It took me awhile to get into this one - admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of childhood stories, and in The Mango Tree we spend a lot of time in AnnIt took me awhile to get into this one - admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of childhood stories, and in The Mango Tree we spend a lot of time in Annabelle's. But I'm glad I stuck with it; ultimately I did really want to follow along with her upbringing. This is a memoir well-suited for those who like coming-of-age narratives and family stories.
One of the things that stuck out to me most is the way Tometich captured motherhood (from the viewpoint of a child): How a mom can both cause trauma and give you so, so much.
I listened to the entirety and liked Tometich as a narrator, especially considering that it's her story.
Thank you to libro.fm and Hachette Audio for a free ALC of this title for review....more
I really like the central metaphor of aftershocks, and will be thinking of that for awhile.
I fully expected to love this one - bought a copy! - but iI really like the central metaphor of aftershocks, and will be thinking of that for awhile.
I fully expected to love this one - bought a copy! - but it wasn't for me. I struggled with jumping around in time and how disjointed the narrative could be at times. I can understand all the stylistic choices made, and don't necessarily think they were bad or wrong ones, just not for me personally. (Full disclosure I also had a cold while reading, so it may have been that I didn't have the bandwidth to properly appreciate this book.)
Many have raved so I'd still recommend giving Aftershocks a shot if it interests you....more
I thought Here After was a good memoir, but I'd caution anyone picking it up that it's a memoir of grief and sucididal ideation. (I've not seen the laI thought Here After was a good memoir, but I'd caution anyone picking it up that it's a memoir of grief and sucididal ideation. (I've not seen the latter mentioned but it's very much a part of this story.)
The content is searing.
It's written in short chapters ("condensed, interwoven vignettes"). I listened to the author narrate the audiobook and think it may have been better had she skipped the chapter numbers (maybe the editor could have left a long enough pause between chapters to signify the breaks instead). But, I'm always happy to hear a memoir in the writer's own voice.
Thank you to Zibby Books and libro.fm for a free ALC of this title for review....more
Emily Halnon writes of losing her mother to cancer, and attemping to break the record for the Fastest Loved this one even more than I thought I might.
Emily Halnon writes of losing her mother to cancer, and attemping to break the record for the Fastest Known Time by on the Pacific Crest Trail’s 460 miles across Oregon.
Emily's words about her mother were touching. They hit me not just as a daughter, but as someone who might have kids in the future - I loved how she talked about what she "got" from her mom. It made me feel like what we think we do for ourselves, like training for a marathon, isn't just for ourselves - it's for those who see it, too.
And I loved all the memories from her trail run, as well. If I have a critique, it's that I'd have read more about her preparation for this run and more about the run itself. ...more
Mind Over Matter is a memoir told in vignettes by Jordin Tootoo, the first player of Inuk descent to play in the NHL.
Parts of this were really compelMind Over Matter is a memoir told in vignettes by Jordin Tootoo, the first player of Inuk descent to play in the NHL.
Parts of this were really compelling, from Jordin's discussion of substance abuse in the NHL to his reflections on generational trauma rampant in his community.
But the book itself isn't cohesive; it jumps around a lot while simultaneously being too repetitive at times. I think it's best listened to as if it were a podcast mini series. It may also work better for those who have recently read his previous book, All the Way.
Thank you to libro.fm and Penguin Canada for a free ALC of this title....more
One I'd recommend to fans of Between Two Kingdoms.
Everything All at Once is a beautiful recounting of Stephanie's experience while her husband, Rivs,One I'd recommend to fans of Between Two Kingdoms.
Everything All at Once is a beautiful recounting of Stephanie's experience while her husband, Rivs, is sick - that's the "present" timeline (2020). Interspersed are stories from her life as a child then teenager. She draws connections between past experiences and current personal qualities, as well as how she's navigated grief, pain, and mortality before and now.
I really appreciated how much she credited Rivs' medical team, and her conclusion is one I was already behind (so that easily resonated with me).
The last two chapters of the audiobook, deftly narrated by Allyson Ryan, are Steph's ECMO diaries. I think they'd have been better placed throughout the book; they felt out of place where they were. It helped that they're followed by an epilogue, but I still think integrating them throughout the narrative would've made for a better reading experience.
The author narrates the prologue and epilogue. ...more
I'm not sure I realized what an indelible part of my childhood the Fonz was until I heard Henry Winkler doing his voice in this audiobookHeeeeeeyyyyy.
I'm not sure I realized what an indelible part of my childhood the Fonz was until I heard Henry Winkler doing his voice in this audiobook. (I know Winkler from that, the Waterboy, Arrested Development, and Parks and Rec.)
