Nobody Needs to Know by Pidgeon Pagonis

Title: Nobody Needs to Know
Author: Pidgeon Pagonis
Genre: Memoir

During their freshman year of college, Pagonis learns something shocking: the many surgeries, pills, and doctor visits of their youth were not due to cancer, as they had been told, but because they had been born intersex. The journey of learning, accepting, and fighting for their rights forms the core of this memoir. Pagonis has a clear and powerful voice, and bares it all, holding back nothing and letting readers see the impact of decisions their parents and doctors made years ago. This is an incredible story of one person finding and using their voice.

-Meagan

Check out Nobody Needs to Know by Pidgeon Pagonis @ the library!

Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

Title: Everything Sad is Untrue

Author: Daniel Nayeri

Genre: Fictionalized Memoir

A boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") tries to tell a story. His story. But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful and terrifying, from the moment his family fled Iran in the middle of the night with the secret police moments behind them, back to the cement refugee camps of Italy, and further back to his grandmother's tragic childhood, and how it all led to Oklahoma.

This book was wonderful. Khosrou jumps around from story to story, often comparing himself to Scheherazade telling 1001 stories to stay alive, weaving together his childhood in Iran, Persian myths and legends, and his time in Oklahoma. He tells his stories both for school assignments and in an attempt to remember his history. As he says, "A patchwork story is the shame of a refugee," and Khosrou wants to remember all of his stories.

This book was the winner of the 2021 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.

- Beth

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You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

Title: You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism

Author: Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

Genre: Memoir, Humor

Meet Lacey, Amber Ruffin’s sister. She is, “Polite, beautiful, tiny, and Black”. Because of this people say the most ridiculous things to her. From being told it must be nice to have her picture on her checks (it was Harriet Tubman) to having someone put their hand into her hair, Lacy experiences racism in ways that are, frankly, unbelievable to a white reader.

Told by both Amber and Lacey, Lacey’s stories give readers a lot to think about. Some readers will nod their heads knowing this is all too real an experience, and others will have their eyes opened. Keep in mind, all of these stories happen from about 1980-today, so it isn’t just the past we are hearing about, it’s the now.

Raised by strong parents and growing up with other siblings, it is never left unsaid that a book about another family member would be much darker. Lacey is lucky in the sense that this is all that happened to her, however, as a white reader the fact that these things have happened to her at all is equal parts horrifying and eye-opening.

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism is a book of stories told with humor about things that are still happening to Black people today. Highly recommended for light reading on a heavy subject.

- Katie

Check out You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar @ the library!

Survival of the Thickest by Michelle Buteau

Title: Survival of the Thickest

Author: Michelle Buteau

Genre: Memoir, Comedy

Books of humors essays can run the gauntlet from random thoughts and observations to life events that are relatable and hysterical. Michelle Buteau gives us both with her collection Survival of the Thickest. From growing up in Jersey, to her life in Florida, to her eventual move to New York City, Michelle highlights important and relatable moments of her life with humor.

Her stories are as varied as dating a man who could not read, to her struggles with getting pregnant and IVF. Throughout the book she stresses the importance of family and friends, and those people that you really connect with. Buteau’s vibrant personality comes through, and you can see how people would be magnetically drawn to her.

For fans of memoirs by comedians, slice of life stories, and those just in need of a good laugh, try Michelle Buteau’s Survival of the Thickest.

- Katie

Check out Survival of the Thickest by Michelle Buteau @ the library!

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

Title: Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life
Author: Steve Martin
Genre: Autobiography, Memoir, Non-Fiction

Did you know that Steve Martin performed stand-up comedy before he was in such films as The Jerk, Parenthood, and Father of the Bride? This autobiography of his stand-up years will share the path that Steve took to stardom that include stops at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, The Smother's Brothers Comedy Hour, and later, Saturday Night Live. Between these big names, he played a lot of small venues, worked on honing his craft, and endeavored to be an original voice on stage. 

Included are some of his jokes, but really this is more about his journey, so if you're hoping for a comedy album, look for "Let's Get Small" or "Wild and Crazy Guy." This recount is more serious including topics such as difficulties connecting with his father, the loneliness of a life on the road, and the pressure to be "on" all the time.

- Sarah R.

Check out Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life @ the library!

Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky

Title: Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality
Author: Jacob Tomsky
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor

Jacob Tomsky lets you look through the peephole of the hotel industry from the point of view of an employee. He has worked in various positions: parking valet, head of housekeeping, and behind the front desk. He offers up salacious stories, travel tips, and life lessons. He also sprinkles in a little of his personal story and drops a few names to keep things interesting.

I never suspected how carefully orchestrated the hustles are, and I know the next time I find myself in a home away from home, I will have a whole new understanding and appreciation for all that goes into the hospitality business.

- Sarah R.

Check out Heads in Beds @ the library! 

The Book of Help by Megan Griswold

Title: The Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies
Author: Megan Griswold
Genre: Memoir, Self-Help

The Book of Help is an interesting memoir, written by a woman who has tried nearly every alternative treatment available. Author Megan Griswold reflects on the self-help seminars she's been attending since she was a child, traveling to South America and finding love in the process, and experimenting with pretty much everything under the sun to find herself.

The book reminded me a bit of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, but it has a unique format. I wasn't sure what to expect wen I picked up this book, but Griswold's story is interesting and her tales are varied. She writes in short chapters that make it easy to start and stop the book as you wish. You'll learn a lot about different methods of treating pain (both physical and emotional), and watch Griswold's growth to adulthood.

- Jamie

Check out The Book of Help @ the library!

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography

Title: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography
Author: Eric Idle

Genre: Memoir

If you'd like a detailed recounting of a member of Monty Python's life, give a listen to Eric Idle's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography. While I did, of course, laugh-out-loud occasionally, there were also serious and sad bits so it's not all fun and games. There's also a ton of name-dropping so if that gets on your nerves, steer clear. Plus, as you might expect with one of this lot, there are expletives and inappropriate comments so if you're not a fan of their ribald humor, you, too, may want to give this a pass. Nudge nudge, know what I mean?

The audiobook is read by Eric Idle himself so if you enjoy an English accent and hearing words pronounced surprisingly, that'll be an added bonus for you.

- Sarah R.

Check out Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography @ the library.

Educated by Tara Westover

Title: Educated

Author: Tara Westover

Genre: Memoir

When a person learns of Tara Westover's educational accomplishments, they wouldn't suspect that she never attended school like most children. A hard knock life is probably a fair description of her life. Living as off the grid as possible and prepping for doomsday was her normal. There are lots of stories of her midwife mom, her junkyard dad, and her brothers and sister as they grow up with a strict religious background. 

It also follows her gradual introduction to the world of academia and its influence on her life. Her many stories about her family, her experiences, and her path to higher education make you wonder how one person could go through so much. 

- Sarah R.

Check out Educated @ the library.

My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss

Title: My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes)

Author: Luisa Weiss

Genre: Memoir, Recipe Book

If you enjoyed Julie & Julia by Julie Powell, you should take a look at this one. Luisa takes the reader on a personal, well-crafted journey through the ups and downs of her childhood living on different continents between her parents' homes and then on the road to finding who she is in the kitchen and where she feels most at home. If you enjoy books with recipes thrown in, this one is a must.

- Elizabeth

Check out My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) @ the library.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Title: The Magnolia Story

Author: Chip and Joanna Gaines

Genre: Memoir

The Magnolia Story is written by the hosts of HGTV’s hit show Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines. Like many fans the show, a big reason why I love watching is (aside from the beautiful home redesigns) seeing the genuineness of the Gaines’ relationship and their family life and values that are clearly present. The book gets more into this as it tells the story of how Chip and Joanna met, how they got into the business, and is interspersed with anecdotes and family moments. Chip and Joanna switch back and forth in the narrative, which at first I thought would be distracting, but I actually enjoyed the style and found it read like a conversation. This inspiring memoir would appeal to fans of the show or even anyone looking to start their own business.

- Sarah P.

Check out The Magnolia Story @ the library.

Sting-Ray Afternoons by Steve Rushin

Title: Sting-Ray Afternoons

Author: Steve Rushin

Genre: Memoir, 1970s

The author is well known for his work for Sports Illustrated, and his humorous recollections of growing up in the 1970s is entertaining reading. Rushin grew up in the Midwest (first Chicago and then Minneapolis), and he is able to effectively convey his reminisces so that they resonate with anyone who was raised during that period in any part of the country. Nerf footballs, Fonzie, Pete Maravich, Evel Knievel, Red Owl grocery stores, vacations at the Wisconsin Dells, and of course the Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycle with the banana seat are only a few of the many symbols of the 70's that are covered.

Along the way, Rushin also describes - in amusing fashion - his Catholic upbringing as a middle child with four siblings. His stories about his middle class family with a salesman father and stay-at-home mother ring true for many who remember the era. Rushin's generational memoir is an enjoyable read that will take many back to a more innocent and less complicated time.

- Mike

Check out Sting-Ray Afternoons @ the library.

Please Be with Me: A Song for My Father, Duane Allman by Galadrielle Allman

Title: Please Be with Me: A Song for My Father, Duane Allman

Author: Galadrielle Allman

Genre: Biography

Please Be with Me: A Song for My Father, Duane Allman is more the story about a daughter's journey to know her father rather than a straight biography, and it's a fascinating journey. Galadrielle Allman was only 2 years old when her father, Duane Allman, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in October 1971. Duane Allman was 24 years old when he died, but the influence he's had on generations of guitarists is enduring. Along the way, the reader gets to know all about the legendary musician - warts and all. He struggled with drugs, wasn't the best husband or father, and always lived life on the edge. Galadrielle Allman also paints a picture of a man completely devoted to the guitar and fiercely protective and loyal to his friends, family and band mates. In an incredibly short span he worked with Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett as a session player, joined Eric Clapton as a member of Derek and the Dominoes - resulting in the classic album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - and was the driving force behind the Allman Brothers Band. Sadly, he would not live to realize the impact that his talents had on the music world. The author visits with and interviews her father's associates (the title of the book is drawn from a song written by Scott Boyer who played with Allman), friends and family to gain a better perspective on who Duane Allman was. At the same time, Galadrielle Allman provides the reader with the story of her mother Donna, and struggles between loyalty and love she has for her and the mythical figure of the father she never knew. Ms. Allman does an excellent job of engaging the reader and shares her own frustrations with sorting out the relationship she never could realize. At times heartbreaking, and others redemptive, Please Be with Me: A Song for My Father, Duane Allman, is worthy of any reader interested in biographies and a daughter's genuine quest to know her late father.

- Mike

Check out Please Be with Me: A Song for My Father, Duane Allman @ the library.

We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union

Sit down, grab a glass of wine, and get ready to dish with Gabrielle Union, best known for rolls in movies like Bring it On or TVs Being Mary Jane (or if you are a parent of young kids, the voice of Nala on the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard, but I digress).

We're Going to Need More Wine is part memoir, as Gabrielle tells the story of growing up in a very white neighborhood, with summers spent with her Grandmother in a very black neighborhood, and how she found her way into Hollywood, almost by surprise. Her book is part essays, as she reflects on growing up black, her passion for things like reproductive rights, social justice, cancer research, and being black and famous. Like conversation over wine with a good friend, she never gets preachy, just tells it like it is, and give you facts.

We're Going to Need More Wine is for anyone looking for a book that fills the heart and soul..

Check out We're Going to Need More Wine @ the library.

Shrill by Lindy West

Quick, name a few role models you had growing up that you could both relate to, and see your self growing into their role. Now think about those role models, are they people you want to emulate? Are they people you can emulate? Are they reasonable? If not, can you (again quickly) think of more people closer to your self that look and have lives similar to yours? If not, welcome to Lindy West's world.

Shrill, Notes From a Loud Woman is a collection of essays that tell the story of journalist Lindy West's upbringing as a "big boned" kid who chose the worlds of fantasy over the real. Who did a presentation about her love for TV, specifically comedy, to the disappointment of a favorite teacher, who stood up for herself by claiming who she was, and who starting speaking up for those who might not be ready to stand up for themselves.

Funny and powerful, reading Shrill will both make you laugh and think. West is a writer and without knowing it you may have read her work for other sites. Recommended for readers who miss The Toast, check out Jezebel on occasion, and just want to read about someone who has stopped apologizing for who she is. 

Check out Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman @ the library!

The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust by Edith Hahn Beer

Edith Hahn was a young woman studying law in Vienna when she was forced to give up her education, her home, and her life when she was banished to the Jewish ghetto and forced to wear a yellow star. Knowing she was being hunted, in a serious act of defiance, Edith ripped the yellow star from her clothing and spent every night looking for a safe place to sleep. Fearful Edith turned to a Christian friend, Edith used her friend's identity and fled to Munich. In  Munich, she met Werner Vetter, a Nazi Party member who wound up falling in love with her. Despite protestation and the confession of her Jewish identity, Werner married Edith and kept her identity a secret.

