Memoir Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Wandering Pianist by Congyu Wang

Heartwrenching, humanistic, and beautifully told, The Wandering Pianist: From the Street to the Concert Hall by Congyu Wang is a humbly penned memoir that grips the imagination and offers renewed hope to artists and lost souls alike.

Swimming smoothly through time, the narrative weaves tales of Wang’s upbringing and childhood challenges with the humbling successes of his later life and moments of desperation along the way. From the humblest of beginnings to the grandest stages of Europe, Congyu demonstrates a remarkable belief in himself and a relentless determination to persevere. Despite facing doubt and derision from his family, as well […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-02-07T14:18:39+02:00February 6th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Music Book Reviews|

Into the Heart of the Infinite by Maetreyii Ma Nolan Ph.D.

A beautifully told memoir in the spirit of a self-improvement guide, Into the Heart of the Infinite by Maetreyii Ma Nolan Ph.D. is a revelation of personal enlightenment.

Explaining the lifelong journey towards realization and grace, from a miraculous and precocious childhood to studying in the presence of a legendary guru in India, this narrative journey balances universal truths and musings with deeply intimate portrayals of a mystical Self. There are accounts of detailed psychedelic experiences, inexplicable predictions come true, and mysterious links to the minds of others, told in such an empowered and confident tone that their veracity becomes […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-01-16T14:07:40+02:00January 16th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Review: Little Boy, I Know Your Name by Mitchell Raff

Gripping autobiographical reflections from a child of Holocaust survivors, Little Boy, I Know Your Name by Mitchell Raff is a visceral, heartrending, and timely work of history and memoir.

Growing up in a non-traditional Jewish family permanently scarred by concentration camps and gulags, young Mitchell also had to navigate split custody with his unpredictably violent mother, acting as guardian to his half-sister while having to endure familial abuse. When he is uprooted and moved to Israel, he doesn’t escape his mistreatment, which is compounded by a life of isolation and uncertainty about the future, without his beloved family members there […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-01-08T19:10:17+02:00January 8th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: History Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews|

Hair on Fire by Larada Horner-Miller

A charming collection of poems, stories, and memories about Christmastime, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir by Larada Horner-Miller is a spirited and inspiring take on the holiday season.

Starting from Joseph and Mary, Horner-Miller has put together a lovely compendium of personal, religious, and cultural anecdotes around Christmas that serve as a gentle way to transition to that wonderfully busy time of year, nudging our own memories forward, and refreshing our knowledge about this festive occasion. Both personal and informative about the holiday season, the book asks questions like when do people put up their Christmas […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-10-30T16:05:01+02:00October 30th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Religion Book Reviews|

Review: From Bonham to Buddha and Back Again by Clementine Moss

The rare kind of memoir that makes one forget it’s not a novel, From Bonham to Buddha and Back Again: The Slow Enlightenment of the Hard Rock Drummer by Clementine Moss is an exhilarating and enlightening read.

Slowly revealing the autobiographical puzzle of her own music-infused life, from wild leaps to NYC, meditative mountain retreats, and early romance over drum kits to cross-country tours, sleepless benders, and bittersweet final shows, this book is laced with reckless adventure. Taking readers backstage in every sense of the word, the prose lays everything on the table – beliefs, passions, secrets, dreams, and the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-22T19:20:07+02:00October 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Music Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Review: Resilient by Liz Grace

Offering living proof that there is light in the darkness, even if the tunnel never ends, author Liz Grace has penned an inspiring and unforgettable autobiography in Resilient: Surviving My Mental Illness.

In her teenage years, Grace struggled with the sudden loss of her mother, a fractured home where communication was scarce, and the isolation led to suicidal ideation and desperation. The book moves through various events and challenges of her young adulthood, creating a comprehensive picture of her family dynamics, social outlets, and pain points, buttressed by actual transcriptions of her journal entries from all those years ago.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-11T15:02:31+02:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Psychology Book Reviews|

Through the Test of Time II by D. Angel

An unfiltered look into the author’s long road to recovery and stability following his prison sentence, Through the Test of Time II: As Time Went On… by D. Angel is a revelatory confession and a visceral memoir.

As Angel tries to piece together the shattered parts of his personal relationships, parental arrangements, and financial foundations, the hits keep on coming, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the slippery slopes of post-incarceration life. Though many of his problems seem driven by struggles with self-control, this narrative also examines common triggers of PTSD, steps of recovery after a variety of trauma, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-17T11:16:54+02:00August 16th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Prison Book Reviews|

AlieNation by Jayma Anne Montgomery

AlieNation: The Imitated Life by Jayma Anne Montgomery is a surprising autobiographical work reflecting on family, culture, and identity, particularly in the context of immigration and mental health.

Until the age of five, Jayma lived with her aunt and uncle in Jamaica, and she never realized her family was poor. Only when her mother brought her to the United States did she discover that a different life was possible, though she finds that poverty isn’t the only obstacle to one’s safety and well-being. Dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, and the difficulty 0f assimilating into a frequently hostile culture, Jayma must […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-07-21T12:08:18+02:00July 21st, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|