David Sedaris
I think that David Sedaris is one of the masters of crafting a personal essay that is both humorous and heartfelt. He makes the ordinary things in life seem so much interesting, so much more exciting.
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body – Roxane Gay
Hunger forced me to come to terms with my own fatphobia, towards myself and towards others. Roxane Gay could do no wrong and I also really want to be her friend, but that’s because she’s so brilliant.
The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
I finally read my first Toni Morrison book this year, and I’m so glad that I started with this one. The Bluest Eye gave me the chance to finally begin the process of dealing with my internalized racism and childhood trauma. Read Toni Morrison. Please. I beg you.
A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket
Hear me out here: I loved dark humor when I was a child, and Lemony Snicket was the first author who did it well. I work in a bookstore and I recommend this book to so many kids who come back and tell me how much they loved it.
Bassey Ikpi
I just finished her memoir, I’m Telling the Truth, but I’m Lying, and it felt like I was reading essays about my own life. There aren’t as many women of color—especially Black women—talking about mental health but she is and I’m so grateful for her doing so.
Katherine D. Morgan is the author of the debut chapbook “No Self-Respecting Woman”. Katherine’s work has appeared or is forthcoming at Huffington Post, The Rumpus, Portland Mercury, HelloGiggles, Pass/Fail, Ravishly, JMWW, and The Establishment. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where you can find her snuggling with her cat Ramona, and crying during the series finale of Frasier. https://twitter.com/blcktinab