Memoirs? Who Cares? by Lauren Halamicek

The genre of creative nonfiction has developed through a broad range of diverse, outstanding writers, and through an attentive audience base. Memoirs are a type of creative nonfiction that dive deeply into the perspectives, experiences, and emotions of an author. While these items may only seem relevant to the author themselves, there is much more that can come out of reading these nonfiction pieces.

As noted, a memoir is the author's own experience that they turn into a piece of literature. You might be thinking to yourself, “What does that have to do with me?” An author writes about how they felt in a certain situation, how the situation affected them, and what they learned from their experience. Of course, this can be a great way for an author to get stress off of their chest, and to get their story out into the world. But, again, “Why would I care?” One aspect of memoirs that I believe many people are forgetting is how a story can have an impact on the lives of readers.

Each reader and author has their own external, or internal, influences in life that make them who they are. However, there are many experiences that a large majority of people have in common. Whether you believe it or not, there are successes, problems, positives, and negatives that you share with people that you might think are completely different from you. Struggles with race, poverty, and gender roles are only the beginning of what people throughout the world encounter within their lifetime.

When an author is bold enough to write down and publish their life onto a piece of paper, it is important that we read their pieces. Why? Because there are lessons that can be learned, diverse lifestyles to gain an understanding of, an ability to appreciate new perspectives, and the capacity to immerse yourself into another person's way of life. Yet, I believe the most valuable aspect of a memoir is the ability it gives a reader to feel like they belong.

A memoir talks about the nitty-gritty, the wonderful times, the absolute disasters, and the numerous obstacles that an author may have gone through. Through all of that, one thing remains consistent: we are all people who are flawed and complex.

Memoirs are not just another piece of literature that sends you into an alternate fantasy. Memoirs are raw, unique, and creative which make them enjoyable and inspirational to read. So, next time you feel out of place or that you are going through something that no one else has, pick up a memoir. By doing this, you can learn something new about yourself or maybe even find a sense of belonging.