memoir – Read it or Weep

Melinda’s Top 10 of 2024

December 9, 2024December 5, 2024MelindaLeave a comment

It’s that time again! All week, your favorite library staff will be sharing their Top Ten Books of 2024. From horror to memoir to fantasy to romance, we have a wide range of book to recommend. Be sure to keep checking back – there will be new Top Ten lists every day this week!

Click on the book cover to request a print copy of the book, or check out Libby or Hoopla for eBook and eAudiobook offerings.

In no particular order, here are my Top Ten!

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at a reformatory for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory. Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there’s a department store that sells dreams. Each floor specializes in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom.

Full review here.

Youthjuice by E.K. Sathue

Joining HEBE, a luxury skincare/wellness company, 29-year-old Sophia Bannion is soon addicted to her HEBE lifestyle, especially youthjuice, the fatty, soothing moisturizer she’s been asked to test, but when she learns the gruesome secret ingredient, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to stay beautiful forever.

Full review here.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

The book begins with one woman’s personal, particular heartbreak, but its circles widen into a reckoning with contemporary womanhood, traditional gender roles, and the power dynamics that persist even in many progressive homes. With the spirit of self-inquiry and empathy she’s known for, Smith interweaves snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, private fitness trainers, daily massages–and all of it for free. In fact, you’re paid big money to stay here–more than you’ve ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds; your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby.

A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter

The story of the unrivaled desire for healing and the power of familial bonds across five generations of Métis women and the land and bison that surround them.

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

At eighteen, Brian, like so many other promising young gay men, arrived in New York City without much more than a love for the freedom and release from his past that it promised. But within six short years, AIDS would claim his lover, his friends, and his future. With nothing left in New York but memories of death, Brian decides to write his mother a letter asking to come back to the place, and family, he was once so desperate to escape.

Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold

When Gracie Gold stepped onto center stage (or ice, rather) as America’s sweetheart at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she instantly became the face of America’s most beloved winter sport. Now Gold reveals the exclusive and harrowing story of her struggles in and out of the pressure-packed world of elite figure skating: the battles with her family, her coaches, the powers-that-be at her federation, and her deteriorating mental health.

Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert

As coma patients are trapped in a world full of evil mythical creatures of sleep, which is linked to an old train tunnel around town, one troubled man finally acts upon the voice in his head called Mr. Lullaby who wants him to kill all the coma patients he can find.

Full review here.

Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney & Allison Horrocks

Combining history, travelogue, and memoir, Dolls of Our Lives follows Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney on an unforgettable journey to the past as they delve into the origins of this iconic brand.

Happy reading!

-Melinda

Memoirs for May: AAPI Heritage Month

May 17, 2024May 13, 2024MelindaLeave a comment

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, celebrating the more than 20 million people who are part of the AAPI community. The month of May was selected in commemoration of the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States in May 1843 as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.

In celebration of AAPI stories, here are memoirs written by members of the AAPI community available in our collection. Click on the title to request the print book, or check our digital offerings for more options.

Owner of a Lonely Heart by Beth Nguyen

At the end of the Vietnam War, when Beth Nguyen was eight months old, she and her family fled Saigon for America. Only Beth’s mother stayed–or was left–behind, and they did not meet again until Beth was nineteen. Over the course of her adult life, she and her mother have spent less than twenty-four hours together. A memoir about parenthood, absence, and the condition of being a refugee.

The Worlds I See by Dr. Fei-Fei Li

Known to the world as the creator of ImageNet, a key catalyst of modern artificial intelligence, Dr. Li has spent more than two decades at the forefront of the field. But her career in science was improbable from the start. As immigrants, her family faced a difficult transition from China’s middle class to American poverty. And their lives were made all the harder as they struggled to care for her ailing mother, who was working tirelessly to help them all gain a foothold in their new land.

Stay True by Hua Hsu

In the eyes of eighteen-year-old Hua Hsu, the problem with Ken–with his passion for Dave Matthews, Abercrombie & Fitch, and his fraternity–is that he is exactly like everyone else. Ken, whose Japanese American family has been in the United States for generations, is mainstream; for Hua, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, who makes ‘zines and haunts Bay Area record shops, Ken represents all that he defines himself in opposition to. The only thing Hua and Ken have in common is that, however they engage with it, American culture doesn’t seem to have a place for either of them.

