PositiveLibrary JournalBall turns the autobiography on its head ... Biographic traditionalists may find this technique disjointed (several passages read like random lists) but as a whole, Ball makes compelling work of it, slabbing the matter of his life together like a Dadaist sculptor. His writing is straightforward and conversational ... An unconventional memoir that speaks to the power of elusiveness. Recommended.
Margo Jefferson
RaveLibrary JournalA thrillingly original personal narrative ... This slim volume is saturated with brilliance ... A fierce and fresh amalgamation of memoir and cultural criticism by one of the country’s most compelling thinkers. Highly recommended.
David Sipress
RaveLibrary JournalSipress offers a variety of vivid memories throughout his book. Some are comical (such as the time he decided to throw his toys out his 12th-floor bedroom window), some tender (he recalls riding the subway with his mother when he was small), and some painful (such as the loss of loved ones). But through it all, Sipress maintains his strong sense of humor, even when facing down sadness and anxiety. He has made a career out of laughing at himself, as he says, and readers will be drawn to the mix of humor and vulnerability here ... An intimate and engaging memoir by an artist who understands that personal thoughts and feelings often lead to remarkable ideas. Recommended.
Obed Silva
PositiveLibrary JournalInterlacing scenes at his father’s funeral with memories of his own past, Silva lifts the veil on his life with an alcohol-addicted father and his own struggles with addiction and trauma. Beautifully illustrating the conflicting feelings that can erupt between father and son, Silva describes the moment he sees his father’s dead body for the first time ... A ruthlessly honest memoir about the very complex emotions that can exist between parents and children. Recommended.
Mena Suvari
RaveLibrary JournalActress Suvari...lays herself bare in this fearless and forthright memoir ... Her memoir details with courage and candor the sexual and emotional abuse she suffered ... Suvari proves to be an exceptionally strong narrator whose memoir will offer solace and companionship to readers who might feel isolated and alone ... An honest and unadorned Hollywood confessional that casts a light on the darkness behind the scenes.
Shirley Jackson, Ed. by Laurence Jackson Hyman
PositiveLibrary JournalJackson comes to life in this accessible and revealing collection of letters ... In many ways, her letters are as cleverly crafted as her fiction ... Jackson lays herself bare on almost every page ... Several of Jackson’s hand-drawn cartoons are included throughout, adding an extra layer of charm to this amusing and informative collection ... At turns hysterical and heartbreaking, this collection is an entertaining and intriguing read even for those who are just discovering Jackson’s many literary gifts. Recommended.
Soyica Diggs Colbert
RaveLibrary JournalLorraine Hansberry...comes alive in this comprehensive biography. Colbert...pulls from Hansberry\'s distinctly separate public and private lives to produce a fully formed portrait of this brilliant, complex woman ... [an] illuminating...vivid biography ... A scholarly yet accessible account of the life of a singular American artist and activist. Recommended for enthusiasts of American literature, and anyone who is interested in learning more about this transformational woman, whose vision for the country is as relevant today as ever.
Robert Kanigel
PositiveLibrary JournalThis friction hovers like a dark shadow throughout, and Kanigel’s revelation that Marian has been considered a suspect in her husband’s mysterious death in 1935 creates an underlying quiver of suspense ... An engaging, thoroughly researched biography of a fascinating figure. Though some of the details surrounding Parry’s documentation techniques can feel a bit tedious at times, Kanigel has given readers a thoughtful look at a man whose theories have helped us to better understand the ancient world.
Gina Frangello
RaveLibrary JournalSearingly honest and compulsively readable, this memoir serves as a post–#MeToo feminist dictum about the deeply complex and multilayered emotional and sexual lives of women. With humor and a no-holds-barred self-inspection, the author illuminates these layers and reminds us that \'the clean reduction of a woman to any prime number is always a lie\' ... Uncompromisingly fearless in its candor, this memoir / feminist manifesto is a powerful account of a woman’s self-acceptance that deserves a place among the best literary memoirs of the last decade. Frangello’s groundbreaking testimony sets itself apart.
