(Auto)Biographies and Memoirs

3894 · 01-14-2007, 03:54 PM

The past few months, I've read quite a few memoirs, starting with a couple by the food writer Ruth Reichl. I liked the one about her experiences as restaurant critic for The New York Times, disliked Comfort Me with Apples which gets bonus icky points for its dedication to her son (details about mom's sex life in this book).

Then I switched over to trainer of border collies/writer Jon Katz's The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. That was pretty fun so I bought the first one, A Dog Year. I left it at page 45 a couple of months ago. Katz is emotionally fragile and I just got tired of that.

Also read Roger Angell's Let Me Finish which means "let me finish this anecdote". Some of his essays about his auto trips in the 1920s were really fun. In other pieces, the memories of his mother's second husband, E.B. White, got sad and, I thought, intrusive.

I'd love to hear what you're reading in this category.

Kevy Baby · 01-14-2007, 04:05 PM

Does Autobiography of a Flea count?

Not Afraid · 01-14-2007, 04:11 PM

In this category, I read mostly travel memoirs. Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux always tell a good story and even Peter Mayle can be fun if I'm in a French sort of mood. For some reason, I stopped reading other forms of memoirs abd autobiographies. I think Anais Nin was the last diary I actually read (and that was ages ago). I do have a copy of Marly and Me hanging out by the bedside, but I'm sort of afraid to read it.

I've gotten myself through a few emotionally fragile author's memoirs in the past and usually end up wanting to slap the author for ruining what would otherwise be a good read. Gary Paul Nabhan's "Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves" is a prime example.

3894 · 01-14-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

In this category, I read mostly travel memoirs. Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux always tell a good story

I've only read Theroux's Riding The Red Rooster about the trans-Siberian railroad to China. I was suffering nausea 24/7 and the skies were gray day after day at the time. The book really brightened my life.

Just thought of another: Roald Dahl's Flying Solo. Man, the writing chops of that guy ... I think I've read the book probably three times, I loved it so much.

Not Afraid · 01-14-2007, 05:04 PM

Chris just reminded me that, in fact, I HAVE read some memoirs recently. (Duh!)

Augusten Burroughs' Dry, Magical Thinking and Running with Scissors (with the latest, Possible Side Effects at my bedside.

I've read everything that I can get my hands on by David Sedaris.

I've also read A Million Little Pieces (or lies) by James Frey.

Oh, and Jeanette Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit also comes to mind (GREAT book!)

I'm sure if I scanned my non-existant memory, I'd find there are even more hidden gems that I've forgotten about.

Cadaverous Pallor · 01-14-2007, 05:25 PM

Funny you should mention this - I just picked up iWoz by Steve Wozniak, father of the personal computer and cofounder of Apple. So far so good. You have to buy into his casual buddy-to-buddy style.

Not Afraid · 01-14-2007, 08:05 PM

I've fingered this book several times since it came out but haven't bought it yet. After tonight's interview with the author, I'm even more intrigued.

Drince88 · 01-15-2007, 05:44 AM

I've read two books in this genre lately (subject to be changed later as I remember more!) - but both just kind of 'touched' on the area.

The more recent Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs by Ken Jennings It's not 'sold' as a memoir, but he does manage to get a bit of his long Jeopardy! run into it. Suprisingly well written, I thought.

The other was Managing Ignatius: The Lunacy of Lucky Dogs and Life in New Orleans by Jerry E. Strahan The author was (is?) the manager of Lucky Dogs and talks about all of the characters who have sold from the carts made famous by A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

I'm also in the middle of (but not working on very hard) Memories of the Old Plantation Home by Laura Locoul Gore. It's not particularly 'modern' in it's writing, and was a memoir written for her children, which is why I'm not working on it very hard. Laura Plantation gives a fantastic tour, though, based on the book.

mistyisjafo · 01-16-2007, 11:37 AM

The bio's I've read have been Betty Davis, Errol Flynn, Ben Franklin, and Queen Elizabeth. I'd say Errol Flynn and Ben Franklin have so far been the most interesting.

Motorboat Cruiser · 01-16-2007, 11:48 AM

I recently read "On Writing" by Stephen King and found it very enjoyable. The book is broken into two sections; the first being an autobiography and the second being tips for aspiring writers. I bought it for the second part and while I thought he offered excellent advice and insight, his personal story turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. Particularly wrenching was his account of being hit by a van while out for a walk one day and how that changed his life.

It was a quick and easy read but quite interesting.

01-14-2007, 03:54 PM	#1
3894 Next Stop: Funkytown! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheeselandia Posts: 1,907	(Auto)Biographies and Memoirs The past few months, I've read quite a few memoirs, starting with a couple by the food writer Ruth Reichl. I liked the one about her experiences as restaurant critic for The New York Times, disliked Comfort Me with Apples which gets bonus icky points for its dedication to her son (details about mom's sex life in this book). Then I switched over to trainer of border collies/writer Jon Katz's The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. That was pretty fun so I bought the first one, A Dog Year. I left it at page 45 a couple of months ago. Katz is emotionally fragile and I just got tired of that. Also read Roger Angell's Let Me Finish which means "let me finish this anecdote". Some of his essays about his auto trips in the 1920s were really fun. In other pieces, the memories of his mother's second husband, E.B. White, got sad and, I thought, intrusive. I'd love to hear what you're reading in this category.
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01-14-2007, 04:05 PM	#2
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	Does Autobiography of a Flea count? __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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01-14-2007, 04:11 PM	#3
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	In this category, I read mostly travel memoirs. Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux always tell a good story and even Peter Mayle can be fun if I'm in a French sort of mood. For some reason, I stopped reading other forms of memoirs abd autobiographies. I think Anais Nin was the last diary I actually read (and that was ages ago). I do have a copy of Marly and Me hanging out by the bedside, but I'm sort of afraid to read it. I've gotten myself through a few emotionally fragile author's memoirs in the past and usually end up wanting to slap the author for ruining what would otherwise be a good read. Gary Paul Nabhan's "Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves" is a prime example.
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2007, 05:04 PM	#5
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Chris just reminded me that, in fact, I HAVE read some memoirs recently. (Duh!) Augusten Burroughs' Dry, Magical Thinking and Running with Scissors (with the latest, Possible Side Effects at my bedside. I've read everything that I can get my hands on by David Sedaris. I've also read A Million Little Pieces (or lies) by James Frey. Oh, and Jeanette Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit also comes to mind (GREAT book!) I'm sure if I scanned my non-existant memory, I'd find there are even more hidden gems that I've forgotten about.
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2007, 05:25 PM	#6
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Funny you should mention this - I just picked up iWoz by Steve Wozniak, father of the personal computer and cofounder of Apple. So far so good. You have to buy into his casual buddy-to-buddy style. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2007, 08:05 PM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time I've fingered this book several times since it came out but haven't bought it yet. After tonight's interview with the author, I'm even more intrigued.
	Submit to Quotes

01-15-2007, 05:44 AM	#8
Drince88 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 481	I've read two books in this genre lately (subject to be changed later as I remember more!) - but both just kind of 'touched' on the area. The more recent Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs by Ken Jennings It's not 'sold' as a memoir, but he does manage to get a bit of his long Jeopardy! run into it. Suprisingly well written, I thought. The other was Managing Ignatius: The Lunacy of Lucky Dogs and Life in New Orleans by Jerry E. Strahan The author was (is?) the manager of Lucky Dogs and talks about all of the characters who have sold from the carts made famous by A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I'm also in the middle of (but not working on very hard) Memories of the Old Plantation Home by Laura Locoul Gore. It's not particularly 'modern' in it's writing, and was a memoir written for her children, which is why I'm not working on it very hard. Laura Plantation gives a fantastic tour, though, based on the book.
	Submit to Quotes

01-16-2007, 11:37 AM	#9
mistyisjafo A JAFO Production Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 567	The bio's I've read have been Betty Davis, Errol Flynn, Ben Franklin, and Queen Elizabeth. I'd say Errol Flynn and Ben Franklin have so far been the most interesting.
	Submit to Quotes

01-16-2007, 11:48 AM	#10
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	I recently read "On Writing" by Stephen King and found it very enjoyable. The book is broken into two sections; the first being an autobiography and the second being tips for aspiring writers. I bought it for the second part and while I thought he offered excellent advice and insight, his personal story turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. Particularly wrenching was his account of being hit by a van while out for a walk one day and how that changed his life. It was a quick and easy read but quite interesting.
	Submit to Quotes