Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes

Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes

By: Eleanor Houghton

Bloomsbury Visual Arts 2026. 355 pages. Nonfiction

Meet the real, thinking, feeling woman that was Charlotte Brontë, as told in this biography by the surviving witnesses to her life - the clothes that she once wore. These garments were present as she penned Jane Eyre , as she walked the cobbled streets of Haworth, and as she stood with her fiancé at the altar in the summer of 1854. Yet, until now, their testimonies had remained unheard. Renowned Brontë scholar and dress historian Eleanor Houghton's innovative, richly illustrated biography, Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, finally gives voice to the gowns, bonnets, shawls, corsets, parasols and boots that make up the novelist's wardrobe. Secrets are revealed in their very fibres. Brontë's steel busked corset tells the story of corporate espionage and forbidden love, whilst her striped, silk dress shows how she coped with the new-found pressures of fame. When exposed to 21st century technology, a tiny sample of fabric from her 'Thackeray Dress' reveals important innovations of the Industrial Revolution going on around her and a black lace veil, worn after the deaths of her siblings, expresses how she dealt with repeated familial loss. These clothes, some of which still bear the imprint of her foot or the sweat from her pores, prove themselves to be far more than mere celebrity curios. When 'read' alongside letters, portraits, her novels and the recollections of those who knew her well, Charlotte emerges as a woman altogether braver, more vulnerable, less isolated, less provincial, more fashion conscious than anyone ever expected.

This is a fascinating, tangible history of the famed and mysterious Charlotte Brontë, throwing light on her brief and fascinating life. An added element to this account is Houghton's meticulously hand-drawn depictions of the dresses and clothing accessories - there are no photographs. This makes this book a unique biography, and the beautiful art compliments the era, and Charlotte Brontë and her sister's lives. As the author points out, photographs of the items are available, and if you're able to visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, you can see them in person. Houghton's drawings bring beauty and a sense of intimacy in this unique and highly recommended biography, emphasizing that the domestic details - what we wear day to day - is part of our story too. 

If you like Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, you might also like: 

The Brontë Cabinet

By Deborah Lutz

Norton & Company, 2015. 310 pages. Nonfiction.

Victorian literature scholar Deborah Lutz illuminates the complex and fascinating lives of the Brontës through the things they wore, stitched, wrote on, and inscribed. By unfolding the histories of the meaningful objects in their family home in Haworth, Lutz immerses readers in a nuanced re-creation of the sisters' daily lives while moving us chronologically forward through the major biographical events: the death of their mother and two sisters, the imaginary kingdoms of their childhood writing, their time as governesses, and their determined efforts to make a mark on the literary world. From the miniature books they made as children to the blackthorn walking sticks they carried on solitary hikes on the moors, each personal possession opens a window onto the sisters' world, their beloved fiction, and the Victorian era. A description of the brass collar worn by Emily's bull mastiff, Keeper, leads to a series of entertaining anecdotes about the influence of the family's dogs on their writing and about the relationship of Victorians to their pets in general. The sisters' portable writing desks prove to have played a crucial role in their writing lives: it was Charlotte's snooping in Emily's desk that led to the sisters' first publication in print, followed later by the publication of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Charlotte's letters provide insight into her relationships, both innocent and illicit, including her relationship with the older professor to whom she wrote passionately. And the bracelet Charlotte had made of Anne and Emily's intertwined hair bears witness to her profound grief after their deaths. Lutz captivatingly shows the Brontës anew by bringing us deep inside the physical world in which they lived and from which their writings took inspiration.

The Dress Diary

By Kate Strasdin

First Pegasus Books, 2023. 303 pages. Nonfiction

In 1838, a young woman was given a diary on her wedding day. Collecting snippets of fabric from a range of garments - some her own, others donated by family and friends - she carefully annotated each one, creating a unique record of their lives. Her name was Mrs Anne Sykes. Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian and museum curator. Using her expertise, Strasdin spent the next six years unravelling the secrets contained within the album's pages, and the lives of the people within. Her findings are remarkable. Piece by piece, she charts Anne's journey from the mills of Lancashire to the port of Singapore before tracing her return to England in later years. Fragments of cloth become windows into Victorian life: pirates in Borneo, the complicated etiquette of mourning, poisonous dyes, the British Empire in full swing, rioting over working conditions and the terrible human cost of Britain's cotton industry. This is life writing that celebrates ordinary people: not the grandees of traditional written histories, but the hidden figures, the participants in everyday life. Through the evidence of waistcoats, ball gowns and mourning outfits, Strasdin lays bare the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes we choose to wear.

The Age of Homespun: objects and stories in the creation of an American myth

By Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Alfred A. Knopf, 2001. 501 pages. Nonfiction

They began their existence as everyday objects, but in the hands of award-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, fourteen domestic items from preindustrial America-ranging from a linen tablecloth to an unfinished sock-relinquish their stories and offer profound insights into our history. In an age when even meals are rarely made from scratch, homespun easily acquires the glow of nostalgia. The objects Ulrich investigates unravel those simplified illusions, revealing important clues to the culture and people who made them. Ulrich uses an Indian basket to explore the uneasy coexistence of native and colonial Americans. A piece of silk embroidery reveals racial and class distinctions, and two old spinning wheels illuminate the connections between colonial cloth-making and war. Pulling these divergent threads together, Ulrich demonstrates how early Americans made, used, sold, and saved textiles in order to assert their identities, shape relationships, and create history.

