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Recommend this book:
Such a Pretty Picture
A Memoir
Andrea Leeb
2025 Finalist
280 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
In Such a Pretty Picture, Andrea Leeb recounts her traumatic childhood filled with unsettling family dynamics, sexual abuse, and the struggle for identity. The memoir explores the relationship between Andrea, her mother Marlene, and her father David, which unravels against secrets and manipulation. The narration begins in the early 1960s, vividly detailing the impact of a traumatic incident that leaves Andrea living with guilt, fear, and confusion. She lived with the guilt and suppressed the memory of the abuse from her childhood until, at thirty-three, an indecent groping incident on a New York City subway forces her to confront her trauma. This book documents her harrowing journey toward healing. The narrative captures how these early experiences shaped Andrea’s perceptions of love and safety, delivering an exploration of the lingering effects of childhood trauma.
Andrea Leeb’s memoir is punctuated by dark humor and irony, as seen through her youthful misinterpretations of her circumstances and her mother's frantic attempts to portray a picture-perfect family despite their dysfunction. The author writes about family loyalty versus self-preservation as she and her sister navigate their father's volatility and their mother's enabling behavior differently. The setting, primarily revolving around their New York apartment and later Florida, amplifies feelings of isolation and foreboding, contrasting with the colorful recollections of childhood joy that Andrea desperately clings to. The memoir delivers a raw and unsettling narrative that forces readers to think about the consequences of abuse, parental love, and the struggle for self-identity. Such a Pretty Picture asks the question: Can one truly heal from childhood trauma? The author answers this question by sharing her story with utter honesty and delivering the wisdom she learned through the process. I was impressed by the confident writing and the author’s ability to write about disturbing episodes of her life.
In Such a Pretty Picture, Andrea Leeb recounts her traumatic childhood filled with unsettling family dynamics, sexual abuse, and the struggle for identity. The memoir explores the relationship between Andrea, her mother Marlene, and her father David, which unravels against secrets and manipulation. The narration begins in the early 1960s, vividly detailing the impact of a traumatic incident that leaves Andrea living with guilt, fear, and confusion. She lived with the guilt and suppressed the memory of the abuse from her childhood until, at thirty-three, an indecent groping incident on a New York City subway forces her to confront her trauma. This book documents her harrowing journey toward healing. The narrative captures how these early experiences shaped Andrea’s perceptions of love and safety, delivering an exploration of the lingering effects of childhood trauma.
Andrea Leeb’s memoir is punctuated by dark humor and irony, as seen through her youthful misinterpretations of her circumstances and her mother's frantic attempts to portray a picture-perfect family despite their dysfunction. The author writes about family loyalty versus self-preservation as she and her sister navigate their father's volatility and their mother's enabling behavior differently. The setting, primarily revolving around their New York apartment and later Florida, amplifies feelings of isolation and foreboding, contrasting with the colorful recollections of childhood joy that Andrea desperately clings to. The memoir delivers a raw and unsettling narrative that forces readers to think about the consequences of abuse, parental love, and the struggle for self-identity. Such a Pretty Picture asks the question: Can one truly heal from childhood trauma? The author answers this question by sharing her story with utter honesty and delivering the wisdom she learned through the process. I was impressed by the confident writing and the author’s ability to write about disturbing episodes of her life.
Recommend this book:
Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness
Deb Miller
2025 Honorable Mention
312 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness by Deb Miller goes beyond conventional fairytales to explore the quest for happiness and fulfillment, challenging societal norms. This inspiring book is a manifesto for women eager to break free from limiting roles and embark on their own unique journeys to happiness. The narrative blends personal stories and cultural analysis to challenge fairytale ideals of happiness that often limit women's life choices. The book guides readers to reshape their understanding of happiness and encourages timely self-reflection. Every chapter deconstructs different fairytale tropes, ranging from the passive princess in need of rescue to the idealization of marriage as the perfect ending. In contrast, Miller advocates for embracing joy through authenticity and self-sufficiency, promoting a life shaped by individual choices.
Deb Miller’s writing style makes complex ideas about societal norms and personal freedom easy to understand and relate to. This book truly shines with its powerful message of empowerment and self-discovery. Miller goes beyond simply critiquing; she shares practical steps and uplifting stories that show how everyday women have created fulfilling lives by rejecting the fairytale blueprint. Her message impacts a society still struggling with gender roles and expectations, making it essential reading for anyone wishing to reshape their story and discover genuine happiness. Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness urges women to question, challenge, and ultimately transcend the fairytales that have long dictated women’s lives. This book is an excellent start to breaking the stereotypical impact fairytales have held over women for centuries.
Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness by Deb Miller goes beyond conventional fairytales to explore the quest for happiness and fulfillment, challenging societal norms. This inspiring book is a manifesto for women eager to break free from limiting roles and embark on their own unique journeys to happiness. The narrative blends personal stories and cultural analysis to challenge fairytale ideals of happiness that often limit women's life choices. The book guides readers to reshape their understanding of happiness and encourages timely self-reflection. Every chapter deconstructs different fairytale tropes, ranging from the passive princess in need of rescue to the idealization of marriage as the perfect ending. In contrast, Miller advocates for embracing joy through authenticity and self-sufficiency, promoting a life shaped by individual choices.
Deb Miller’s writing style makes complex ideas about societal norms and personal freedom easy to understand and relate to. This book truly shines with its powerful message of empowerment and self-discovery. Miller goes beyond simply critiquing; she shares practical steps and uplifting stories that show how everyday women have created fulfilling lives by rejecting the fairytale blueprint. Her message impacts a society still struggling with gender roles and expectations, making it essential reading for anyone wishing to reshape their story and discover genuine happiness. Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness urges women to question, challenge, and ultimately transcend the fairytales that have long dictated women’s lives. This book is an excellent start to breaking the stereotypical impact fairytales have held over women for centuries.
Recommend this book:
Object
A Memoir of Childhood Abuse and a Shocking Cover-Up at the Highest Ranks of Government
Kristin Louise Duncombe
2025 Bronze Medal
252 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Mansoor Ahmed for Readers' Favorite
Object by Kristin Louise Duncombe is a powerful and heartbreaking memoir that shows the author's experiences of trauma, survival, and healing. The narrative develops in various countries around the world as the author tries to remember and comprehend her childhood and life in foreign countries as an immigrant, as well as the abuse she experienced that changed her personality. In several incidents, Duncombe fearlessly navigates the complexities of personal trauma and how it has been masked and erased throughout her youth, and her emergence as a survivor. Her writing conveys the internal turmoil of a young girl grappling with transformative occurrences and moments of healing from untold stories.
Kristin Louise Duncombe is a keen and discerning writer who captivates her readers, offers them a glimpse into her life, and explains herself and the things she wants. The characters are strongly drawn, especially Duncombe’s family and the influential personalities that were part of her childhood, and the depiction of dramatic relationships, especially when built on the foundation of abuse and silence. I was quite moved by how candidly and openly the author described her experiences in this memoir, which is a very emotional read. Her ability to navigate complex emotions and relationships with clarity and introspection is admirable. The themes of the unknown, struggle, and transformation are central to the author's narrative. I highly recommend Object to readers who are interested in exploring the impact of family dynamics and personal trauma on one's journey toward healing and self-discovery.
Object by Kristin Louise Duncombe is a powerful and heartbreaking memoir that shows the author's experiences of trauma, survival, and healing. The narrative develops in various countries around the world as the author tries to remember and comprehend her childhood and life in foreign countries as an immigrant, as well as the abuse she experienced that changed her personality. In several incidents, Duncombe fearlessly navigates the complexities of personal trauma and how it has been masked and erased throughout her youth, and her emergence as a survivor. Her writing conveys the internal turmoil of a young girl grappling with transformative occurrences and moments of healing from untold stories.
Kristin Louise Duncombe is a keen and discerning writer who captivates her readers, offers them a glimpse into her life, and explains herself and the things she wants. The characters are strongly drawn, especially Duncombe’s family and the influential personalities that were part of her childhood, and the depiction of dramatic relationships, especially when built on the foundation of abuse and silence. I was quite moved by how candidly and openly the author described her experiences in this memoir, which is a very emotional read. Her ability to navigate complex emotions and relationships with clarity and introspection is admirable. The themes of the unknown, struggle, and transformation are central to the author's narrative. I highly recommend Object to readers who are interested in exploring the impact of family dynamics and personal trauma on one's journey toward healing and self-discovery.
