It seems to be the season for memoirs written by NPR hosts—or at least two NPR hosts: Michele Norris of “All Things Considered,” and Scott Simon of “Weekend Edition.”
Lucky for us, because both memoirs are excellent.
For more on Simon’s memoir about his family’s experience with adoption—Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other—see this interview from the September issue of BookPage.
Today we’re highlighting Norris’ The Grace of Silence, a memoir that, in the author’s words, seeks to encourage people to “think about their own complex family legacies and to consider a core question: How well do we really know the people who raised us?”
Here’s a bit more from our review in BookPage:
It was the brutally honest, frequently painful recollections and opinions voiced throughout ["The York Project"] that led Norris to consider her own life and background and ultimately craft her poignant and insightful memoir, The Grace of Silence. She wanted to examine the complex, thorny reality of race and class through the prism of her family. But the quest to discover these truths proved her most difficult assignment. Not only did Norris become part of the story, she uncovered and had to discuss events and situations relatives wanted kept out of the public record. The process also made her address discomforting personal issues, most notably that her journalistic training was causing problems with people she’d loved and admired for decades.
One lucky reader will get the whole story in The Grace of Silence. To enter, leave a note in the comments with either your favorite memoir OR your favorite program on NPR.
I’ve already got the book, so I won’t answer the question. But I had to agree: This is a great memoir. I’m about halfway through and am already planning to share Norris’ book with coworkers.
All Things Considered, of course. Also Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, et al.
My favorite memoir is A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal. Wonderful and memorable.
My favorite memoir, so far, is Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl….would love to read more about Michele Norris!
I like hearing the stories of ordinary people. I remember listening to a story about 2 teenage girls who often ran away from home and got into drugs,it was fascinating storytelling. I was listening in my car and actually sat in the parking lot, being late to my appointment, just to hear the end.
I think Terry Tempest Williams’ “Refuge,” is a beautiful memoir.
I love a good memoir. Hands down, the best I’ve read is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells. It is just beautiful. Thanks for the fun contest!
Hands down my favorite NPR program is Morning Edition since it’s my alarm clock in the morning and my choice of news for the day instead of T.V. news.
I loved The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer, having grown up a bar kid myself. Norris is coming to Madison WI for our Wisconsin Book Festival later this week and I’m really hoping for a chance to see her speak about what I’ve heard is a wonderful book!
I love memoirs and I just read In Jupiter’s Shadow by Gregory Gerard and enjoyed that alot.
“One Drop: My Father’s Hidden Life–A Story of Race and Family Secrets” by Bliss Broyard is an intriguing memoir written by the daughter of a black man who passed as white. On NPR – who doesn’t love Car Talk?
Favorite NPR program: KCRW’s Bookworm. I also like All Things Considered, which my mother used to call All Things Distorted.
Can’t start the day without Morning Edition!
I love “The Yankee Years”.
I love memoirs and my favorite one is: The Color of Water by James McBride, about a black man whose mother is white. It is a very moving tribute to her mother who single-handedly raised a big family. It’s inspirational as well.
I just finished “Listening Below the Noise” by Anne LeClaire, which was a beautifully written memoir.
I like All Things Considered for sure. Thanks.
Love NPR. All.
Glass Castle has been the memoir that has stuck with me the most. Especially since I work with children. you never know what a child goes through outside of school.
“A Girl Named Zippy” by Haven Kimmel. And then, anything ELSE written by Haven Kimmel. Wonderful!
What would NPR be without “All Things Considered”? The program was even featured prominently last evening in the season premiere of “The Good Wife” on CBS. (I wonder if that was product placement?)
My favorite memoir is “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls.
I immediately thought of “The Glass Castle” as well. Also “Angela’s Ashes” and “Tis” by Frank McCourt are powerful stories.
Add to that “Teacher Man”….all three books show a remarkable, resilient man.
I love “All Things Considered”…but love all the programming on NPR.
Just finished The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper and enjoyed it very much!
Tending the Bar
I love “The Story” and download it to my i-pod to listen when I’m at the gym.
I love love love NPR and Ira Glass.
Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell is my favorite memoir. I recently lost a dear and life long friend to lung cancer, and this memoir really hit home with me.
A big little life -a memoir of a joyful dog by Dean Koontz really touched me.
Angela’s Ashes.
Hard to choose but I have to go with ‘All Things Considered’.
I’m reading the food mystreys books by Davidson. Fun stories with good character development of the regular folks in her books.
My favorite memoir is “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Wall. Thanks for the entry. I enjoy NPR very much!
Sandy
Breath by Martha Mason was my favorite memoir. It is the story of a lady who lived in an iron lung for 61 of her 71 years as a result of the polio epidemic. I was especially interested as I cared for people in iron lungs in my early nursing career.
“A Ticket to the Circus” by Norris Church Mailer. She is from Arkansas which makes it especially interesting to me.
favorite NPR program – Schickele Mix
Running with Scissors was a memorable memoir, a bit disturbing memoir.
“Fresh Aire” with Terri Gross is great.
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS WAS MY FAVORITE. IT TOUCHED ME. KNOWING SOMEONE LIVED THROUGH THIS WAS DISTURBING
I love NPR especially All Things Considered and the morning show ( I can’t think of the name.)
My favorite NPR program is Fresh Air and the puzzle programs with Will Short.
My favorite memoir is “The Story of my Life, by Helen Keller
I just read Bob Barker, that was interesting since I have watched Price is Right since I was born. I wish it would have had more details of his involvement with the show though. My husband listens to NPR all the time, I just listen when he does once in awhile.
mlklibrarian@yahoo.com
Loved the Glass Castle.
I love all of the NPR programming – I can’t choose a favorite! But how about Morning Edition and The Vinyl Cafe to start?
I really enjoyed reading this list! I immediately thought of Gail Caldwell’s “Let’s Take the Long Way Home” as well as “A Strong West Wind” about growing up in Texas. Also “Jesus Land” by Julia Scheeres was riveting!
All Things Considered