What I've Been Reading: Non-Fiction

While I don't think my own life story has been interesting enough to appeal to the general public, the work we're doing in Life Writing class has made me wonder what's the best way to tell it to any of my descendants who might be curious someday in the future. As a result, I've been reading a lot of memoirs lately, paying attention to where the writers begin their stories (not usually at the beginning), how the books are organized, and so forth. The books listed below held my attention as well as good fiction does, which is important, I think.

The Liars' Club (a re-read) was particularly interesting because much of it took place in a small Texas town about twenty minutes away from where I went to high school and where my sister and nieces still live. I loved the author's mention of familiar landmarks and will try to remember to put those kinds of specific details in my own stories. 

Black Boy

by Richard Wright

The Liars' Club

by Mary Karr

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

by Maya Angelou

Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life

by Steven D. Wolf

Sunlight on My Shadow

by Judy Liataud

Kevin and I in India

by Frank Kusy

Escape

by Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer

Sweet Baby Lover

by Jule Kucera

To read a description and reviews of any of these books,

click on its image above.