Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Best Indie Books of 2012: Life Stories


Showing

Cover art for THE GUGGENHEIM FILE
INDIE
Released:

"An inspirational, fascinating chronicle of a family's will to survive."
The Guggenheim's family story as a lesson in world history. Read full book review >
Cover art for WALK IN 'E MOON
INDIE
Released: June 10, 2010
by LaVerne Thornton, illustrated by Perry Harrison

"A treasure trove of hard-earned wisdom and wit."
Thornton's debut collection of 44 true short stories lends a rare glimpse into coming-of-age in the rural American South. Read full book review >
Cover art for HILL OF BEANS
INDIE
Released: Sept. 15, 2011

"A finely detailed tableau of the lost Carolinas and a book for the boy in all of us."
Turgenev meets Mark Twain in these lyrical, acutely observed recollections wherein the author narrates his Carolina past, unearthing mountains of memories and ties that bind. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE STOVEPIPE
INDIE
Released: Oct. 1, 2011

"An inspirational story of survival and the loving bond between sisters."
Virag's memoir paints a bleak portrait of a broken childhood, but her strength shines amid the rubble. Read full book review >
Cover art for INTO THE CHILD
INDIE
Released: Oct. 25, 2011

"A hysterical account of pregnancy that will resonate with readers who've been through it before."
Debut author Colleary chronicles 40 weeks of pregnancy in this irreverent account. Read full book review >
Cover art for PARALLEL LIVES
INDIE
Released: Nov. 22, 2011

"A must-have for history buffs."
The authors (The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vs. Lizzie A. Borden, 1994) return with a riveting history of the flourishing small town of Fall River, Mass., and its most infamous resident, Lizzie Borden. Read full book review >
Cover art for A REAL MOTHER
INDIE
Released: March 12, 2012

"A quick, lighthearted romp through the joys of motherhood as told by a real, honest and very funny mom."
Malloy presents a collection of 39 funny, charming and poignant snapshots of her life as the mother of two boys. Read full book review >
Cover art for LOOKING IN THE MIRROR OUT
INDIE
Released: March 23, 2012

"Part memoir, part journal, part plan-in-progress, Bates has no time for self-pity, preferring instead to celebrate all that she is grateful for."
Labeled with Multiple Personality and Dissociative Identity disorders, author Bates writes about the 18 personalities living in her head. Read full book review >
Cover art for BEAMISH BOY
INDIE
Released: June 1, 2012

"A beautifully written memoir of awakening and self-acceptance."
DeSilver's memoir recounts the adolescent and young-adult experiences that shaped his writing and artistic endeavors as an acclaimed poet. Read full book review >
Cover art for A FATHER'S ANGELS
INDIE
Released: June 21, 2012

"A timely, compelling story that challenges the traditional definition of family."
Waldron's account of life as a gay dad in Arizona. Read full book review >
Cover art for CONFESSIONS OF A TRANSSEXUAL PHYSICIAN
INDIE
Released: July 16, 2012

"An honest, heartfelt memoir about coming out and transitioning. "
Birch's candid new memoir recalls her punishing adolescent boyhood and the difficult pursuit of self-realization. Read full book review >
Cover art for ANATOMY OF A HUSTLE
INDIE
Released: Aug. 15, 2012

"A stinging indictment of urban politics-as-usual."
Cronyism and corruption stifle the cable TV industry in this hard-hitting memoir. Read full book review >
Cover art for MR. RUEHLE, YOU ARE A FREE MAN - A BROADCOM SAGA
INDIE
Released: Aug. 21, 2012

"An effective indictment of governmental abuse of power written by an unlikely but excellent source."
Once the chief financial officer of the tech firm Broadcom, Ruehle faced potential sentencing of more than 350 years in prison after federal prosecutors in Southern California charged him with multiple felonies for alleged corporate malfeasance. Here, he tells his side of the story. Read full book review >
Cover art for TULIPANO
INDIE
Released: Aug. 29, 2012

"A lush, unsparing narrative that honors history and emotion."
This meandering but mesmerizing memoir details the political and social turmoil of World War II through the eyes of an intrepid courier for the headquarters of the Italian resistance movement. Read full book review >