Memoir / Autobiography
Plot: Moscatel crafts a deeply engaging story that will undoubtedly resonate with readers. The author unravels the narrative and family secrets uncovered in a well-paced and entertaining manner.
Prose: Well-written with wit and honesty interspersed throughout, Moscatel comes to terms with his upbringing, his own identity, and his family's past. Through careful diction, his thoughts transform his feelings about his predicament.
Originality: Moscatel has a truly unique story to tell and does so with refreshing candor and emotional integrity.
Character/Execution: Readers who may be seeking their own answers about tangled family history will find much to appreciate in this narrative. As a character in his own story, Moscatel's emotional and psychological journey is significant and authentically portrayed.
Plot/Idea: A lovely and lyrical compendium that's both poetic and humorous, autobiographical and devotional. Above all, Marson's collection wonderfully shows a clear love of travel and the places where we sometimes find ourselves either by accident or by design, and is a beautiful and compelling read for anyone looking to see the world through new eyes.
Prose: Marson clearly has the heart of a poet and it shows--most notably through her thoughtful and often elegiac prose that paints a vivid picture of her anecdotal adventures. By turns an ode to nature and the hidden (and not so hidden) corners of the world, Marson's exceptional and enormously engaging style makes Time Traveled a joy to read.
Originality: Travel memoirs are familiar territory. However, here, the beauty is undoubtedly in Marson's storytelling, which reads less like a laundry list of "places I've been" and more like an examination of how her travels have shaped her life--and her appreciation of the world.
Character/Execution: Marson's engaging tone and style connect the reader to every place and adventure, while her authentic prose elevates her stories into a well-written and thought-provoking collection that's both entertaining and touching--lovely, lyrical, real, and amusing.
Plot/Idea: Madigan tells the story of a trailblazing woman pilot who lived life on her own terms. Madigan vividly details the events of Hubert's life and accomplishments, while providing a clear sense of the era and the challenges facing women at the time.
Prose: Madigan's writing is solidly constructed and clear, but the narrative can sometimes come across as a long list of Hubert's accomplishments and actions rather than a story with dramatic elements. The photos are terrific, and the subject is remarkable, but the work would benefit from additional commentary by her peers or family members to make it more engaging.
Originality: Cloud Clippers tells the unique story of the author's mother and her unorthodox journey.
Character/Execution: The focus here is exclusively on the titular subject and her many accomplishments. While she does emerge as a fascinating figure, readers may struggle to gain a true sense of her interior life.
Plot/Idea: Okita's stirring, humor-filled memoir details moments of joy and beauty ("magic") as well as of darkness and fear ("monstrous") from the author's life.
Prose: Okita's prose is expressive, detailed, and engaging. Frequently lovely descriptions sit comfortably alongside exposition that provide context and situate events in time and place.
Originality: The author anchors his story in particular formative events and milestones: a serial killing that occurs too close for comfort; early romantic encounters; the AIDS epidemic; grappling with mental illness; successes as an author, and more. Though events are not always remarkable, Okita's writing style maintains interest throughout the narrative.
Character/Execution: Rather than create a fully chronological overview of his life from childhood into adulthood, Okita wisely constructs the memoir around significant moments, thus providing a refreshing shape and framework.
Growing into the Gray: Reflections on Transforming Trauma for Women and the World
by Laurie Lee DavidsonRating: 7.75
Plot: Davidson shares her unique pathway to healing from trauma with a confident voice that propels her narrative forward. The theme is geared towards an older audience, but Davidson's elegant storytelling will resonate with anyone searching for their voice.
Prose: The writing here is solid, with a steady pace that comes across as realistic and honest. Davidson is candid in her approach—and continually emphasizes her desire to live with purpose.
Originality: This is a tale of inner transformation and realization—conveyed through deep symbolism and unreserved musing—that will resonate with audiences.
Character/Execution: Davidson draws from a myriad of sources to deliver a graceful contemplation on resilience, healing, and the curative essence of nature-based reflections and activities.
Plot/Idea: Pisano's reflection of a life-disrupting situation will stick with readers. While she blamed her mother for taking her away from the life she loved in Chile, she realizes as an adult that her mother also struggled with the decision. Pisano proves that writing and time are therapeutic.
