Post #74 – Women’s Memoirs, Book & Video Raves – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
By Susan Ideus, guest book reviewer
As one of the editors for Story Circle Book Reviews, I see a wide array of books in every genre. In fact, one of my most pleasurable duties is to search out the newest and the best in women’s literature for our able team of reviewers. We strive to provide a review venue for small presses and for women authors whose books may not be reviewed elsewhere. One of favorite genres personally is that of the memoir. So, when Matilda Butler of Women’s Memoirs asked me to pen a list of memoirs to be read in the New Year, I was delighted. The only problem?—limiting the list to just 11 books. I’ll do my best but be sure to check out our site for many more selections.
Memoirs are not biographies. They rarely encompass the entire lifetime of the author. Rather, there is a focus on a particular time, a specific set of circumstances. Whether intended or not, a memoir can be rich with life lessons, gained through the author’s experiences. They are often a rich source of inspiration and hard-earned insights. Some are serious; some are witty and fun, with something for every taste and interest. This list may be short but it is representative of the marvelous selection of the many women’s memoirs reviewed by SCBR in the past year. Enjoy!
[Note 1: The 11 Memoirs to Read in 2011 are listed alphabetically by title.
Note 2: The title of each memoir links to the full review on Story Circle Book Reviews.]
MEMOIR #1: An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days by Susan Wittig Albert. This is a beautifully formatted book in daily journal form, enhanced with quotations from favorite authors in the margins. It is an honest accounting of her activities, her travels, her reading, and her feelings, all of which give an intimate look at the daily life and thought processes of this prolific and erudite author. The reader sees Albert’s world through her very observant eyes, and there is very little that escapes her notice. Both personal reflections and [click to continue…]
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