What’s the difference between a memoir or a biography? I’m glad you asked! Memoirs typically are autobiographical, focusing on a specific event, time, or aspect of the author’s life. While diving into that individual event, the author also tries to gain a deeper understanding of their life. Memoirs are some of my favorite nonfiction books as the authors seem more connected to their lives as they are telling their own stories. Based on personal experiences, memories, reflections, and knowledge, the author pulls readers into their lives. Try one of the memoirs listed below! As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

And so it is… : A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope by Jamie Lynn Sigler

The star of the legendary HBO series The Sopranos and podcast co-host with Christina Applegate, Jamie Lynn Sigler opens up about the vicissitudes of life, from early stardom to heartache and love, motherhood, and illness, offering readers an unflinchingly vulnerable exploration of the experiences that have transformed her life.

Jamie Lynn Sigler is both the girl-next-door and a superstar. Tapped at the young age of sixteen to star as Meadow Soprano, daughter of mob boss Tony Soprano, by the time the series ended in 2007, Jamie, then twenty-five, suffered from an eating disorder, kept private her diagnosis of MS, and entered a disastrous early marriage—all under the scrutiny of a less-than-kind public eye. Over the next years, Jamie would remarry, become a mother, launch a hugely popular podcast and, most recently, nearly lose her beloved son to a mysterious illness.

Amidst the stardust showered and all the slings and arrows that life has thrown, Sigler emerges with grace and a generosity of spirit that she is ready to share. In this moving and fiercely honest memoir, she reflects on her life and her years on The Sopranos. But this is no tale of woe; Jamie guides us through her darkest moments and comes out the other side emboldened and not embittered. A natural storyteller, she shares memories of her time portraying Meadow Soprano and beyond, including her often painful journey of self-discovery. In this unflinching account, Jamie holds nothing back; her resilience, candor, and her heart-bursting capacity for love shine through on every page.

And So It Is… offers the best of memoir from a cherished voice that invites us to share the most challenging and equally blessed moments of life’s journey. A triumphant story from one of America’s favorite stars. – Harper

A book : the outspoken memoirs of the man who “loved Lucy”–and revolutionized television by Desi Arnaz ; foreword by Kate Luckinbill ; afterword by Lucie Arnaz

Now featuring exclusive new material including excerpts from Desi Arnaz’s unpublished second memoir and commentary by daughter Lucie Arnaz, here is the expanded edition of the New York Times bestselling memoir of Cuban American entertainment legend, TV pioneer, and I Love Lucy star Desi Arnaz.

This expanded edition of A Book features additions from Desi Arnaz’s uncompleted, never published second memoir, a new Afterword by Lucie Arnaz, Foreword by granddaughter Kate Luckinbill, and new photos throughout. Desi’s original work and the additions paint a comprehensive portrait of a man beloved and admired by family and people he worked with despite admitted personal failings, and to whom Lucy herself gave credit for the success of I Love Lucy and pioneering television production in its infancy. This full story of a life and legend now completes one of the most fascinating and revelatory Hollywood memoirs ever written.

In the author’s own words: “Welcome to A Book, in which I try to explain how a kid from Cuba found a way to make a living in the United States. It’s all here—the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the unbelievably lucky breaks, and the heartbreaking failures. . . . You will learn what Lucy and I had to do to convince people we could play husband and wife in I Love Lucy. Shortly afterward Lucie and Desi Jr. were born and our world was paradise. The irony of it all is how our undreamed-of success, fame, and fortune turned it into hell. It wasn’t easy to write about all of it, but as my son said, ‘There’s only one way to do it, Dad. Tell it like it was.’” – Running Press Adult

Catching the light : a memoir from behind the lens by Harold Becker.

Legendary director Harold Becker reflects on his remarkable career, from his formative years in New York and his acclaimed work as a commercial photographer to becoming a Hollywood hitmaker.

Harold Becker was adept at photography from an early age, with a keen eye for elegance and beauty. He parlayed his unique skills into a successful career as a commercial photographer before becoming entranced by the moving image and independent filmmaking, pouring everything he had into his independent endeavors. After achieving acclaim for a series of thought-provoking documentaries, he was soon swept up in the New Hollywood movement and made the jump to feature films, getting his big break with the unflinching and hypnotic adaptation of Joseph Wambaugh’s true-crime story, The Onion Field.

