By Lucy Knisley First Second, $17.99, 192 pages The genetic offspring of a talented chef mom and an epicure dad, amazingly talented Lucy Knisley has drafted a graphic memoir of her growing up within the circle of ‘foodies’ that imprinted her love …
By Benjamin Busch Ecco, $26.99, 309 pages Memoirs are meant to capture moments in a person’s life. In Benjamin Busch’s memoir, he not only captures moments, he brings us his whole life. Busch’s life is filled with main events like …
By Phoebe Baker Hyde Da Capo Lifelong Books, $16.00, 248 pages I have read enough feminist literature to know that much of it is very angry and accusatory. Convincingly placing blame on others is something that feminist writers do exceptionally …
By Richard Russo Knopf, $25.95, 243 pages Since many of Richard Russo’s books feature stories set in upstate New York, his writing has been considered semi-autobiographical. Now, in this memoir, Russo gives us firsthand knowledge of his childhood and upbringing by a …
By Kenny Rogers William Morrow, $27.99, 294 pages What Kenny Rogers can’t squeeze into a melodious ballad, he shares with us in his gutsy autobiography. Now in his mid-seventies, the singer/songwriter has plenty of colorful memories to share about life, his career …
By Ed Ayres The Experiment, $27.95, 232 pages Ed Ayres has been a runner for fifty-five years; he is considered a legend in ultramarathon running. He was also, for thirteen years, editorial director of the Worldwatch Institute, where he read “reports from …
By Michael Cannell Twelve, $14.99, 336 pages In racing terminology, the limit is that perfect speed for a given situation. If a certain corner may be taken safely at 100 mph, then that is the limit for that corner. 99 …
By Peter Rader Thomas Dunne Books, $25.99, 309 pages Like the news anchor in Don Henley’s song “Dirty Laundry,” Mike Wallace could have been an actor but instead he wound up as the attack dog on CBS-TV’s vaunted and often over-praised show …
By Julia Crowe ECW Press, $19.95, 355 pages My First Guitar is the result of an aggressive pursuit of interviews and personal conversations with guitar legends in many genres. Seventy guitarists tell stories of their love affairs with their guitars, in their own …
By Michael Schofield Crown Publishers, $25.00, 291 pages Michael Schofield and his wife always knew that their daughter, January, was different. She learned to speak at eight months and knew all of her letters by 18 months. At three she could read, …
By Huston Smith with Phil Cousineau New World Library, $15.95, 207 pages The great religious teacher Huston Smith, aided by his friend Phil Cousineau, has collected high points from his life to illustrate the hymn And Live Rejoicing. Anyone who has heard …
By Bob Spitz Knopf, $29.95, 557 pages The combination of an incredible and unique life story and great writing make for a fun and interesting book. Julia Child was unlike anyone else. Her height and sense of humor made her stand out …
By Carmen Bugan Graywolf Press, $15.00, 224 pages Carmen Bugan’s memoir of growing up with her political dissident father brings the suffering the Communist regime in Romania upon all. Not just those directly involved – but the families of those fighting …
By Orlando Figes Metropolitan Books, $28.00, 352 pages The largest cache of letters exchanged by a gulag prisoner and his friend, who later became his wife, form the scaffolding and the heart of this wondrous book. Lev and Sveta Mishchenko met …
By Jerry McGill Spiegel & Grau, $22.00, 192 pages Why do bad things happen to good people is an unanswerable question. A random event, a shooting by an unknown sniper, hits thirteen-year-old Jerome McGill in the cervical spine and transforms this …
