29 Comments

This is such a delicious idea!! And the perfect excuse to cast aside my current unfinished reads for Wintering, a book I've been meaning to pickup for a bit now. 🤓

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Ooo yay!! And it’s the perfect time of year for it, in my opinion.

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Love this idea. I read a memoir every third book, or more often if one lands in my hands. Memoir is one of my favorite genres. I just finished reading “It Wasn’t Roaring, It Was Weeping.” Wow! What a great book. I’ll try to join in when you have the gathering. Thanks!

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I just finished that one over the weekend too, Sally!

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Great idea! I'm in. (btw, your link for Mary Marantz book actually goes to Beth Moore's memoir :).

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Ah rats. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Thank you! I will go back and fix it as soon as I’m home.

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I hate being that person, but I think Oct 5 is a Sat.

PS. I'm in the middle of your interview with Sara Billup and as always, great job.

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No, I am so glad you are that person! Thank you. This is why writers need editors. My tired brain just couldn’t even see it.

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What a fun idea! I love your list of recommendations (I'm just about to dive into "It wasn't roaring it was weeping") and I would heartily add "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball!

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Oh thanks! I haven’t read that one.

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When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago

The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom

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Thanks Jill! These are new to me. :)

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I love this! After a crazy summer, I'm needing something to give my reading life a boost. I came to memoir reading in my 40's, and I don't even remember which was my first. Two that found me at just the right time: Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker, and Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi.

As to what I'll read - not 100% committed, but my husband was just given a copy of Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance, so I'm going to ask him if I can read first. If not, I have a copy of Educated by Tara Westover sitting here, calling my name. :D

Also - the link to The Glass Castle takes me to How Far to the Promised Land. Sigh.

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My links got all messed up. Thank you! Glad you are joining us.

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We are going to read the memoirs Carry by Toni Jensen and Wintering by Katherine May in November and December for my book club at work, so I’m really looking forward to them but obviously can’t speak to them for recommendations yet. But last month, we read Born a Crime by Trevor Noah and it was also a fantastic memoir rec!

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I also really liked Educated by Tara Westover from your list!

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Does your book club read only memoir or do you read other genres as well?

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I just picked up Devout by Anna Gazmarian at the library and many others you recommended I have either read or are on my TBR. House of Stone by Anthony Shadid is also a stunner.

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I haven’t read either of the books you mentioned. Thanks!!

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Plan to read a memoir, but Oct 3 is my anniversary, so doubtful I will make the discussion. Thank you for the idea. Traveling mercies is a favorite.

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Your anniversary is a very good reason not to be there, Dina. But maybe you can simply join in on our gathering post to tell us what you read and what stuck with you! 💙

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Shoot I didn’t read a memoir. I bought and started now and then from you list, but memoirs aren’t my favorite read, so didn’t make it.

I sent you a couple of emails I hope you got on a book I started ( a theme with me- slow reader) that I thought you might like.

I was cleaning out bookcases, saw it and thought it might jog some further thoughts on belonging.

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Best memoir I read this year was "Here After" by Amy Lin. A stunningly honest book on grief from an unexpected loss.

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Septemoir!!! This is brilliant! Memoir is my favorite genre and I have been slowly working on writing my own off and on for years. Perhaps I will turn inward during the darkness of the winter months and introduce Novemoir into my life as a way to set aside time and focus on writing my own memoir again. xo

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Haha I’m in full support of Novemoir as well. It’s kind of like NaNoRiMo for memoirists, right??

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Exactly! 😉

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I love this idea! There is nothing like a good memoir!

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Agreed

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