Memoirs I Love and Recommend
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I’ve been on a memoir kick — partly to pick the best books of the year. Here are three that I couldn’t put down. All memoir, all very compelling.
Giveaway: Now I See the Moon
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Now I See the Moon by Elaine Hall (2010)
I couldn’t put this book down. Elaine adopts a son from Russia who is diagnosed with non-verbal autism. Despite a crumbling marriage and a lucrative career, she does absolutely everything she can to find ways to help him. It is when Elaine (Coach E) embraces an new, non-traditional therapy from Dr. Greenspan that she discovers she must stop trying to force her son to enter her world but instead, enter his world.
Using her skills as an acting coach, Elaine founds a theater group for children with autism called The Miracle Project. A documentary film maker uses this project to make the movie Autism: The Musical. Read more about Elaine and her work with autism on her blog.
You MUST read Now I See the Moon. Comment before October 31, 2010 to win a copy.
Please Stop Laughing at Me . . . One Woman’s Inspirational Story by Jodee Blanco (2010)
Holy cow, this woman goes through hell on earth. I’ve never heard of such awful bullying told in such a personal way. I actually had a nightmare the night after I finished reading it. I did have some good takeaways though. Jodee’s reflections say that if she had stuck up for herself instead of walking away, it would have helped. She also has a very interesting class reunion 20 years later but I won’t spoil the ending for you — let’s just say that it surprised me.
The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman (2009)
When Hope’s three year old daughter’s imaginary friend seems to take over her daughter’s will, Hope and her husband take her to visit a Mayan healer in Belize. There’s such a sense of place that I was right there through the whole book. I loved the honesty and journey of this story. Fascinating.
These books are on my nightstand. What books are on yours?
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken (2010)
Tattoos on My Heart by Gregory Boyle (2010)
Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman (2010)
Fixing My Gaze by Susan R. Barry (2010)
The Year My Son and I Were Born by Kathryn Lynard Soper (2010)
There are so many good books about autism out there, and some good fiction that gives insight, also.
Temple Grandin is autistic and writes books about her experience – “Thinking in Picturres” etc.
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” by Haddon and “House rules” by Jodi Picoult to name a few…
More and more as educators, we are seeing autistic children in our classrooms. Any new ways to support these students are appreciated.
I’m trying to build my autism-related library, as I’m taking part-time custody of my autistic baby brother; this would be an amazing addition. Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway!
Reading memoirs remind me of the importance of telling our story and listening to others tell their story–of listening to and telling the truth of who we are, living with that truth, celebrating what we can and learning from what we can.
I wonder if bullies ever write their memoirs or is it just those that deal with bullies?
I think we often want to tell the story we wish and not the story that was.
Mercedes Lackey (fantasy sci-fiction) has a delightful series of books about characters that don’t want the role that the fates have for them e.g. princess, hero, queen and so on. It’s very insightful about the stories of our lives.
Reading about this book reminded me of something I saw on television about surfing and children with autism.