Memoir Book Reviews

Exile of the Heart by Rasheed Abou-Elsamh

Exile of the Heart by Rasheed Abou-ElsamhA raw account of the author’s long journey to find a place to truly be himself, Exile of the Heart: A Memoir Across Three Continents by Rasheed Abou-Elsamh is a vulnerably written and engrossing memoir.

Born to a Saudi father and an American mother, the battle between conflicting values and ideas was an unavoidable part of his identity, but one that he channeled into a free-ranging interest in the wider world. As Rasheed comes to embrace his homosexuality and recognizes the danger of that identity in Jeddah, he dreams of another life, somewhere his desires aren’t considered a crime. Moving […]

2025-12-09T16:40:42+02:00December 9th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Review: For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon

For Such a Time As This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon twitter

A fearless collection of uplifting lessons and stories about the powerful potential we each possess, For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon is a rousing call to life-changing action. Reflecting on her own biographical journey and the legacy she intends to leave behind, the author artfully distills a bounty of wisdom she has gathered along the way.

Structurally, the book presents ten Appointments – philosophical and personal truths that “will reframe your identity, restore your hope, and reignite your purpose.” These include embracing the purposeful “yes” in your life, choosing courage no matter the cost, […]

2025-11-26T13:55:57+02:00November 26th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |

The Hurricane Within: Beyond the Storm by Ashlee Leppert

The Hurricane Within: Beyond the Storm by Ashlee LeppertA raw and riveting peek into the post-service life of a bonafied hero, The Hurricane Within Volume 2: Beyond the Storm by Ashlee Leppert is a road memoir like few others.

While the first installment focused on her military journey and heroic efforts during Hurricane Harvey, this second part rounds out the full story of Leppert’s inspiring life. The text begins by probing the painful and profound moments of her formative years, from the death of her best friend and a brutal sexual assault to solidifying her relationship with God and taking that first leap of faith with the Coast […]

2025-11-21T16:35:16+02:00November 21st, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Transient Anchors by Libère J. Ndacayisaba

Transient Anchors by Libère J. NdacayisabaA timely and powerfully told memoir about seeking a fresh future without losing your past, Transient Anchors: From Refugee Tents to Research Towers by Libère J. Ndacayisaba is a compelling tale of survival, support, and unwavering resilience.

As the author arrives in America for the first time, uncertain but eager to begin his studies in engineering, he recounts the fifteen years of harrowing journeys that had brought him to the other side of the world, far from his Fatherland of Burundi. The author’s non-linear storytelling carries readers across oceans and war zones, through refugee camps, college classrooms, and the mental […]

2025-11-20T12:56:28+02:00November 20th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Triumphs of Tenacity by Yusra Mariyam

Triumphs of Tenacity by Yusra MariyamA stirring story of transformation through education, Triumphs of Tenacity by Yusra Mariyam is a rousing account of a Bengali immigrant’s journey from undereducated homemaker to distinguished university graduate.

After decades marked by deferring her dreams, Yusra embarked on an unlikely midlife venture to secure an advanced business degree from Anglia Ruskin University. In detailed and emotional recollections, she painstakingly details the intimate struggles of her academic quest through each demanding project and daunting disappointment. Relentlessly driven by inner strength and the example of her uncompromising family, Yusra overcomes every obstacle with grace – from digital illiteracy and time management […]

2025-09-08T16:19:27+02:00September 8th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: , |

Review: You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Write a Memoir by Stephen Mark Silvers

You Don't Have to Be Famous to Write a Memoir by Stephen Mark Silvers

The uncut account of a life well and truly lived, You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Write a Memoir by Stephen Mark Silvers is a free-wheeling testament to the unimportance of age and the timeless power of remembrance.

Beginning with over a dozen adoringly detailed chapters about each of his relatives, Silvers invites readers into the inside jokes, unforgettable anecdotes, and unwavering devotion of his family, from his first meeting of Grandma Bertha in Venice Beach to his sister’s theatrical passions and his father’s noble nature. Beyond painting a vivid picture of the people and places who raised him, […]

2025-09-22T11:09:30+02:00September 4th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Two Sticks, One Path by Darrow Kirkpatrick

Two Sticks, One Path by Darrow KirkpatrickA ruggedly inspiring memoir and a love letter to the American wilderness, Two Sticks, One Path: A Journey Beyond Fear on the Colorado Trail by Darrow Kirkpatrick is a tale of fortitude, achievement, and living free on your own terms.

After a nearly lethal encounter in the Rockies when he was young, the author returns four decades later to complete the 28 segments of the legendary Colorado Trail. Patching the 500+ miles together over the course of 6 years, and supported by two Sidestix and some loyal fellow adventurers, his journey is about far more than backcountry bravado. Peppered with […]

2025-08-14T14:02:47+02:00August 14th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound by Stephen E. Johnson

Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound by Stephen E. Johnson

Poignant and warming to the soul, Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound: Tales about Brotherhood from Bear Creek by Stephen E. Johnson is a reflective memoir, diving into the perennial power of family, place, and nature to help renew bonds and enliven the spirit.

Sliding decades backward into the past, readers are welcomed into the intimacy of a family still finding its feet out in the country, away from the tumult of city life. Three brothers gather in a beloved cabin for a weekend of escape and remembrance in the wilderness of the Cascades, falling into the comfort of siblings sharing […]

2025-09-09T08:48:56+02:00August 13th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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