Recommend this book:
Sky Ranch
Reared in the High Country
Linda M. Lockwood
2025 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, slice-of-life, and inspirational writing genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers as it contains adult situations and themes, including an explicit exploration of suicide. Penned by author Linda M. Lockwood, we follow young Linda as she moves to an isolated ranch in eastern Washington with her family. By age ten, she is managing ranch duties from herding sheep to protecting livestock. Her greatest challenge, however, is her mother's descent into schizophrenia, a condition Linda fears inheriting. At twenty-five, Linda marries and faces further trauma with her mother's suicide, a miscarriage, and her grandmother's death. Despite these hardships, she builds her own family and vows to uncover the roots of her mother's illness and its impact on her own life and potential future.
Author Linda M. Lockwood holds nothing back in crafting this profound and emotional read. The author’s raw, honest account of her childhood on a remote ranch is both rugged and captivating, painting vivid images of her adventures and challenges with evocative, atmospheric language that helps the audience feel they’re right there with her in the moment for some truly heartbreaking experiences. Her resilience and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, especially her relentless pursuit of her dream to train horses, which balances some of the darker aspects of the memoir well. The portrayal of her mother's schizophrenia adds a poignant complexity to matters that helps readers to empathize deeply with Linda's fears and struggles but also sheds light on the importance of mental health support. The narrative is heart-wrenching when detailing her personal losses, yet it also shows the strength she derived from her upbringing. These moments are well-paced between descriptions of life on the ranch that are both nostalgic and enlightening, revealing a lifestyle that is both harsh and beautiful. Overall, Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a deeply inspirational work that fans of well-penned, immersive memoirs will no doubt enjoy from cover to cover.
Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, slice-of-life, and inspirational writing genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers as it contains adult situations and themes, including an explicit exploration of suicide. Penned by author Linda M. Lockwood, we follow young Linda as she moves to an isolated ranch in eastern Washington with her family. By age ten, she is managing ranch duties from herding sheep to protecting livestock. Her greatest challenge, however, is her mother's descent into schizophrenia, a condition Linda fears inheriting. At twenty-five, Linda marries and faces further trauma with her mother's suicide, a miscarriage, and her grandmother's death. Despite these hardships, she builds her own family and vows to uncover the roots of her mother's illness and its impact on her own life and potential future.
Author Linda M. Lockwood holds nothing back in crafting this profound and emotional read. The author’s raw, honest account of her childhood on a remote ranch is both rugged and captivating, painting vivid images of her adventures and challenges with evocative, atmospheric language that helps the audience feel they’re right there with her in the moment for some truly heartbreaking experiences. Her resilience and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, especially her relentless pursuit of her dream to train horses, which balances some of the darker aspects of the memoir well. The portrayal of her mother's schizophrenia adds a poignant complexity to matters that helps readers to empathize deeply with Linda's fears and struggles but also sheds light on the importance of mental health support. The narrative is heart-wrenching when detailing her personal losses, yet it also shows the strength she derived from her upbringing. These moments are well-paced between descriptions of life on the ranch that are both nostalgic and enlightening, revealing a lifestyle that is both harsh and beautiful. Overall, Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a deeply inspirational work that fans of well-penned, immersive memoirs will no doubt enjoy from cover to cover.
Recommend this book:
Twice the Family
A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood
Julie Ryan McGue
2025 Gold Medal
376 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue is a heartfelt memoir that examines the often emotionally charged themes of identity, belonging, and becoming. Through the perspectives of Julie and her twin sister Jenny, the book offers an intimate exploration of their adoption journey and the challenges of growing up as part of a large, loving, but imperfect family. The memoir presents Julie's vivid recollections from childhood to adulthood, focusing on her and Jenny's life as adopted children in a bustling household. Each chapter reveals significant events that shaped their understanding of family and identity. From joyous moments such as birthday celebrations and summer vacations to painful ones like facing their adoption and familial losses, Julie's journey is marked by a quest for self-discovery.