MGB

Papaya Salad

Papaya Salad

By Elisa Macellari
Dark House Books, 2020. 223 pages. Graphic Novel Biography.

The debut graphic novel from Thai-Italian illustrator Elisa Macellari, Papaya Salad tells the story of her great-uncle Sompong who found himself in Europe on military scholarship on the eve of World War II. A gentle and resolute man in love with books and languages, in search of his place in the world, Sompong chronicles his life during the war and falling for his wife, finding humor and joy even as the world changes irrevocably around him.

Summer Reading just ended but don't worry, the library has more challenges for you. One of them is A Year of Reading, where we challenge you to read 12 books from different categories.  This is a great way to expand your reading horizons, win prizes, and make the librarians proud of you.  This is the book I read to fulfill the Biography category.  I tend to leave my nonfiction books unfinished and biographies are often long and extra daunting.  So I went slightly unconventional and chose a graphic novel (yes, it still counts).  The other trick when reading outside your comfort zone is to make sure that there is something that really interests you about the book. For example, if you usually read fast-paced mysteries, maybe you can try one of our true crime books in the 364s. In this case I really loved the art style, a good color theme will always hook me. So even when I began to think there wasn't enough dragons in this story I was still willing to continue.  If you are also looking for a biography to read this was a great one!  The author takes us through some major world events through the lens of an ordinary man who very quickly found a place in my heart.  World War II buffs especially will enjoy this unique perspective on the time period. 

If you like Papaya Salad, you might also like: 

The Photographer of Mauthausen

By Salva Rubio

Dead Reckoning, 2020. Unpaged. Graphic Novel, Nonfiction.

This is a dramatic retelling of true events in the life of Francisco Boix, a Spanish press photographer and communist who fled to France at the beginning of World War II. Through an odd turn of events, Boix finds himself the confidant of an SS officer who is documenting prisoner deaths at the camp. Boix realizes that he has a chance to prove Nazi war crimes by stealing the negatives of these perverse photos--but only at the risk of his own life, that of a young Spanish boy he has sworn to protect, and, indeed, that of every prisoner in the camp.

Swansong 1945

By Walter Kempowski

W.W. Norton & Company, 2015. 479 pages. Nonfiction.

Swansong 1945 chronicles the end of Nazi Germany and World War II in Europe through hundreds of letters, diaries, and autobiographical accounts covering four days that fateful spring: Hitler's birthday on April 20, American and Soviet troops meeting at the Elbe on April 25, Hitler's suicide on April 30, and finally the German surrender on May 8. Side by side, we encounter vivid, first-person accounts of civilians fleeing Berlin, ordinary German soldiers determined to fight to the bitter end, American POWs dreaming of home, concentration-camp survivors' first descriptions of their horrific experiences, as well as the intimate thoughts of figures such as Eisenhower, Churchill, Stalin, Joseph Goebbels, and Hitler himself. These firsthand accounts, painstakingly collected and organized by renowned German author Walter Kempowski, provide the raw material of history and present a panoramic view of those tumultuous days. The more than 1,000 extracts include a British soldier writing to his parents to tell them there are no baths but plenty of eggs and chocolate, an American soldier describing "the tremendous burst of lilacs" as he approaches the Elbe, Mussolini wishing Hitler a happy birthday, Eva Braun bragging to a girlfriend about what a "crack shot" she's become, and much more. An extraordinary account of suffering and survival, Swansong 1945 brings to life the end of Nazi Germany and the war in Europe.

Audrey Hepburn

By Michelle Botton
NBM Graphic Novels, 2024. 175 pages. Graphic Novel, Biography.

When Audrey Hepburn is mentioned, one thinks of her being beautiful and elegant, of her films, or of how her image is used to recall something immortal and fashionable. But Audrey was also a little girl who saw the Second World War with her own eyes, a woman who was at times fragile at work and in her private life, with a strong desire for motherhood and, above all, a boundless love for children that would lead her to find her true vocation, far from dancing or acting: she will in fact become a UNICEF ambassador to raise awareness in the world and help minors in difficulty.

KJ

Reagan: His Life and Legend

Reagan: His Life and Legend

by Max Boot 

Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2024. 836 pages. Biography 

From best-selling biographer Max Boot comes this revelatory portrait, a decade in the making, of Ronald Reagan, the actor-turned-politician whose telegenic leadership ushered in a transformative conservative era in American politics. Drawing on more than a hundred new interviews and thousands of newly available documents, Reagan tells the epic story of the Depression-era poor boy who transfixed and transformed the nation. Yet Boot, a one-time Republican policy advisor, offers no apologia, depicting a man with a Manichean, good-versus-evil worldview derived from his moralistic upbringing. Providing revelatory insights into trickle-down economics, the Cold War's end, the Iran-Contra affair, and so much more, this definitive biography is as compelling a presidential biography as any in recent decades. 

At 836 pages or 32 hours on audio, Reagan: His Life and Legend is a time commitment, but it’s worth it if you’re interested in American history and politics. Author Max Boot brings his background as a historian and foreign-policy analyst, as well as his skills as a long-time journalist and editor to the project, writing in a clear and compelling way that will keep you turning the pages. He tries throughout to offer a balanced view of Reagans personal and political strengths and weaknesses, as well as his complicated legacy; depending on your own views on Reagan, you might come away feeling that the biography was too harsh or too lenient on him. It’s an engrossing read sure to capture the interest of history buffs and biography fans alike. 

If You Like Reagan: His Life and Legend, you might also like: 

Romney: A Reckoning 

By McKay Coppins 

Scribner, 2023. 403 pages. Biography 

Few figures in American politics have seen more and said less than Mitt Romney. An outspoken dissident in Donald Trump's GOP, he has made headlines in recent years for standing alone against the forces he believes are poisoning the party he once led. Romney was the first senator in history to vote to remove from office a president of his own party. When that president's supporters went on to storm the US Capitol, Romney delivered a thundering speech from the Senate floor accusing his fellow Republicans of stoking insurrection. Despite these moments of public courage, Romney has shared very little about what he's witnessed behind the scenes over his three decades in politics--in GOP cloakrooms and caucus lunches, in his private meetings with Donald Trump and his family, in his dealings with John McCain, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Joe Manchin, and Kyrsten Sinema. Now, exclusively for this biography, Romney has provided a window to his most private thoughts. 

John Adams 

By David McCullough 

Simon & Schuster, 2001. 751 pages. Biography 

In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as “out of his senses”; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.

This is history on a grand scale—a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.

Grant 

By Ron Chernow 

Penguin Press, 2017. 1,074 pages. Biography 

Ulysses S. Grant's life has typically been misunderstood. All too often he is caricatured as a chronic loser and inept businessman, fond of drinking to excess; or as the triumphant but brutal Union general of the Civil War; or as a credulous and hapless president whose tenure came to symbolize the worst excesses of the Gilded Age. These stereotypes don't come close to capturing adequately his spirit and the sheer magnitude of his monumental accomplishments. A biographer at the height of his powers, Chernow has produced a portrait of Grant that is a masterpiece, the first to provide a complete understanding of the general and president whose fortunes rose and fell with dizzying speed and frequency.

SGR

Zendaya

Zendaya: Una Biografía No Autorizada
Por Alison James
Roca Editorial, 2024. 224 páginas. Biografía

Una biografía para saberlo todo de Zendaya: un icono de su generación con más de 200 millones de seguidores y una de las 100 personas más influyentes del mundo, según la revista Time.

Descubre cómo Zendaya ha conquistado el mundo del cine, la televisión y la moda para convertirse en el rostro de toda una generación. Desde sus primeras apiciones en Disney Channel, Zendaya ha ido conquistando el corazón del público y la crítica con cada nuevo paso en su carrera.

En esta detallada biografía, la periodista Alison James, colaboradora habitual de la prensa estadounidense y autora de otras biografías de personajes públicos, como Bruce Springsteen, la reina Elizabeth II o el rey Charles III, explora todos los aspectos de la vida de la actriz y su carrera hasta la fecha.

Lleno de fotografías a todo color, el libro incluye in repaso desde sus primeras incursiones en la música hasta su sensacional ascenso en el mundo de la moda y el cine; así como algunos apuntes en su vida pública y vida personal, incluyendo desde su activismo hasta su consolidada relación con Tom Holland.

Adéntrate por completo en el fascinante mundo de una de las estrellas más populares del momento. 
El libro resalta cómo Zendaya ha conquistado el mundo del cine, la televisión y la moda, convirtiéndose en el rostro de toda una generación. Analiza su influencia no solo como artista, sino también como figura pública que utiliza su plataforma para promover cambios positivos en la industria y la sociedad.

Esta biografía no autorizada ofrece una visión completa de Zendaya, desde sus humildes comienzos hasta su estatus actual como fenómeno global, proporcionando a los lectores una comprensión más profunda de su impacto cultural y su trayectoria profesional.

Si le gusta «Zendaya» le recomendamos:

El Libro Polinesio
Por Los Polinesios
Montena, 2025. 256 páginas. Biografía

En diez años ha sucedido de todo: giras internacionales, sold out a sus eventos en minutos, premios, botones diamante en YouTube, casi 80 millones de followers en total en sus redes sociales, hasta evolucionar profesional y personalmente, encontrar su esencia y convertirse en adultos que nos han dado lo mejor de sí.

Pero el camino no ha sido fácil, los tres hermanos han tenido momentos increíbles con los polinesios en distintas ciudades, y también instantes en los que han tenido que hacer a un lado “una vida normal” con tal de ser lo que siempre quisieron.