In her memoir, The Nazi Officer's Wife, Edith Hahn Beer recalls her life of fear in the face of Nazism. A tale of courage and bravery, this is a complex, troubling, and triumphant story.

Open Heart by Elie Wiesel

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel is best known for his reflections on life in Auschwitz in his best-seller Night. Open Heart, though also a reflection, doesn't focus solely on the Holocaust; rather it's Wiesel's thoughts when at eighty-two years old, the writer and scholar was faced with emergency heart surgery and quite possibly his own mortality.

Though this is a brief book at only seventy-some pages, it is one filled with sincerity and honesty. Open Heart (so aptly named), focuses on Wiesel's family, many of whom perished during the Holocaust. The Nobel Peace Prize winning author questions whether or not he did his family justice by keeping their memory alive. He argues that the measure of a man can be determined by the love he has for his wife, children, and grandchildren. And most importantly he writes of the hopes he has for mankind, in a world that is often cruel and unjust.

Though Elie Wiesel has since passed away, the words of the most eloquent Holocaust spokesperson live on in this book and his other works.

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

You may know Anna Kendrick from her starring role in the Pitch Perfect series, or perhaps her Oscar nominated role in Up in the Air. Maybe you recognize her as Jessica, the snarky friend from the Twilight movies. Or maybe you are one of the people who remember her roles in independent films like Camp, where she plays a "scary little girl". No matter what the role, there is no denying that Anna Kendrick is a actress on the rise, and Scrappy Little Nobody gives an inner look at how this all happened.

Anna describes her ascent from tiny Maine theater to Broadway to Hollywood with ease. Her first big break on Broadway was due to trusting parents sending her with her 14 year old brother to the big city on their own. Her breaks in movies come a little harder, as she explains to high school friends that the Sundance she is at, is the SUNDANCE where celebrities go. And while everyone else was staring college, she was giving acting a full on go, which forced her to grow up quickly. Even as her fame started to rise, her budget did not quite reflect that, and there are some regrettable fashion choices along the way.

Scrappy Little Nobody is one of those books you'll race through to laugh with Anna about her life, and ridiculousness of it all. Not quite a celebrity tell all, not quite a rise to the top story, but a life in progress view that will endure you to this performer. Fans of celebrity memoirs, such as Judy Greer's I Don't Know Where You Know Me From and Aisha Tyler's Self Inflected Wounds won't be disappointed.

UnSweetined by Jodie Sweetin

Jodie Sweetin, best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on the long-running, wholesome TV show Full House, is up-front and honest in her 2009 memoir entitled UnSweetined. From a young age Sweetin was in show business, getting her big break when Full House premiered in 1987. Sharing bits and pieces of life on the set of Full House and stories of her lifelong friendship with TV sister Candace Cameron Bure, Sweetin writes how much she enjoyed acting. It wasn't long before life as a child star began to take its toll after Sweetin's longtime role came to an end.

Now as a teenager, unable to escape her role as America's sweetheart, Sweetin's acting career came to a screeching halt as she tried to juggle regular life with life as a former child star. With nothing but time on her hands and an endless supply of money, Sweetin's life took a dramatic turn to drug and alcohol abuse. Not afraid to write about her struggles, Sweetin sheds light on her vicious cycle of recovery and relapse (even while writing her book); ultimately only coming clean following the birth of her daughter.

Sweetin's deeply personal memoir is a quick read, filled with humor, charm, and struggle. For Full House fans or those who enjoy memoirs of child stars, UnSweetined is sure to give you a completely different perspective of Jodie Sweetin aside from her "How rude!" saying character Stephanie Tanner.

Slice Harvester by Colin Hagendorf

Twenty-something Colin Hagendorf was stuck in life. He was the punk rocker type, who probably drank more than he should, and suffered from bad relationship after bad relationship. In an attempt to kind of right his wrongs and piece his life back together, Colin decided to try a piece of classic cheese pizza from every pizzeria in New York City...all 435 of them and blog about the slices (both good and bad!) and structure that it brought to his life.

With the quest to try all of the pizza that New York City has to offer, this adventure provided just what Hagendorf needed. Written as if the reader is conversing with Hagendorf, he sticks to his convictions, whether it be about punk rock or pizza. Written with humor, Slice Harvester will make you feel for the author all while craving a slice of really good pizza.