B I O G R A P H I E S & M E M O I R S T O R E A D T H I S S U M M E R

E D I TA K A Y E

• Though most of us still work during the hot summer months, it is a time for us to wind down and enjoy the nice weather, vacation days, and spend time with family and friends.

• But, summer is also a time for us to catch up on some reading.

• Exploring new memoirs and biographies is a great way to get inspired and make yourself a more well-read individual who knows about the latest published biographies.

• Here are a few titles you should keep in mind when you’re looking for a great book to read this summer…

I R R E P R E S S I B L E : T H E J A Z Z A G E L I F E O F H E N R I E T T B I N G H A M

• Written by Emily Bingh, this book is a must read.

• Bingh’s great aunt, Henrietta, rejected their family business in the early 1920s so she could live her life through a whirlwind of jazz, sex, and addiction.

• Her story is lively, heart breaking, and extremely engaging - you won’t want to put it down.

• This biography acts as a slice of American history that most readers are not used to, bringing out the often coveted troubled family life of American outcasts during an age that was seemingly ideal.

T H E F I S H L A D D E R : A J O U R N E Y U P S T R E A M

• Second, ‘The Fish Ladder: A Journey Upstream’ by Katharine Norbury is an alluring autobiography about Katharine Norbury’s journey with her nine-year-old daughter as they follow a river from the sea up to its source.

• The tale delves deep into a wide array of human emotions, in particular grief and how we cope with loss.

• Norbury and her daughter began their expedition as a way to deal with a miscarriage, but fate along the river brings them to a life-changing encounter that you’ll have to read about yourself.

I N A F R E N C H K I T C H E N : TA L E S A N D T R A D I T I O N S

O F E V E RY D AY H O M E C O O K I N G I N F R A N C E

• Susan Hermann Loomis’ ‘In a French Kitchen: Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking in France’ autobiography details Loomis’ life as a food admirer and cook after she one day decided to move to France upon realizing that was the best way to pursue her passions.

• Loomis specifies French cooking secrets that are simple, yet bring out an explosion of delicious flavors.

• If you’re a foodie like Loomis, this is definitely a fun summer read you can enjoy and use to perfect your own cooking skills.

R I S I N G S T R O N G

• ‘Rising Strong,’ by Brene Brown, is the last book on this list, and perhaps the most inspirational.

• A great read as summer is coming to an end to get you up in spirits for the coming year.

• Brown teaches us not only to embrace our failures, but to use them as ways we can grow and succeed.

• For more ideas on what memoirs and autobiographies you should read this summer, check out this article published by bustle.com.