Good memoirs by ordinary people?

mathmom
Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:17:20 +0000

West with the Night is beautifully written, having grown up in East Africa, I thought it was wonderfully evocative. Another memoir about an African childhood that I really enjoyed was Let’s Not Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller - I have her new book, but haven’t read it yet. I third the recommendation for Surely you’re Joking Mr. Feynman, even if he is famous. :)

An older classic I just love is Vera Brittain’s Testament of Youth, about coming of age during WW1.

Ruth Reichl is moderately famous (was a NY Times food critic and editor in chief of Gourmet Magazine), but her books are fascinating. I’ve enjoyed all the ones I’ve read so far.