A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen

With insight, humor, formal invention, and lyricism, in A Man of Two Faces Viet Thanh Nguyen rewinds the film of his own life. He expands the genre of personal memoir by acknowledging larger stories of refugeehood, colonization, and ideas about Vietnam and America, writing with his trademark sardonic wit and incisive analysis, as well as a deep emotional openness about his life as a father and a son.

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin

Nineteen eighties Detroit was a volatile place to live, but above the fray stood a safe haven: Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine, where anyone–from the city’s first Black mayor to the local drag queens, from a big-time Hollywood star to elderly Jewish couples–could sit down for a warm, home-cooked meal. Here was where, beneath a bright-red awning and surrounded by his multigenerational family, filmmaker and activist Curtis Chin came of age; where he learned to embrace his identity as a gay ABC, or American-born Chinese.

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

Nicole Chung was born severely premature, placed for adoption by her Korean parents, and raised by a white family in a sheltered Oregon town. From childhood, she heard the story of her adoption as a comforting, prepackaged myth. She believed that her biological parents had made the ultimate sacrifice in the hope of giving her a better life, that forever feeling slightly out of place was her fate as a transracial adoptee. But as Nicole grew up-facing prejudice her adoptive family couldn’t see, finding her identity as an Asian American and as a writer, becoming ever more curious about where she came from-she wondered if the story she’d been told was the whole truth.

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong

Binding these essays together is Hong’s theory of “minor feelings.” As the daughter of Korean immigrants, Cathy Park Hong grew up steeped in shame, suspicion, and melancholy. She would later understand that these “minor feelings” occur when American optimism contradicts your own reality–when you believe the lies you’re told about your own racial identity. Minor feelings are not small, they’re dissonant–and in their tension Hong finds the key to the questions that haunt her.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

In this deeply personal and thoroughly researched account, Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries a variety of innovative therapies. She returns to her hometown of San Jose, California, to investigate the effects of immigrant trauma on the community, and she uncovers family secrets in the country of her birth, Malaysia, to learn how trauma can be inherited through generations. Ultimately, she discovers that you don’t move on from trauma–but you can learn to move with it.

Happy reading!

-Melinda

Has Spring Sprung?

March 21, 2024LinneaLeave a comment

We’re two days into spring but it doesn’t quite feel like it yet. Daffodils had started to peek up, then were promptly covered by a dusting of snow. Sun warmed our faces, but now we’re back to grey.

If you’re eager for spring weather to come back and stick around, try some of these books to summon the season of renewal:

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eva Eger

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

-Linnea

Happy Birthday, Grand Canyon!

January 11, 2024January 11, 2024LinneaLeave a comment

Before it was designated as a National Park, the Grand Canyon was a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt on January 11, 1908. Multiple times, Senate bills were introduced to establish the area as a National Park before finally being signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The Grand Canyon became the 15^th National Park in the United States.

While the Grand Canyon is certainly one major draw to the region, there is no lack of beauty in the American Southwest. The Grand Canyon is certainly a showstopper, and there’s also Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks across the border in Utah, Joshua Tree National Park further west in California, Sedona’s red rocks, the deep gorge of Black Canyon of the Gunnison…I could keep going but we’d be here all day! Instead, here are a few books to explore these incredible facets of our planet, whether you’re planning a trip or doing some armchair travel:

Grand Canyon Country: Its Majesty and Its Lore by Seymour L. Fishbein

The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim by Peter McBride

Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America by Douglas Brinkley

Native American Archaeology in the Parks: A Guide to Heritage Sites in Our National Parks and Monuments by Kenneth L. Feder

Lazy B: Growing up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest by Sandra Day O’Connor

Zion & Bryce by Moon Handbooks

Arizona and New Mexico: 25 Scenic Side Trips by Rick Quinn

-Linnea

New Year, Fresh Start

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023Linnea1 Comment

As we enter the New Year, we look towards the future, setting goals and making plans. But sometimes it’s hard to leave the past year behind us. If you’re looking for inspiration to move forward, here are a few books about fresh starts and forging your own path:

Maame by Jessica George

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Educated by Tara Westover

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

-Linnea

Melinda’s Top 10 of 2023

December 15, 2023December 10, 2023MelindaLeave a comment

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

I was introduced to Sarah Gailey this year and have loved everything I’ve read so far. Spooky house stories are a win anytime of year.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

After a young Japanese woman’s life falls apart, she moves into a flat above her eccentric uncle’s bookshop, staying rent-free in exchange for working at the store and developing a passion for Japanese literature.