Julie Ryan McGue's exploration of her adoption reveals a deep yearning to understand her roots. The memoir also explores the themes of loss and resilience, mainly through the family's experiences with miscarriages and the death of their brother, Mark Edward. Additionally, the book touches on societal perceptions of adoption in the 1960s and 70s and the challenges of navigating family relationships that are simultaneously fragile and fulfilling. McGue's writing is reflective and profoundly stirring, balancing narrative storytelling and introspective analysis. Her prose is lyrical, vividly bringing to life both the mundane and extraordinary moments of her family's life. McGue's ability to convey raw emotion allows readers to deeply empathize with her experiences, while her candid reflections provide insight into her adoption story and familial bonds. The use of detailed personal anecdotes not only grounds the memoir in authenticity but also invites readers to reflect on their notions of family and identity. Twice the Family is a compelling memoir that offers an enriching exploration of what it means to be part of a family, to seek one's identity, and to embrace the journey of becoming. It is a story filled with lessons that are beautifully told.
Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue is a heartfelt memoir that examines the often emotionally charged themes of identity, belonging, and becoming. Through the perspectives of Julie and her twin sister Jenny, the book offers an intimate exploration of their adoption journey and the challenges of growing up as part of a large, loving, but imperfect family. The memoir presents Julie's vivid recollections from childhood to adulthood, focusing on her and Jenny's life as adopted children in a bustling household. Each chapter reveals significant events that shaped their understanding of family and identity. From joyous moments such as birthday celebrations and summer vacations to painful ones like facing their adoption and familial losses, Julie's journey is marked by a quest for self-discovery.
Julie Ryan McGue's exploration of her adoption reveals a deep yearning to understand her roots. The memoir also explores the themes of loss and resilience, mainly through the family's experiences with miscarriages and the death of their brother, Mark Edward. Additionally, the book touches on societal perceptions of adoption in the 1960s and 70s and the challenges of navigating family relationships that are simultaneously fragile and fulfilling. McGue's writing is reflective and profoundly stirring, balancing narrative storytelling and introspective analysis. Her prose is lyrical, vividly bringing to life both the mundane and extraordinary moments of her family's life. McGue's ability to convey raw emotion allows readers to deeply empathize with her experiences, while her candid reflections provide insight into her adoption story and familial bonds. The use of detailed personal anecdotes not only grounds the memoir in authenticity but also invites readers to reflect on their notions of family and identity. Twice the Family is a compelling memoir that offers an enriching exploration of what it means to be part of a family, to seek one's identity, and to embrace the journey of becoming. It is a story filled with lessons that are beautifully told.
Recommend this book:
A Cup of Tea on the Commode
My Multi-Tasking Adventures of Caring for Mom. And How I Survived to Tell the Tale
Mark Steven Porro
2024 Finalist
320 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is the memoir of Hollywood dream-chaser Mark and his unwavering commitment to caring for his ailing mother, Genevieve. Mark reflects on a childhood shaped by Catholicism and recounts his initiation into caregiving with humor. Discussions include family traditions, unique culinary experiences, conmen, and the family's heritage. The difficulties seem endless, particularly with contentious hired aides and legal hurdles. Mark ultimately transitions to full-time caregiving, providing insight into daily routines, the evolving dynamics of family, and even the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Mark also battles uphill with his own health and a personal life that humorously details events like his experience with long-distance relationships. When it comes time to say goodbye, Mark looks back on his time with his mother, the unique ways individuals grieve, and the challenges of facing the end of a long journey with loved ones.
A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is a funny, loving, and lovely tribute to the passing of a beloved mother and the time the author, her son, was given to spend with her as her caregiver. Mark writes in a comfortable and conversational style that allows a reader to feel like they are chatting with a friend over coffee. The result is a connection to the work and the people in it that is hard to come by in memoirs written by or about people most readers do not know or know of. I loved Mark's skillful injection of humor into difficult situations, such as his mother's relentless search for discarded cheese labels during a family reunion. The comical scene of Mark and his brothers feigning collapse as Genevieve points her accusing finger is hilarious, and the anecdote involving his nephew's reaction to the chaotic scene adds to its levity. There is an intentional thoughtfulness to Mark's narrative structure and in making connections, like birthdays, and the gradual progression from joyful celebrations to the somber acknowledgment of his mother's limited time. Overall, this is a beautifully told story that will likely prove comforting to others on similar journeys. Very highly recommended.
