This request is going to be both very broad and quite specific. Simply stated, I am looking for biographical books (though I suppose fiction will work) in which the character has overcome adversity (be it addiction of some kind, poor circumstances, abuse, whatever).
In essence, what I am looking for is something to sort of feed and inspire me. I am hoping to avoid all out schmaltz. More specifically, I am trying to change some bad patterns about myself and am looking for some non self-help books to see what others have been through and how they got through it.
I know that this is pretty general, but am pretty sure that someone here will come up with something.
You really don’t care if it’s fiction or a bio? Why then , have I got the book for you: A Million Little Pieces
You knew someone would mention it eventually. And really, it seems to have helped a lot of people without being preachy.
Cat Fight, thanks. I believe that one bump is acceptable to see if anyone else has suggestions. I did check some of this out on Amazon (with their prieview thing) and it looks like the sort of thing that I am after.
You might like the books written by Corrie Ten Boom. (They have a heavy religious overtone, but it’s not enough to ruin the story.) She was a Dutchwoman who hid Jews in a secret compartment during WWII. She and her entire family ended up in a concentration camp, and she was the only survivor.
What amazes me most about her story is the way she was able to heal and forgive. She actually turned her house over to be a rehabilitation center for ex-nazi camp guards, because she said they needed healing, too.
I just read Scar Tissue, autobiography of Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers… if you like their music it is a great read (and is not unlike A Million Little Pieces)
I second *On Writing * if you’re a King fan like I am. I’ll also suggest Dry by Augusten Burroughs. It’s similar to A Million Little Pieces in that it deals with alcoholism and has more than a little embillishment (it’s also supposed to be a memoir), but I think the writing is a LOT more accessible and just better overall.
Second for Dry, also Running With Scissors, which deals with Augusten’s childhood. Good stuff. I read each book in one sitting because I couldn’t put them down.
A terrific fictional portrayal of a character overcoming adversity - She’s come Undone - Wally Lamb. Another Oprah selection, but don’t let that deter you. It’s a great story.
The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald, takes place in the Seattle area. Its conditions are less adverse than World War II fighting or imprisonment, but it should inspire you. (The movie version kept the title and jettisoned the humor.) Three Came Home, by Agnes Keith, is a WWII prison-camp memoir. I am ignorant of Corrie Ten Boom, and thank Lissa for the recommendation. Keith is a strong, forgiving survivor. The movie version, again starring Colbert, is rather good.
I also do not know “The Brass Ring”, Krokodil’s recommendation. But I do know and recommend Up Front if you cannot find “The Brass Ring”. Marooned, by Charles H. Barnard, is a tense account of of being stranded and surviving in the Falklands 194 years ago. Alive, by Piers Paul Read, is the story of the Andes plane crash survivors. The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz, is one of the most inspirational WWII prisoner narratives that I have read.
In sum, there is plenty available to enthrall and inspire you. Best of success.
It’s Not About the Bike, Lance Armstrong. He walks you through the decision process he had to go thru to choose his cancer treatment-- the doctors really can’t make that decision for you.
Richard P. Feynman has a couple of autobiographies out there, and I thought they were pretty interesting. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! is funny, but he does go through some tough times. What Do You Care What Other People Think? includes some memories of his first wife, who predeceased him. It’s been years (or decades) since I’ve read those books, but he was a real character.
Into Thin Air, by Krakauer, is a good read about how some climbers survived (and some didn’t) a horrible storm atop Everest in 1996. Although I guess I can’t say how inspiring it is, as some died due to negligence and bad choices, while others survived despite negligence and bad choices, it’s absolutely an incredible story.
Endurance, about Ernest Shackleton and his ordeal at the South Pole. This one’s different in that most (all?) survived due to Shackleton’s leadership and unsurpassed, impossible trek to get help. Definitely inspiring.