For a celebrity one that hasn't been mentioned: Knock Wood by Candice Bergen. I read it a long time ago, but remember that she had such an interesting, unique childhood growing up with a wooden "brother." Of course, you probably have to like her to enjoy it.

Anonymous wrote:I also really like travel and cooking memoirs, even though I don't do much of either.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle for a travel one. It's somewhat along the same lines as Under the Tuscan Sun.

I liked Mia Farrow and Jane Fonda's book. They both tried to tell their stories with honesty. Both were fairly comprehensive too. Sissy Spacek, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton's books were bad...really and truly bad...poorly written and very superficial.

Angelica Houston's memoir is okay but her half sister Allegra's book was better.

I hated with a passion Ande Agassi's book Open. What a jerk he is. he is also a mess. Poor Steffi Graff.

Memoirs are quick easy reads so sometimes I am in the mood for them but lately, I am gagging on them.

Literary memoirs are few and far between.

Two to read together are Anne Patchetts book about her friend Lucy Grealy and Lucy's own memoir.

Beverly Cleary's memoir is good. So is Little Heathens about growing up on a farm long ago.

i also highly recommend "Scribbling the Cat" and the other two memoirs by that gal who grew up in Africa...blanking on her name at the moment.

Anonymous wrote:All Over But the Shoutin' - Rick Bragg

Poorly edited book, but the first half is great, a truly moving account of a world few of us have ever seen. The account of his mother losing her child is impossible to forget. Bragg is a gifted writer, but he needed a much better editor for this book.

Loved Lillian Hellman's memoirs. Were attacked as riddled with lies, but I thought they were extremely well written and very entertaining to read. Better than her plays, actually.

Ruth Reichel -- any of her memoirs
Glass Castle -- see it's on your list, and agree it's great
Loved the Matlin/Carville book (most recent one, can't remember the title)

Anonymous wrote:I also really like travel and cooking memoirs, even though I don't do much of either.

Yes! Jacques Pepin's memoir is wonderful. (The title escapes me at the moment)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, at the risk of coming of as an idiot...what exactly is the difference between a memoir and an auto-biography?

Good question.

I think they are the same thing.

No one on here knows either! Guess we all are idiots. Lol.

My two cents: Memoir does not attempt to be comprehensive, and it's more overtly "the way I remember it was" or even "the way I wish it had been." Autobiography is traditionally a bit more systematic, fact-driven and perhaps chronology-driven. Memoir is not as "objective" although of course autobiography is also not objective. Memoir can be more anecdotal in a way that autobiography generally isn't.

For what it's worth, from my Ph.D. class in this subject, this is correct and is the subject of a lot of theory -- memoir generally allows more latitude for 'my memories' to be through the prism of 'what I wished had happened.' That said, this definition did nothing when Oprah's Book Club's pic turned out to be fictional, rather than the memoir the author claimed to cite once fraud/outright lies were uncovered (James Frey, A Million Little Pieces)

Anonymous wrote:The Road From Coorain--Jill Ker Conway

Yes, this is so good!

Anonymous wrote:Katherine Graham's Personal History.

One of my all time favs

Another vote for Angela's Ashes. Although its not in the same vein as the list of memoirs that OP likes, it is among the best I've read. Definitely a poor irish childhood type of story. Well-written, and humorous amid the squalor.

Kiss my Tiara
Hypocrite in a pouffy white dress

Both memoirs from Susan Jane Gilman. She is very funny


Difference between a memoir and autobiography: memoir are memories of the author. Autobiography is the history of the author.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, at the risk of coming of as an idiot...what exactly is the difference between a memoir and an auto-biography?

Good question.

I think they are the same thing.

No one on here knows either! Guess we all are idiots. Lol.

My two cents: Memoir does not attempt to be comprehensive, and it's more overtly "the way I remember it was" or even "the way I wish it had been." Autobiography is traditionally a bit more systematic, fact-driven and perhaps chronology-driven. Memoir is not as "objective" although of course autobiography is also not objective. Memoir can be more anecdotal in a way that autobiography generally isn't.

All Over But the Shoutin' - Rick Bragg

Steve Martin, I think it's Born Standing Up. Really, really good. Love him.