Every year, I like to give our readers a selection of some of the best biographies and memoirs I’ve recently read, especially those that have left me pondering them long after I’ve finished the final page. Each of these stories absolutely captures a tale that will reel you in from the first word to the last, from the pastures of rural India to life growing up in 1900s England, and Irish mysteries waiting to be uncovered. These books are groundbreaking in their own right, and they could make the perfect read if you’re looking for a little joy in these cool months.
‘Mother Mary’ – Arundhati Roy
Mother Mary is a recent release, but it has quickly shot to prominence. It is a personal, reflective account of the author’s winding life, looking at the complexities of her relationship with her mother, Mary Roy. Mary was a feisty and modern woman, and above all, an important educator who founded a respected school in Kerala, India. The book tracks the author’s life, and the impact of having such a fierce mother – from growing up in India’s fields, to carving her own path in the big city. This book is one of my favourites of the past year, and I’m sure it will be for you too.
‘Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother’s Secrets’ – Clair Willis
When I picked up this book, I was unsure what path it would take. But as soon as I began reading, it was clear that this was a book about unearthing family secrets, whilst telling the wider story of the Irish Mother and Baby Homes. Willis found out in her twenties that she had a cousin she had never known – a girl born in a 1950s Irish Mother and Baby Home whom the family never talked about. The book traces this journey across four generations, but will the author really manage to get to the bottom of the mystery? You’ll have to read and find out…
‘Jess and Norma’ – Jess Asquith and Norma Burton
I first came across Jess and Norma making videos on the internet a few years back, and since then, they have taken off in the most incredible of ways. This book is the most recent in their long line of successes. Written as an ongoing discussion between the pair, this new memoir gives us a look into the duo’s lives. From discussing both of their childhoods to their more recent rise to fame, this heartwarming granddaughter-and-grandmother relationship is one that many of us can relate to, and also find some joy in.
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