verity_lilolia's review against another edition
If you're interested in writing memoir, you should read this. My main takeaway from this book is that your own voice, your own style, whether it's what you imagined for yourself or not, is your best route to success.
dberryman2's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
mjchamplin's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
It was fine, but despite being relatively short, it dragged in places. She has a great perspective and provides some useful insight, just be ready for some anecdotes that are tangential at best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual violence
She discusses books by authors who describe, among other things, their childhood sexual trauma.earlyandalone's review against another edition
4.0
Though it felt a tiny bit pedantic at times, I really enjoyed reading this breezy and heartfelt book on writing and the memoir form. I definitely picked up some good tips and courage.
emilybriano's review against another edition
4.0
A must-read for anyone interested in the writing and/or reading of memoir, or for anyone who is interested in how we tell the stories of our lives. On par with On Writing by Stephen King.
oleade's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a must read for any aspiring writer, memoir or not. It has some very insightful chapters. I found a few, like the chapter on Nabokov, which I found dense and dull. It was difficult to get through, but others helped me greatly understand my writing and how memories are deconstructed for narrative purposes.
emilykathleenwrites's review against another edition
5.0
"Write one true sentence." More than anything else this book makes me want to study memoir in a meaningful way.