“The actor/director relationship is an odd, yet amazing tango of inspiration, dedication, and, yes, manipulation. Harold’s lovely, deeply personal prose gave me an insight that I never fully grasped until I was fortunate enough to read Catching the Light. To be privy to the artist’s mind at work is a rare gift for the reader.” —James Woods

Even while working in the Hollywood system, Becker never suppressed his independent spirit, becoming known as a fiercely determined actor’s director. In Catching the Light, he revisits each of his best-known films and takes readers inside the experience of making them, casting then-unknown names from James Wood and Ted Danson in The Onion Field, to Sean Penn and Tom Cruise in TAPS, from Matthew Modine and Madonna in Vision Quest, to his fruitful collaborations with Al Pacino in Sea of Love and City Hall. All the while, Becker shares the lessons learned and insights gained from making movies in an ever more complicated and convoluted Hollywood system, making for an indispensable read for movie lovers and aspiring filmmakers. – Permuted Press

Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria by Loubna Mrie

A stunning memoir of personal rebellion and political awakening from a young woman raised to be loyal to a brutal regime—and the unimaginable cost of choosing freedom

Like any good Alawite girl, every day at school, Loubna Mrie pledged allegiance to Hafez al-Assad. When she complained about memorizing his speeches for class, she was told to shorten her tongue—without the president, her family believed, the Alawites would be persecuted by the Sunni majority, as they had been for centuries before the Assads came to power. A girl’s role was to obey, not to question. Loubna’s father, a mercurial businessman with close ties to the Assad regime, ruled over his wife and daughters with absolute authority. In their world, loyalty was sur-vival. Curiosity was blasphemy. Dissent was betrayal.

But everything changed in 2011, when the pro-democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring reached Syria. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Loubna attended an anti-government protest. What she witnessed—the courage, the brutality, and the lies that followed—ignited something in her that would not be extinguished. She joined the resistance, risking her life by fearlessly proclaiming her Alawite heritage and, later, as a photojournalist documenting the war for Reuters and other outlets. Her defiance would come at a devastating cost: the loss of loved ones, her community, and ultimately her country. Leaving behind everything she knew, she would have to find a new home within herself.

Defiance is the unforgettable account of one woman’s fight for freedom—against a father, a dictator, and the weight of inherited belief. From the streets of Aleppo to exile in New York City, it offers an electrifying portrait of moral courage in the face of authoritarianism and violence. Told with clarity, fury, and grace, Defiance offers a rare ground-level portrait of what it means to wake up, to resist, and to become. – Viking

In the absence of belief: A Memoir and Manifesto from the Heart of Appalachia by Joel Beverly

To Arrive Where I Started—and Know It for the First Time

For anyone raised in a forgotten place who has lost part of themself, for those from Appalachia labeled “backward” and blamed for America’s ills, and for anyone who’s ever whispered, Is this all there is?—the journey begins here.

Entrepreneur and lifelong Appalachian Joel Beverly, alongside his partner Fern, traces a path from the hollers of East Kentucky through Europe, Egypt, and beyond in search of something deeper. Along the way, he dismantles inherited myths about success, identity, and belonging—offering a raw, lyrical exploration of what remains when belief systems fall away.

Part memoir, part travelogue, and part cultural manifesto, In the Absence of Belief calls us back to the sacred truth of presence and possibility. It offers not another ideology but an invitation to see clearly, to belong wholly, and to live freely. More than a story about reclaiming a place, it’s about reclaiming ourselves. – Greenleaf Book Group Press

La Lucci by Susan Lucci with Laura Morton.

Emmy Award-winning actress and legendary television icon Susan Lucci-affectionately known as “La Lucci” since her early days on All My Children-is set to captivate audiences once again with her second memoir, entitled La Lucci. This deeply personal and compelling new book explores Susan’s journey through love, joy, reinvention, and resilience in the face of profound loss-both personal and professional.

With her signature warmth and honesty, Lucci shares the pivotal moments that have shaped her perspective and ability to move forward with gratitude, hope, and grace. La Lucci is a heartfelt, at times humorous, and always inspiring reflection on strength, perseverance, and the power of embracing life’s unexpected turns. In addition to intimate stories from her remarkable career and personal life, the book features a special chapter entitled “Thank You for Asking” where she answers the most frequently asked questions from her devoted fans across the world. La Lucci is a celebration of life, love, and the courage to embrace new beginnings.

Written in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Laura Morton, La Lucci promises to be a remarkable book that will resonate with readers everywhere. – Blackstone Publishing

Pretty for a crippled girl : a memoir of disability & mobility by Teri Siri.

Pretty for a Crippled Girl is an uncensored, honest, at times painfully raw and yet, funny and entertaining memoir by Teri Siri who has cerebral palsy (CP). The doctors advised Teri’s parents to institutionalize her as a baby because she would most likely be a “vegetable.” Instead, she has led a full and wild life!