A través de este gran viaje en forma de libro, conocerás cada uno de esos instantes emblemáticos para la gran familia polinesia y descubrirás por qué se han quedado en el corazón de millones de personas. No olvidemos las palabras de Rafa, Karen y Lesslie a la comunidad polinesia: ningún sueño es demasiado grande si pones tu corazón, entusiasmo y trabajo en alcanzarlo.

"El Libro Polinesio" parece ser una obra que combina elementos biográficos con mensajes motivacionales, dirigida principalmente a los fans de Los Polinesios y a jóvenes aspirantes a creadores de contenido. Ofrece una mirada íntima a las experiencias y el camino al éxito de estos influyentes youtubers latinoamericanos.

Taylor Swift: Un Diario Swiftie
Por Marcos Bueno y Laia López

Alfaguara IJC, 2024. 123 páginas. Biografía

Sea cual sea tu era, este es tu libro.

Todo el mundo sabe quién es Taylor Swift: su reputación la precede. Artista, compositora, actriz, directora, ganadora de miles de premios. En conclusión, una de las figuras más importantes de la industria musical hoy en día.

Pero ¿cómo se ha transformado Taylor Swift en uno de los grandes iconos musicales del siglo XXI?? ¿Qué tiene su música para conseguir atrapar a tanta gente y despertar una fidelidad casi religiosa en sus seguidores? ¿Qué hay en sus letras para que toda una generación se sienta reflejada en ellas?

Este diario trata de responder a esas preguntas. Aquí, la vida de alguien que lleva toda su vida escuchando a Taylor Swift (alguien que podrías ser tú) y la de Taylor se mezclan y se confunden. Porque seguro que esto es lo que tú has sentido alguna vez, ¿verdad? Que Taylor, al hablar de sí misma, hablaba también de ti y de todas esas cosas que recuerdas demasiado bien.

El libro busca explorar el fenómeno cultural que rodea a Taylor Swift, analizando cómo su música ha logrado crear una conexión tan fuerte con sus seguidores y por qué sus letras resuenan con tanta fuerza en su audiencia. Este enfoque permite examinar no solo la carrera de Swift, sino también su impacto en la industria musical y en la cultura popular en general. Este libro promete ser una lectura atractiva tanto para fans dedicados como para aquellos interesados en comprender el fenómeno Taylor Swift y su influencia en la música contemporánea.

MEB

Labels: Español, MEB, No Ficcion, Adulto Joven, Biografía

Toda Mi Vida Hecha Nudos

Toda Mi Vida Hecha Nudos
Por Beth Moore
Tyndale House Publishers, 2023. 319 páginas. Autobiografía

Un vistazo increíblemente considerado, intensamente vulnerable y con humor desarmante de la vida y el ministerio de una mujer reconocida por muchos pero conocida por pocos... Es un retrato hermoso de resiliencia y sobrevivencia, un conmovedor recordatorio de la fidelidad duradera de Dios y evidencia concreta de que si en verdad nos tomáramos el tiempo para escuchar las historias enteras de las personas... siempre andaríamos boquiabiertos.

«Toda Mi Vida Hecha Nudos» es una autobiografía escrita por Beth Moore, una reconocida autora y maestra de la Biblia. El libro ofrece un relato íntimo y vulnerable de la vida y el ministerio de Moore. Moore comparte detalles de su vida personal y su trayectoria en el ministerio, ofreciendo a los lectores una mirada sin filtros a sus experiencias. El libro sirve como un testimonio de cómo la fe puede ayudar a superar adversidades y desafíos personales. La autobiografía no solo narra la historia de Moore, sino que también busca inspirar a los lectores, mostrando cómo las dificultades de la vida pueden ser superadas con fe y perseverancia.

Si le gusta «Toda Mi Vida Hecha Nudos» le recomendamos:

Cómo Fabricar a una Feminista
Por Sara Huff
HarperEnfoque, 2023. 230 páginas. Autobiografía

Al aportar profundos antecedentes históricos e investigaciones sobre el feminismo, así como su trágica experiencia de primera mano, Sara Huff analiza a profundidad los problemas propuestos por las principales exponentes feministas, la solución que sugirieron, y las devastadoras consecuencias que han causado a las mujeres.

Este libro es una exposición de las obras del feminismo actual, el cual ha corompido y atenuado el valor y el papel de la mujer de la sociedad y le ha vendido una falsa libertad. Es una guía de supervivencia para las mujeres que quieran evitar caer en las garras del verdadero feminismo y su trágica conclusión, así como una herramienta útil para las personas que quieran ayudar a las que han caído presas del movimiento.

«Cómo Fabricar a una Feminista» es un libro escrito por Sara Huff, una exlíder feminista que ahora critica el movimiento. En esta obra, Huff examina el feminismo desde una perspectiva crítica, argumentando que el "verdadero feminismo" tiene consecuencias negativas para las mujeres y la sociedad. Huff presenta su obra como una advertencia sobre los peligros del feminismo, cuestionando si realmente ofrece libertad a las mujeres o si es un "ejercicio en vano."

