Memoir | Self-Publishing Review

This Ain’t My Life by Bilal Alaji

The American immigrant experience, particularly for those of Muslim descent, has become a front-page topic in recent years, giving This Ain’t My Life by author Bilal Alaji a true sense of import, for a timely and poignant read.

Recounting his life from childhood to the present, this is a brutally honest and precisely recorded story, one that feels very naturally told, but also framed within larger social issues and beliefs the author wants to highlight. The author’s youthful success and whimsy were dampened by brutal familial expectations, run-ins with the law, and self-professed mistakes in judgment. Despite repeated stumbles and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-20T14:27:36+02:00August 20th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir|

Review: Chasing a Flawed Sun by Daniel McGhee

In Chasing a Flawed Sun, author Daniel McGhee courageously exposes his experiences with addiction from his younger years in raw detail. Anyone who has ever felt addiction touch their lives, either directly or indirectly, will find comfort and understanding in this addiction memoir, which is in turns beautiful and brutal.

Daniel McGhee was what most would consider an average kid, from a suburban background on the East Coast, where most of his immediate needs were taken care of, at least those that are most easily measurable. However, as his story unfolds, and he begins to lose his footing on […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-11T05:58:43+02:00July 11th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Addiction, Memoir|

Review: Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan

There are those non-fiction books and memoirs that transport readers back in time, and then there are books like Silent Spring Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, which change one’s view of both the past and present in one fell swoop. Detailing the personal experience of the author, Patrick Hogan, a Staff Sergeant who served in Vietnam for three years, and the decades of his life that followed, this book is a shocking and eye-opening account of American military tactics and blatant disregard for human rights.

Most readers may already be aware of the stories of napalm and Agent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:33+02:00June 19th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Memoir, Military|

Review: Lacks Self-Control by Roy Sekoff

In Lacks Self-Control: True Stories I Waited Until My Parents Died to Tell, author Roy Sekoff plumbs his past for anecdotal stories that will leave readers chuckling, cringing, and occasionally crying with laughter. As the founding editor of Huffington Post, Sekoff’s perspective on political issues is well known, but this new collection of stories points his scathing wit squarely on himself.

With acerbic self-awareness, Sekoff opens up about his tumultuous childhood, largely due to his own chaotic behavior and questionable views on authority. He continues the confessional on into his young adulthood, with occasional flash-forwards to even more recent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-01T09:23:52+02:00May 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir|

Review: The King of No by Loyall Wilson

In a perfect world, we could trust those to whom we open our lives, but when it comes to money, it truly can be the root of all evil. In The King of No: A Financial Firefighter by Loyall Wilson, the author takes us through a series of personal anecdotes from his time as a Chief Compliance Officer of a large investment firm. Wilson’s position meant that he was on the front lines of defending against fraud and financial crimes, and was able to form relationships with people whose lives and trust were damaged – or nearly destroyed – by […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-20T07:39:19+02:00May 22nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business, Finance, Memoir|

Review: Crimson Arrows by Eyad H. Yehyawi

For someone who has never hunted an animal in their life, the prospect of a collection centered around bowhunting may not hold much immediate appeal, but Crimson Arrows: A Bowhunting Odyssey by Eyad H. Yehyawi is much more than it may initially seem. This book is a heartfelt exploration of youth and growth through the lens of a hunter finding his feet in that sport – and in his entire life.

The first thing one notices about Yehyawi’s writing is the sincerity; each story hums with personal touches and genuine emotion. He is able to dig through his memories, some […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-17T02:28:25+02:00May 16th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Eyad H. Yehyawi, Memoir, Sports|

Review: The Last Lead Holder by Richard Deatherage

Every life holds pain in some form, but the means by which we find joy and connection can give existence purpose. In The Last Lead Holder, author Richard Deatherage invites readers into his mind and memories, the trials and tribulations of his past, as well as his remarkable rise and fall. It is a memoir of family, of brutal perseverance, and of coming back from the edge only to find that life will always be worth living.

In some ways, the author experienced the epitome of American life. Being raised on different military bases as a brat since birth, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-12-20T05:01:09+02:00March 5th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir, Richard Deatherage|

Review: Routine Patrol by Bart Ringer

In today’s troubled times, the idea of the police has changed dramatically, and the old image of small-town cops has all but disappeared. However, as author Bart Ringer is happy to remind readers in Routine Patrol: Memoirs of a Small-Town Cop, the Wild West is still alive and well, particularly in the small towns of Wyoming. In this collection of stories taken from his more than 35 years on the tiny but mighty force of the Riverton Police Department, the tales swing from tragic and moving to downright hilarious, told with gentle skill and undeniable honesty.

What strikes a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-03-11T12:45:24+02:00March 4th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir|