Memoirs are personal tales and universal stories of growth, transformation, and the indomitable human spirit. These titles offer diverse narratives that will captivate, inspire and resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Call Me Indian by Fred Sasakamoose
This is a powerful memoir by the first First Nations person with treaty status to play in the NHL. It is an honest and critically self-reflective memoir, as Sasakamoose tells us about his experiences in residential schools, varying levels of professional and amateur hockey, and his life and activism after hockey. This is one of the most powerful athlete memoirs published in recent years.
A Conspiracy of Chickens by David Waltner Toews
Canadian and founder of Veterinarians Without Borders David Waltner Toews brings us a hilarious memoir chronicling his adventures and mishaps when his wife buys him baby chickens for his birthday. If you are interested in urban chicken farming, the history of the relationship between chickens and people, or a compelling personal memoir, this book is for you!
Unbroken by Angela Sterritt
Angela Sterritt's impactful memoir details her journey from a life on the streets to a journalism career documenting the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women in Canada.
My Road From Damascus by Jamal Saeed
Saeed chronicles modern Syria from the '50s up to his escape to Canada in 2016, recounting its descent from a country of potential to a pawn of cynical and corrupt powers. It paints a picture of village life, his rebellion as a young Marxist and evolution into a free thinker, living in hiding as a teen for 30 months while being hunted by the secret police, his youthful love affairs, how he survived his prison years, his final release and his family's escape to Canada.
Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
A funny account of Darkshire's job working at British antiquarian bookstore Henry Sotheran Ltd, established in 1761, and his encounters with eccentric customers and co-workers. There's even a store ghost — Henry Sotheran himself, hit by a tram.
Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough
A collection of autobiographical essays about Lauren Hough's childhood in a predatory cult, her time as a lesbian in the US Air Force in the 1990s, a period of homelessness and a variety of jobs, including as a bouncer in a bar and a cable repair technician. A moving account of resilience and hard-earned agency.
Drinking Games by Sarah Levy
In this intimate and darkly funny memoir, Levy (not the Sarah Levy from Schitt’s Creek!) stumbles through her twenties, explores alcohol’s impact on relationships and identity, and shows us how life's messiest moments can end up being the most profound.
Still, I Cannot Save You: A Memoir Of Sisterhood, Love, And Letting Go by Kelly S. Thompson
A story about addiction, abuse, and tragedy, and above all, a powerful portrait of an enduring love between sisters.
While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait Of Mental Illness In An Era Of Silence by Meg Kissinger
This is a story of one family's love and devotion in the face of relentless struggle. It is a book for anyone who cares about someone with mental illness. In other words, it is a book for everyone.
