Culture Writer Jasmine Azzahra provides a beginner’s guide to the memoir genre finding it to be a great first step into non-fiction
Trigger warnings: war, violence, death, abortion
Memoir is known as a sub-genre of autobiography or biography. However, it uses a different form of writing. Memoirs are written based on someone’s rough recollections of their life experiences or memories instead of chronologically telling their life story. It allows readers to understand certain events in greater depth. Although it is considered a non-fiction genre, memoirs often have elements of fiction in how they are written.
Reading a memoir is a great first step for those who enjoy reading fiction and want to start reading non-fiction. Here are my four recommendations on memoirs that I enjoyed.
Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton
Everything I Know About Love tells of Dolly Alderton’s childhood, teens, and her chaotic yet mundane 20s. It is a romance, a comedy, and a beautiful story about self-growth and friendship.
This book provides instant comfort thanks to how relatable it is. I recommend this memoir to those currently trying to figure out adulthood. Not only will this book make you feel understood, but also help you appreciate your friendships and youth.
Given the heavy topic, this book is exceptionally light and easy to dive into
Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis (or The Complete Persepolis) is a graphic memoir which illustrates Satrapi’s childhood through to her adulthood during and after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. In a story about finding your identity amid political upheaval, Satrapi learns about her family’s political background and begins questioning her life’s value.
Given the heavy topic, this book is exceptionally light and easy to dive into. It is funny and relatable. This book is very informative while remaining entertaining.
The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion
The Year of Magical Thinking is a book about grief and loss. Just five days after her daughter, Quintana Roo, was admitted to the ICU, Didion lost her husband to a heart attack. Didion tells us of her experience coping and how she finally comes to terms with the devastating events that occurred in her life. She explores her grieving process while reminiscing about past experiences with her husband and daughter.
This book is beautifully written, and very sincere. I was particularly moved by Didion’s retelling of Quintana and her father’s relationship. It was heartbreaking and incredibly warming. Anyone should read this book at least once in their life, especially those who have ever felt alone, have experienced times of uncertainty, or who have endured the pain of losing someone.
She explores her grieving process while reminiscing about past experiences
Happening – Annie Ernaux
Happening tells of the writer’s experience seeking an illegal abortion in France in 1963. She was a college student when she got pregnant and decided not to keep ‘it’. As abortions were still illegal at the time, she tells of her struggle to find a way to terminate her pregnancy while simultaneously fighting social stigmas all by herself.
Ernaux vividly describes the excruciating pain she endured throughout her journey, which can be enough to make you wince. This book will have you contemplating the drawbacks of denying reproductive rights to women and how unbelievably harmful it can be. This is a challenging read. However, Ernaux’s poignant and powerful prose will captivate you, pushing you to keep reading. I especially recommend this book to those interested in women’s rights issues.
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