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The Book Lady’s Best of 2010: Memoir
2010 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
2010 represented a transition in my memoir-reading habits. I didn’t read nearly as many as I did in previous years, and I liked even fewer. But the ones I liked, I loved. And here they are.
A Common Pornography by Kevin Sampsell Breaking out of the traditional narrative format, Sampsell conducts a “memory experiment” with this collection of free association musings on everything from adolescence to family dysfunction to sexual experiences. The title refers not to sexual pornography (though there is ample discussion of it, and Sampsell’s suitcase full of “greatest hits,” in the narrative) but to humans’ voyeurism and fascination with getting a peek into each other’s lives. By giving readers insight into the most salient, formative moments of his life—and many mundane ones as well—Sampsell pieces together an autobiography that doesn’t mess around with small talk but instead goes right to the heart of who and how he is and why that is so. Fresh, creative, engaging, and very moving.
In the Land of Believers: An Outsider’s Extraordinary Journey Into the Heart of the Evangelical Church by Gina Welch Maybe it’s just my obsession with books about extreme religions talking, but I l-o-v-e-d this book and have continued to think about it and recommend it for the nine months since I first read it. Welch, a secular Jew from Berkley, CA, goes undercover at Jerry Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church for two years in order to try to understand the desires and motivations of one of the most socially and politically powerful groups in the United States. She comes away with insights ranging from the reassuring to the downright scary, and her acknowledgment of the ethically dubious nature of many of her actions gives the book added depth. Welch seeks not to poke fun but to create understanding and build bridges between communities, and though the book has its flaws, it more than makes up for them with fascinating stories and emotional depth.
Nothing Left to Burn by Jay Varner It sounds like the stuff of fiction. A young man’s grandfather was the town arsonist; his father was the town fire chief; and he finds himself writing the police and fire beat of the local paper. But for Jay Varner, it is the stuff of life, and let me tell you, it is gripping. This book is just as much about a family’s legacy of obsession as it is about recovering from childhood wounds and navigating one’s way through the world, and the reveals are jaw-dropping. Well-paced, tightly wound, and straight-up impossible to put down, this book is immensely recommendable and has something for everyone. And the writing! Oh, the writing is gorgeous.
You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam If I were doing a “best covers of the year” post, this would be sure to make the list. Just look at that face! Lucky for us, Klam’s “dogoir” is about much more than cute, cuddly, begging-to-be-kissed puppy faces (but there is plenty of that, don’t worry). Klam recalls the life lessons she learned from her dogs and the ways in which adopting and fostering Boston Terriers helped her grow up and prepared her to have her own family, and she explores the moments, both heart-warming and heartbreaking, that define the lives we share with pets we love. A must-read for anyone who knows what it’s like to give a pet several dozen nicknames and have only a few of them make any kind of sense.
Join the fun by creating a list of your own best memoir reads of 2010 in my new community at Lunch.com.
See also:
The Book Lady’s Best of 2010: Genre Busters
The Book Lady’s Best of 2010: Literary Fiction
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rebecca Schinsky, Sharjah Book Fair. Sharjah Book Fair said: The Book Lady’s Best of 2010: Memoir | The Book Lady's Blog http://t.co/KCaPayC [...]
You Had Me at Woof really looks wonderful — and this is coming from a person who usually doesn’t go in for books like this
I am reading Nothing Left to Burn right now … gripping, yes, that is the right word.
Going to add In the Land of Believers to my list now.
Memoirs are my favorite genre. Thanks!
Cynthia´s last [type] ..Brave Girl Giveaway – My Weblog
I love memoirs, so I’m taking note.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon- Holiday Busyness
In the Land of Believers was a fascinating read – I wish it had gotten more attention, but your including it here will probably help with that!
I’m planning to read You Had Me at Woof eventually, but want to read Julie Klam’s previous memoir, Please Excuse My Daughter, first.
Florinda´s last [type] ..Book Talk- Sisterhood- Interrupted- by Deborah Siegel
Okay, I NEED to read You Had Me At Woof! I’m usually not big on memoirs, but with that adorable face, it’s just too hard to say “no”!
Jess Michaelangelo´s last [type] ..Hop Hop Hopping on this Saturday morning
yeah! common pornography!
i still have in the land… and the varner on my mental TBR list from your original reviews.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Harper Perennial and GG, Erin Mitchell. Erin Mitchell said: RT @HarperPerennial: best memoirs of 2010 from @bookladysblog, including A COMMON PORNOGRAPHY: http://bit.ly/gB8OJy [...]
I can’t wait to read the Gina Welch! I am reading a book about the Left Behind series and its place in Christian culture, which is making me interesting in extreme Christian culture all over again.
Jenny´s last [type] ..Review- The Siege of Krishnapur- JG Farrell
[...] one of the “best unexpected books” of 2010. The Book Lady’s Blog says it’s one of the best memoirs of 2010, and Jason Diamond lists it in his Top 10 over at Vol. One [...]