Prose: Pisano’s clear prose will allow readers to understand the extreme differences between the two worlds in which she lived. Her words and descriptions perfectly depict the distress she experienced—and in some ways, continues to struggle with—at feeling as if she did not fully belong in either world.
Originality: Moving from one country to another is never easy, and the author's reflections on the journey and willingness to write honestly about it are courageous—and will hopefully help others understand what it is like for anyone who has been transplanted into a new culture.
Character/Execution: Pisano's sketches of the dramatic Chilean landscape mirror the turbulence she feels inside upon arriving in California. Allowing readers to experience her unrest is well-executed.
Choosing Life: One man’s journey through alcoholism and depression to wellness and self-discovery
by Blue AndrewsRating: 7.75
Plot/Idea: Walking the reader through stages of life, Andrews sets up his story in a clear and compact manner. He logically guides the reader through time, reasoning, and growth as he journeys from the depth of despair to embracing life.
Prose: Readers will deeply empathize with the author as he recounts his pain and suffering--often self-inflicted. Andrews does not shy from the nitty-gritty of alcoholism and depression; he is open about the impacts of addiction and his delivery is powerful.
Originality: Andrews’s story is a personal one, but will resonate with readers who have suffered similarly, whether struggling with addiction or mental health.
Character/Execution: The author movingly conveys how, despite an outward appearance of success and fulfillment, many are battling with addiction, loss, and depression. The author's comeback is the heart of this story. From the beginning, readers will cheer for Andrews as he slowly releases himself from the insidious cycle of pain and self-medication.
Plot/Idea: Uncertain Fruit is a moving account of a gay couple's attempts to have a child either through in vitro fertilization or adoption. The authors honestly convey both the logistical challenges of conceiving as well as the trials of the adoption process, while also exploring the homophobia that the couple faces throughout their journey.
Prose: The Majoyas write candidly and authentically, with occasional lyricism uplifting the prose.
Originality: Stories surrounding the psychological and emotional struggles inherent in the adoption process are familiar; here, the authors distill the experience of grief and heartbreak in a manner that will deeply resonate with readers who may be facing similar circumstances.
Character/Execution: As a co-written memoir, this work effectively melds two voices. The dual timeline, which alternates between the couple's fertility trials and their negotiations with a pregnant girl's family to arrange for adoption, is gracefully presented, achieving a fine narrative balance. The prologue may benefit from being better integrated into the rest of the story.
Plot: Wald offers valuable information in an entertaining way, illuminating the highs and lows of his service in the Peace Corps—and driving home the need for community and advocacy. His storytelling melds cultural differences while subtly teaching lessons for future Peace Corps volunteers.
Prose: Wald’s writing style brings the environment to vibrant life with rich descriptors and crisp prose.
Originality: Offering a distinctive take on the role of a Peace Corps volunteer, Wald highlights the ideals alongside the realities of his time serving in Panama. The book’s style is ultimately an interesting mix of travelogue and education.
Character/Execution: Wald delivers a sound exploration of Peace Corps efforts against the backdrop of Panama, but he goes a step further with recommendations for sustainability and systemic change. Readers will appreciate the practical guidance and insightful pointers.
Plot/Idea: Grant's memoir engages with his willingness to be open and honest about his dating experiences in the digital age.
Prose: Grant's prose is conversational, honest, and expressive. The sections featuring internal voices/personalities are somewhat out of place and lessen the impact of the author's emotional journey.
Originality: Works of nonfiction books about dating and romance are plentiful, yet Grant infuses his with a refreshing candor about dating later in life. At times the tone shifts too quickly due to a humorous literary device, but overall the pace and tone are well executed.
Character/Execution: Readers who similarly find themselves in the dating pool in middle age will find much to value in Grant's account. Characterizations are somewhat uneven in nature; while some individuals fully emerge, others come across as caricatures.
Plot/Idea: Suffering a loss, Flanagan determines that she must find comfort in the emotions she is experiencing and learn to love herself—and heal in the process. She finds meaning in her own suffering and helps others as well, through sharing her spiritual practices and her work with the twelve-step program.
Prose: A startling beginning kickstarts this straightforward memoir, and Flanagan immediately dives into her process of healing, serving as a guide while she gives readers a chance to experience her story and learn to heal their own wounds at the same time.
Originality: Mixing Flanagan's story with her sincere advice is a refreshing approach. It's evident she speaks from experience, and her style offers readers the chance to personalize her wisdom for their own lives.
Character/Execution: Flanagan is honest and transparent, and her story is a good example of what it takes for someone to work through loss and addiction. There is no doubt her end goal is to help others, and her dedication to healing is admirable.
Plot/Idea: This memoir—recounting the author's trip to Beirut in 2006—contrasts the themes of war and romance, creating a captivating tension. The story invites readers to overcome their own life challenges and embrace the light of hope and new horizons, opening a window to a culture unique from Western customs.
Prose: The narration is inviting and convincing, with evocative metaphors and dramatic descriptions that will draw readers in immediately.
Originality: The story is based on the narrator’s personal experiences and memories, and the cultural vibes—as well as the author's reflections on his feelings—are authentic and skillfully portrayed.
Character/Execution: Readers will travel alongside the main character as he goes through many challenges and grows in intriguing ways. The authors build strong interiority, bringing the scenes and interactions to life in a way that many similar titles miss.
Plot/Idea: Bridges’s memoir evokes the backstreet grit of a life of drugs, addiction, and crime. His writing will transport readers to the streets with him, giving them a front seat to his pain—and eventual triumph.
Prose: Bridges is unflinching when it comes to portraying the ups and downs of his life, particularly the brutal circumstances of his childhood and the agonizing consequences of his choices. His prose takes on a lighter feel when describing the profound impact of his spirituality.
Originality: It’s About Time offers an insider’s perspective, from a tragically young age, of a life filled with bad breaks, poor choices, and crime. The author’s voice is powerfully candid in its descriptions and reflections.
Character/Execution: Bridges pens a haunting narrative that will jar readers with its very realness. The transformation that takes place offers hope for even the darkest moments.
Plot/Idea: Barry delivers a resounding tale of aircraft's Golden Age, speaking through the eyes of his grandfather, Vice Admiral Eddie McDonnell of the United States Navy, from generational stories passed down through his family.
Prose: The prose is powerful and concise, bolstering the memoir’s theme and driving the intriguing story behind Barry’s famous grandfather.
Originality: Barry illuminates history through the inclusion of authentic text excerpts, compelling photographs, and fact-based stories related to his grandfather’s career.
Character/Execution: Admiral Eddie is as entertaining as it is factual, with strong credibility and a storyteller’s nuance when it comes to recounting history.
Plot/Idea: Plunge follows the journeys of an unconventional couple who live and travel for more than seven years via sailboat and catamaran. The author vividly recounts the challenges and discomforts she encounters, as well as the joys of rejecting a more materialistic way of living in favor of new experiences.
Prose: The prose is even and clear. Readers will gain a sense of each locale the couple visits, though the work tends to be somewhat more focused on the dynamics of their living circumstances and relationship.
Originality: Books that focus on the experience of rejecting societal norms are familiar. Plunge brings a unique element to this narrative through its honest exploration of a relationship enduring the stress of close quarters and the inherent uncertainty of life at sea.
Character/Execution: Liesbet emerges as a clear and vibrant character with a deep desire to keep moving, to explore. Mark is somewhat harder to pin down; he comes across as the more practical of the two. Ultimately, their differences and conflicts bring intrigue and substance to the storytelling.
Plot/Idea: In The Backpack Years, the Wilsons revisit their time spent traveling and working in 13 different countries. Told in alternating perspectives, the authors tell a vivid story of the joys and challenges of travel.
Prose: The dual-narrative approach is largely successful for the Wilsons. Readers will have no trouble differentiating between their voices. The prose is intimate but also offers a clear overview of the authors' life-changing adventures abroad.
Originality: Memoirs of travel are frequent. The Wilsons bring a level of originality to the text through the blending of two voices and the broad range of countries and locations explored.
Character/Execution: The Backpack Years is refreshing in its candor. James in particular unflinchingly recounts embarrassing and unsavory moments from his travels, which provides a level of welcome humanity to the storytelling.
