Five Mixed-Genre Memoirs
Books so good, they are sure to be banned
Five mixed-genre memoirs that blend poetry, nonfiction, and/or fiction:
- Bluets by Maggie Nelson
- Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
- Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
- The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
- The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
These books showcase how mixed genres in memoir create a powerful reading experience. Everything points to truth in these books. But they may not reflect literal experience. Today’s memoir writer must disclose deviation from the truth. Authors disclose fictionalizations, composite characters, and liberties with the truth. We don’t dupe our readers. Rather, We tell the truth and acknowledge when we stray from nonfiction. But stray we may—as these acclaimed authors do.
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
Bluets is a lyrical memoir by Maggie Nelson that explores love, loss, and the color blue. It weaves poetry, philosophy, and personal reflection to create a mesmerizing meditation. The New York Times calls it “a small, exquisite book” and “a paean to the contradictions and complexities of human experience.”
In 2020, Time Magazine named Bluets one of the 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time, with the publication praising Nelson’s ability to “transform the mundane into the transcendent."
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
Citizen: An American by Claudia Rankine examines the experience of being Black in America. The mixed-genre book blends poetry, prose, and visual art that sets down a pavement to allow the reader to walk in the world of another. Rankine's memoir has received widespread critical acclaim, with The New Yorker calling it “a book-length poem about race and the imagination.”
In 2014, Citizen was a finalist for the National Book Award for Poetry, and it won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. Critics praised this mixed-genre memoir for its portrayal of the complexities of racism in America. The New York Times called it “a powerful meditation on the invisibility of Blackness in America."
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
Autobiography of Red is a genre-defying memoir by Anne Carson. It blends poetry, mythology, and fiction to tell the story of a boy named Geryon. This modern retelling of the myth of Geryon animates the red-winged monster, slain by the hero Herakles. Reviews praised Red for its imaginative storytelling and its ability to push the boundaries of traditional memoir. Critics praise Red for the original collage of poetry, fiction, and mythology.
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson blends poetry, philosophy, and personal reflection. The memoir tells the story of Nelson’s relationship with her gender-nonconforming partner, Harry. It explores themes of love, family, and identity. Nelson received widespread critical acclaim, with The New York Times calling her book “a genre-bending memoir” that “asks fundamental questions about what it means to be alive.”
In 2016, The Argonauts won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, and it was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. Reviewers praised it for its fearless honesty and ability to challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality.
The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa
The Book of Disquiet is a unique memoir by Fernando Pessoa that blends poetry, prose, and philosophy to collect fragments, reflections, and musings written by Pessoa’s alter ego, Bernardo Soares. Readers praise the Book of Disquiet for its originality and its ability to capture an inner essence that is perhaps best described by the pouty phrase “ I can’t get no satisfaction.” It’s not a cheery book. That’s the point. Soares discloses a grumpy inner self who may be familiar. This inner grump doesn’t usually get much sunlight. We positive Americans keep Soares-like thoughts locked up.
In 1991, The Guardian named The Book of Disquiet one of The Guardian’s 100 Best Books of the 20th Century. The New York Review of Books described it as “a masterpiece of introspection.”
Mixed Genre Books Go Deep
Mixed-genre memoirs offer readers a layered experience. By blending poetry, nonfiction, and fiction, these memoirs push the boundaries of traditional storytelling and offer readers a new way to think about being and meaning. These genre-benders connect with readers on multiple fronts. Whether exploring themes of love, loss, identity, or race, these authors challenge us to think more deeply about ourselves and the world beyond our personal circle and embedded perspectives.
Read more about mixed-genre books.
