RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

WE LOVE MEMOIRS DAY

TODAY, AUGUST 31ST IS WE LOVE MEMOIRS DAY!

Memoirs are not the same as autobiographies. They feature individuals writing about themselves, but not the story of their whole lives like an an autobiography; instead, a narrative of a period or moment or “season” of a persons life. Some writers have written several memoirs such as Diane Keaton or Jeanette Walls.

Memoirs capture memories of one’s life.

We Love Memoirs is a Facebook Group begun by Victoria Twead, NY Times bestselling author of Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools, which she developed into a series, and Alan Parks, author of Seriously Mum, What’s an Alpaca, which also became a series. This took place in 2013 and continues today with membership open to both memoir writers and memoir readers alike.

The history of memoirs goes back to earliest times.

Perhaps the earliest memoir written was by Libantus, a teacher who lived from 314-394 AD. Another early memoir was The Confessions of St. Augustine written around 397 AD. It is still read by theological scholars today.

How can you celebrate We Love Memoirs Day?

  1. Start writing a memoir about yourself. Obviously, you can’t write a memoir in one day, but you can start by picking a “season” or period of your life you wish to write about, and write a short piece or scene to integrate as a chapter or event in your story.
  2. Join an online memoir writers/readers group.
  3. Start reading a memoir. My Advanced Writing students are reading a memoir and then reviewing it (according to my criteria for a good review) as a memoir “project” for credit toward their course grade. Had I not had so many writing assignments lined up, I could have assigned writing their own memoir as well. Hmmmmm, maybe I’ll offer extra credit or points for one.
  4. Go to Half Price Books or another bookstore and BUY a memoir. Here are a few suggestions:
I have only read three of these, but overall, I have read 71 memoirs since 2019.

Memoirs are special reading experiences where an author bares her/his soul to the reader. Celebrities often name drop and write “tell-all” memoirs that start feuds or solid relationships with other people. Do you think YOU could write a memoir? What type of person would enjoy reading it? Would it be sad and seek sympathy/empathy from the reader, or would it be joyful and zany, perhaps? Would you be brave enough to write a memoir in the first place? Answer these questions and make comments in the reply box below.

HAPPY READING–of MEMOIRS!

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3 responses to “WE LOVE MEMOIRS DAY”

  1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    The Book-I-Will-Write-Before-I-Die is a memoir, but I don’t want it to be…I think.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Hmmmm, tell me more.

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      1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
        Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

        They always say it’s best not to talk too much about your book…”Write it instead of talking about it,” they tell us. I hope to write a book, and illustrate it, before I head out of this place.

        Liked by 1 person

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