A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is the memoir of Hollywood dream-chaser Mark and his unwavering commitment to caring for his ailing mother, Genevieve. Mark reflects on a childhood shaped by Catholicism and recounts his initiation into caregiving with humor. Discussions include family traditions, unique culinary experiences, conmen, and the family's heritage. The difficulties seem endless, particularly with contentious hired aides and legal hurdles. Mark ultimately transitions to full-time caregiving, providing insight into daily routines, the evolving dynamics of family, and even the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Mark also battles uphill with his own health and a personal life that humorously details events like his experience with long-distance relationships. When it comes time to say goodbye, Mark looks back on his time with his mother, the unique ways individuals grieve, and the challenges of facing the end of a long journey with loved ones.
A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is a funny, loving, and lovely tribute to the passing of a beloved mother and the time the author, her son, was given to spend with her as her caregiver. Mark writes in a comfortable and conversational style that allows a reader to feel like they are chatting with a friend over coffee. The result is a connection to the work and the people in it that is hard to come by in memoirs written by or about people most readers do not know or know of. I loved Mark's skillful injection of humor into difficult situations, such as his mother's relentless search for discarded cheese labels during a family reunion. The comical scene of Mark and his brothers feigning collapse as Genevieve points her accusing finger is hilarious, and the anecdote involving his nephew's reaction to the chaotic scene adds to its levity. There is an intentional thoughtfulness to Mark's narrative structure and in making connections, like birthdays, and the gradual progression from joyful celebrations to the somber acknowledgment of his mother's limited time. Overall, this is a beautifully told story that will likely prove comforting to others on similar journeys. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Wander
A Memoir of Letting go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life
Ryan Benz
2024 Honorable Mention
226 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
Ryan is not content with the quality of his life. He refuses to continue pretending that he is successful. His career in pharmaceutical marketing starts to suffocate him. His marriage ends in divorce. Ryan becomes desperate and battles dark thoughts. Then, he decides to change his life fundamentally. Raised in the rural parts of New Jersey, Ryan remembers the excitement of being free in the wild. He quits his job and accepts the challenge of the Appalachian Trail, which is more than two thousand miles long. Ryan hikes from Georgia to Maine, meets many incredible people, and ruminates over his life choices. Wander by Ryan Benz appeals to fans of memoirs, adventure, and inspirational literature.
Ryan Benz's Wander is an engaging story of overtaking self-imposed limitations. Ryan is very honest with himself and his readers throughout the book. He openly speaks about his mistakes and describes his misfortunes on the trail with sparkling humor. Ryan's first encounter with a bear gives us chills and makes us smile at the same time. The author's sense of humor is contagious, and the wisdom he shares is priceless. "I was comfortable with the illusion," says Ryan about his old life. The author's experience on the Appalachian Trail shows that such a journey is not for the faint-hearted and requires enormous willpower at every stage. I appreciated Ryan's stories about the people called "trail angels," like the hospitable Linda, whom he met in Hartford, Vermont, and vivid descriptions of the natural wonders the author observed along the way. Also, Ryan raises awareness of cystic fibrosis, gently nudging us toward a better understanding of those battling it.
Ryan is not content with the quality of his life. He refuses to continue pretending that he is successful. His career in pharmaceutical marketing starts to suffocate him. His marriage ends in divorce. Ryan becomes desperate and battles dark thoughts. Then, he decides to change his life fundamentally. Raised in the rural parts of New Jersey, Ryan remembers the excitement of being free in the wild. He quits his job and accepts the challenge of the Appalachian Trail, which is more than two thousand miles long. Ryan hikes from Georgia to Maine, meets many incredible people, and ruminates over his life choices. Wander by Ryan Benz appeals to fans of memoirs, adventure, and inspirational literature.
Ryan Benz's Wander is an engaging story of overtaking self-imposed limitations. Ryan is very honest with himself and his readers throughout the book. He openly speaks about his mistakes and describes his misfortunes on the trail with sparkling humor. Ryan's first encounter with a bear gives us chills and makes us smile at the same time. The author's sense of humor is contagious, and the wisdom he shares is priceless. "I was comfortable with the illusion," says Ryan about his old life. The author's experience on the Appalachian Trail shows that such a journey is not for the faint-hearted and requires enormous willpower at every stage. I appreciated Ryan's stories about the people called "trail angels," like the hospitable Linda, whom he met in Hartford, Vermont, and vivid descriptions of the natural wonders the author observed along the way. Also, Ryan raises awareness of cystic fibrosis, gently nudging us toward a better understanding of those battling it.