Al Rescate

Por Heidi S. Swinton
Deseret Book, 2012. 639 páginas. Biografía

La experiencia ma s dulce de la vida mortal es saber que nuestro Padre Celestial ha obrado por medio de nosotros , declara el presidente Thomas S. Monson, decimosexto Presidente de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los U ltimos Di as. El presidente Monson ha viajado por el mundo para bendecir a un nu mero incalculable de vidas, pero tal vez se le reconozca ma s por el amor que demuestra hacia la gente en forma individual y por ir donde el Espi ritu lo gui a.

«Al Rescate» describe la vida y el ministerio de este extraordinario lider. El lector sera transportado a su infancia, se familiarizara con sus pasatiempos, su servicio en la marina y su noviazgo con Frances Johnson. Observara n un servicio que se extendio por ma s de seis de cadas, supervisando la obra de la Iglesia en Alemania Oriental durante ma s de veinte an os y desempen ando funciones clave en programas vitales de la Iglesia, desde correlacio n hasta bienestar y la publicacio n de ediciones SUD de las Escrituras. En medio de todo ello, ministro entre los necesitados siempre de un modo personal.

MEB

Labels: Español, MEB, Autobiografía, Biografía, Memoria, Religioso

The House of My Mother

The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom 

By Shari Franke 

Gallery Books, 2025. 320 pages. Memoir 

Shari Franke's childhood was marked by a constant struggle for survival under her mother's strict and oppressive rule. Ruby Franke, who cultivated a perfect family image on their popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, hid a much darker, tyrannical parenting style behind the scenes. As the family's fame grew, Ruby's delusions of righteousness intensified, leading her to adopt even harsher disciplinary tactics. Influenced by relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby and Jodi implemented a cruel and unforgiving regime on Shari and her siblings. 

Wow. Listening to this audiobook, read by the author, was gut-wrenching. I came across the 8 Passengers channel years ago and fell for the sham. I assumed (wrongly) that the family were all happy and willing participants in Ruby’s vlogs, and now learning the extent of what was happening behind the camera makes me sick. Shari’s raw honesty not just about her family’s actions and inactions, but also the greater psychological impact that had on her, is devastating. Despite the mental and emotional scars that mar her life, Shari’s story is one of strength, resilience, and hope for a brighter future. The short chapters and fast-pace of events makes this hard to put down. Highly recommended. 

If you liked The House of My Mother, you might also like: 

Counting the Cost  

By Jill Duggar 

Gallery Books, 2023. 271 pages. Memoir 

For the first time, discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting, as they share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans. 

I’m Glad My Mom Died  

By Jennette McCurdy 

Simon & Schuster, 2022. 320 pages. Memoir 

The iCarly and Sam & Cat star, after her controlling mother dies, gets the help she needs to overcome eating disorders, addiction and unhealthy relationships--and finally decides what she really wants for the first time in her life. 

ACS

The Woman in Me

The Woman in Me

By Britney Spears

Gallery Books, 2023. 277 pages. Biography 

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice--her truth--was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey--and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears's groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love--and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. 

The Woman in Me starts off as a hopeful story of a little girl in Louisiana with big dreams and bigger family problems. In heartbreaking detail, Britney Spears shares the events that led to her 13-year conservatorship and, ultimately, how she freed herself. There’s so much to take from this book whether you’re a Britney Spears fan or not; it’s incredibly poignant and self-aware in ways only a woman whose gone through what she has can be. The audiobook is narrated beautifully by Oscar-winning actress Michelle Williams who perfects Spears’ cadence and makes you forget it’s not actually her. If you’ve ever struggled with being kind while also standing up for yourself, you’re sure to take something from this moving memoir. 

If you liked The Woman in Me, you might also like:

I’m Glad My Mom Died

By Jennette McCurdy

Simon and Schuster, 2022. 304 pages. Biography

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother's dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So, she went along with what Mom called "calorie restriction," eating little and weighing herself five times a day. In I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi, Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants. 

Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond 

By Henry Winkler 

Celadon Books, 2023. 247 pages. Biography

Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as "The Fonz" in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood, Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you. Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

BW

El Invencible Verano de Liliana

El Invencible Verano de Liliana

por Cristina Rivera Garza
Vintage Espanol, 2023. 302 páginas. Memoria

 
El 16 de julio de 1990, Liliana Rivera Garza, mi hermana, fue víctima de un feminicidio. Era una muchacha de 20 años, estudiante de arquitectura. Tenía años tratando de terminar su relación con un novio de la preparatoria que insistía en no dejarla ir. Unas cuantas semanas antes de la tragedia, Liliana por fin tomó una decisión definitiva: en lo más crudo del invierno había descubierto que en ella, como bien lo había dicho Albert Camus, había un invencible verano. Lo dejaría atrás. Empezaría una nueva vida. Haría una maestría y después un doctorado; viajaría a Londres.

