Memoir Book Reviews

★★★★½

Brotherly love is a powerful motivation for many people, but for author Steven Malikowski, his brother’s inspiring life and outlook drove him to write an unforgettable memoir, Walking Out of the Dark. After Mike lost his sight, Steven saw firsthand the challenges of being disabled, even partially, in a world that is so often driven by speed, efficiency, and the quest for perfection. This book is a touching and personal account of survival and success as a blind individual, overcoming obstacles with grace and patience that most people could never muster.

There are equal parts wisdom, storytelling, humor […]

★★★★

Most authors write in order to tell a story that is bottled up inside – whether it is fiction or not. In many cases, the story they need to tell is some version of their own life, because they believe that it will be interesting, helpful, or even cathartic – both to readers and themselves. In Always Picked Last, Kevin Kearns recounts his life as a bullied child, and delves into his journey to seek self-confidence, come out on top in life, and use his knowledge to help thousands of others.

Losing his father at a young age, […]

★★★★½

Boasting casual storytelling mastery and the sharp-tongued wit of Tom Robbins, Peter Stafford-Bow presents an incredibly amusing and unpredictable tale in Corkscrew. For wine lovers or those who simply love a great story, this is a mad ramble through the tangled world of wine, taking readers across two continents and countless adventures of one exceptional character, Felix Hart.

The ability of Stafford-Bow to create memorable and visceral characters is notable, and along Felix Hart’s climb to the highest echelons of international wine retailing, there are plenty of other eccentric and unique foils that keep the plot moving along. […]