What memoir has stayed with you long after you finished it? > Likes and Comments
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Grace wrote: "Hi everyone,I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father’s journey and the people he met along the way to Stanford.
What stood out most was how it ..."
What's the book you read? That might help me figure out something to recommend as more than one memoir has stayed with me :)
Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survival has haunted me. There can't be too many lives like Carmina Salcido's. At least I hope not.
Some Other Rainbow Andrew Mcarthys book about his time as a hostage in the Middle East, co-written with his partner about the same events from two different viewpoints. It was called “some other rainbow” and has stayed with me all these years.
And as for books about connection with others and joy in simple things you can’t go past Ciao Bella!: Six Take Italy that just is a feel good book. I wish I had Kate’s enthusiasm for life.
Another book would be Not Without My Daughter as I admired her bravery to get out of a dangerous situation, when getting out was also dangerous
So what was the name of your book that you enjoyed so much? Grace wrote: "Hi everyone,
I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father’s journey and the people he met along the way to Stanford.
What stood out most was how it ..."
Rebecca wrote: "So what was the name of your book that you enjoyed so much? Grace wrote: "Hi everyone,
I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father’s journey and t..."
Any response or is this another book promoter that won't give the title?
I don't know if I read anything similar, although it sounds a little like Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
I don't tend to keep memoirs, I mostly return them back to the library after I've finished them. Certainly I've read some memorable ones though, though not for the above reasons.
Selina wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "So what was the name of your book that you enjoyed so much? Grace wrote: "Hi everyone,
I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father..."
I'm not sure--it doesn't say so on her profile and she's been on GR since 2018. Before the twoh recent posts her last post was in 2022, and the posts from back then are all regular type reader ones, so I'm not inclined to think so :)
Educated. It’s a best-selling memoir of a woman who grew up in a antigovernment sect in Idaho and how she persevered. Great book, try not to read any spoilers!!!
Marla wrote: "Educated. It’s a best-selling memoir of a woman who grew up in a antigovernment sect in Idaho and how she persevered. Great book, try not to read any spoilers!!!"Not to spoil, but wasn't this 'antigovernment sect' just plain Mormonism? Some Mormons are really into prepping too. Prepping, homeschooling, and (hate to say it) abusing their children.
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung ChangMostly because it really was the first book I'd ever read that was about China's recent history, and of Chinese mothers and daughters (that wasn't a novel like The Joy Luck Club)
And because that's where my ancestors are from, it stayed with me. I'm thankful I didn't grow up in those times in China, it seemed so traumatic - the Japanese invasion, The Cultural Revolution, the totalitarianism of Chairman Mao, the way the CCP still denies Tiannamen Square ever happened...
Bound feet, concubines, and communist regimes...all this I grew up blissfully unaware of. And this book is still banned in China.
Selina wrote: "Marla wrote: "Educated. It’s a best-selling memoir of a woman who grew up in a antigovernment sect in Idaho and how she persevered. Great book, try not to read any spoilers!!!"Not to spoil, but w..."
That's a bit of a myth :). You're thinking of a small Mormon sect that isn't recognized by the mainstream Mormon church. The main Mormon church banned polygamy in 1890, for example--in the US Mormon children are actually under-represented in the homeschool population. Most Mormon children do not homeschool their children. The Osmond brothers band did school by correspondence because they were professional musicians, but if you check, none of them had more than one wife :)
I won't even touch homeschooling myths that have prevailed over time, but here's a funny video by comedian Tim Hawkins for the one that prevailed early this century. Note that's his wife and some of the kids are his, but not all, nor was his wife pregnant. This is one of my favourite comedy videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uq...
Selina you might enjoy another book about China, this time modern day China, I saw the author interviewed about it. A lot of research went into this book. Killed to order By Jan jekielek Killed to Order: China's Organ Harvesting Industry and the True Nature of America's Biggest Adversary I’m going to read it and I can tell by the interview that it’s going to stay with me a long time Selina wrote: "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Mostly because it really was the first book I'd ever read that was about China's recent history, and of Chinese mothers and daughters ..."
Marla wrote: "Educated. It’s a best-selling memoir of a woman who grew up in a antigovernment sect in Idaho and how she persevered. Great book, try not to read any spoilers!!!"
Karin wrote: "Grace wrote: "Hi everyone,I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father’s journey and the people he met along the way to Stanford.
What stood out mo..."
Hi Karin 😊
The book I was referring to is Who We Met on the Way to Stanford by Richard Phillip Sinay.
What really stayed with me was how personal and reflective it felt, it’s not just about the journey itself, but the emotional weight behind supporting someone you love over a long period of time. It felt very real and grounded rather than overly dramatic.
I’d definitely be interested in hearing which memoirs have stayed with you too!
Rebecca wrote: "Some Other Rainbow Andrew Mcarthys book about his time as a hostage in the Middle East, co-written with his partner about the same events from two different viewpoints. It was calle..."
Hi Rebecca 😊
The book I mentioned is Who We Met on the Way to Stanford by Richard Phillip Sinay.
What really stayed with me was how it captures the long emotional journey of a father supporting his son, it felt very honest and reflective rather than dramatic, which made it more impactful for me.
Also, I appreciate your recommendations, Some Other Rainbow sounds especially powerful, I’ll definitely check that out.
Rebecca wrote: "Selina you might enjoy another book about China, this time modern day China, I saw the author interviewed about it. A lot of research went into this book. Killed to order By Jan jekielek [book:Kill..."I wouldn't say I'd *enjoy* a book like that.
I have read about body harvesting but a general all-around the world overview book of it, so I do know about it.
I also don't really like how US books about China vilify it (by saying it's an enemy or adversary) It really isn't. China just does it's own thing. There are shocking human rights abuses in both countries.
The Mormon sects really do have some weird beliefs and still do. There are many memoirs about adherents who've escaped from the more fundamentalist type ones. My neighbours are Mormons, but they just the regular kind that go to public school and only have one spouse (but eternal ones in celestial kingdom)
Tara Westover's family actually did identify with Mormons. They were survivalists though. Christians also have their own weird sects that are 'preppers' and are constantly believing that any day could be doomsday.
And actually that is a common belief amongst them and fairly widespread.
Selina wrote: "The Mormon sects really do have some weird beliefs and still do. There are many memoirs about adherents who've escaped from the more fundamentalist type ones. My neighbours are Mormons, but they ..."
There are more than 6.9 million Mormons in the US, but only 40-60k are fundamentalists, so it's less than one percent of them.
Mormons have some strange theology, that's for sure! Much if it comes from The Book of Mormon. I've been amazed at things they teach, and we don't even hear all of it because it's kept secret, but they are primarily monogamous. However, the book of Mormon explicitly promotes monogamy--the polygamy was definitely an off-shoot which was banned in the 19th century.
The fact is that books from people who have fled the fundamentalists sell well.
This isn't fodder for Goodreads conversation, but I've read the Bible many, many times and have a B.Th. plus have done further studies, so definitely know when teachings called "Christian" are very strange, beyond the normal disagreements Christian scholars have :)
I know a few Mormons and even went to the Mormon church for a couple of years a while ago. They are not much different from any other religion. They believe in the same Bible, but they believe there is more to the bible that was discovered and that is The Book Of Mormon. I was struck by how they live their religion every day and not just on Sunday. As others have said here, the sect that makes the most news is the Fundamentalists. They are the ones that still believe in polygamy.
Koren wrote: "I know a few Mormons and even went to the Mormon church for a couple of years a while ago. They are not much different from any other religion. They believe in the same Bible, but they believe ther..."Did they mention about exaltation where some people might become gods after they die? They talk about mainstream things, but they have some other very strange beliefs beside this :)
Speaking of memoirs that stayed with me, some have but for different reasons.Because she was kind to my brother early in his career, Sissy Spacek's My Extraordinary Ordinary Life, which I heard her read on audiobook, has stayed with me.
Speaking of wayward Mormons, Escape by Carolyn Jessop has also stayed with me.
Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "I know a few Mormons and even went to the Mormon church for a couple of years a while ago. They are not much different from any other religion. They believe in the same Bible, but the..."I don't remember hearing about that but it has been over 40 years since I studied that religion.
Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "I know a few Mormons and even went to the Mormon church for a couple of years a while ago. They are not much different from any other religion. They believe in the same Bible, but the..."So, I researched that a little bit and it doesn't seem all that much different than achieving sainthood in the Catholic Church. I'm sure most religions have some things that seem strange to another religion.
There are major differences between Catholicism and the Mormon church :). I'm neither. However, Catholicism and Mormonism both have many extra-biblical things added to their religions, but only the Catholic one had an impact on Christianity as a whole. Not everything added was removed after the Reformation. But Mormons think YHWH/Jehovah is one god, Jesus is a different god and that both of them are corporal beings. Plus many, many other different things from most Christian groups, and different than how the JWs think Jesus is a separate God, but also the archangel on concretion.I once read a book about the state of Christianity in teens, and among young people I think it was Mormon teens and black teens who knew the most. It struck me as odd, because I'd have thought Jehovah's Witness kids would be as well. Catholics, OTOH, are the ones who worked on the theology of the trinity.
Yes, I have stood and had lengthy conversations with both Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, plus learned from others. I won't do it anymore, though.
I remember reading a book written by an ex-Jehovah's Witness who grew up in the religion and the way-out beliefs they had.It was called I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah's Witness Upbringing by Kyria Abrahams
Selina wrote: "I remember reading a book written by an ex-Jehovah's Witness who grew up in the religion and the way-out beliefs they had.It was called [book:I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah's Wi..."
It's too bad it has such a low average rating--is that because it's not well-written?
Karin wrote: "Selina wrote: "I remember reading a book written by an ex-Jehovah's Witness who grew up in the religion and the way-out beliefs they had.It was called [book:I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from..."
Well the author was quite young when she wrote it, but she was raised as a JW so, they don't have much education as it is. I mean they are educated but on JW doctrine which plays fast and loose with theology.
Selina wrote: "Well the author was quite young when she wrote it, but she was raised as a JW so, they don't have much education as it is. I mean they are educated but on JW doctrine which plays fast and loose with theology."JW doesn't use any Biblical hermeneutics I can put a finger on, that's for sure. I once tried to read one of their books that was in the library so I could see for myself what they teach rather than hear it second hand, etc.
They have their own translation/paraphrase of the Bible, that has changed some things. Also the Watchtower magazines are some fearmongering at it's finest.
Selina wrote: "They have their own translation/paraphrase of the Bible, that has changed some things. Also the Watchtower magazines are some fearmongering at it's finest."How I wish we could still do private messaging :)
That's not at all unusual. The LDS (Mormons) also have their own translation of the Bible along with their Book of Mormon.
Interestingly, other than having a number of extra books, many times (but not always) the Roman Catholics have done less to translations than have Evangelical churches because they don't rely only on the Bible for their doctrine, but also on what the Pope says when speaking ex Cathedra, etc. There is plenty of fear-mongering in the RC church as well based on what I know, as there is in some protestant churches. I'm less familiar with what the Orthodox church has done, but they also have extra books and I think (but don't quote me because I'm not going to double check) they have a few more; also, they aren't all the same. However, all of those extra books had been added to the LXX, which is short for the Septuagint.
My take on it is that people often use the Bible to support their own ideas, rather than the other way around. If you take things out of context, it's easy to do for many things. This is why you had churches who stood on both sides of the black slavery issue in the States and other countries.
Well yes that has always been going on.Orthodox churches consider the early church fathers, bishops, theologians, monks writings as essential in their doctrines.
Apochrypha (sp?) literature isn't new.
SDA also has writings of Ellen G White which spawned a lot of cults/sects that had weird end time beliefs
I've read quite a few ex-religious cult memoirs, the most famous that sticks in my mind (apart from the harrowing FLDS sister-wives and lost boys ones) are the accounts of Jonestown survivors, and also ones by escapees from Gloriavale, and the Exclusive Brethren in my country.
Selina wrote: "Well yes that has always been going on.Orthodox churches consider the early church fathers, bishops, theologians, monks writings as essential in their doctrines.
Apochrypha (sp?) literature isn't..."
