Jan 06 Discussion questions for ‘Heart Berries’ By Courtney Vinopal Terese Marie Mailhot’s “Heart Berries,” a memoir that addresses the trauma experienced by indigenous people across generations, is our January 2020 book pick. Continue reading
May 31 Watch 6:13 ‘Educated’ author Tara Westover answers your questions Tara Westover, author of our May pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer questions from readers, plus Jeff announces June’s book. Continue watching
Nov 30 Watch 6:22 Marine and photojournalist reframe the war-wounded soul in a new memoir By PBS News Hour, Nick Schifrin Photographer Finbarr O'Reilly and former U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thomas Brennan both went through the intensity of combat, and the loneliness and doubt that follows. Now they’ve written a dual memoir, "Shooting Ghosts," a story of two lives that came… Continue watching
Nov 14 Watch 7:01 How Amy Tan’s family stories made her a storyteller By Jeffrey Brown Amy Tan was going to write a book about writing. But what came to her mind instead were memories of childhood, reflections on family treasures, photos, documents. In “Where The Past Begins: A Writer’s Memoir,” Tan explores revelations about her… Continue watching
Nov 10 5 memoirs about family you need to read, from Amy Tan By Elizabeth Flock Amy Tan often explores the fraught relationship between mothers and daughters in her writing, including in her new memoir. Here are 5 other memoirs about family that she recommends. Continue reading
May 19 Watch 3:35 To Richard Ford, writing a memoir is to utter what must not be erased By PBS News Hour Richard Ford's parents were ordinary people, "all but un-noticeable to the world's disinterested eye." But the acclaimed writer still decided to write a memoir of their lives because, to him, being their son felt like a privilege. And more simply,… Continue watching
Oct 02 Watch 6:55 Seeking her kitchen’s comforts, food writer Ruth Reichl rediscovers the awe of cooking By PBS News Hour Ruth Reichl, one of the country's most prominent food writers, was editor of the nation's oldest food and wine magazine for a decade. Then in 2009, Gourmet was abruptly shut down by the publisher. Out of a job, what did… Continue watching
Mar 06 Why Americans are obsessed with telling their own stories By Qi Wang, OZY We Americans are obsessed with telling our life stories. And it’s not just politicians and celebrities (Did you know that former President Jimmy Carter wrote eight memoirs?). Stories aren’t just for the famous; there are memoirs written by ordinary… Continue reading
Jul 01 Watch 3:28 Author W.S. Merwin Named U.S. Poet Laureate By PBS News Hour The Library of Congress has named prominent American poet W.S. Merwin as the country's new poet laureate. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Merwin about his life and work in 2008. Continue watching