This is a quietly paced gem of a book. A short read perfect for all book lovers.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

The beloved Friends star shares candid behind the scenes stories from the legendary sitcom, as well as detailing his own struggles with addiction.

As a Friends fan, this book was a heavy read, but an important read for anyone wanting to understand addiction and its impact.

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

To earn the last credit she needs to graduate, Lydia Chass teams up with foul-mouthed Bristal Jamison to transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a hard-hitting, truth-telling expose as they investigate an unsolved murder from their small town’s past.

Full review here.

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

Warned by her brother that their mother seems “off,” Sam visits and discovers a once-cozy home with sterile white walls, a her mom a jumpy, nervous wreck and a jar of teeth hidden in the rosebushes.

Full review here.

Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan

Felling the Nazis, painter Remedios Varo and her poet lover await exit papers from a safe house on the Riviera and take refuge in a mysterious bookshop that opens up a world of occult learning that sparks creative genius.

Full review here.

A Guide to Midwestern Conversation by Taylor Kay Phillips

Learn how to speak like a Midwesterner in this humorous and self-deprecating look at their common phrases and sentiments and featuring an ode to the Garage Fridge.

Ope, lemme just tell you- this light-hearted look at the Midwestern states and our odd speech patterns was a fun read.

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

During her annual televised baking competition on her Vermont estate, celebrated baker Betsy Martin, hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” finds murder in the mix when a body is discovered, and everyone is a suspect.

Full review here.

My Murder by Katie Williams

Having been murdered by a serial killer and subsequently resurrected, Lou must solve her own slaying.

An original and intriguing tale of cloning, crime, and community- one of my few five star reads this year!

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

Investigating an estranged sibling’s suspicious drowning at their grandmother’s estate, Jax connects the tragedy to the unsolved case of a housewife who in 1929 allegedly succumbed to a wish-granting spring.

Jennifer McMahon is always a must-read for me, and the alternating timeline of this book made this one hard to put down.

Happy reading!

-Melinda

Megan’s Best of 2023 List

December 13, 2023December 11, 2023MeganLeave a comment

It’s that time of year when we are given the impossible task of identifying our ten favorite books of the year. As of this writing I have read or listened to 124 books. I gave 21 of those a five-star rating. My top three categories this year were Mystery/Thrillers (40 books), YA (26 books), and Nonfiction (25 books). I also reread three books this year, a record number, as I am not much of a re-reader. Click the cover to request a copy from our catalog.

Five Star REREADS:

Five Star NONFICTION

Five Star YA

Five Star EVERYTHING ELSE

I am wrapping up a year of reading with some holiday romances and cozy mysteries. I don’t know about you, but I need nice stories with happy endings right now. I hope your new year is filled with books you love. Happy Reading!

~Megan

NaNoWriMo

November 9, 2023LinneaLeave a comment

If you’ve been putting off writing that novel, November is the time to hunker down and get started. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) takes place during the whole month of November. The organization began in 1999 and has grown to have over 400,000 participants. The challenge is self-directed but if you’re interested in winning any of the prizes, you’ll have to follow the rules:

Your novel must be at least 50,000 words and written between November 1st and November 30th.

Writing done before November 1st doesn’t count, although you can include outlines, character profiles, research, and citations in your draft. Basically, the 50,000 words should be prose written during November.

Write a novel. The term “novel” is broadly defined here. If you say it’s a novel, it’s a novel.

You should be the only author of 50,000 words. If you’re co-writing a novel, each author should contribute 50,000 words of their own.

The writing must be coherent (you can’t just copy and paste one sentence or one word to get to 50,000 words).

You need to be at least 13 years old to participate, and if you’re under 17, you have the option to sign up for the Young Writers Program. (source: https://kindlepreneur.com/nanowrimo/)

Whether you’re ready for the challenge or just want to use NaNoWriMo as the perfect time to put pen to paper, check out these books for inspiration:

No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty

Letters to a Writer of Color by Deepa Anappara

I’m Still Writing: Women Writers on Creativity, Courage, and Putting Words on the Page by Virginia Ann Byrd

Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out by Jennifer McGaha

Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life after which Everything was Different by Chuck Palahniuk

Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

-Linnea

Audiobook Appreciation Month

June 29, 2023LinneaLeave a comment

If you’ve been staunchly anti-audiobooks…I get it. I love holding the physical book in my hands, turning the pages, being completely immersed in each written word.