And what a treat the audiobook was. I'm so glad I opted for that mode, especially because his wife chimes in several times. What an interesting and special choice.
I loved the pacing of this book - he doesn't linger. He doesn't get bogged down. That makes this a pretty quick read.
Winkler comes across as generally humble, self-deprecating, and diplomatic. He seems like a really nice guy - it was so easy to root for his success, in his career and otherwise. Definitely one I'd recommend if you're a fan.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for a free ALC of this title for review, as well as Celadon for a free arc....more
Incredibly compelling. There were some fun parts; loved pausing to watch a few of the performances she referenced. Overall though, my heart just goes Incredibly compelling. There were some fun parts; loved pausing to watch a few of the performances she referenced. Overall though, my heart just goes out to her for what she went through.
Generally speaking, I think everyone should read using whatever format they like best (and for me personally, it often comes down to whatWhat a treat!
Generally speaking, I think everyone should read using whatever format they like best (and for me personally, it often comes down to what's most easily available). But Leslie F*cking Jones is one I'd definitely recommend you listen to. It is worth the library wait for the audiobook.
"Conversational" and "feels like sitting down with a friend" are tossed around a lot when it comes to memoirs; Leslie takes it to a-whole-nother level. I didn't have the text in front of me to check, but it felt like she went off-script - like she used the written text as a template, but then just... told stories. And she knows how to tell a story.
This was a special book to read right before the holidays, given some of the reflections she shared on family. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I'd listen to another volume!...more
I wanted Kerry to go so much deeper than she did, in so many of the things she referenced. I felt like her childhood got the most attention and detailI wanted Kerry to go so much deeper than she did, in so many of the things she referenced. I felt like her childhood got the most attention and detail, when that's generally my least favorite part of celebrity memoirs.
I went into this book as a fan; I'd still consider myself one and I of course respect her desire to share certain things/leave others more private. Maybe the deal is that a lot of the book felt like her describing her feelings or take on things, rather than specific moments - that made it read really fast, but left me feeling like I didn't learn all that much about Kerry and her life. Or maybe it's more accurate to say I learned a lot about her childhood, relationship with her parents, and identity as a donor child, and not a whole lot about her (esteemed!) career. Maybe I should have suspected this would be the focus, given the book's title.
Of course the audiobook narration is fantastic....more
Super engaging, really easy reading - I recommend opting for the audio, narrated by the author.
I loved The Sun Does Shine so I enjoyed getting to hearSuper engaging, really easy reading - I recommend opting for the audio, narrated by the author.
I loved The Sun Does Shine so I enjoyed getting to hear a bit about her collaboration with Anthony Ray Hinton - thrilling to hear about their interactions with Oprah. And I'm here to root for anyone who can (with help!) pry themselves away from the claws of addiction.
Lara Love Hardin briefly acknowledges the role her privilege played in her journey, but largely focuses on herself (fair warning: this is her story, not a memoir couched in a critique of the criminal justice system or the statistics of addiction). ...more
Really beautiful memoir exploring death and grief.
I personally was much more engaged with the content on grief, finances, and their parent-child relatReally beautiful memoir exploring death and grief.
I personally was much more engaged with the content on grief, finances, and their parent-child relationships than with the descriptions of her parents' relationship with religion. The narrative lost me a bit there, and I also found it somewhat scattered in the last fifth. Suppose death/grief will do that. ...more
Ah, the peril of backlist: I'd have enjoyed this one more had I not heard so, so many raves about it prior to picking it up.
Despite having the text onAh, the peril of backlist: I'd have enjoyed this one more had I not heard so, so many raves about it prior to picking it up.
Despite having the text on hand, I repeatedly opted for the audio, narrated by the author.
I read Save Me the Plums not having read any of Ruth Reichl's other books. Going in not knowing much about her (or Gourmet), I felt that the first third or so was a bit slow, and the last two-thirds too fast. I feel like I got a glimpse of her time at Gourmet, when I'd have loved another 100 pages of stories.
I particularly enjoyed her story about Frances McDormand, the Paris chapter(s), and some of the nitty-gritty daily life magazine stuff (like the recipe-testing! The cover drama!). ...more
I think I was aided by going into PAGEBOY expecting a queer, nonlinear, coming-of-age memoir rather than a celebrity memoir. I'm only really familiar I think I was aided by going into PAGEBOY expecting a queer, nonlinear, coming-of-age memoir rather than a celebrity memoir. I'm only really familiar with Page's role in Juno (haven't seen most of his other stuff), so that may have helped too.
