Memories and Memoir

It's Women's History Week, so let's read about some women who made their own history. Today's blog post highlights three memoirs or autobiographies from three very different women, all strong women but living and writing world apart, and suffering in totally different ways.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

6. The Story of My Life [1902] by Helen Keller [Available on Kindle for $0.99 and in other formats on Amazon and elsewhere].

Hellen Keller's first memoir describes her first twenty or so years, written whilst she studied at Radcliffe. Learning about her unique process of learning and of studying is fascinating. Her ability to turn a descriptive phrase, her acquaintance with famous and interesting people, and her love of nature and literature are nicely intertwined in an enlightening narrative.

Although I had no idea this would be a book about books, Keller so frequently refers to books she has read and enjoyed (or not) that it really is that, as well.

Given I have known a few folks who are hearing or sight impaired, this book only deepens my respect and love for them.

Wild: From Lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

7. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail [2012] by Cheryl Strayed [Available on Kindle and other formats on Amazon and elsewhere - actually cheapest right now on Audible as an audiobook].

What a fantastic real story. Cheryl Strayed did what most people will never even think of doing, she set out to do something amazing and difficult about which she knew very little from the outset. She illustrates determination and hard work, and, occasionally, stupidity. The story of her childhood and young life is interwoven with the story of the hardships and joys of hiking the trail. It's gritty reality but it is also beautiful. Definitely one of the most interesting memoirs I've read in quite some time.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

7. I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban [2013] by Malala Yousafzai [Available on Kindle and in other formats at Amazon and elsewhere].

What a precious and determined young woman! What a lesson (or three) for us all!

We need to read books like this because we need to understand the struggle of people different from ourselves.

Ms. Yousafzai represents the best sort of young person living in perhaps the worst sort of situation. How marvelous and miraculous is her story? How horrible and inconceivable are the behaviors of the taliban? Yet, she focuses on what is good and worthy, as we all should.

While the author is a young person, she is also very astute. The mixture of deep thinking and childish occupations is a reminder that children should be able to be children and the horrible tragedy is so many children never really have a proper childhood.

Read this book (or listen to it as I did) and then contemplate how you can sow love and peace.  It's a short read and worth your time and attention.

I listened to this book on audible. The narrator, Neela Vaswani, was very good.

Go Forth and Read

So go forth and read some women's history books, or books my women historians, or just books by women, period!