A WOLF AT THE TABLE : A MEMOIR OF MY FATHER
by Augusten Burroughs

All he ever wanted from his father was love, attention, concern and admiration. Instead, he was pushed away, ignored, not acknowledged.
In A Wolf at the Table Augusten Burroughs writes about the harrowing relationship he had with his sociopathic father. The mood swings, the rage that would erupt, the horrible fights between his parents, the psychological cruelty, threw the family into a perpetual state of terror.
The memoir is told with brutal honesty. Nothing is held back.
Augusten's story is very intense and you are swept in, emotionally.
Recommended, but cautiously.

THE SUSPICIONS OF MR. WHICHER : A SHOCKING MURDER AND THE UNDOING OF A GREAT VICTORIAN DETECTIVE
by Kate Summerscale

A murder was committed in an English manor house in 1860. The victim was a three-year-old child, who was found on the grounds in the privy, with his throat cut.
Jonathan Whicher, Scotland Yard's finest detective, was sent to investigate. He had a tremendous career solving the most heinous crimes, always able to connect the dots.
Whicher turned Road Hill House upside down questioning the inhabitants, searching for clues, digging away until he finally reached a conclusion.
Kate Summerscale's THE SUSPICIONS OF MR. WHICHER is a mesmerizing tale that keeps you in suspense.
The author includes plans of the house, photos of some of the family and investigators and a few drawings.
A great book that you just cannot put down.

AROUND THE WORLD ON TWO WHEELS : ANNIE LONDONDERRY'S EXTRAORDINARY RIDE
by Peter Zheutlin

Women did not ride bicycles in the 1890s. They were supposed to lead sedentary lives, take care of their families, not be independent.
Annie Kopchovsky changed all that. She was a "New Woman" who worked outside the home for a newspaper. After hearing of a bet, between two wealthy merchants that a woman could not ride a bicycle around the world, Annie rose to the challenge. She would earn money ($5,000) by selling advertising on her bike and clothing, lecturing about her adventures along the way, appearing at exhibitions.
In June of 1894, Annie left Boston on a 42-pound bicycle and would not return for fifteen months.
Peter Zheutlin's Around the World on Two Wheels is a delightful book on an unknown woman who took the world by storm and turned her into a legend. Zheutlin had never heard of her until he was contacted by a researcher in the 1990s and found out that he is a great-nephew of Annie. What's more, he's also an avid cyclist.
Well-researched and a great story.

THE DREAM : A MEMOIR
by Harry Bernstein

Harry Bernstein was twelve years old, when after years of letters written to relatives living in America, steamship tickets arrive and he and his family depart from England for Chicago. Their hope is to leave their abject poverty behind and make a new life for themselves. For a while they can savor little known luxuries: electricity, a telephone, new furniture and a parlor, with a piano, that Harry's mother had always promised her children.
But, soon, the Great Depression comes and everything changes.
The Dream, which is a follow-up to Bernstein's previous book The Invisible Wall (reviewed in this blog) captures the same charming style that was written before. The characters, though, are much more nuanced and what, eventually, happens to all of them, is so compelling that the reader is drawn, grippingly, in.
A truly, fabulous memoir.

THE LOST RAVIOLI RECIPES OF HOBOKEN: A SEARCH FOR FOOD AND FAMILY
by Laura Schenone

An obsession to find her great-grandmother's authentic ravioli recipe takes Laura Schenone across the ocean, from New Jersey, to Genoa. She's welcomed into the kitchens and trattorias of the elders, always questioning their methods, watching and trying to remember so that she can reproduce what she has learned.
Schenone writes about what constitutes the dough; should it be hand-rolled or go the modern way and use a pasta-making machine; what kind of cheese is used (a real surprise) ; the role of chestnuts; family feuds; the immigrant experience.
The latter part of the book has a section called "Lost and Found Recipes" which are written with precise instructions, some accompanied by pictures. There's resources for cookware, ingredients, cooking classes, culinary tours, etc.
If you want a sneak preview, check out the author's website at: www.lostravioli.com.
The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken is an absolute gem. The author seamlessly weaves her family history and food together in a fabulous memoir.
Very highly recommended.

HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE
by Carolyn Jourdan

Carolyn Jourdan was working as a high-powered lawyer, in Washington, DC, when she received a call to return home to Tennessee. Her mother had suffered a heart attack and her father, who ran a rural medical practice, needed her to fill in as a receptionist. Carolyn thought she would only be there for a couple of days, but it turned into weeks.
She learned about Medicare forms; cleaning up bodily fluids; how to say no to drug addicts who called up for renewals; helping to care for the whole crew of motley characters who came into the office daily.
Heart In The Right Place is a beautiful memoir that is funny, sad and compassionate.

DOUGH: A MEMOIR
by Mort Zachter

Mort Zachter grew up in Brooklyn, in the 1960s, and lived with his parents in a small tenement apartment. His mother, Helen, worked in her brothers' bakery where day-old bread was sold. Nothing was ever baked in this shop. Uncle Harry and Uncle Joe kept the store open seven days a week.
The family struggled to make ends meet. Zachter put himself through school and got help, financially, from relatives and loans.
Everything changed with just one phone call.
Dough is a quirky, funny story.
A terrific read!