Re-memoir Me

Tweak, our book this week, is actually Nic Sheff's memoirs about his struggle with drug addiction.  There are more than a few memoirs out there to read, some better than other.  So I'm just going to give you a few that have stood out over the years.

The Girl in the Red Coat by Roma Ligocka

I know I've mentioned this book a few times on this blog, but that doesn't stop me from loving it.  Written after seeing herself on screen in Schindler's list, Ligocka revisits her harsh and frightening past, during both the Holocaust and the Cold War.

It's touching and heartfelt and sad and wonderful and if you don't cry a little at the end, I'm pretty sure you have no soul.

Tuesday's With Morrie by Mitch Albom

We've already reviewed Mr. Albom on this blog, but the thing with being a good author is that you tend to crop up a lot.  Tuesday's With Morrie is Albom's recounting of his time with an old professor.  After hearing about his teacher's illness, Albom visits him every Tuesday, learning from him once again.  It's touching and sad and wonderful and Albom's writing is just phenomenal.
 
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
 

 

Really, I could throw Maus in with Persepolis, but A. Maus is technically not a memoir (it's a son writing about his father's experiences) and B. we JUST heard about Maus last week (whereas, it's been awhile since we've talked about Persepolis.)  Satropi talks about her life in Iraq during the 80s and the war that ensues there.  She talks about how it effected her life, and the decisions she made (bad and good) due to the situation in her county.
 
Really, the thing that makes it unique however, is that it is told as a graphic novel, something very unusual when it comes to people writing about their lives.

Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott

I have not read this one, but a lot of people have recommended it.  And Anne Lamott wrote Byrd by Byrd, which is pretty much the best novel on writing you'll ever read in your entire life.  So I don't have any problems recommending this to you.

It's about Anne becoming a grandmother.  A book about her son (who she wrote a memoir on called Operating Instructions) having a kid.  She talks about the trials, advice and crazy situations that becoming a grandmother is all about.

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

What list of memoirs would be complete without the girl that, seemingly, started it all?  We all know (and have probably read) Anne's diary, written while she was trapped up in an attic, hiding for her life.  She talks about boys and getting her period and all the things she misses from before the war.

While very obviously written by a 13-year-old girl, you can't help but be moved by this story.