Tag Archive for: Memoir

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As You Wish

As You WishTitle: As You Wish
Author: Cary Elwes
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 272
Length: 7h 1m
Narrator: Cary Elwes
Rating:

My Thoughts

What a delightful memoir. It’s definitely my favorite to date. I loved learning about the making of The Princess Bride. It was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look. The audiobook is definitely the way to read AS YOU WISH. Besides Cary Elwes narrating his memoir, a lot of the main cast is featured which was truly a treat. 

After I finished listening, I immediately rewatched the movie. It was so much fun to see all the things Cary Elwes and his cast mates talk about. It also made an already enjoyable film that much more enjoyable. One of these days, I’ll actually read William Goldman’s book so I can experience the source material as well.

Additional Narrators: Carol Kane, Norman Lear, Rob Reiner, Chris Sarandon, Andy Scheinman, Wallace Shawn, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal

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Choose Your Own Autobiography

Choose Your Own AutobiographyTitle: Choose Your Own Autobiography
Author: Neil Patrick Harris
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 291
Length: 7h 15m
Narrator: Neil Patrick Harris
Rating:

My Thoughts

I have been a fan of Neil Patrick Harris for a while. I loved him as Barney Stinson in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother and as Dr. Horrible in Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. And, I thought it woud be fun to read his memoir.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY is written in the style of a choose-your-own-adventure novel. This style lends mostly to true stories about Harris with the occasional “if you want to listen to your own horrible death, keep listening” anecdotes. Like most celebrity memoirs, Harris narrates his own audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to him recount his own story. I also really loved when he broke out into song. I really loved a lot of the over-the-top parts. I especially loved listening to the sometimes true, sometimes comedic notes from his friends. However, my favorite parts were the stories of his life with his husband, David Burtka, and their twins, Gideon and Harper. When he talked about his family, I saw a regular person instead of a celebrity.

Harris’ memoir is the first one I’ve read that focuses on the author’s entire life instead of some challenge they had to deal with. His memoir is just about him as a whole. Because of this, I didn’t really feel inspired like I have with other memoirs so I was a little bit letdown by the end.

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Radical Love

Radical LoveTitle: Radical Love
Author: Zachary Levi
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 202
Length: 6h 21m
Narrator: Zachary Levi
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’ve wanted to read Zachary Levi’s memoir, RADICAL LOVE, for a long time now. I’m so glad I decided to read it because it was amazing! I listened to the audiobook because Levi narrates and talks about his struggles with depression, suicidal ideation, and his feelings of worthlessness. The memoir was raw, emotional, uplifting, and hopeful. It helped remind me that none of us are alone and there’s always help when we need it. I’m glad he sought help during his darkest moments, started the healing process of managing his mental health and forgiving the abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents.

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Building A Life Worth Living

Building A Life Worth LivingTitle: Building a Life Worth Living
Author: Marsha M. Linehan
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 384
Length: 12h 19m
Narrator: Hillary Huber, Stephen Mendel
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’ve been in therapy off and on since I was 16 to treat a myriad of problems–depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and PTSD from sexual trauma. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder in 2019 and spent a week in the hospital in March 2021 for overdosing on lithium that my psychiatrist and therapist recommended I find a DBT program. I graduated from that program in May 2022.

In one of my recent conversations with my DBT-trained Psy.D. therapist, he recommended I read Linehan’s memoir. I had been struggling with depression and anhedonia due to health problems. Instead of using the skills I learned in DBT to help me cope with them, I started falling back into my old behaviors. I was severely discouraged, thinking I’d have to deal with the same mental health problems for the rest of my life. I wanted a magic pill to get rid of them for good.

Reading Linehan’s memoir was very eye-opening and I’m so glad I decided to read it. Before I read her life story, I knew one thing about her–she developed the life-saving behavior therapy known as DBT. What I did not know is that she used her own struggles with depression, anxiety, self-harm urges, and suicidal ideation to develop these life skills to help others. She explained that when she clawed her way out of her own personal hell, she made a vow to God and herself that she’d find a way to help others out of their hells too.

She not only used science and research to create easy-to-use skills to help highly suicidal individuals, she also sought help from different spiritual advisors along the way. She, a devout Catholic (at the time), spent months in Zen monasteries, learning the skills of mindfulness, acceptance, and willingness.

She persevered through countless setbacks of invalidation from her parents and skepticism by colleagues. She endured sexism and outdated Freudian ideals in the psychological industry. And, she persisted in publishing her findings despite rejection after rejection due to being deemed a poor writer.

I’m so grateful she was so determined to fulfill her vow. DBT has changed my life. As I mentioned above, I still struggle with the same urges and extreme emotions I had before going through DBT. I also feel more confident in my ability to cope and work through my struggles. I know if I use the skills I’ve learned, I can build a life worth living.

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Broken (In The Best Possible Way)

Broken (In The Best Possible Way)Title: Broken (in the Best Possible Way)
Author: Jenny Lawson
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 304
Rating:

My Thoughts

Back in 2017, I read FURIOUSLY HAPPY and loved it. It actually kind of changed my life. I realized in a very profound way that I’m not alone. And, even when I’m in the depths of depression, it’s okay to laugh and enjoy life. I’ve wanted to read more of her books so I read her newest one, BROKEN (IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY).

Even though this book didn’t have as profound of an effect on me as FURIOUSLY HAPPY did, I still appreciated Lawson’s candor and openness with her struggles with mental and chronic illness. I find the way she describes things to be a very raw, honest, unique look at how someone deals with their pain. At times, I felt like she was stealing parts from my own life as she described hers. I feel like she and I are kindred spirits. Her humor and writing are definitely not for everyone. In fact, if you’re easily offended, then I wouldn’t even attempt to read her books. I’m glad I found her, though, and I’ll keep reading what she has to write.