It seems reasonable to assume that there are no (or at least very, very few) people on this planet who were unaware that The Woman In Me, the much-anticipated memoir from Britney Spears, was recently released. From sneak peeks, to “leaked” clips from the audio version, top 10 lists of “most shocking revelations”, and reviews all over every social media platform, it is certainly fair to say that this celebrity memoir, in particular, received more than its fair share of hype and attention.
I am in no way putting down Ms. Spears or her book. The Woman in Me is a quick, entertaining read that, for me, unfortunately seemed to spend more time on the celebrity gossip topics and too little on the legal wranglings involved with ending her conservatorship. More often than not, we read celebrity memoirs to be entertained, and The Woman in Me definitely fits that bill.
As we all know, for every mega-hyped book, there are many excellent books that fly more under the radar. For readers looking for a celebrity memoir that is more of a full-bodied life story, or those that found The Woman in Me served to whet their appetite for even more celebrity accounts, following are six older, lesser known, or under-hyped celebrity biographies, journals, and essays that are all excellent reads.
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo
Recounting the truly unbelievable life that he has led, Danny Trejo takes the reader through his heroin addiction, to prison, through sobriety and recovery, and on to Hollywood in a book that is nothing short of incredible and inspirational.
Starring in hundreds of movies and television shows (that is not an exaggeration as his IMDB listing includes over 400 roles), Trejo has become the most well known scene-stealing “bad guy” on screen. But as he makes quite clear in Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood he is so much more than that off-screen.
The most common word used through every review of his book is “raw” and it is easy to see why as his clear and honest words take the reader from some of the lowest low’s imaginable and on to redemption and success.
Grace Notes: My Recollections by Katey Sagal
Some of Katey Sagal’s most well-known works are Married With Children, 8 Simple Rules, Futurama, and Sons of Anarchy, but she has been in dozens and dozens of roles since the early 70’s – and even that list practically ignores her music career (which you should not do!)
Grace Notes is written as a series of essays, as if she was recounting events for her friends or family, and that is exactly the voice that comes through her writing. These are most certainly not the recollections of Peggy Bundy or Gemma Teller. Sagal speaks openly and honestly about being in and around the entertainment industry for her entire life. She recounts the deaths of her parents, her very public pregnancy loss, and so many other ups and downs of life as she puts forth her struggles and successes in both her personal and professional life. This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you have finished reading.
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
If you scan the reviews of Taste: My Life Through Food, the word you will see repeated over and over again is “charming”. From seeing many interviews and appearances by Stanley Tucci, that comes as no surprise.
Written as something of a companion piece to Tucci’s previously released cookbooks, Taste: My Life Through Food takes the reader behind the recipes, telling the stories of where they come from, describing the emotions and memories associated with them, and giving behind the scenes tales from some of his “foodie” movies, such as Julie & Julia and Big Night.
The role food plays in our lives in so many ways other than simple sustenance is beautifully illustrated in Tucci’s work.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
In this one case, I am going to highly, highly recommend the audio version of Greenlights. Audio versions of books are always great, but this is a particularly special case. I am convinced that listening to McConaughey himself tell you these stories in his slow Southern drawl is simply a different experience that you just can not get by reading the book yourself. (On the other hand, however, there are family and childhood pictures in the physical book that you miss out on with the audio).
An unusual combination of a memoir and a guidebook, Greenlights is a thoroughly enjoyable read, but it also contains some nuggets of wisdom that it’s safe to say everyone needs to hear!
I Was Better Last Night by Harvey Fierstein
There is a chance you might not know his name, but I can almost guarantee that you know his incredibly unique voice. A Tony-award winning actor and playwright, he has spent decades on stage and screen, and in I Was Better Last Night, Fierstein opens up about everything: sex, romance, excesses, addictions, conflicts, and ultimately wisdom and success.
At times hilarious, and at times heart-breaking, Fierstein’s memoir is thoroughly entertaining, but also thought-provoking as societal and cultural shortfalls and changes (particularly regarding the gay community) are laid bare.
Finding Me by Viola Davis
I am not sure if I can call Viola Davis’s Finding Me under-hyped, as it was an Oprah’s Book Club pick (so it clearly received some degree of attention). But it can never receive enough attention, in my opinion.
This powerful, inspirational story will grab hold of you from the very first written words, and simply will not let go. This truly unflinching look at the life of a woman who has clawed her way out of tragic, traumatic beginnings and has fought to find her purpose, self-love, and acceptance with a ferocity that jumps right off of the page.
You will find the word “masterpiece” used frequently in reviews of this book, and having read this, you will almost certainly have to agree with that description.
