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Biography and Memoir May 2025 |
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Beyond the Throne: Epic Journeys, Enduring Friendships, and Surprising Tales
by Kristian Nairn
What it is: This memoir from the Game of the Thrones star reveals his journey from a gay man in Ireland to stardom as Hodo shares behind-the-scenes stories, personal challenges and the impact of global fame.
Reviewers say: "[T]he real delight of this book lies in its honest, sensitive portrayal of a man who comes into his own through the unexpected convergence of art and life. Compelling and richly satisfying." (Kirkus Reviews)
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| The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward by Melinda French GatesWhat it is: In her bestselling blend of memoir and self-help, Melinda French Gates candidly reflects on some of the major transitions in her life (including becoming a parent and leaving the Gates Foundation) and offers guidance on how readers can navigate change and thrive.
For fans of: What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey. |
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| Matriarch by Tina KnowlesWhat it's about: In her intimate and empowering debut, Tina Knowles, the mother of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles, recounts her coming of age in 1950s and '60s Texas, raising and influencing two Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriters, navigating love and heartbreak, and more.
Try this next: Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou. |
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| Yoko by David SheffWhat it is: David Sheff (Beautiful Boy) draws on decades' worth of his interviews with Yoko Ono, including a 1980 interview for Playboy conducted shortly before John Lennon's murder, to deliver a nuanced portrait of the often misunderstood artist and activist.
Further reading: We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me by Elliot Mintz. |
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Focus on: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
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American Seoul: A Memoir
by Helena Rho
What it's about: Helena Rho was six years old when her family left Seoul, Korea, for America. Years later, Helena had everything a model minority was supposed to want: she was married to a white American doctor and had a beautiful home, two children, and a career as an assistant professor of pediatrics.
And then: All the while Helena kept silent about the traumas that left her anxious yet determined to escape. It would take a catastrophic event for Helena to abandon her career at the age of forty, and set in motion a journey of self-discovery.
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You Can't Be Serious
by Kal Penn
What it is: In this series of funny, consequential, awkward and ridiculous stories from the actor and White House aide's idiosyncratic life, he reflects on the most exasperating and rewarding moments of his journey so far, showing that everyone can have more than one life story.
Reviewers say: "Penn has a pleasing ability to be serious and funny at the same time. A story well worth hearing." (Kirkus Reviews)
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| Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park HongWhat it is: Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, Korean American poet Cathy Park Hong's candid and thought-provoking essay collection blends memoir with cultural criticism and explores her complicated relationship with her identity.
Try this next: Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl by Hyeseung Song; I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying by Youngmi Mayer. |
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Speak, Okinawa
by Elizabeth Miki Brina
What it is: An American woman whose parents met in U.S.-occupied Okinawa, her mother a war bride, her father a Vietnam veteran, describes the complicated, embattled dynamics of her family and the feelings of shame and self-loathing that plagued her cultural heritage.
Reviewers say: "A can’t-miss memoir that will stay with readers after they finish the last page.” (Library Journal)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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