My mom likes to read, but I wouldn’t call her a bookworm by any means. She goes through bouts where she picks up her kindle and finds a book to cozy up with (as cozy as you can get with an eBook anyway), but she’d usually rather be scrapbooking. So, I put together a list of book recommendations for her based on her love of non-fiction and memoirs. Although the genres remain the same throughout the list, it’s not so cohesive because my sweet mama can go from reading about the glamorous life of movie stars to the morbid biographies of serial killers. If your mom has the same unique fancy yet creepy edge to her reading selection, then this list holds the perfect recommendations for your mom, too.
1. Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham
If your mom is anything like mine, then she absolutely loves Gilmore Girls. My mom rewatches that show at least once a year. It’s her hunker down in pajamas and talk to no one show. That makes Lauren Graham’s new collection of essays about her life on and off set an easy choice for my mom, and other moms who fangirl over Graham’s most notable role as Lorelai.
Source: Amazon
2. Never Broken: Songs are Only Half the Story by Jewel
Another choice that combines my mom’s love of non-fiction and fancy celeb lives is the recent memoir of singer and songwriter Jewel. Although, her story is not so glamorous at the start. Jewel triumphed into a successful music career, but she survived a challenging childhood that forced her from home at the young age of 15. Any loving mom will be able to find a way to connect to Jewel’s heartbreaking beginnings.
Source: Amazon
3. The Invisible Girls: A Memoir by Sarah Thebarge
In this unique memoir, Thebarge details how she found new meaning in her life after meeting a single mother and her five daughters who fled Somalia. Thebarge immerses herself in their lives, helping them navigate American culture. If you have a mom with a soft heart whose always eager to help, this book will not only inspire her, but she can also purchase the book and feel good in knowing that all proceeds go to fund college educations for the five daughters.
4. A House in the Sky: A Memoir by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
This emotional roller coaster of a memoir shows a young Amanda trying to find ways to escape from her abusive childhood. As a hardworking waitress, she saves her money to travel to the exotic places she fawned over in National Geographic magazines as a kid. She was able to visit many countries completely unscathed, but while in Somalia, she was kidnapped and held hostage. This memoir will pull any mom into its deeply moving story, and leave her praying for her children, wherever they may wander.
Source: Amazon
5. The Acid Bath Murderer: A Terrifying True Story of one of the Worst British Serial Killers by Jack Rosewood and Rebecca Lo
There’s something that pulls my mom into stories with a dark side, and this biography will satisfy that inkling of hers. If your mom has that same desire that manifests itself by staying up late watching the ID channel or reading books about the twisted crimes of dangerous convicts, then this book of horrific death might be for her. If she can stomach this one alright and wants to further quench her curiosity, this book is a part of a series called The True Crime Serial Killers.
Source: Amazon
6. Journey Untold: Twisted Love: My Mother’s Struggle with Mental Illness by Yassin S. Hall and Lo’an Sewer
I could hardly stand to end the list on death by acid bath. This memoir will leave moms with a slightly more hopeful feeling. Through her memoir, Hall aims to tell the truth about how living with a person affected by mental illness can be painful and damaging, but also speaks about how removing stigma and shame can help bring some peace to families who struggle through challenging times brought on by mental illness.
Source: Amazon
Does your mom like to read books that are fancy and glamorous, dark and morbid, or both?
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