Memoir / Autobiography
What Lurks in the Woods: Struggle and Hope in the Midst of Chronic Illness, A Memoir
by Nicole BellRating: 9.00
Plot/Idea: Unlike so many memoirs, Bell's story is not simply a chronicle of events but a gripping narrative of a complex struggle. Her story is a painful one, but also one of strength and endurance.
Prose: Bell is a talented writer. Her ability to convey complex emotions is remarkable, from Russ's frustration and anger to her own inner turmoil.
Originality: This is a highly original and deeply touching work. While others have written on the topic, Bell's chronicle highlights little-explored aspects of the disease from the caregiver's perspective.
Character Development/Execution: Bell does a superb job of bringing her family to life on the page. Honest and gut-wrenching, this exceptional work takes the reader along a frustrating and difficult journey,
Plot/Idea: Nanfito’s spare, lyrical memoir is finely crafted and thoroughly engages the reader.
Prose: The author has incorporated strong prose and imagery in his writing. The poetic language is very descriptive and complex, but does not shy away from realism. Nanfito is confident in his storytelling.
Originality: Nanfito’s story is personal, vivid, and unflinching in its vulnerability. The author's fine writing allows for his unique circumstances and experiences to resonate powerfully with readers.
Character Development/Execution: Thematic elements and motifs serve as connective tissue throughout the author's story. Some greater degree of connection between parts one, two, and three may benefit the overarching narrative.
Plot/Idea: Suit to Saddle is an engaging story of determination and moxie, as well as a celebration of the human spirit. Walsh, perhaps recklessly, undertakes a significant and difficult journey that he is unprepared for, and his story holds the reader's interest as he meets this challenge head-on.
Prose: The prose here is solid, and the author shows promise as a writer, though there are times when excessive description commandeers the action and derails the storyline.
Originality: This is a unique and personal story that will inspire the readers who experience it.
Character Development/Execution: While there are numerous people that populate Walsh's tale, this is a story of personal development. Walsh does a great job at chronicling both his physical and mental journeys.
Plot: While memoirs about illness and marital strife are fairly common, Hayes's Always Yours, Bee stands out for its genuine and straightforward examination of becoming a partner's caregiver after an unexpected accident. Instead of focusing solely on the patient, Hayes's book delves into the trauma she experienced after her husband's wreck, leading to struggles with substance abuse, self-harm, and mental health.
Prose/Style: Clear, direct, and candid, Hayes's prose certainly comes off as sincere and heartfelt, but overall the writing style doesn't add to or detract from the memoir's success in a big way. Hayes excels at reconstructing scenes from memory, particularly through the use of realistic, precise dialogue.
Originality: Hayes's willingness to lay everything on the line about past mistakes, regrets, and flaws feels refreshing and unique in a world where women are expected to be perfect. Her firsthand discussions of mental health struggles, particularly with depression, are both authentic and conscientious.
Character Development/Execution: Hayes's forthright and honest depiction of her own faults and subsequent spiral into bipolar depression is an incredible, nuanced character study about hitting rock-bottom. The stark descriptions of James's character and personality changes after his accident are one of the text's biggest strengths—a frank and unflinching exploration of the consequences of traumatic brain injury on individuals and their relationships.
Blurb: A dauntless and boldly truthful memoir about the breakdown of a marriage and a family after a harrowing traffic collision.
Idea: Saylor is a gifted writer. Her sensory descriptions give the reader a strong sense of place, as if they are right there with her, experiencing all the joyful sights, smells, and tastes of her travels.
Prose: This memoir covers much physical and emotional ground. Braving the World illustrates what it is like to travel with a longtime partner, how to manage a disease abroad, and the pitfalls of trying to plan everything when new places are inherently unpredictable.
Originality: Braving the World is a successfully written non-traditional guidebook. Though the book has the ingredients of a truly good travel memoir, complete with tips, tricks, and even recipes, it shines in its illustrations of the many anxieties of travel planning. On top of being a chronic planner, Saylor is also a Type 1 diabetic—her descriptions of exactly how she made this trip feasible will greatly benefit readers who want to travel the world, but aren't sure if they have a condition that might prevent it.
Character Development/Execution: Saylor is careful to describe herself in an honest way, including her likes, worries, and even character flaws. Her diabetes management gives a greater sense of who she is as a person, and often mirrors how she tackles other challenges throughout her travels. Though her husband Dave could be described more at times, the reader gets a great sense of their relationship and how they move in the world together.
Blurb: A touching and helpful memoir that shows how spending a year abroad can be more accessible than most think.
Plot/Idea: Leigh has written an incredible historical and familial account of the interconnected experiences of her family throughout the years leading up to, including, and directly following World War II. Intertwining the lives of her relatives, she has presented a piece of living history that breathes to life hundreds of letters, books, and other forms of prose written during that time by her family members. This book not only explores the delicate ties between family, but also the experience of unrequited love, coping with homosexuality during a time it was at best considered a mental illness, along with anti-semitism, and trying to survive one of the most difficult times in history. Written with honestly, love, and a desire to reveal even ugly truths, Leigh has cemented her family's important and fascinating history through this literary gem.
Prose: Where Leigh excels is in her descriptions of feeling, especially regarding Edith's relationship with the piano. She also brings to life Ralph, a lovable, depressed, pained cynic who is trying to accept his gay identity. These two characters carry the work. The others could be more fleshed out, as the chapters devoted to them can feel more like sidebars that are distracting the reader from the main story. Sometimes the prose can be a bit confusing, and the reader may get lost at certain plot points, as there are so many locations, dates, people, and events to keep track of throughout. Overall, it is very pleasant to read and Leigh is an excellent storyteller.
Originality: Leigh has successfully taken on the daunting task of sifting through countless pieces of writing to formulate this story. She has done a wonderful job of formulating a coherent narrative from snippets of history, glueing it together with historical context. Although Holocaust narratives are not uncommon, Leigh's rings with a special uniqueness due not only to how the story came about through letters and manuscripts, but also the contents therein. Exploring an unlikely love affair between a gay man and a female pianist, Leigh looks into the confusion of love, survival, and family with an objective, gentle, and honest eye.
Character Development/Execution: Occasionally, it can be easy to get lost in the various stories, and perhaps this could be made clearer by having little summaries throughout, or more of a road map present. Also, if possible, pictures would make the book come to life even more. The reader would love to see these characters in which they have become so invested!
Whole Heart: One Woman's Incredible and Heartbreaking Journey from Africa to America
by Michelle FelixRating: 8.50
Idea: Felix has led a complicated, painful, and tragic life - however, through her experiences, she has not given up, and has found solace in herself and her relationship with God. Her writing is delicate, thoughtful, and will leave the reader feeling raw and emotional. She does not shy away from sharing her trauma, but does so in a very matter-of-fact way, accepting that this was her reality without resenting it. One can definitely learn from Felix's stoicism, and resolute drive to move forward through pain.
Prose: This memoir is simply written, with concise, impactful verbiage. For example, when Felix describes her mother's suicide, and the effect that it had on her emotionally, the language is so to the point that it is almost startling--but it works effortlessly.
Originality: While stories of finding personal redemption through the lord are familiar, Felix has led a fascinating and difficult life, and has overcome countless obstacles.
Character/Execution: Felix's memoir is relatable, clearly presented, and ultimately inspiring.
Plot/Idea: This is a poignant yet often joyous real-life love story that will invite readers in and hold their interest until the last page. The story unfolds at an even and balanced pace, not giving away too much too soon.
Prose: Coatsworth is a clear, solid writer. She is able to tell the story in a way that not only holds the reader's interest but offers the right balance of description, action, and conversation. The author also demonstrates a thorough understanding of structure and grammar.
