Showing posts with label memoirs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memoirs. Show all posts

Saturday, July 13, 2013

5 books from the July Biography & Memoir eNewsletter with unusual titles

“I sold the memoirs of my sex life to a publisher - they are going to make a board game out of it”
- Woody Allen

I moved into public libraries for two reasons: 1) books and 2) I wanted to see if I had what it took to work with any and all kinds of queries and people. Appallingly cliche, right? And yet true. I wanted to be able to see and read ALL OF THE THINGS. My first day on the job I was asked by a customer how much it would cost to send a letter to Tunisia. And every day during my time in the branches was like that. It was a hoot. The variety of questions ensured that I never got bored. Ten years later, I haven't read all of the things, but I've given it a damn good try. At the heart of it, those reasons above are still valid today. I would, though, like to add a third thing to the list: 3) unusual book titles. That must be a thing. Surely? I mean, I come across so many during my work day - whether it's editing eNewsletters, following up on eBook/eAudiobook queries, updating our tweetstream or Facebook page, or even just in conversation with family, friends, and colleagues - they're just THERE. Waiting to be discovered. I think it's my superpower that I manage to find them without even trying. As we all know, with great power comes great responsibility, and it's my duty to share them with you all. Whether you want them or not. Today's five are rounded up from the July Biography & Memoir eNewsletter. Which, by the way, you can read online OR subscribe to for free because BOOKS GOOD is the best philosophy ever. (Followed very closely by CHOCOLATE GOOD, admit it).


Thursday, September 29, 2011

A life in images: 5 graphic novel memoirs

"When I put together a graphic novel, I don't think about literary prose. I think about storytelling."
- Ted Rall

I find graphic novel memoirs endlessly fascinating. They're an open invitation for us to literally view the author's life history as seen through their own eyes. It is an honour that I am ever mindful of. Sometimes the journey is challenging. Sometimes it's awkward and uncomfortable. Sometimes it's hugely inspiring. Sometimes it's devastatingly sad. Sometimes it's incredibly hopeful. Always, always they are a revelation. Earlier this month I read Alyson Blechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic in relation to another Comic Book Month post. Blechdel's bittersweet yet darkly funny memoir made me wonder what other graphic novels we had that were autobiographical which, of course, led me here. I've read quite a few over the last few days and the ones that I've chosen to list from #1 - #5 are ones I'd never heard of until this month. All of those in listed as further recommendations are either ones I'd read, read about, or had recommended to me by friends and colleagues. And so I give you - A life in images: 5 graphic novel memoirs.

Query: Have you read any of the titles below?