Teri Siri grew up with her twin, Traci, and her older sister Tami, and went on to live a full active life as an independent woman of independent means.She has achieved financial independence through challenging work, owned several homes as investments, and has skydived, bungee jumped, sailed, and successfully tried just about anything she was told she couldn’t do because of her physical challenges.Teri doesn’t tell her stories as a victim or a whiner, but rather someone who wants the world to understand the constant barrage of demeaning and dismissive treatment toward people with physical disabilities. One of Teri’s favorite words is “fuck.” She embraces this word in all its grammatical forms, finding it to be the most appropriate expression in trying situations.

Teri writes about:

• The tremendous prejudice she faces as a disabled person and the constant oblivious comments, jokes, questions, and actions are daily fare. Many times she’s heard people say “pretty for a crippled girl” behind her back and directly to her.
• Facing pay inequity in her work life, a major barrier for the disabled.
• An inaccessible world that makes finding a bathroom a game changer.
• The failed promises of the American Disabilities Act.
• Finding good sex and love, then marriage and divorce, and then love again.
• International travel, seeking adventure, and long motorcycle trips with her partner.
• Do’s and Don’ts for the “Normals”

Teri’s memoir is an excellent read for anyone facing the challenges of a disability, whether physical or otherwise. Nationwide, about 14 percent of the population deals with disabilities, and worldwide about 1.3 billion face disabilities, according to a 2024 World Health Organization report. If you face physical or emotional challenges, you will find camaraderie and kinship with someone who knows this life. An important read for family members, medical professionals, and the world at large. – NewSage Press

Stone Doll: An Immigrant’s Memoir from War-Torn Italy to the American Dream by Toni Boucher

From a dirt floor in Italy to the halls of American power, this is one woman’s incredible journey.

In 1955, five-year-old Toni Boucher and her family left their primitive stone farmhouse in war-torn Italy and boarded a ship for America with nothing in their pockets and no understanding of the English language. But they had hope.

Stone Doll is the stirring memoir of an immigrant girl who turned away hardships, determined not to let challenges place limits on what she could achieve. She arrived in a country that promised everything but guaranteed nothing, and Toni grew up seeing her illiterate parents battle to create a new life when tragedies seemed destined to rip the family apart. Instead, through heartbreak and obstacles, she found her indomitable spirit—first nurtured by her father and brother, and later elevated through her loving partnership with her husband.

From those meager beginnings, Toni found herself to be a leader who exceled in all she took on: entrepreneur, politician, philanthropist. Boucher has run seventeen political campaigns and won fifteen. She reached the highest levels of Connecticut state government. With her husband, she rode the entrepreneur’s roller coaster—complete with devastating failures and formidable achievements, never losing faith in the power of an idea worth fighting for.

Today, Toni is a benefactor of the University of Connecticut and voice for society’s most vulnerable, She shows that the American Dream isn’t just about where you end up—it’s about lifting others as you climb.

This is her American story. – Amplify Publishing

Young man in a hurry : a memoir of discovery by Gavin Newsom.

From California Governor Gavin Newsom comes an intimate and poignant account of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics

“Go slow,” his political elders advised him, but Gavin Newsom has never known such a speed. For Newsom, the California Dream is what lured his father’s family from County Cork, Ireland, six generations ago. His great-great-grandfather, a cop, walked a beat in San Francisco, where almost 150 years later, Newsom would be elected as mayor, running on the values instilled in him by his family history: that California’s open arms must continue to extend to each new generation.

Newsom has never lived anywhere but California. Born in San Francisco, his parents divorced at a young age, and his childhood was spent being tugged between two worlds: his mother worked three jobs in order to care for her children while his father, a close friend of the Getty family, brought Newsom into San Francisco society, a world of wealth and connections. The dissonance was frustrating, and made all the more difficult because of undiagnosed dyslexia, but the vantage point was valuable: he inherited his mother’s perseverance and his father’s reverence of California, not only its wildness, but its opportunity.

In Young Man in a Hurry, Newsom traces the forces that have defined his ambitions as a politician and have pushed him to outpace the nation on myriad cutting-edge social issues that have since entered the mainstream. As mayor of San Francisco, he made waves when he violated state law in order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, more than ten years before the Supreme Court made such unions legal. He launched bold efforts to counter climate change, improve mental health care, and enhance gun safety, and worked to preserve the California Dream for his constituents. Elected as governor on the eve of unprecedented wildfires and entering office into immediate hyper-partisan headwinds from Washington, DC, Newsom has constantly and consistently stuck his neck out. Here for the first time, he reflects on the long personal journey that ultimately shaped him into one of the most recognizable and accomplished elected officials in America. Filled with intimate family history and written with candor and remarkable personal insight, here is a deeply resilient California story of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics. – Penguin Press

This title is also available in large print.