Recommend this book:
Just Fireworks
A child's memories of a war-torn Lebanon
Nader Barrak
2024 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite
Just Fireworks by Nader Barrak is an account of the Lebanese Civil War as seen through the eyes of a child who was almost three years old when the war began. He describes what it was like to be in the middle of the warring factions, never knowing if or when an attack from one side or the other would occur near his home. The author went through many horrendous experiences, including the kidnapping of his father, who was held in captivity for three months, and a stray bullet that literally went through his mother’s hair. In addition to being a behind-the-scenes account of the war, the book is a history of Lebanon and the surrounding area. There are numerous photos and maps throughout that help readers understand the history of the war. An epilogue consists of a timeline of Lebanon from 1990, when the civil war officially ended, through 2022.
Anyone interested in history should read Just Fireworks. But beyond its value as history, this compelling book will teach its readers just how terrible war is and why it must be avoided. Additionally, although the accounts of the war are horrifying, they are must-reads for anyone who wants to understand the history of Lebanon and nearby countries. The photos are fascinating too. Readers won’t find them in many other accounts of the Lebanese Civil War. I learned more about Lebanon and the surrounding area just by reading this book than I knew up to this point in my life. Author Nader Barrak is a fine writer, and his passion for telling his story shows through on every page. I can see this book as required reading in a high school or college course about Middle Eastern history. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Just Fireworks by Nader Barrak is an account of the Lebanese Civil War as seen through the eyes of a child who was almost three years old when the war began. He describes what it was like to be in the middle of the warring factions, never knowing if or when an attack from one side or the other would occur near his home. The author went through many horrendous experiences, including the kidnapping of his father, who was held in captivity for three months, and a stray bullet that literally went through his mother’s hair. In addition to being a behind-the-scenes account of the war, the book is a history of Lebanon and the surrounding area. There are numerous photos and maps throughout that help readers understand the history of the war. An epilogue consists of a timeline of Lebanon from 1990, when the civil war officially ended, through 2022.
Anyone interested in history should read Just Fireworks. But beyond its value as history, this compelling book will teach its readers just how terrible war is and why it must be avoided. Additionally, although the accounts of the war are horrifying, they are must-reads for anyone who wants to understand the history of Lebanon and nearby countries. The photos are fascinating too. Readers won’t find them in many other accounts of the Lebanese Civil War. I learned more about Lebanon and the surrounding area just by reading this book than I knew up to this point in my life. Author Nader Barrak is a fine writer, and his passion for telling his story shows through on every page. I can see this book as required reading in a high school or college course about Middle Eastern history. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Recommend this book:
Of Dirt and Wildflowers
A Memoir: On Growing the Courage to Bloom
Kylee J. Marshall
2024 Silver Medal
246 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Of Dirt and Wildflowers: A Memoir On Growing the Courage to Bloom is a work of non-fiction in the autobiographical, memoir, and inspirational writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and is penned by Kylee J. Marshall. In this heartfelt memoir that takes us on a powerful emotional narrative, we follow Marshall’s struggles with self-confidence and self-image. We see how she blossomed and grew through exploring her narrative and dreams for the future. In this way, she shows us how we can plan for growth as we navigate the different seasons of our lives.
Kylee J. Marshall's unique narrative style grips you from the off in this tender work, which is part memoir and part inspirational guide to life. Everyone has struggles in their sense of self and path toward a better future, and Marshall writes in such an engaging and soothing way that it feels like a wise old friend is sitting you down for a heart-to-heart. I enjoyed the flow of the work, and the vignettes and anecdotes from her life were well-balanced and framed in an engaging way to expand them into poignant life lessons and points for action. The idea of ending perfectionism caught my attention, and those wise words around the subject will stay with me for a long time after setting the book down. Overall, I recommend Of Dirt and Wildflowers as a deeply engaging read for fans of memoirs who want to be inspired for their next steps in life.
Of Dirt and Wildflowers: A Memoir On Growing the Courage to Bloom is a work of non-fiction in the autobiographical, memoir, and inspirational writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and is penned by Kylee J. Marshall. In this heartfelt memoir that takes us on a powerful emotional narrative, we follow Marshall’s struggles with self-confidence and self-image. We see how she blossomed and grew through exploring her narrative and dreams for the future. In this way, she shows us how we can plan for growth as we navigate the different seasons of our lives.