La decisión de él fue que ella no tendría una vida sin él. Hace apenas un año decidí abrir las cajas donde depositamos las pertenencias de mi hermana. Su voz atravesó el tiempo y, como la de tantas mujeres desaparecidas y ultrajadas en México, demandó justicia.

El invencible verano de Liliana es una excavación en la vida de una mujer brillante y audaz que careció, como nosotros mismos, como todos los demás, del lenguaje necesario para identificar, denunciar y combatir la violencia sexista y el terrorismo de pareja que caracteriza a tantas relaciones patriarcales.

Si le gusta «El Invencible Verano de Liliana» le recomendamos:

Donde Somos Humanos

por Reyna Grande
HarperCollins Español, 2023. 343 páginas. No Ficción

Con una introducción del ganador del Premio Pulitzer, Viet Thanh Nguyen, En algún lugar somos humano es una antología de cuarenta y cuatro ensayos y poemas atrevidos, importantes y revolucionarios escritos por inmigrantes, refugiados y Dreamers, incluidos escritores galardonados, artistas y activistas, que iluminan la realidad del día a día de un indocumentado.

Hoy en día, existe un efusivo debate sobre el tema de la inmigración en los Estados Unidos, pero se pierde de vista lo más importante: que los migrantes y refugiados viviendo precariamente en este país son madres y padres, hermanos y hermanas, hijos e hijas; individuos impulsados por la esperanza y el miedo que se juegan la vida con la promesa del sueño americano. Sus historias, sin embargo, caen a menudo en el olvido.

En estos tiempos de inquietudes, agitación política e incertidumbre, esta antología de ensayos, poesía y arte intenta transformar la xenófoba y estereotipada perspectiva colectiva que tenemos sobre los inmigrantes y refugiados en una basada en la justicia y humanidad. Les autores de esta colección alterarán la visión que tienen de sí mismes y de sus respectivas comunidades a través de la narración y el arte para así declarar orgullosamente que, tanto aquí como en cualquier otro lugar, todos somos humanos a pesar de la militarización de las fronteras, la detención masiva y la legislación draconiana y antiinmigrante en los Estados Unidos.

En algún lugar somos humanos revela cómo la alegría, la esperanza, el duelo y la perseverancia nos ayudan a florecer en los terrenos más áridos y en las condiciones más extremas.

La Viajera Nocturna
por Armando Lucas Correa
Vintage Espanol, 2023. 397 páginas. Ficción

Berlín, 1931: La joven poeta Ally Keller da a luz a solas a Lilith, una niña mestiza. Mientras los Nazis ascienden al poder, Ally sabe que debe mantener a su bebé oculta para protegerla de la ideología de la raza aria promovida por Hitler. Pero a medida que Lilith crece, cada vez resulta más difícil protegerla ... Hasta que un día Ally decide poner en marcha un plan desesperado para enviar a su hija a un lugar seguro al otro lado del océano.

La Habana, 1958: Lilith, ya adulta, conserva pocos recuerdos de su madre o de su infancia en Alemania y, aunque ahora está muy ilusionada con su futuro al lado de Martín, un piloto cubano con fuertes lazos con el gobierno de Fulgencio Batista, al estallar la Revolución se encuentra en una encrucijada junto a su hija recién nacida, Nadine.

Berlín, 1988: Nadine se ha convertido en una científica que se dedica a velar por la dignidad de de quienes fueron asesinados por los Nazis. Sin embargo, lleva toda la vida sin afrontar la verdad sobre la historia de su familia. Será su hija, Luna, quien la animará a indagar sobre las decisiones que tomaron su madre y su abuela para asegurar su supervivencia.

Además, Luna deberá aceptar una traición desconcertante que cambiará todo lo que creía saber sobre sus antepasados. Cuatro mujeres de varias generaciones unidas por el sacrificio se embarcan en sus propios viajes de autodescubrimiento y se convierten en testimonios de la fuerza del amor materno.

MEB

Etiquetas: Español, MEB, No Ficción, Memoria, Ficción, Historia

The Other Dr. Gilmer by Benjamin Gilmer

The Other Dr. Gilmer: two men, a murder, and an unlikely fight for justice
By Benjamin Gilmer
Ballantine Books, 2022. 292 pages. True Crime Biography  

A rural physician learns that a former doctor at his clinic committed a shocking crime, leading him to uncover an undiagnosed mental health crisis in our broken prison system--a powerful true story expanding on one of the most popular This American Life episodes of all time. When family physician Dr. Benjamin Gilmer began working at the Cane Creek Clinic in rural North Carolina, he was following in the footsteps of a man with the same last name. His predecessor, Dr. Vince Gilmer, was beloved by his patients and community--right up until the shocking moment when he strangled his ailing father to death and then returned to the clinic for a regular day of work. Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, the author, tells of how a caring man was overcome by a perfect storm of rare health conditions, leading to an unimaginable crime. Rather than get treatment, Vince Gilmer was sentenced to life in prison--a life made all the worse by his untrustworthy brain and prison and government officials who dismissed his situation. A large percentage of imprisoned Americans are suffering from mental illness when they commit their crimes and continue to suffer, untreated, in prison. In a country with the highest incarceration rates in the world, Dr. Benjamin Gilmer argues that some crimes need to be healed rather than punished.

