Must-Read Memoirs for Family Historians

When it comes to writing, one of the first pieces of advice I received was to read.....and read a lot. Besides writing a lot to improve your skills, reading in copious amounts will also make you a better writer as well. Whether you intend to write your family history or wish to write a memoir or turn your family history into a novel, one of the best ways to prepare for this path is to have your nose in a book or these days a Kindle. 

As a huge advocate for writing your family history, you will always find me encouraging you to read books particularly in the kind of genre that would most interest a family historian.  Memoirs, novels based on real life stories and historical fiction are my books of choice. 

I have assembled a list, a few of my favourite memoirs/family history books thus far; I will keep you posted on others and offer reviews from time to time. If you haven’t read some of these books on this list I encourage you to do so.

If your not a writer, or not interested in writing a memoir or family history, you will love them just the same. I love fiction but nothing beats a real story about real people. 

1.       Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2.       A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

3.       Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

4.       Angela’s Ashes Angela's Ashes: A Memoir by Frank McCourt

5.       The Diary of Anne Frank  by Anne Frank

6.       Night by Elie Wiesel
ea   Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Do you have a must-read memoir? Leave me a comment I’m always looking for a good read!