Skating to Antarctica – Jenny Diski (Little, Brown)

This book blends memoir and travel writing, documenting Diski’s journey to Antarctica to escape the trauma of her past. It is a book of two voices – one informative and illustrative, describing in depth the details of her expedition; one confessional and introspective, as she confronts her relationship with her estranged parents and their impact on her present life. Her past is told in the third person, holding the abuse she suffered at the hands of her family at arm’s length.

Cold Fish Soup – Adam Farrer (Saraband)

This is a memoir told in a series of essays, reflecting on small town life, relationships between family and friends, and male mental health. Farrer’s book is deeply connected to place and the ways in which a location can shape and influence a life.

Constellations – Sinéad Gleeson (Picador)

Gleeson’s memoir captures an entire life told through the story of a body. The book manages to be personal and universal, moving from birth to love, from motherhood to illness, all the way through to death and loss. Gleeson’s book demonstrates a way through some of the more difficult moments in life.

Shame on Me – Tessa McWatt (Scribe UK)

This is a memoir not only about the author herself but also about her family history. Shame on Me captures a snapshot of the racism that McWatt experienced both in Canada, where she was born and raised, and the UK, where she lives and works. McWatt directs her anger at the system of ‘plantation’, a structure of inequality which continues to pervade our society.

Brown Baby – Nikesh Shukla (Bluebird)

Brown Baby is a memoir addressed to Shukla’s infant daughter and seeks to prepare her for the world in which she is growing up. It mixes humour and anger, stories of his past with his hopes for his daughter’s future.