Hi again! 👋🏾
Another month down, another set of books to reflect on.
When I was struggling to transition into reading non-fiction books for the most part, I remember reading a lot more biographies and memoirs. They felt like novels but this time, the characters were real so since I'm in a similar situation, I figured I'd read more of that genre.
I chose two highly personal and emotional books, each tackling resilience and survival in a different way.
Shall we?
“I want my mom back, but only the mom I thought I had, not the mom I actually had.”— Jennette McCurdy, I'm Glad My Mom Died
This book.
I grew up watching iCarly and actually learning about how one of the main actresses of the show got to be there and all her struggles is absolutely insane and makes the happy retrospections of the show feel a bit different.
In this book, Jennette details her complicated relationship with her abusive mother, her struggles as a child actress, and her journey toward healing. It’s a story about breaking free from toxic relationships, reclaiming identity, and learning to live for yourself rather than for others' expectations.
It’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s one of the best memoirs I’ve come across. If you grew up in a family where love and control were blurred together, this book will hit home.
I decided to pick up a book with a similar theme again.
Educated
“You can love someone and still choose to say goodbye to them.”— Tara Westover, Educated
I finally got around to reading Educated, and wow. Just wow. That was crazy.
Tara Westover’s memoir is about growing up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho with no formal education. Her story is wild; we’re talking about no doctors, no school, and just her family’s twisted version of reality.
Yet, against all odds, she taught herself enough to get into university and eventually earned a PhD from Cambridge. Which is absolutely wild and impressive.
What stood out to me was how much she had to sacrifice to gain knowledge. Leaving behind her family was painful, but necessary. It made me think a lot about how education shapes us, how our pasts define us, and how sometimes, to grow, we have to let go.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s gripping, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once.
That’s it for February!
These books left me thinking about resilience, self-discovery, and what it means to break away from the past. Heavy stuff, but worth every page.
See you in the next one! 🤍
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