What a Girl Writes: 6 Inspiring Memoirs from My Favorite Ladies
I already have the title of my memoir, which will no doubt be a best-selling phenomenon…when I write it (and recover from an addiction I have yet to acquire). I will share it with you if you PROMISE not to take it from me. Ok? It's going to be called, "Craftastrophe: How not to have a mental breakdown most of the time." Or something like that. I know, it's really, really good.
I can't wait to read it. But in the meantime, I'd thought I'd share some memoirs, or if you prefer autobiographies, that have affected my life and inspired me. Most of them are funny, all of them are superbly written, and they all make me want to get up and shout, "HERE I AM WORLD! I'M A CRAFTASTROPHE!" So in no particular order I give you: 6 books by women that will inspire you to write your own memoir!
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
I was SO worried when Mindy launched The Mindy Project that it wouldn't be a success. I just felt like there was a lot of pressure on her! Poor thing. This was obviously before I read her book, and now I know how amazing she is. Not only is this book hysterical, it's well-written and super encouraging.
Bosspants by Tina Fey
I listened to this book, and my husband honestly was so annoyed with all the snorting and laughing coming from my side of the bed, it was almost banned. Tina Fey is a genius. Her life and work ethic are totally inspiring.
Related: 8 inspiring women who pioneered the feminist movement
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Ok, ok, this is not TECHNICALLY a memoir or autobiography, but it is semi-autobiographical and fully awesome. How can a story about a woman's husband cheating on her when she is 7-months-pregnant be awesome? Ephron wrote it, duh. There's also a movie of this with Meryl Streep, but the book is worth a read!
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Jenny's childhood is just so completely out realm of "normal" that your jaw will be permanently dropped when it's not yakking it up. There are a ton of F-bombs, and if you're vegan you might hate it, but I adored it, and her.
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
I adored this book, in which you get a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to dine like a food critic. There are disguises, 15-course-meals, and great prose.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Ok, this is not a funny book. In fact it's really sad. But it is so beautiful, and so genius, that it's worth using whatever brain cells you have left to absorb it. If you want some philosophy in-between episodes of The Bachelor, this is worth the read.
-By Alison Faulkner
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