lisa Stathoplos (Booklocker)
Make Me by Lisa Stathoplos is a fascinating, energetic ride through a life packed with humor, heartache, and unflinching gusto. As a debut author, her voice bursts off the page with all-caps exclamations and a sarcastic wit that feels like chatting with a fiercely candid friend over drinks. Her memoir delivers revealing glimpses of her journey from an awkward child with scoliosis and identity issues to a dedicated artist thriving in Maine’s exciting regional theater scene. Stathoplos’s storytelling is deft, characterized by short vignettes, eac...
David Irish Anderson (Pure Ink Press)
David Irish Anderson's memoir, First Pub on the Right, recounts a transformative motorcycle journey taken by the author and his wife, Sarah, as they traverse from Cork, Ireland, to Cape Town, South Africa—a quest inspired by serendipitous conversations in a tavern about the power of adventure. The couple's journey, rich with anecdotes and reflections, beautifully juxtaposes the thrill of exploration with the universal challenges of maintaining a relationship on the road. Over their extensive travel rooted in spontaneity and a quest for deeper c...
David H Aretsky (BookBaby)
Stagehand: A Backstage Pass to My Life Stories is a gripping memoir that chronicles the life and experiences of David H. Aretsky, a dedicated backstage technician who has worked in the entertainment industry for over four decades. Through a collection of anecdotes and reflections, Aretsky takes readers on a journey filled with humor, heartbreak, and personal growth. The narrative is framed around significant experiences, notably his emotional struggles following the end of a long-term relationship with “the Ex,” who is referred to throughout th...
Patrick M. Garry (Resource Publications)
Patrick M. Garry’s The Power of Gratitude is a profoundly moving memoir that examines the intricacies of gratitude as a life philosophy, shaped profoundly by the lives of the author’s parents, Michael and Elizabeth Garry. Through clever storytelling, Garry enriches the reader's understanding of how gratitude can be more than just a gesture—it can be a transformative way of life that inspires joy, builds resilience, and injects a strong sense of purpose into the everyday. The author’s assertion instantly moves readers: “Gratitude is not just a t...
Roberta M Roy (ALVA Press)
In Life's a Dance: A Memoir, Roberta M. Roy takes readers on a journey of resilience and self-discovery from age eight to twenty-seven, beginning in the challenging era of the Great Depression when money was scarce, and housing was a perennial problem. Driven by determination and the desire for stability, she navigates the challenges of her early life, overcoming economic hardships through hard work and risk-taking. Aided by scholarships, Roy's journey culminates in becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist, filled with adventure and rich...
Norman Coutts (Atmosphere Press)
The Naked Sailor by Norman Coutts is an evocative memoir recounting the author’s journey through Southeast Asia aboard a yacht, inviting readers to navigate the turbulent waters of life, fear, friendship, and self-discovery. The story revolves around Coutts’ unexpected sailing trip, prompted by an invitation from his childhood friend Rob. Despite his initial trepidation about sailing, ignorance of the sea, and the looming threat of pirates, Coutts' journey becomes a personal metamorphosis shaped by his surroundings' natural beauty and cha...
Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D. (USARISEUP, Inc.)
From Liberty to Magnolia is a profoundly moving memoir that chronicles the life of Janice S. Ellis, reflecting on the intersections of race, gender, and personal ambition against the backdrop of the American civil rights movement. The narrative begins with the author’s childhood in Mississippi—specifically, the towns of Liberty and Magnolia—during a time of racial division and social upheaval. Through her recollections, Ellis recounts the systemic challenges she faced as a Black woman in a predominantly white, patriarchal society, explorin...
Victor Costa (Atmosphere Press (September 17, 2024))
Victor Costa's Copycat is a fascinating memoir that melds the glitz of haute couture with the grit of a personal journey, offering a heartfelt narrative that resonates beyond the realm of fashion. From his humble roots in East Houston to the sophisticated streets of Manhattan's Upper East Side, Costa's story celebrates ambition, creativity, and grit, all set against the backdrop of a world captivated by the glamour of 1940s Hollywood. Costa’s tale begins at age ten, with a pencil in hand and dreams fueled by the elegance of classic fi...
Mary Garden (Justitia Books)
Mary Garden’s My Father’s Suitcase delivers an intricately woven memoir that examines familial dysfunction, family secrets, and sibling abuse, framed within the heart-wrenching narrative of a daughter’s complex relationship with her aviator father, Oscar Garden, and her troublesome sister, Anna. The book's title suggests a weighty representation of memory and inheritance; the old suitcase serves not merely as a relic of the past but as a vessel filled with trauma, memories, and struggles lingering in the shadows of familial love. Mary...
Peter P. Mahoney (Atmosphere Press)
In I Was A Hero Once, Peter P. Mahoney recounts the events of 1968 that altered his life. Joining the Army as an infantry lieutenant, he found himself deployed to Vietnam, where the war’s crude experience shattered his youthful ideals. Upon returning, he became a prominent voice in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, thrust into the spotlight of the Gainesville Eight case, where betrayal cut deep. From establishing the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial to falling in love with a Russian woman, Mahoney’s transformative journey reflects on...
Welcome to The Book Commentary, home of the Best Books in over 200 categories. Thousands of books are published every month and we pick the best for you. We only recommend and publish reviews for books with ratings of 4-5 Stars. Join our growing community of thousands of readers, booksellers, and librarians and discover books that delight and shape readers like you!