Originality: This work details the author's personal story, making it unique and original. While unfortunately many people undergo similar heart-wrenching circumstances, Coatsworth is able to make her work stand out through her narrative approach and the small details that distinguish it from other works.
Character Development/Execution: Coatsworth does an effective job with characterization, helping the main players in her life come alive on the page—particularly Jay, whose emotions overwhelm him but don't reduce him to a sappy lovesick fool.
Plot/Idea: The author takes her relationship between her abusive father and emotionally stagnant mother and writes a riveting, poignant book that takes her on a journey of healing through attempts at improving her relationships with her family and finding happiness in her own life.
Prose: Estill knows how to tell a good story. She knows that from the first sentence of the first chapter you need to pull a reader in, and with these first two sentences she will have readers hooked. She captures the stress and turmoil of being required to care for her brothers so well that readers can begin to ache for her that she and her siblings are in such a dysfunctional home. The author is also effective at conveying emotion in this rollercoaster of anger, laughter, sadness and more.
Originality: Readers will be thoroughly captivated by the author's tales of her family. Though the length of the book could be reconsidered, with some tightening and editing of certain stories, the book would be even more captivating and move along at a quicker pace.
Character Development/Execution: The author does a great job of not only telling her own real-life story, but weaving in her real-life siblings and parents as viable 'characters'. Their stories become just as important as her own and we learn about their own emotional trauma from the author's childhood.
Plot/Idea: While informative and relevant, this work would benefit from some clarity around genre. The author refers to this work as as a memoir, yet the focus alternates between the story of Ben Koks and the plight of the Montagu's harrier. While both are worthy topics, the work would be best served by maintaining focus on one or the other and keeping the secondary storyline second.
Prose: The author writes in a clear, even style which is very informal and sometimes meanders, addressing the reader directly, which undermines the author's authority as an expert writing on the topic. While the bones of this work are strong, it would benefit from a professional editor who can help the author smooth out narrative issues.
Originality: This work offers thoughtful insight into a topic most have never encountered. In a world where environmental conservation is in jeopardy, the work is timely, interesting, and original.
Character Development/Execution: This work centers on Ben Koks and the Montagu's harrier; both topics are presented in a clear, concise manner.
Plot/Idea: This memoir gives the reader insight into a life few people know or understand. Live the Impossible is inspiring, surprising, and immensely engaging.
Prose: The prose is above average and well-organized; there are not many noticeable errors or omissions.
Originality: This is a unique memoir about living with a severe disability and overcoming so many stereotypes many people have regarding quadriplegics' limitations and abilities.
Character Development/Execution: This author does not let her disability define her. She attempts to do as much as is physically possible, always with quite a positive attitude. However, she is often in pain, often has to have surgeries, and often is frustrated. This side of her might have been expressed a bit more to balance out her formidable resilience. However, as she writes, she is "much more of a thinker than a feeler."
Plot: Laytner's compelling, well-plotted memoir is always engaging and conscientiously structured. By interspersing historical content and journalism with personal accounts and reconstructed memories, Laytner keeps the narrative moving and provokes readers’ curiosity.
Prose/Style: Laytner's prose is precisely detailed and candidly confidential—a careful blend of reportage and opinion that strengthens the project. Alternating between the present and the past tense, Laytner expertly grounds the reader in both the historical sections and the contemporary narrative arc of the work.
Originality: Although Laytner's memoir shares similarities with other stories of Holocaust survival, his extraordinary discovery of primary sources and his stark revelations about his father's hidden character set this book apart.
Character Development/Execution: While What They Didn't Burn focuses primarily on the harrowing and inspirational survival story of Josef Lajtner, author Mel Laytner is also a dynamic part of the work—a well-developed and sympathetic character who struggles and changes while uncovering his father's secrets. Additionally, Laytner smartly uses his father's narrative as a jumping off point to discuss relevant secondary characters, including family members, close friends, and historical figures.