Yes, it's been going on for 2000 years with Christianity alone :) ! I've seen the large Christian Scientist centre in Boston (as you know, that's not the same as Scientology) and they have all of the books there written by their founder. At one time they had oodles of money, because that building is amazing and made from things from many different countries, but they have some strange doctrines. Apparently they've backed off on some of the more strict doctrines about health (got that from a member who worked there) but I have no desire to be part of that group.
I've had a penpal (via email but first PM on Shelfari; we've been friends this way for 13 years--hard to believe it's been so long already :) ) who lives in NZ who has told me about Gloriaville, so I'm familiar with some of what they do and that founder did (and isn't in jail or ousted, which is egregious, IMO.)
However, this isn't limited to Christians and pseudo-Christians as it's certain people who like to come in and do these things. There isn't group, whether religious or secular, who hadn't eventually had "sects" break off or nasty people join in. Even the peaceful Buddhists have dark history at times in places, such as in Japan when they helped slaughter not just Christians, but non-Christian family members of Christians.
Daughter of Gloriavale: My Life in a Religious Cult by Lily TarawaBehind Closed Doors: A startling story of Exclusive Brethren life by Ngaire Thomas
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guin
Have we done a discussion thread of ex-cult memoirs? Warrants it's own thread I reckon.
Selina wrote: "Have we done a discussion thread of ex-cult memoirs? Warrants it's own thread I reckon."I agree. I have a few to recommend, including one from someone in the cult a relative joined a couple of years ago. At least that one didn't have any one getting rich or the founders involved in sex scandals, but it's had problems over the years. Some have been rectified, but it's hard to say how many of them.
Selina wrote: "Have we done a discussion thread of ex-cult memoirs? Warrants it's own thread I reckon."100% agree. There are so many and the cults are just wildly disparate...
I know this is cheesy and lame, BUT I am releasing my debut memoir on 8/25/2026, which coincides with my 2 year sobriety anniversary! this book has my heart and soul in it, most people have said they cannot put it down and have taken only one or two days to read it. They are my friends and family though, so I would appreciate some outside honest feedback! Please consider reaching out for a free ARC of Voices to Victories by contacting me through my website: www.voicestovictories.com I would greatly appreciate any and all honest feedback!!Thank you for reading my post!
Tara Peterson
Tara wrote: "I know this is cheesy and lame, BUT I am releasing my debut memoir on 8/25/2026, which coincides with my 2 year sobriety anniversary! this book has my heart and soul in it, most people have said th..."I hope you're following this, because I wanted to tell you how to claim your author page if you don't already know. Go to on the link with your name, scroll to the bottom of the page and tap/click on "Let us know." I can't tell you how many times people pop in to let us know about the book and never come back.
I see that someone has already separated you to give you your own author page that isn't mixed with any other Tara Petersons :)
Voices to Victories: A Memoir of Addiction, Illusion and Control by Tara Peterson
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie stayed with me long after I finished it.What struck me most wasn't simply what happened to him, but what came afterward. The attempt to rebuild a life after violence, to make sense of something senseless, and to decide what fear would and would not be allowed to take from him.
I find myself drawn to memoirs that don't give us easy answers. The ones that ask what happens after life divides itself into a before and an after.
Knife did that for me. It reminded me that surviving something is only part of the story.
The other part is deciding how you will live after it.
Angela’s Ashes has stayed with me. I originally picked it up while researching memoirs similar in tone to one I was writing, and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. I expected hardship, but I wasn’t prepared for the depth of the poverty and heartbreak. What stayed with me most was Frank McCourt’s ability to tell such painful stories with dark humor and humanity.My father-in-law grew up in Tipperary, and when I told him I had read it, he was initially outraged. The book caused quite a stir among the Irish—some believed McCourt exaggerated, while others felt he was airing dirty laundry that should have remained private. Yet many of his stories aligned with what my father-in-law remembered. That tension between painful truth, memory, and pride made the book even more unforgettable to me.
I recently came across a thoughtful memoir that really stayed with me, it explores a father’s journey and the people he met along the way to Stanford.
What stood out most was how it focuses on the relationships, life lessons, and quiet moments that shape us far more than the destination itself.
It made me reflect on how much impact everyday encounters can have on our lives.
I’m curious, have you read any memoirs that left a similar impression on you? I’d love to hear your recommendations.