I’m hooked on memoir. Well-written, page-turning stories of real people doing real life. I’ve always been a fiction reader. About 75% of everything I read is fiction. But memoir (when done well) is NON-FICTION fiction. It’s compelling slivers of honest life written in the form and shape of a gripping novel.
In the event you might be a memoir-lover, too, I’ve compiled a list of recommends. Some I’ve read. Other still occupy my lengthy to-read list (I *starred* the ones I’ve already finished). All come at the suggestion of someone I know.
Know of one I’ve missed? Please leave it in the comments. I’ll keep growing the list for the next week or so.
- *Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (Laura Hillenbrand)
- Leaving the Saints (Martha Beck)
- To Hell and Back (Audie Murphy)
- The Reluctant Tuscan (Phil Doran)
- Girl Meets God: On the Path to a Spiritual Life (Lauren F. Winner)
- *A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (Donald Miller)
- *The Glass Castle (Jeanette Walls)
- Half Broke Horses (Jeanette Walls)
- *Born Standing Up (Steve Martin)
- *Chosen by a Horse: a Memoir (Susan Richards)
- Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
- *A Circle of Quiet (Madeleine L’Engle)
- Tender Bar (J.R. Moehringer)
- Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me: A Memoir … of Sorts (Ian Morgan Cron)
- Liar’s Club (Mary Karr)
- Lit (Mary Karr)
- Cherry (Mary Karr)
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Steven King)
- *The Hiding Place (Corrie ten Boom)
- *The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun (Gretchen Rubin)
- *Same Kind of Different As Me (Ron Hall, Denver Moore, Lynn Vincent)
- *Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (Elizabeth Gilbert)
- Decision Points (George W. Bush)
- Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson (Mitch Album)
- *Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (Immaculee Ilibagiza)
- The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister (Denise George, Carolyn Ross Tomlin, Nonna Bannister)
- *Gift from the Sea (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)
- *A Child Called “It” (Dave Pelzer)
- Running with Scissors (Augusten Burroughs)
- Girl, Interrupted (Susanna Kaysen)
- Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (David Sedaris)
- Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith (Barbara Brown Taylor)
- Tattoos on the Heart: the Power of Boundless Compassion (Father Gregory Boyle)
The Longest Road Home – John Grogan author of Marley and Me
Ah, good one. Marley and Me, too! Thanks, Jon.
What a great collection you’ve put together! Thanks for sharing. I’ve read several and have now added many to the “to read” list. Which of the one’s that you read exemplified the ideal memoir to you?
Glad you enjoyed the list, Paula. I’ve been told by a friend that “Leaving the Saints” (Martha Beck) is a great one to study for writing purposes. If you want a good book on the memoir craft, I recommend “Your Life As Story” by Tristine Rainer. Hope this helps!
Michele, I too love to read memoirs. Thank you for this list.
The one that came to my mind, although it is not completely a memoir, is “The hole in our Gospel” by Rich Stearns. I say it is not completely because he tells about his life, how he became the CEO of World Vision, and in some chapters he talks specifically about poverty and famine in the world. It is a great read, however. It changed my life.
Interesting that you would mention that book, Cris. I just looked at it on my shelf yesterday as I compiled this list. Great recommend — thank you!
Three of my favorites:
Surprised by Oxford, Carolyn Weber
Surviving the Island of Grace: A Memoir of Alaska, Leslie Leyland Fields
Evolving in Monkeytown, Rachel Held Evans
All are by strong conservative Christian women who are wives and/or mothers, but are not solely defined by those roles; rather they emphasize the importance of knowing God.
Good suggestions, Marilyn. I’ve been meaning to read “Evolving in Monkey Town.” Thanks!
Anne Frank
Yes! Another good one. Thanks, Addie.
Honestly, I don’t read as much as I hope to in my not-too-far-away retirement.
But I have read the first one below about 5 times.
My American Journey by Colin Powell
A Memoir by Barbara Bush – I’m actually reading this now.
Both books are filling-in some ‘history’ for me, as in a deeper context for what I heard on the news as a child and young adult in the ’60s and ’70s.
What a great idea, Barbara — to read other people’s stories as it gives context to your own, primarily those significant participants in history. Thanks for sharing those two titles!
Hi Michele,
Good to be here.
Great list here.
Need more time to
check all,
Anyways thanks for
the great list.
Keep inform
Best regards
Phil
I love memoirs and have enjoyed reading them for years. I’ve read some on your list. Here are some others that I’ve enjoyed:
- My Life So Far by Jane Fonda
- Lessons in Becoming Myself by Ellen Burstyn
- Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World by Mary Pipher
- Copy This by Paul Orfalea
- Not Fade Away: A short life well lived by Laurence Shames
I have most (maybe all) of them, so let me know if you want to borrow any Michele!
Some that are on my “to read list” are below. I’d love to hear if anyone has read any.
- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
- The Center Cannot Hold: My journey through madness by Elyn R Saks
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
- Stitches by David Small
I haven’t read ANY of these, which I can’t believe. I can always count on you to expand my library, Sharon. Thank you! (and yes, I will probably borrow one or two!)
just read it, trust me
Coming Out of the Ice (apologies if duplicate comment, I filled out form wrong) . Anyways, the book is not in publication anymore (which is insane, best memoir ever according to everyone I know who’s read the book, incl myself), but if u can find used copy (good luck w/ that), it’s worth it.
Scream Quietly by Elizabeth Carlson
Thank you for the suggestion, Kaarin. I appreciate it!