Could have done with fewer references to ketchup chips and "shitting blood," though - surprised an editor didn't whittle those down....more
I wasn't quite drawn in by the cover or synopsis (sorry) so please don't let either be a deterrent to your piIf you read memoir, don't miss this one.
I wasn't quite drawn in by the cover or synopsis (sorry) so please don't let either be a deterrent to your picking this one up. I loved the way Lamya H lets the reader into her world. Stories from the Quran are incorporated, but in a way that's almost seamless (and is wholly approachable for those of us with little prior knowledge).
Overall I thought this one was really something special (and don't understand why it didn't receive a star from either Kirkus or PW? An oversight for sure). Also the narration by Ashraf Shirazi is fantastic....more
Really engaging story of a childhood rife with neglect and abuse, and of a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Relatively little on her career aReally engaging story of a childhood rife with neglect and abuse, and of a complicated mother-daughter relationship. Relatively little on her career as an actress - her experience as a scrub nurse felt like it was given greater weight. Not a whole lot on her romantic relationships either; so if you go in looking for gossip on Taylor Kitsch you might be disappointed.
It seems clear that Kelly's done a great deal of reflection, both prior to writing this book and in the writing/editing process. Events and people are described with nuance. ...more
Inside Edition isn't really my thing, but I'm definitely interested in memoirs by women who've worked in sports journalism, so I wanted to give WarrioInside Edition isn't really my thing, but I'm definitely interested in memoirs by women who've worked in sports journalism, so I wanted to give Warrior by Lisa Guerrero a try.
I liked the book most when Guerrero was detailing her experiences working for the Falcons and then the Patriots. I also was eager to hear how she'd describe her experience on Monday Night Football. And I certainly felt for her when she talked about some of the big, hard things happening in her personal life.
But I felt like she skipped over a lot. For example, she doesn't say anything about having been on Sports Gals until she quotes someone else mentioning it. Even then, it feels like a mere footnote -- only getting one paragraph -- when she claims it was the first sports talk show hosted solely by women? Tell us more! Often it felt like the reader was given a pretty broad-strokes view when a closer look at her experiences would have been welcome.
Still, I'm glad I read Warrior -- I won't soon forget about a couple of the anecdotes she shared, and I hadn't heard them before.
Content warnings: (view spoiler)[description of depression, suicidal ideation, description of miscarriage (hide spoiler)]
Thank you to Hachette for a free arc of this title for review....more
Read The Longest Race, listened to Des interview Kara on their podcast, and then reread half the book. Also bought a signed copy after hitting the halRead The Longest Race, listened to Des interview Kara on their podcast, and then reread half the book. Also bought a signed copy after hitting the halfway point in the audiobook. So, yeah, I'm a fan....more
Des had me from the first few lines of her memoir, CHOOSING TO RUN. I got goosebumps just reading the prologue.
The bulk of the book follows a traditioDes had me from the first few lines of her memoir, CHOOSING TO RUN. I got goosebumps just reading the prologue.
The bulk of the book follows a traditional memoir style, but is interspersed with chapters from the 2018 Boston Marathon. I loved the extra details from that race.
I really enjoyed this (I read the entirety on one flight!). I was surprised how many times it made me teary - though I'm also the kind of person who cries watching the 2018 Boston women's highlights. There's a lot of reflection on the page; I felt like I was tagging along through Des's career, through the highs and lows. She's so gritty! How kind she was in describing other runners and people working in the sport stuck out to me too.
But maybe all you need to know: I read an early e-galley, and immediately went online to figure out how to order a signed copy.
I'd of course recommend the book to other runners or (even casual) fans of the sport, but think it might also work well for sports fans in general and/or those who enjoy stories about women's careers/lives.
Thank you very much to Penguin Books/Dutton and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review....more
As with other books in the genre, I enjoyed SPEAK most when Tunde was describing her life and least when she was trying to encourage others (i.e. whenAs with other books in the genre, I enjoyed SPEAK most when Tunde was describing her life and least when she was trying to encourage others (i.e. when it got more self-help-y -- just not my thing).
The way in which she talked about the loss of her brother particularly resonated with me. I also appreciated that she talked about career setbacks and struggles (not just the wins). But even there, it felt like there was more to say -- does Peloton have some sort of non-disclosure agreement? Other than the Speak Up ride, it felt like there were very few details on her job (when it seems like that'd be cool to hear about!). Basically, I enjoyed hearing about Tunde's life but would have liked if she'd shared more... and if this had been more memoir and less inspirational guide. ...more
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