This is one of the best non-fiction books I have read in a long time! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, because it is read by the author which gives it an authentic feel. I enjoyed how Dr. Gilmer was able to take the reader on the same journey he went on, without spoiling the ending for those of us that weren't familiar with the news stories. The compassion and love that these two doctors have for their patients is beyond compare; that's why Dr. Vince Gilmer's crime is so shocking. If you like true crime podcasts, this book is definitely for you!

If you like The Other Dr. Gilmer, you might also like:

The Sun Does Shine: how I found life & freedom on death row
By Anthony Ray Hinton
St. Martin's Press, 2018. 255 pages. Biography

In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in Alabama. Stunned, confused, and only twenty-nine years old, Hinton knew that it was a case of mistaken identity and believed that the truth would prove his innocence and ultimately set him free. But with no money and a different system of justice for a poor black man in the South, Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution. He spent his first three years on Death Row at Holman State Prison in agonizing silence--full of despair and anger towards all those who had sent an innocent man to his death. But as Hinton realized and accepted his fate, he resolved not only to survive, but find a way to live on Death Row. For the next twenty-seven years he was a beacon--transforming not only his own spirit, but those of his fellow inmates, fifty-four of whom were executed mere feet from his cell. With the help of civil rights attorney and bestselling author of Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015. Destined to be a classic memoir of wrongful imprisonment and freedom won, Hinton's memoir tells his dramatic thirty-year journey and shows how you can take away a man's freedom, but you can't take away his imagination, humor, or joy.

Corrections in Ink: a memoir
By Keri Blakinger
St. Martin's Press, 2022. 322 pages. Biography

An elite, competitive figure skater growing up, Keri Blakinger poured herself into the sport, even competing at nationals. But when her skating partnership ended abruptly, her world shattered. With all the intensity she saved for the ice, she dove into self-destruction. From her first taste of heroin, the next nine years would be a blur--living on the streets, digging for a vein, selling drugs and sex, eventually plunging off a bridge when it all became too much, all while trying to hold herself together enough to finish her degree at Cornell. Then, on a cold day during Keri's senior year, the police stopped her. Caught with a Tupperware container full of heroin, she was arrested and ushered into a holding cell, a county jail, and finally into a state prison. There, in the cruel "upside down," Keri witnessed callous conditions and encountered women from all walks of life--women who would change Keri forever. Two years later, Keri walked out of prison sober and determined to make the most of the second chance she was given--an opportunity impacted by her privilege as a white woman. She scored a local reporting job and eventually moved to Texas, where she started covering prisons. Now, over her career as an award-winning journalist, she has dedicated herself to exposing the broken system as only an insider could.

LKA

Bad Mormon

Bad Mormon

By Heather Gay

First Gallery Books, 2023. 287 pages. Biography

Born and bred to be devout, Heather Gay based her life around her faith. She attended Brigham Young University, served a mission in France, and married into Mormon royalty in the temple. But her life as a good Mormon abruptly ended when she lost the marriage and faith that she had once believed would last forever. With writing that is beautiful, sad, funny, and true, Heather recounts the difficult discovery of the darkness and damage that often exists behind a picture-perfect life, while examining the nuanced relationship between duty to self and duty to God. Exposing secrets she once held sacred, Bad Mormon is an unfiltered look at the religion that broke her heart. 

This is an open and honest take on one woman's struggle to live her life authentically. I liked how Heather's cheeky tone (something I enjoyed about her on the RHOSLC show) comes through. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a memoir about coming to terms with who you are as a person, even if that means leaving behind what you once held dear. 

If you like Bad Mormon, you might also like:

Enough Already

By Valerie Bertinelli

Mariner Books, 2022. 243 pages. Biography

Behind the curtain of her happy on-screen persona, Valerie Bertinelli's life has been no easy ride, especially when it comes to her own self-worth. Valerie shares personal stories: hitting her fifties, taking care of her dying mother, the evolving relationship with her husband, a career change, her relationship with food, and the battle to believe in herself as she is. 

Heretic

By Jeanna Kadlec

Harper, 2022. 259 pages. Biography

Jeanna Kadlec knew what it meant to be faithful--in her marriage to a pastor's son, in the comfortable life ahead of her, in her God--but there was no denying the truth that lived under that conviction: she was queer and, if she wanted to survive, she would need to leave behind the church and every foundational building block she knew. Heretic is a memoir of rebirth. 

Leaving the Saints

By Martha Nibley Beck

Crown Publishers, 2005. 306 pages. Biography

As "Mormon royalty," Beck was raised in a home frequented by her church's high elders, and her existence was framed by their strict code of conduct. In this thoughtful examination of faith, Beck chronicles her difficult decision to leave the Mormon church, and her struggle to overcome a dark secret buried in her childhood. 