But then I tried an audiobook and while I’m not a full convert, I understand the appeal now. All those chores I didn’t want to do? I press play on a book and suddenly doing the dishes isn’t so bad. Taking walks alone is more enjoyable with a thriller playing in my ears (although I wouldn’t recommend this at night!). Long car trips don’t feel like a waste of time—they’re spent reading my current book!

So, if you, like me, have been averse to trying an audiobook, find one by your favorite author, press play, and do some of your chores. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll have found a new way to enjoy reading!

If you’re unsure where to start, here are a few recently well-reviewed audiobooks to try:

Finding Me by Viola Davis, read by the author

A noted actress’s memoir, in her own words, spans her incredible, inspiring life, from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present day.

Winner of the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, Kirkus Reviews said, “This memoir by the Oscar winner is unforgettable thanks to the author’s fiery narration.”

Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here

Greek Lessons by Han Kang, read by Greta Jung and Earl T. Kim

A young Korean woman losing her ability to speak befriends a Greek language teacher who is losing his sight and discover they have even more in common.

“Listeners may find themselves pausing the audio to ponder the book’s philosophical musings—or perhaps simply rewinding to re-immerse themselves in Han’s lyrical prose, delicate imagery, and the possibilities of the senses.” -Booklist

Place a hold on the e-audiobook here

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, read by the author

The iCarly and Sam & Cat star, after her controlling mother dies, gets the help she needs to overcome eating disorders, addiction and unhealthy relationships–and finally decides what she really wants for the first time in her life.

“Kirkus calls the memoir “heartbreaking,” and in many ways it is, but McCurdy displays a surprising dark sense of humor in both the writing and reading of this book, a sign that her healing has begun.”

Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, read by Stacy Gonzalez

A retired tennis champion comes out of retirement at age 37 after watching a young phenom beat her long-standing record at the 1994 US Open.

“Stacy Gonzalez’s emotional performance as Carrie, including Spanish-sprinkled conversations with her Argentine father/coach, is excellent. The large supporting cast includes former tennis pros Patrick McEnroe and Mary Carillo, and all the news shows and pundit debates are cleverly produced with theme music.” -Kirkus Reviews

Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, read by the author

The best-selling poet and author of Keep Moving offers a memoir that explores coming of age in the middle of life.

“It’s right that the author should narrate her painfully personal work…Heartbreakingly beautiful, this audio will move listeners to reflect on their own lives with insight, and, possibly, gratitude.” -Booklist

Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here

-Linnea

Remembering the Kent State Massacre

May 4, 2023LinneaLeave a comment

On April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced that the United States military would invade Cambodia, furthering their involvement in the Vietnam War.

On May 1, over 500 students gathered on an outdoor common area in the center of campus to demonstrate against President Nixon’s announcement. At this demonstration, a rally was planned for May 4, to continue the protest. During the next few days, students kept up the demonstrations, and after Kent Mayor LeRoy Satrom declared a state of emergency, the Ohio National Guard were called on May 2.

On May 3, Governor Rhodes said they were going to “eradicate the problem” and that the protestors were “the worst type of people that we harbor in America” (Kent State). Another rally took place that evening, with Guardsmen tear gassing participants in order to get them to disperse. A curfew was enforced, and several students were bayoneted by Guardsmen.

On May 4, the originally planned protest took place as scheduled. The University tried to advertise it had been cancelled, but students (and some non-students as well) gathered anyway, even when tear gas was used to get them to disperse. At 12:24 PM, Guardsmen began firing at the protestors for approximately 13 seconds, killing four students—Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder and Sandra Scheuer—and injuring nine students— Joseph Lewis, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Alan Canfora, Dean Kahler, Douglas Wrentmore, James Russell, Robert Stamps, and Donald MacKenzie. The University President closed the school and remained closed for six weeks.

This is an incredibly brief overview of the Kent State shootings and I highly recommend the Kent State University’s Digital Archives for oral histories, timelines, newspaper articles, interviews, and more. Below are a few titles available through the library for more information: