Celebrity memoirs — those perennial bestsellers and money-makers — are having a big moment right now in pop culture. Matthew Perry’s Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is understandably back near the top of the bestseller list; Britney Spears’
Tender Bar is great - hopefully you read the book before the movie (movie isn't bad but book better as your first entry into the story). Shoe Dog is great too but for me Open was something special.
Nov 7, 2023·edited Nov 7, 2023Liked by Jeremy Anderberg
The random celebrity memoir that hooked me was Rob Lowe’s Stories I tell my Friends. I listened to the audiobook and it was full of 80s nostalgia and just good storytelling.
I second the Jessica Simpson memoir and would recommend listening to the audiobook version which she narrates. The emotion in her voice during different scenes packs such a punch!
Nov 8, 2023·edited Nov 8, 2023Liked by Jeremy Anderberg
I'm listening to the audiobook of Jennette McCurdy's (I think the only celeb memoir I've ever read?), and it is tragically compelling and very readable/listenable, with some welcome (black) humor interlaced throughout, but it reinforces my slight distrust towards the memoir genre as a whole, because there's so many back-and-forth conversations that are recounted word for word from her childhood (including from when she was 8-and-under), and there's just no way any human remembers all that. I know the essence of the interactions are probably being relayed truthfully, but it bugs me that memoirs fudge this line, so I can't fully invest in the person's "reality" or "truth" that I'm supposed to be getting.
There's a number of celeb memoirs I've heard are good that are on my TBR but they never seem to be high-priority enough for me to actually read them, lol: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (probably the highest priority); both of David Niven's, especially The Moon's a Balloon; Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner; Open by Andre Agassi; Finding Me by Viola Davis; Born Standing Up by Steve Martin; Charlie Chaplin's autobiography; Bossypants by Tina Fey; My Life in France by Julia Child; Just Kids by Patti Smith; Self-Portrait by Gene Tierney; Based on a True Story: A Memoir by Norm Macdonald; In Pieces by Sally Field; Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain; Just Ignore Him by Alan Davies...and maaaybe the ones from Will Smith, James Cagney, Lauren Bacall, and Simu Liu as well.
Don't @ me but Woody Allen's memoir was really interesting. It's a full-on history of his life, movies, etc., but he also fully addresses all the scandals -- and defends himself admirably, I think.
Yes I Can by Sammy Davis Jr. Thirty years after reading it I still think about him being paid to entertain at hotels who would not rent him a room in Las Vegas. He absolutely changed the lives of his following generation.
Mike Nichols: A Life,” by Mark Harris is a terrific read. As a comic, he and Elaine May were amazing. As a director of theater and film, he was brilliant.
I love a good memoir! Recent ones I listened to and loved: Hello, Molly! (Molly Shannon) was just an amazing story and I loved all the "characters" especially her Dad. And Frank Bruni's Born Round and The Beauty of Dusk - both so different but so good.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is good and well-written! I love how Julia Fox loves New York in her memoir, Down the Drain.
That one has been everywhere lately – I've heard from fairly mixed reviews. Probably worth checking out at least!
I agree it can be difficult to read and absolutely difficult for her to write 😢
Open - Andre Agassi (ghostwritten by JR Moehringer) - it's excellent.
Yeah I've read some great profiles on Moehringer — he has a novel too! I have this one on my shelf, so I'll give it shot soon.
Tender Bar is great - hopefully you read the book before the movie (movie isn't bad but book better as your first entry into the story). Shoe Dog is great too but for me Open was something special.
I loved Prince Harry's Spare, ghostwritten by JR Moehringer as well!
Co-sign
The random celebrity memoir that hooked me was Rob Lowe’s Stories I tell my Friends. I listened to the audiobook and it was full of 80s nostalgia and just good storytelling.
Agreed! Great audiobook.
Nice, good to know!
Finding Me by Viola Davis was very powerful
I agree, especially hearing it in her own voice on audiobook.
I've heard really good things about that one.
Jessica Simpson's memoir was great--a massive surprise LOVE for me. I really liked Britney Spear's memoir and Spare was very well-written.
Pamela Anderson's memoir and Greenlights were both pretty overrated. Anytime a celeb puts their own poetry in, I'm wary. 🤣
I second the Jessica Simpson memoir and would recommend listening to the audiobook version which she narrates. The emotion in her voice during different scenes packs such a punch!
Don’t even get me started on Greenlights 🙄
Lots of Jessica Simpson love in this thread! Awesome. I'll have to check it out.
I'm listening to the audiobook of Jennette McCurdy's (I think the only celeb memoir I've ever read?), and it is tragically compelling and very readable/listenable, with some welcome (black) humor interlaced throughout, but it reinforces my slight distrust towards the memoir genre as a whole, because there's so many back-and-forth conversations that are recounted word for word from her childhood (including from when she was 8-and-under), and there's just no way any human remembers all that. I know the essence of the interactions are probably being relayed truthfully, but it bugs me that memoirs fudge this line, so I can't fully invest in the person's "reality" or "truth" that I'm supposed to be getting.
There's a number of celeb memoirs I've heard are good that are on my TBR but they never seem to be high-priority enough for me to actually read them, lol: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (probably the highest priority); both of David Niven's, especially The Moon's a Balloon; Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner; Open by Andre Agassi; Finding Me by Viola Davis; Born Standing Up by Steve Martin; Charlie Chaplin's autobiography; Bossypants by Tina Fey; My Life in France by Julia Child; Just Kids by Patti Smith; Self-Portrait by Gene Tierney; Based on a True Story: A Memoir by Norm Macdonald; In Pieces by Sally Field; Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain; Just Ignore Him by Alan Davies...and maaaybe the ones from Will Smith, James Cagney, Lauren Bacall, and Simu Liu as well.
Born a Crime is laugh-out-loud funny. Great stuff.
Don't @ me but Woody Allen's memoir was really interesting. It's a full-on history of his life, movies, etc., but he also fully addresses all the scandals -- and defends himself admirably, I think.
Interesting, thanks for the rec Rick!
Pageboy by Elliot Page was excellent!!
I have yet to see anyone top Norm MacDonald’s “Based on a True Story” except maybe Keith Richards’”Life”.
Also great on audiobook because Norm narrates it but he has the ghostwriter narrate his own (the ghostwriter’s) inner thoughts.
Ha! Anything narrated by him would be entertaining.
The audiobook version of Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
Yes I Can by Sammy Davis Jr. Thirty years after reading it I still think about him being paid to entertain at hotels who would not rent him a room in Las Vegas. He absolutely changed the lives of his following generation.
Ah, an older one! Nice, thanks for the rec.
Two of my faves: Jessica Simpson's and Elton John's.
Lots of love for Jessica Simpson here. I'll have to check it out!
Mike Nichols: A Life,” by Mark Harris is a terrific read. As a comic, he and Elaine May were amazing. As a director of theater and film, he was brilliant.
I love a good memoir! Recent ones I listened to and loved: Hello, Molly! (Molly Shannon) was just an amazing story and I loved all the "characters" especially her Dad. And Frank Bruni's Born Round and The Beauty of Dusk - both so different but so good.
Frank Bruni's are high on my list. Thanks Julie!
okay celebrity memoirs (or biographies) are like my second favorite genres.
dreamgirl: my life as a supreme by mary wilson - i mean WOW!
just as i am by cicely tyson - the backstories of her and miles davis are ...
bad mormon by heather gay - this one is for my real housewives fans
my tbr list consists of:
travis barker’s memoir
sparrow by harry (tbr after i finish the crown and diana’s book)
nobu - by nobu (yes the restaurant guy)
kitchen confidential by anthony bourdain - i hear this is such a good book
Love it, thanks Jemia!
I highly recommended listening to the audio version of Elton John’s memoir!!