Does anyone love words better than authors and readers, who are sometimes one in the same? New biographies have recently been published about several famous writers, whether they wrote books, letters, or diaries. Famous or not, we all share a love of words that can be found on the local library shelves.

FRIDA KAHLO’S LOVE LETTERS by Suzanne Barbezat is divided into eight sections of letters attributed to the known love affairs of Frida Kahlo. There are some famous names among those beloved to Frida, including first love Alejandro Gomez Arias, the artist Georgia O’Keefe, and the love of her life who was also an artist, Diego Rivera. Besides the original letters and a typed translation, there are various portraits of Frida and her inner circle of friends. It’s a quick read with intimate glimpses into Frida Kahlo’s life.

HOW TO END A STORY by Helen Garner (828.914 GA) is a 20-year collection of diary entries that serve as an autobiography. Best known for THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF: The Story of a Murder Trial (2014), Garner also published two earlier diary collections, YELLOW NOTEBOOK (2019) and SOME DAY I’LL REMEMBER THIS (2020). This collection covers 1978-1998 as Garner reflects on her unfulfilling marriage, professional accomplishments and the process of aging.

JANE AUSTEN’S BOOKSHELF by Rebecca Romney (921 Austen) is a look at the female authors who influenced Jane Austen’s writing. In addition to reading all the classics, Austen also read novels by Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Hannah More, Charlotte Smith, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth, each of whom has a chapter in this book. The author is a rare book dealer, who prides herself on the history and little known facts about books and historic authors. She likes to point out similarities in Austen’s famous titles to the writing of these women. This well-researched and easy-to-read book includes an Appendix, a Bibliography, pages of Notes, and an Index.

MARK TWAIN by Ron Chernow (921 Twain) follows the author, Samuel Langhorne Clemons, (a.k.a Mark Twain) in five sections that relate to piloting a riverboat down the majestic Mississippi River, which was one of the joys of his life.. The book is a lengthy 1033 pages, with another 140 pages of notes, but reads like a novel, invoking the emotions of the Clemons family of Hannibal, Missouri and intersecting characters. All the triumphs and tragedies of Mark Twain’s life are revealed in this comprehensive volume. Set aside plenty of time to read this one.

WE TELL OURSELVES STORIES: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine by Alissa Wilkinson (921 Didion) is a reflective look at a literary superstar. Didion began her professional career in New York City writing for Vogue magazine and soon found herself drawn to the American mythos that was embodied by Hollywood movies. Didion and her husband, John Gregory Dunne, became screenwriters, brushing shoulders with every Hollywood star and most celebrities across the country. She was a prolific writer and lived until the age of 87, witnessing the film industry’s influences on American culture and vice versa. In addition to being a comprehensive tale of Didion’s life and writing career, this book is like a cultural journey through the twentieth century.

NOTES TO JOHN by Joan Didion (921 Didion) reveals a recently discovered file full of notes written by Joan to her husband, John, beginning in 1999 when she regularly saw a psychiatrist and then wrote reflections about each session. Her therapy sessions focused on anxiety, alcoholism, depression, guilt over being a working mother, and the adoption of her daughter – all topics that surfaced again and again throughout her life. The entries are conversational and easy to read, providing insight into the complex personality of a literary legend.

By Lynette Suckow

Reference Librarian