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News from the SC Stacks
By Nancy Davis
Have you ever wondered what
it takes to successfully write
a book? Is there some kind of
“aha” moment for an author? There are
interesting books, both fiction and non-
fiction, written about authors. Reading an
author’s memoir gives us a special insight
into the creative life of that person. Of
course, writing a memoir makes a person
an author, but we will be discussing
authors that have written books before
writing a memoir.
Maya Angelou wrote seven memoirs, the
most famous one being her first, “I Know
Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Each of her
memoirs is written chronologically about
a short portion of her life. The last one she he did write two memoirs, “My Losing
wrote is “Mom & Me & Mom,” published
in 2013. Isabel Allende, author of one of
my all-time favorite books, “Daughter of
Fortune,” wrote a memoir, “My Invented
Country.” The book is primarily about
two life-changing events and how these
events affected her life and career as a
writer. “The Mockingbird Next Door: Life
with Harper Lee” by Marja Mills is the
journalist’s memoir of her friendship with
Harper Lee and her sister Alice. Julia
Child is a familiar name to many people.
Her book “My Life in France” is very
enjoyable and informative, and so much
more than the movie, “Julie & Julia.”
Tony Hillerman, author of many books
including 18 Navajo tribal police mysteries,
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wrote “Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir.”
His fiction and nonfiction books reflect an
appreciation of the beauty of the American
Southwest. “Off to the Side” is a memoir by
Jim Harrison, who is known for his poetry,
fiction and essays about the outdoors.
“Blue Water, Green Skipper: A Memoir
of Sailing Alone Across the Atlantic” is
written by the prolific Stuart Woods. He
later wrote that the trip changed his life. Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the
Pat Conroy is author of several novels that American Heartland” and very recently
reflect his life, notably his relationship
with his father in “The Great Santini” and
“The Death of Santini.” Also, “The Water
is Wide” and “The Lords of Discipline”
reflect Conroy’s time as a teacher and his
time as a student at The Citadel. However,
Season” and “My Reading Life.”
“The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt
Kid” is Bill Bryson’s memoir of his
childhood in Des Moines Iowa. Bryson has
written many books on travel, language
and science that are very readable. One
of my favorites is “A Walk in the Woods.”
John Grogan, author of “Marley &
Me,” has written an additional book of
personal experiences, “The Longest Trip
Home: A Memoir.” This book is about his
relationship with his father. Rick Bragg’s
book “All Over But the Shoutin’” tells of
his childhood in Alabama, his struggles
with his abusive and alcoholic father and
Nancy is the representative for the
Sun City Texas Library. Questions?
Email [email protected]
with “Library Column” in the
subject line.
his mother who raised her family on her
own. Tom Brokaw, the well-known TV
journalist, has written two memoirs, “A
“A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of
Hope.” His latest, published just this year,
is about his experiences with cancer.
So it seems that overcoming personal
difficulties often helps the author form an
emotional understanding of the fictional or
non-fictional characters in his books. All
memoirs are found in Dewey 925.
DID YOU KNOW…?
The Dewey Decimal Classification
system in our library is in the process of
being revised and expanded. Additional
categories may help you find the non-
fiction subject more easily. You’ll find a
list of Dewey categories posted on the ends
of bookcases in the non-fiction section.
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG