Memoirs to read this summer
Plus a few fiction books.
For those of you who aren’t in shock that it’s summer, I’ve put together a list of summer books to keep on your radar!
I’m happy to report that I am still prioritizing my love of devouring memoirs, even if I’m not actively working on mine at the moment.
These memoirs and fiction books I’ve listened to this year were worth noting. I hope you’ll listen to or read them this summer.
I’m a huge audiobook fan, and if you’ve read my previous newsletters about the top books to read, you may know I’m very picky about audiobook narrators. I’m happy to report the narrators in these books didn’t annoy me or make me want to turn off the book. 😃
Let me know what you think of my list, and leave a comment to share what you’re reading or plan to read this summer.
Did I Ever Tell You? By Genevieve Kingston
I heard about Genevieve Kingston’s story a while back on a podcast–I want to say it was “This American Life.” I recently found out about Genevieve’s book, so I immediately checked it out when I saw it on my library app.
Genevieve’s mother died of cancer in her late 40s. She left Genevieve (who goes by Gwen) a chest full of gifts, cards, letters, and recordings to open on birthdays and milestone moments.
From getting her period to getting married, Gwen’s mother found a way to be there.
"Did I Ever Tell You?" was so touching. It was everything I expected, with a few holy crap moments.
What struck me was how this chest filled with objects had been such a part of Gwen’s life–I couldn’t think of one thing I own that would come close. (Maybe my journals or old photos?) Over the years, Gwen became familiar with the latch in the front and how it was slightly sticky when she opened it.
The relevance of the chest and how it was woven into the author’s journey of self-discovery was poignant, and her story moved me. It made me so thankful to have my mom in my life.
It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway: And Other Thoughts on Moving Forward, By Elizabeth Passarella
At the start of this book, I learned that Elizabeth Passarella was a writer who lived in Manhattan in a less-than-1,000-sq. ft. two-bedroom apartment with her two kids and husband. The way she described her situation made me so glad not to be living there anymore—the busyness, the cars, how expensive it is, and the delicate dance of trying to buy a place for a great deal (nearly impossible).
The author writes about her experience scoring a sweet deal on an apartment that had been owned by an old woman for half a century. You might be thinking–can you write an entire book about that? In New York City, you can.
The story also centers around Elizabeth’s struggle with letting go of a very large, hand-me-down couch that belonged to her dead father. At one point, she wanted to “skin” the couch with fresh fabric and prolong its life.
This story resonated with me because I understand the many emotions involved with moving and letting go of your physical stuff.
The Woman in Me, By Britney Spears
This list would not be complete without a few celeb memoirs.
I read some pretty scathing reviews about Britney’s book, with readers saying it was too simple and not well-written. I stayed away from it for a while, but a friend said it wasn’t bad, so I listened. It was definitely a quick listen–probably five hours and some change, rather than the seven-ish hours of other memoirs.
I was disappointed when I learned singer Michelle Williams would read it. Not that I have anything against Michelle—it’s just that she’s not Britney. Celebs usually like to read their own memoirs, but in the intro, Britney said she chose not to because it would make her too emotional. I was stunned when I heard her voice–I almost didn’t recognize it. Too much smoking, maybe?
The story recounts her life trying to make it in the music industry, what really happened with Justin Timberlake, and the abuse she endured from her family. The book felt short, but the pacing felt fine to me. I saw some hardcore Britney fans wanted her to go deeper in certain parts, but I didn’t mind it.
Overall, I think it’s worth reading–a fast read for a plane ride or to sit by the pool.
Worthy, By Jada Pinkett Smith
I didn’t jump at the chance to read this book because I’m not a big fan of Jada or Will. So I was pleasantly surprised when the book captured my attention from the start. I liked how Jada was brutally honest about many things that happened in her life like suffering from depression and how she didn’t get along with Will’s first wife.
I was surprised to learn:
Jada was BFFs with Tupac.
She was quite the hustler back in the day in Baltimore, running around with gangs and drug dealers.
She was in a rock band called Wicked Wisdom.
Chris Rock asked Jada to go out because he thought Jada and Will were getting divorced. (Was that the real reason Will slapped him at the Oscars?)
She suffers from depression.
Stuff I didn’t like about the book–I had a few eye-rolling moments. You know, the moments when I was like, “Oh, boo hoo, poor Jada. She’s stressed out because she has to coordinate her family and star-studded friends' trips to Christmases in Aspen.” But I guess when you’re that wealthy…
“Worthy” felt deeper than Britney’s memoir, with more layers and life experiences Jada openly shared.
Sisterland, By Curtis Sittenfeld (fiction)
This isn’t a memoir, but if you’re looking for a really engaging fiction story to read, you can’t go wrong with Curtis Sittenfeld. I’ve read almost all of her books because they’re incredibly well-written and realistic. The characters feel real because they are so three-dimensional, and I wish I had her dialogue-writing skills!
“Sisterland” is the story of identical twins Kate and Violet, who can glimpse the future and sense other people's secrets. I know this plot sounds like it’s been done a million times, and maybe it has, but this is no cheesy rom-com teeny-bopper stuff. It’s well-written and has all the elements of twists and turns to keep you interested.
The twins are opposites; Kate likes the quiet, normal life, while Vi intends to build her career as a psychic medium. Vi has a vision of a major earthquake hitting their hometown, and the story centers around her predicted doomsday date.
American Wife, By Curtis Sittenfeld (fiction)
I thought “American Wife” would be an excellent follow-up to one of my favorite Curtis Sittenfeld books, “Rodham,” a fictional account of what would’ve happened if Hillary had never married Bill Clinton. (I wrote about Rodham here. Scroll down a bit to find it.)
“Rodham” was brilliant, and I know Sittenfeld did a ton of research to ensure the references regarding Bill and Hillary’s past were accurate. It’s such an awesome book and a fast read.
While I didn’t like “American Wife” as much as I liked “Rodham,” I still enjoyed it. The story follows Alice Blackwell, an everyday woman who happens to marry the future President of the United States.
It’s 555 pages long, so brace yourself for Alice’s entire life story. I admit, towards the end, when Alice becomes First Lady, I sort of lost steam, as it felt a little “too perfect Hollywood-movie-esque,” but I managed to power through.
It’s definitely worth reading if you want a story about falling in love, the ups and downs of marriage, trauma, and politics.
What will you read this summer? Leave me a comment, as I’m always looking for books to add to my Libby app!
Nice!
Through a Glass Darkly by Charlotte Miller 2nd book in the trilogy it is a great story.I love your style of writing for all of us who have a incarcerated loved one we feel your struggles and undying love.