Recommended Books to Inspire a Memoir

In a blog a couple of weeks ago, I asked Facebook Friends for recommendations for books that were written in the first person, reflected a travel memoir or carried a depth and the poetic. I wrote that I planned to read some of the books to get into the flow of writing a memoir of 10 years in the East.  I mentioned some books that I had selected from my small library of books here at home to re-read. Title of these books were:

  • A Time of Gifts (a walk through Europe in 1933). Patrick Leigh Fermor
  • An Interrupted Life. Etty Hillesum
  • In a Strange Room, Damon Galgut
  • Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
  • The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho
  • What am I doing here? Bruce Chatwin.

I had a wonderful response from FF either on Facebook or by email. Here is the suggested reading from a number of you. Some books were mentioned by different people. Several titles have strongly aroused my curiosity.  Around 40 to 50 people kindly responded by naming authors and books they have much appreciated. You might find some titles of interest. We are all blessed to have such access to a wealth of literature.

Here is the list of 55 books you recommended.

  1. Ajahan Amaro. Who Will Feed The Mice?
  2. Ajahn Brahm Mindfulness, Bliss, And Beyond: A Meditator’s Handbook
  3. Alain Danielou The Way To The Labyrinth. Memories of East and West.-
  4. Altai-Himalayas-By Nicholas Roerich,
  5. Ani Pachen Sorrow Mountain
  6. Ben Okri Astonishing The Gods.
  7. Bhagavan Das. It’s Here Now Are You?
  8. Bikkhu Rahula “One Night’s Shelter”
  9. Carl Jung. Memories, Dreams, Reflections
  10. Christabel Bielenberg. The Past Is Myself’
  11. David Chadwick ‘Crooked Cucumber’, Which You May Already Have Read,
  12. David Goodman. Nothing Ever Happened (On Poonja-Ji)
  13. El Greco- By Nikos Kazantzakis,
  14. Elizabeth Gilbert Eat Pray Love’
  15. Gangaji Just Like You.
  16. George Crane Bones Of The Master Author
  17. Imre Kertesz, Fatelessness
  18. Irina Tweedie. Daughter Of Fire
  19. J. Krishnamurti “Krishnamurti’s Notebook”
  20. Janwillem Van De Wetering, Experiences In A Japanese Zen Monastery
  21. Jay Griffiths Wild
  22. Jerry Wennstrom “An Inspired Heart: An Artist’s Journey Of Transformation”.
  23. Kazuo Ishiguro. The Remains Of The Day
  24. Ken Street. Captain Buddha And His Amazing Dukkha Machine.
  25. Ken Wilbur. Grace and Grit.
  26. Krishna Das. Chants Of A Lifetime
  27. Lama Govinda.Way Of The White Clouds
  28. Laurie Lee. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning
  29. Lin Yutang ,The Importance Of Living
  30. M.K.Ghandi An Autobiography Or The Story Of My Experiments With The Truth
  31. Margaret Runyan. A Magical Journey With Carlos Casteneda
  32. Maura “Soshin” O’halloran Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Zen Journal & Letters.
  33. Mitch Albom.Tuesdays With Morrie.
  34. Natalie Goldberg  “Long Quiet Highway”.
  35. Osho “Autobiography Of A Spiritually Incorrect Mystic”
  36. Paramahansa Yogananda. Autobiography Of A Yogi.
  37. Paul Brunton .The Quest Of The Overself.
  38. Primo Levi. If This Is A Man
  39. Radhanath Swami, Journey Home.  Autobiography Of An American Swami
  40. Ram Alexander. Death Must Die
  41. Ram Dass Be Here Now & Be Love Now.
  42. Rattawut Lapcharoensap Sightseeing
  43. Richard Bach Jonathan Livingston Seagull
  44. Ryôkan: Dewdrops On A Lotus Leaf
  45. Sangharakshita Precious Teachers
  46. Sangharakshita’The Rainbow Road’ and ‘Facing Mount Kachenjunga ,
  47. Satish Kumar: No Destination
  48. Rodney Smith.  Stepping Out Of Self Deception
  49. Swami Rama Living With The Himalayan Masters
  50. Swami Sivananda. Radha Radha Diary Of A Woman’s Search
  51. Tenzin Palmo. Cave In The Snow
  52. Tiziano Terzani A Fortune Teller
  53. Vladamir Nabakov. Speak, Memory: An Autobiography Revisited
  54. Vladamire Nabokov. Pale Fire
  55. Wilfred Thesiger. The Marsh Arabs.

THANK YOU! HAPPY NEW YEAR

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