JENNETTE MCCURDY I’m Glad My Mom Died. Reviewed by Jessica Stewart
Jennette McCurdy was a child star, but behind the scenes her mother’s ambition manifested in control and abuse. It would be apt to describe Jennette McCurdy’s memoir about growing up as a child star in Los Angeles as a rollercoaster because Disneyland features often....
TRACEY LEE HOLMES The Eye of the Dragonfly. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
In this memoir of her life as a sports journalist, Tracey Holmes views the human condition through the lens of sport. Tracey Lee Holmes has had a long and distinguished career as a sports broadcaster. She began her career with the ABC in the late 1980s, and has...
CHLOE DALTON Raising Hare. Reviewed by Ann Skea
Chloe Dalton’s memoir of raising an orphaned hare in the English countryside is both beautiful and unsentimental. Chloe Dalton never expected to raise a hare. In her professional life as a foreign policy specialist and political advisor, she spent her time in offices,...
PETER GRESTE The Correspondent. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
Peter Greste’s 2017 memoir The First Casualty has been reissued and retitled following the release of the film. It remains timely reading. In 2013 Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood government was overthrown in a military coup. Australian journalist Peter Greste was reporting...
BARRY DILLER Who Knew. Reviewed by Naomi Manuell
Barry Diller has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment in a career spanning Paramount, Fox and now his own media company. Serendipity, that variation on the idea of a happy accident or unexpected good fortune, is elevated to something of a theme in...
LAURIE WOOLEVER Care and Feeding: A memoir. Reviewed by Jessica Stewart
Laurie Woolever – cook, writer, and fixer for chef Anthony Bourdain – enjoyed the glamour of a celebrity lifestyle. But it came with a price. Laurie Woolever’s memoir opens with an introduction noting that none of us has very much control over anything in life,...
ROBERT MANNE A Political Memoir. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
Robert Manne’s memoir charts the life of a public intellectual and independent thinker unafraid of a fight. A Political Memoir is an important work that says a lot about Australia and the sort of country we are. As well as some personal history, Robert Manne provides...
CLEM BASTOW and JO CASE (eds) Someone Like Me: An anthology of non-fiction by Autistic writers. Reviewed by Kylie Mason
This diverse anthology challenges stereotypes by bringing together Autistic women and gender-diverse writers to share their experiences. In their introduction to Someone Like Me, editors Clem Bastow and Jo Case say: Spending time with these twenty-five essays, piecing...
LECH BLAINE Australian Gospel: A family saga. Reviewed by Mary Garden
Lech Blaine’s memoir recounts the ongoing harassment his family suffered from the parents of his foster siblings. Australian Gospel: A family saga by Lech Blaine is the story of two families whose lives intersect in an extraordinary way. Blaine emphasises that...
TODD LEY Smashed: Tennis prodigies, parents, and parasites. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
Todd Ley’s account of his time as a tennis prodigy may be one of the most important books you will ever read on tennis. Todd Ley was born into a dysfunctional family. His father, who he refers to as ‘Mad Max’, was ‘a traumatised yet charismatic character,...
CHER The Memoir Part 1. Reviewed by Naomi Manuell
Cher is a genuine superstar who has had an extraordinary career across music, film and television. Now her memoir recounts how she got there. Cher prefaces Part 1 of her long-awaited memoir by recalling her reaction to seeing Elvis Presley performing at 1956 concert...
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