Blurb: A thought-provoking, impressive union of historical information and personal narrative that lays bare the Holocaust's continuous impact on the present.
Plot: Biehl presents the reader with a fun romp through various gourmet (and not-so-gourmet) experiences, with an appreciation not just for the food but for the overall event and joy of eating out in general. The homey pictures accompanying each chapter, along with her personal anecdotes strewn about, make this book a pleasure to read, with tea in hand and a nice snack.
Prose/Style: Biehl is clearly a seasoned writer; the book is easy to consume, clear, and beautiful. She is able to evoke many senses at once, meeting her goal of providing the pandemic-worn reader a chance to escape into a nice dinner.
Originality: Biehl's book takes the traditional foodie romp through various restaurants, dining establishments, and other eateries and gives it a pleasant, personal twang. Her writing is comfortably informal, making the reader feel very at home, like a fellow diner at her table. The pictures also add to the uniqueness, lending a delightful departure from the usual purely text novel.
Character Development/Execution: The book is pleasantly concocted, and the stories wind throughout the book well. Overall, this is a charming read, and will go down as smooth as a nice glass of chardonnay.
Plot: Running a Bed & Breakfast is a romanticized dream for many, so hearing the challenges that soured that dream for the author is an intriguing hook.
Prose/Style: The writing style is casual, likened to an approachable gossip session with a friend. Even if the gossip grows a little mean at times, the reader is invited along to obtain all the dirt.
Originality: So many writers are encouraging and try to guide their readers on how to enjoy similar experiences to their own. Marko is definitely not doing that here! Readers will laugh and cringe along with the author as she makes it plain that running a B&B comes with a lot of unexpected downsides.
Character Development/Execution: There is quite the cast of characters in this story. The author herself is in the leading role, and the reader gets to know her well. The other characters are a series of first impressions. While it is left certain that Marko dealt with some very difficult people, most readers will also be thankful to not have been put in her crosshairs.
Plot/Idea: Mountain Dream is the story of Wei San Tang's journey to Everest. She smartly lays out her personal mission with the text and then proceeds to tell a well-crafted tale of important teachers, initial adventures, setbacks, and triumphs.
Prose: Author Wei San Tang's writing is conversational, casual, and friendly. She makes great use of direct address to forge intimacy with the audience and offers practical advice in a straightforward, informative manner.
Originality: Mountain Dream is absolutely original, in the way that the narrator doesn't resemble the expected author. Instead, Wei San Tang humbly brings up her fear and aims to inspire others to have an adventurous attitude.
Character Development/Execution: The author empathetically establishes her authorial voice by introducing herself in a relatable fashion, honestly discussing her past struggles, and being transparent about her self-doubt.
Blurb: Mountain Dream is an inspirational, quick-read travel memoir about the author's unlikely trip to Everest, written in the hopes that the story will motivate others to take their own adventures and forge their own paths.
Plot/Idea: Written from the perspective of her son, this well-researched memoir covers Erma Hill’s hardscrabble life as she escapes poverty, racism, and violence in rural Depression-era Georgia to ultimately become a famed “Number Hustler” in 1960s New York City. Though parts of the narrative stretch believability, it highlights the power of a woman who champions herself and her children above all else.
Prose: Roy successfully embodies his mother’s voice by creating a consistent narrative style that illustrates her inner complexity and nuances. The historical period is well-captured through attention to vernacular and style.
Originality: The life story of Erma Hill (or New York Red, as she was known in 1960s Harlem) is one of perseverance in the face of both unimaginable abuse at a young age, and the more mundane struggles of adulthood as a single parent. Her rise to neighborhood fame is a testament to her individuality, and the years leading up to her death are a riveting read.
Character Development/Execution: Erma Hill is convincingly depicted as a fierce protector and fighter, for both herself and her children. The reader is privy to her innermost thoughts and beliefs, as well as her unique code of conduct.