Kylee J. Marshall's unique narrative style grips you from the off in this tender work, which is part memoir and part inspirational guide to life. Everyone has struggles in their sense of self and path toward a better future, and Marshall writes in such an engaging and soothing way that it feels like a wise old friend is sitting you down for a heart-to-heart. I enjoyed the flow of the work, and the vignettes and anecdotes from her life were well-balanced and framed in an engaging way to expand them into poignant life lessons and points for action. The idea of ending perfectionism caught my attention, and those wise words around the subject will stay with me for a long time after setting the book down. Overall, I recommend Of Dirt and Wildflowers as a deeply engaging read for fans of memoirs who want to be inspired for their next steps in life.
Recommend this book:
Diary of 66
The Night I Burned Alive
Alexandra Furnea
2024 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In her memoir Diary of 66: The Night I Burned Alive, Alexandra Furnea recounts her painful journey following the 2015 Colectiv Club fire in Bucharest, where she details the inadequate medical care, mistreatment, and systemic failures she lived through. She survived when dozens of others did not, but this was only the beginning. Despite initial reluctance, she shares her story to expose the flaws in the Romanian medical system. Enduring excruciating pain and dehumanizing treatments, she reflects on the loss of her former self and the challenges of rehabilitation. Furnea highlights moments of resilience and support from loved ones even as rampant neglect and corruption rankled within the healthcare system. Even after horrific setbacks and dismissiveness from medical professionals, she persists in seeking justice and better care for burn victims, shedding light on the systemic abandonment they endured upon their discharge from the hospital and the aftermath and collapse that followed.
Diary of 66 is an incredible memoir and Alexandra Furnea describes everything she experienced in clear, horrifying detail. I'm quite ashamed to say that it was not a tragedy I had much exposure to in the United States, but the gravity of it is substantial and resonates across Europe even today. I read a lot of memoirs, and Furnea's is among the best and most engrossing I have read this year. What makes this book so beautiful, even in light of all that had happened, is that Furnea demonstrates empathy and compassion toward herself and others who have suffered similar fates. In her writing, she uses metaphors that show a deep understanding of pain and trauma with lines like, "The stories their intricate designs tell are no longer only of pain and destruction, but also of redemption, and the latter have multiplied, with every surgery that succeeded and every kindhearted human being who healed instead of harming." Stories like Furnea's are the ones that need to be told so that what happened is amplified to the point that it never, ever happens again. Very highly recommended.
In her memoir Diary of 66: The Night I Burned Alive, Alexandra Furnea recounts her painful journey following the 2015 Colectiv Club fire in Bucharest, where she details the inadequate medical care, mistreatment, and systemic failures she lived through. She survived when dozens of others did not, but this was only the beginning. Despite initial reluctance, she shares her story to expose the flaws in the Romanian medical system. Enduring excruciating pain and dehumanizing treatments, she reflects on the loss of her former self and the challenges of rehabilitation. Furnea highlights moments of resilience and support from loved ones even as rampant neglect and corruption rankled within the healthcare system. Even after horrific setbacks and dismissiveness from medical professionals, she persists in seeking justice and better care for burn victims, shedding light on the systemic abandonment they endured upon their discharge from the hospital and the aftermath and collapse that followed.
Diary of 66 is an incredible memoir and Alexandra Furnea describes everything she experienced in clear, horrifying detail. I'm quite ashamed to say that it was not a tragedy I had much exposure to in the United States, but the gravity of it is substantial and resonates across Europe even today. I read a lot of memoirs, and Furnea's is among the best and most engrossing I have read this year. What makes this book so beautiful, even in light of all that had happened, is that Furnea demonstrates empathy and compassion toward herself and others who have suffered similar fates. In her writing, she uses metaphors that show a deep understanding of pain and trauma with lines like, "The stories their intricate designs tell are no longer only of pain and destruction, but also of redemption, and the latter have multiplied, with every surgery that succeeded and every kindhearted human being who healed instead of harming." Stories like Furnea's are the ones that need to be told so that what happened is amplified to the point that it never, ever happens again. Very highly recommended.
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