Untamed

By Glennon Doyle

The Dial Press, 2020. 333 pages. Biography

In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, Glennon Doyle explores the joy and peace when women stop striving to meet others' expectations and start trusting the voice deep within them. 

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Orgullo Prieto

Orgullo Prieto

Por Tenoch Huerta Mejía

Grijalbo, 2022. 220 páginas. No Ficción

«Espero que este libro contribuya a ensalzar el orgullo de ser lo que somos, para que no haya un “prieto arrogante,” como me nombran, sino que haya millones de prietos orgullosos en este país.» -Tenoch Huerta

México es un país racista que niega serlo. Con argumentos como “No es racismo, sino clasismo”, “Acá somos todos mestizos” o “Nunca hubo un sistema segregacionista como en Estados Unidos” negamos que hemos perpetuado la discriminación durante generaciones.

Tenoch Huerta, actor de reconocido prestigio y portavoz del debate y la lucha antirracista en México desde hace años, se encarga de rebatir estos y otros mitos acerca del racismo en las páginas de «Orgullo Prieto.» En este libro encontrarás una serie de reflexiones sobre las diferentes discriminaciones que sufre un mexicano por su color de piel en distintos ámbitos —el social, el laboral, el familiar—, así como numerosas vivencias personales del autor sobre situaciones en las que ha sido víctima de racismo, pero también en las que ha ejercido las prácticas racistas propias de un problema que México no quiere ver.

Si le gusta «Orgullo Prieto» le recomendamos:

Trejo: Mi Vida de Crimen, Redención y Hollywood
Por Danny Trejo
Atria Español, 2021. 331 páginas. Autobiografía

Por primera vez, toda la historia real, fascinante e inspiradora del viaje de Danny Trejo desde el crimen, la prisión, la adicción y la pérdida a la fama inesperada como el malo favorito de Hollywood con un corazón de oro. En la pantalla, Danny Trejo el actor es un malvado que ha sido asesinado al menos cien veces. Le han disparado, apuñalado, ahorcado, cortado en pedazos, estrujado con un ascensor, y una vez, incluso lo derritieron hasta convertirlo en una sustancia viscosa y sangrienta. Fuera de la pantalla, es un héroe amado tanto por las comunidades de rehabilitación como por los fanáticos obsesionados. Pero el verdadero Danny Trejo es mucho más complicado que la leyenda.

Criado en un hogar abusivo, Danny luchó, desde joven, con una adicción a la heroína y períodos en algunas de las prisiones estatales más infames del país, incluyendo San Quentin y Folsom, antes de protagonizar los clásicos modernos como Heat, From Dusk till Dawn y Machete. Ahora, en estas memorias graciosas, desgarradoras y llenas de suspenso, Danny nos lleva a través de los increíbles altibajos de su vida, incluidos el conocer en prisión a uno de los asesinos en serie más famosos del mundo y trabajar con leyendas como Charles Bronson y Robert De Niro.

En detalles honestos e impávidos, Danny relata cómo logró manejar los horrores de la prisión, reconstruirse luego de encontrar la sobriedad y la espiritualidad en confinamiento solitario, e inspirarse en los robos infundidos con adrenalina de su pasado para los papeles cinematográficos que lo convirtieron en un personaje famoso. También comparte las dolorosas contradicciones de su vida personal. Aunque habla sobre su pasado tanto en prisiones como en NPR para inspirar a un sinnúmero de personas en sus propios caminos a la recuperación y redención, él aun lucha por ayudar a sus hijos con sus propias batallas con la adicción y por armar relaciones duraderas.

Redentor y lacerante, conmovedor y real, Trejo es el retrato de una vida magnífica y un viaje inolvidable y excepcional a través de la tragedia, el dolor y, finalmente, el éxito que te cautivará e inspirará.

Charytín: El Tiempo Pasa ... ¡Pero Yo No!

Por Charytín Goyco
HarperCollins Español, 2022. 270 páginas. Autobiografía

Desde una infancia dolorosa con complicados secretos familiares a un amor muy diferente al de las novelas, Charytín Goyco nos lo cuenta todo, con su peculiar tono cargado de drama y comedia a la vez. Sus anécdotas con famosos (Juan Luis Guerra, Camilo Sesto, Jenni Rivera, entre muchos). Los "besos de divorcio" que compartió con los galanes de moda en innumerables películas. La pérdida de un bebé y su angustia más persistente: la de ser madre en una profesión donde tener hijos ponía en peligro todos los proyectos. La verdadera razón por la cual dejó de cantar.

Sus incesantes sueños plagados de fantasmas, premoniciones y revelaciones, siempre encarando a la muerte, y los conflictos que este extraño don le causó con sus seres queridos. Sus raíces, su historia, sus primeras memorias de niña, entre dos continentes, dignas de la mejor película. Su lucha interna desde niña por ser tachada de "niña rara," "ridícula" o estrambótica.

MEB

Labels: Español, MEB, No Ficción, Autobiografía, Memorias