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Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs
by José Andrés
"A Michelin-starred chef with more than forty restaurants, José is also the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. His lifetime of experience--from kitchens to conflict zones--has given him a wealth of stories and teachable moments that are funny, touching, and insightful, all animated by the belief that food can bring us closer together and the conviction that each of us can change the world for the better."
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| Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by TourmalineAward-winning filmmaker Tourmaline expands upon her 2017 documentary film Happy Birthday, Marsha! for this inspiring and incisive portrait of pioneering trans activist and drag queen Marsha P. Johnson, who played a key role during the Stonewall riots in 1969 and co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970. Further reading: Glitter and Concrete: A Cultural History of Drag in New York City by Elyssa Maxx Goodman. |
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Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From a Simpler Mind
by Nate Bargatze
Nate Bargatze, once a bright student with aspirations of becoming an engineer or doctor, became a comedian after a head injury in seventh grade. In his debut book, he shares humorous stories about his life, from his first car and experiences as a Southerner to his rat-infested apartment and debates with his wife. He also touches on topics like his love for Vandy football and the origins of sushi.
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Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old : Thoughts on Aging As a Woman
by Brooke Shields
The former child star reflects on aging with confidence and empowerment, as well as challenging societal stereotypes about women growing older, all while sharing personal experiences and insights to encourage women to reclaim their power and redefine the narrative around aging.
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This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir
by Zarna Garg
"Award-winning comedian Zarna Garg turns her astonishing life story into a hilarious memoir-from narrowly escaping an arranged marriage and homelessness in India to carving her own path in America and launching a dazzling second act in midlife."
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How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir
by Saeed Jones
How We Fight For Our Lives follows the journey of a young, Black, gay man from the South as he seeks his identity within his family and country. Through vignettes from his childhood and young adulthood, he delves into complex relationships with his mother and grandmother, as well as fleeting connections within his social circle. Jones examines race, queerness, power, vulnerability, love, and grief in a haunting way, illustrating the struggles we face in becoming our true selves.
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| I Was Better Last Night by Harvey FiersteinThis witty memoir from four-time Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein explores the author's coming out and commitment to gay rights activism, his creative process and artistic coming of age, and working on Broadway hits including Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles, and Kinky Boots. Try this next: Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life by Alan Cumming. |
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The Secret to Superhuman Strength
by Alison Bechdel
"Comics and cultural superstar Alison Bechdel delivers a deeply layered story of her fascination, from childhood to adulthood, with every fitness craze to come down the pike: from Jack LaLanne in the 60s ("Outlandish jumpsuit Cantaloupe-sized guns") to the existential oddness of present-day spin class. Readers will see their athletic or semi-active pasts flash before their eyes through an ever-evolving panoply of running shoes, bicycles, skis, and sundry other gear. But the more Bechdel tries to improve herself, the more her self appears to be the thing in her way."
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| The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari ShapiroThis debut memoir-in-essays from NPR's All Things Considered co-host and former White House correspondent Ari Shapiro offers an incisive behind-the-scenes look at the stories behind Shapiro's reportage and is equal parts amusing and affecting. For fans of: All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists by Terry Gross. |
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Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir
by Lamya H
At fourteen, Lamya, an overachiever and class clown in the Middle East, grapples with her crush on her female teacher. The narrative follows her journey from childhood to elite college and early adult life in New York City, intertwining her struggles with stories from the Quran. She explores her queer identity within her faith, finding that being a devout Muslim immigrant is key to her quest for safety and belonging.
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| Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah GadsbyHannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, captivated audiences with its blend of honesty, tension, and humor. Contrary to the perception of overnight success, Gadsby's journey from open mic to global fame was challenging. Ten Steps to Nanette explores their growth as a queer individual from Tasmania, tackling issues like the illegality of homosexuality until 1997, their evolving relationship with comedy, and late diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Their main takeaways are giving up self-deprecation, rejecting misogyny, and embracing truth-telling. |
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A Two-spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-cree Elder
by Ma-nee Chacaby
"A Two-Spirit Journey is Ma-Nee Chacaby’s extraordinary account of her life as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian. From her early, often harrowing memories of life and abuse in a remote Ojibwa community riven by poverty and alcoholism, Chacaby’s story is one of enduring and ultimately overcoming the social, economic, and health legacies of colonialism."
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| A Renaissance of Our Own: A Memoir & Manifesto on Reimagining by Rachel E. CargleBlack queer activist Rachel E. Cargle's empowering blend of self-help and memoir reveals how she created her knowledge, empathy, and action (KEA) framework to dismantle oppressive systems and create healing ones in their place. Further reading: How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir by Shayla Lawson. |
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Surviving the White Gaze: A Memoir
by Rebecca Carroll
"Rebecca Carroll grew up the only Black person in her rural New Hampshire town. Adopted at birth by artistic parents who believed in peace, love, and zero population growth, her early childhood was loving and idyllic—and yet she couldn't articulate the deep sense of isolation she increasingly felt as she grew older. Everything changed when she met her birth mother, a young white woman, who consistently undermined Carroll's sense of her blackness and self-esteem. Carroll's childhood became harrowing, and her memoir explores the tension between the aching desire for her birth mother's acceptance, the loyalty she feels toward her adoptive parents, and the search for her racial identity."
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Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom
by Ilyon Woo
Recounts the extraordinary and harrowing true story of a young, enslaved couple who, achieving one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history, embarked on three epic journeys in one monumental bid for freedom, challenging the nation's core precepts of life, liberty and justice for all. Illustrations.
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Constructing a Nervous System: A Memoir
by Margo Jefferson
In her 2022 memoir, Margo Jefferson uniquely weaves together sounds, movements, and cultural references to create a rich tapestry that explores themes of race, family, and identity. Influences range from historical figures to contemporary artists, with a focus on aesthetic experiences like longing and ambivalence. This approach forms an unconventional storytelling platform, showcasing a distinct cast of voices and perspectives.
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Our next discussion:
Thursday, July 10th, 5:00 pm
Library Meeting Room on Lower Level
If you're a regular memoir reader, consider joining our Memoir Book Club! The club usually meets on the second Thursday of the month at 5:00, but we do recommend confirming details on our events calendar in case of changes. Copies of our next book are on reserve at the Circulation Desk. We hope to see you there!
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