out that the book is only 200 pages? And then there are books that you get to the end of and think “Wait—what—it’s over already? How did that go by so quickly?” This book is the latter and speaks to Tendler’s unforgettable storytelling.
Men Have Called Her Crazy opens with Tendler recounting the story of checking herself in to a facility for psychiatric care. The memoir follows the storyline of her stay at the facility, weaving with it the separate storyline of what brought her there, focusing on her childhood and interactions with different men throughout her life.
Tendler intimately and unflinchingly recounts her experiences with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and lack of identity while reflecting on her treatment and recovery. She writes her story beautifully and eloquently, making my heart ache with empathy and understanding at some of the familiarity of the feelings, thoughts, and experiences expressed. It was a treat to bear witness to her craft and to ultimately watch her step in to her self.
Men Have Called Her Crazy is striking. A story of grace, self-discovery, redemption, and re-invention. A wonderful read.
Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 08/13/2024!...more
Love Is A Burning Thing follows the narrative of St. Pierre’s life as she attempts to untangle the mystery of her mother’s peculiar and often flippantLove Is A Burning Thing follows the narrative of St. Pierre’s life as she attempts to untangle the mystery of her mother’s peculiar and often flippant behavior. A razor-sharp examination on mental illness (specifically undiagnosed), poverty, and spirituality. I was enthralled in St. Pierre’s prose and found her storytelling to be particularly entrancing. This memoir is intensely evocative; as mesmerizing as watching a fire burn. I would strongly advise adding it to your list of memoirs to read this year....more
funny at times but middle of the road when compared to other essay collections I have read; some of the essays seem to have lost the overall theme (thfunny at times but middle of the road when compared to other essay collections I have read; some of the essays seem to have lost the overall theme (that or I just didn't see it)...more
“Food connects us.” Foster explores the truth and falsities of this statement through the lenses of addiction, mental illness, incarceration, and pover“Food connects us.” Foster explores the truth and falsities of this statement through the lenses of addiction, mental illness, incarceration, and poverty.
What does a meal look like for those who are in the grips of homelessness, addiction, or mental illness? Where does our food come from? How do we gain access to it when we are at the end of our rope and our resources have been drained? Weaving personal narrative with stories of food, Foster seeks to answer these questions and more. She observes how poverty and hunger affect those close to her in her Las Vegas community.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book in terms of delivery but some of the essays in here I enjoyed more than others. Each essay ultimately revolves around a different person from her life in regards to the social issues listed above. Because of this, I would often be very drawn in to an essay only to have it abruptly end and move to the next and this made it difficult for me to find my flow while reading.
A couple things were a little off-putting, too. 1. There were a few instances where Foster would reference things being “fucked up”, like a meth addict’s face being “fucked up”. 2. I suppose that I was also hoping this book leaned more in to the social issue of poverty in America (or in Vegas) and how that affects peoples’ access to food and while there is some of that here, I wanted more investigative journalism (because that's how it's advertised) and it became more memoir about people that Foster took under her wing and I sometimes felt like she was giving off a little savior complex.
I’m stuck in the middle with this review because while some things didn’t sit well or come across well, there were other parts that I greatly enjoyed or were particularly interesting. 2.5 stars for now ...more
Brookins memoir on gender and sexuality—specifically Black transsexuality—is honest, unflinching, and moving; providing insightful and thought-provokiBrookins memoir on gender and sexuality—specifically Black transsexuality—is honest, unflinching, and moving; providing insightful and thought-provoking commentary on toxic masculinity and gender norms.
Special thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for my copy. OUT TODAY!!! ...more
Unpopular opinion alert! I was excited to dive in to Strong Female Character as I haven't read many books regarding ASD. While I think a lot can be leUnpopular opinion alert! I was excited to dive in to Strong Female Character as I haven't read many books regarding ASD. While I think a lot can be learned from Brady's story—particularly as it relates to the mis-diagnoses—and it was certainly interesting at times, there were many pieces that I didn't like. I could have done with less of the sex-capades, for one. For two, she seems to blame her general "being an asshole" on being autistic when I think the truth is that she's both. For three, the overall tone of this memoir is incredibly grating and there is an air of what almost feels like—for lack of a better word—entitlement because of her diagnosis. ...more
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