Five Memoirs we Recommend

Diving into the depths of lived experiences, here are memoirs by five extraordinary women writers that offer honesty, humour, and profound insights. 

Our Santiniketan, by Mahasweta Devi: In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore established a small school with five students, in his father’s rural retreat in Bengal called Santiniketan (or the "abode of peace"). Bengali novelist Mahasweta Devi recalls her childhood spent at Santiniketan in the 1930s, offering a child’s perspective and valuable insights into a pioneering educational experiment. We also get a glimpse of her inner life, her family, and the early experiences that shaped her.

I Am, I Am, I Am, by Maggie O’Farrell: This unconventional memoir explores the author's life through seventeen distinct near-death experiences - from a severe childhood illness to a terrifying encounter with a disturbed man as a teenager, from dangerous childbirth experiences, to the constant anxiety of protecting a child with a life-threatening condition. Through her vivid prose, O’Farrell describes the profound impact these experiences have had on her understanding of life's fragility and preciousness. 

I Feel Bad About My Neck, And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron is a collection of witty personal essays that explore the realities of ageing, particularly for women. Ephron tackles topics ranging from the dreaded ageing neck, to the joys and frustrations of motherhood, empty nests, and the various absurdities of everyday life. 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith explores the aftermath of her divorce and her journey toward rebuilding her life. She examines traditional gender roles and the power dynamics within relationships, even those that appear to be progressive. Despite the pain of betrayal and loss, the challenges of solo motherhood, and the slow process of healing, the memoir is an argument for possibility, how even in the face of profound change, something new and beautiful can emerge.

Some of Us Just Fall by Polly Atkin: After years of misdiagnosis and medical gaslighting, Atkin is finally diagnosed with two chronic conditions in her thirties. Having to navigate pain and fatigue on a daily basis, and the challenges of living with a body that frequently betrays her, the natural world becomes a source of solace. Atkin explores the emotional and social impact of chronic illness, the many ways her illness has shaped her identity, her relationships, and her understanding of resilience. This is not a book about getting better, it is a book about living better with illness.