Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
✨memoirs you must read✨ (the ultimate list)
31
items Memoirs are my specialty - I've become obsessed with them over the years. This list contains the ones I wholehartedly recommend, so do not worry - I got you here! Any of these jewels will fit in perfectly into your library, as these are the type of b...
Sections
7
celebrity
motherhood
extraordinary stories
abuse
depression
inspiring
celebrity
Well written essays and a refreshing point of view - on femininity, reclaiming power over your life and sexuality and much more. You will not be able to put it down.
"My Body" by Emily Ratajkowski
This one doesn't even need introduction! Poetic,emotionally raw and beautiful in all its tragedy.
"My Story" by Marilyn Monroe
I am obsessed. I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. Which hasn't happened to me in a while, I must admit. It feels like she's lived a hundred different lives, successfully adopting to a new role in each. Her voice is refreshingly raw and authentic, her sto...
Down the Drain by Julia Fox
Hilarious, deep, soul-crushing and healing at the same time. Mother-child relations can be so complex and intricate, yet hard to escape. A brave story, with a beautiful ending.
"I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy
We all love celebrity memoirs. This one hits differently - so relatable, raw and beautiful in its honesty. It brought about a new level of respect for Selma Blair and her work.
"Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up" by Selma Blair
Whether or not you're a fan of the 2000s iconic girlies - this memoir is, in fact, iconic. Fast paced, generous, hard-to-swallow at times and charmingly raw - it will surprise you.
"Paris:The Memoir" by Paris Hilton, Hardcover
I was curious as to what kind of mindset change would a story like this provoke in me. How would it expand my thinking about certain things; and it did, in the most beautiful way. Highly recommend.
"Pageboy: A Memoir" by Elliot Page
This was an unexpected read. Soul-crushing, sad, mad, crazy, iconic and so much more in between. It brought up a lot of emotion for me, reading about a talented young woman being exploited in such intricate ways by her closest family. If you've been ...
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
So there's this podcast I love and listen to from time to time - celebrity memoir book club (check them out for sure). And one episode was dedicated to this book and to Rebel's life story; so I start listening, and the story keeps getting more funny ...
Rebel Rising: A Memoir
motherhood
Beautifully written, a must read for any female writer (or an aspiring writer). It contemplates the complex ways in which motherhood and art can be intertwined and opposed to each other - only to be unified again. The mother and the artist can, indee...
"Black Milk" by Elif Shafak
I feel like this one should be prescribed to every parent-to-be. Raw, emotional, sharp and fragile at the same time (a very fine balance, and one that is hard to achieve). An honest take on becoming a mother.
A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother by Cusk
This book will make you think, whether you have children or not (or if you're planning to have them in future). A kind of soul-searching tale of growing up and growing old(er).
"Motherhood: A Novel", Sheila Heti
extraordinary stories
A deep dive into female identity and the way certain circumstances in life can shape and determine our character. A soul-crushing story and a portrayal of the beauty it brought about. A must read.
"Autobiography Of A Face" by Lucy Grealy
"In Order to Live" isn't just a memoir - it's a testament to the power of the human spirit and the strength that can emerge from the depths of adversity. The circumstances of Yeonmi's life are so intense and wild that it'll feel like you're reading f...
"In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom" by Yeonmi Park
I loved reading this one! Richard's character and power of sheer will is so inspirational. His unbreakable spirit. I will be reading this one over and over again. If you've never heard of Richard Williams before, let me put it this way - he is the fa...
"Black and White: The Way I See It" by Richard Williams
Man, I was not prepared for this one. Shocking and fascinating doesn't even begin to descibe the story of this artist.
"Walk Through Walls: A Memoir" Marina Abramovic
The unbreakable man. Well, this one broke me to pieces, made me dig deeper into my own hipocrisy. It is so worth reading. There's more to this man than meets the eye.
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind - David Goggins
Maya Angelou doesn't really need an introduction. This book should be taught in schools all around the world. You need it in your personal library.
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
A book that every human being on this planet should read. I keep coming back to this book, the layers streching further and futher every time I pick it up. A story that is so deeply human and universal, yet unique and almost unimaginable to probably ...
"Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
abuse
Incredible read. These essays hit very deep, questioning justice in its different forms and possibilities.
"The Reckonings: Essays" by Lacy M. Johnson
This one got me lost in my thoughts for days. Almost any girl can relate to the story in some capacity, unfortunately. An important read!
"Being Lolita: A Memoir" by Alisson Wood
Another incredible read from Lacy M Johnson. She has a specific rhythm to her writing; she slowly builds her story while circling back yet again to certain moments in time, creating a trance-like feeling that only gifted storytellers can invoke in a ...
"The Other Side: A Memoir" by Lacy M. Johnson
Another one with the real-life-Lolita circumstances. Devastating, sharp and powerful in its prose and intention. Told in a way that is empowering, suggesting that there can be a different ending; that there is a way to take your power back.
"Consent: A Memoir" by Vanessa Springora
Another hard-to-digest-at-moments but beautifully crafted memoir. A coming of age story (and of a writer in becoming! that makes it even more special) immersed in abuse and dysfuncional family dynamics, love affairs - you name it. You will not want t...
"Stray: A Memoir" by Stephanie Danler
depression
If you haven't read this one yet - where have you been? One of my all time favorite books. I keep coming back to it, Elizabeth's prose being as relevant as ever. This book is my haven, a comfort blanket in times of crisis. If you've ever had a depres...
"Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America" by Elizabeth Wurtzel
This book, along with Prozac Nation, probably saved my life while I was going through depression. A classic! I keep coming back to it. The og poetess, the one and only Sylvia Plath.
"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
inspiring
Reading this book felt like a warm hug from a friend you haven't seen in a while. It makes you question your own choices and belief in a very gentle and loving way.
"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle
I read this memoir before picking up “Autobiography of a face”, and I feel like the reading order in my case was ideal. I was mesmerized by the story of Lucy Grealy, the beauty and friendship surrounding it - it almost outshined the hardships she had...
"Truth & Beauty: A Friendship" by Ann Patchett
This book is so, so important. It contemplates complex subjects like freedom (also freedom of thought and speech) and culture, opression and creativity that springs in harsh circumstances. Moving and hopeful, it will show you that where there's a wil...
"Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir" by Azar Nafisi
I've just finished this one! Beautifully written, it takes you on a magical journey. It has a dreamy quality to it that I loved and appreciated so much. Regardless of your own witchy preferences and tastes, it will open your mind to new possibilities...
"Initiated: Memoir of a Witch" by Amanda Yates Garcia
death
Ah, this one! This memoir isn't merely a documentation of grief; it's a lyrical meditation on the profound ways in which loss shapes our perceptions, challenges our beliefs, and ultimately reshapes our lives. Through the book, Joan Didion's writing b...
"The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion