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Memoirs

I have finished reading Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen.  Here is a memoir written by someone who has many reasons to be quite grateful for the hand life has dealt her.  It seems she has a loving family, a successful marriage, and a long, fulfilling career.  Sure there were some trials along the way.  She had to take interrupt her college education to take care of her dying mother for a while, for instance.  On the whole, though, I would say, "a pretty charmed life."  I have enjoyed several of her other books (Every Last One, Black and Blue, One True Thing) so I hope that Anna Quindlen goes on lighting those candles and eating that birthday cake. 

And and the not so charmed life front, I read Jeannette Winterson's Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal?, another memoir by another successful author although I am not familiar with her work.  I found it interesting because she is so thoughtful and forgiving about a fairly harsh life.   The final reunion with her birth mother was poignant if not the healing experience she hoped for.

Memoirs seem to be every where these days.  I admit that I kind of like this take on the genre.

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  1. Sally WesselyMay 8, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    I am reading a memoir right now and barely put it down. It is "Lit" by Mary Karr. I don't jump on the bandwagon for all the memoirs by the celebrities, but I do enjoy a good memoir. The article you cited is quite interesting. The author made some good points.

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  2. TaborMay 8, 2012 at 8:17 PM

    Baby boomers are aging and all the famous ones are writing their memoirs. I have read Black and Blue. I need to read more of her books.

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  3. Muffy's MarksMay 8, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    I wish I could get back into reading.. I don't know what's the matter with me, I used to read so much, now I start a book, (and some are really good) read about half-way through and quit. Any suggestions?

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  4. MargaretMay 8, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    I just read Breakfast at Tiffany's. Very good. It's both incredibly like the movie and incredibly not. I also read the novel The Weird Sisters, but I didn't really like it.

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  5. Linda ReederMay 8, 2012 at 11:53 PM

    I have to confess I haven't read a book since Christmas vacation. I just don't seem to find the time. Maybe after my TV shows are in reruns I'll get back to reading books again. I have a stack on the shelf. But not memoirs, just mysteries.

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  6. Arkansas PattiMay 9, 2012 at 9:01 AM

    Sadly I have not read any of Anna Quindlen. Perhaps it is time to change that.

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  7. Connie NelsonMay 10, 2012 at 12:38 PM

    I have read Anna Quindlen and enjoy her. I haven't seen this memoir though. I'll have to look for it. Thanks for the tip.

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  8. oklhdanMay 10, 2012 at 1:46 PM

    Thanks for the book suggestions. I have also read some of Anna Quindlan's books but this is something new to check into.

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  9. Grandma KcMay 11, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    I just don't take enough time to read as I used to and I need to change that! I will have to try this one -- thanks for the recommendation.

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