Several great female memoirs have been published since Patti Smith's phenomenally successful Just Kids. This reader is thrilled to see  (what I am declaring) the rise of the female rock memoir. Thank you again Patti Smith for being a trailblaizer, and thank you Chrissie, Carrie,  Kim, and Viv for so much. 

Reckless: My Life As a Pretender by Chrissie Hynde

The dark eyeliner and iconic bangs! Hynde’s memoir is as sardonic and hard-boiled as one might expect. There is no shortage of escapades with The Clash, The Damned, and the Sex Pistols. [NOTE: Rosanna Arquette, a perfect choice, reads the audiobook version.]

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein

Oh, to have been a singer in a riot grrrl band in Olympia Washington circa 1994. (sigh)

Of course, Brownstein’s book is thoroughly enjoyable. She is funny and self-deprecating, candid, and completely charming and smart.

Girl In a Band by Kim Gordon

All now bow to the Queen of Kool. The book is organized “experimentally” as one might expect from Gordon. The first chapter is called “The End” and each chapter that follows is no longer than 5 pages. The book does run roughly chronologically, however: childhood, downtown NYC in the 80s, artwork, motherhood, and marriage. As with Just Kids, the reader is left with the sense that she has encountered a true artist.  

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. by Viv Albertine

Albertine,  lead guitarist from the punk band The Slits was friends with Sid Vicious and toured with The Clash. Nonetheless, punk rock was not an equal opportunity enterprise in the 70s, London. The second half of the book, after the breakup of The Slits is entitled “Side 2: loneliness, doubt, a bad marriage, cancer, depression.” Fear not, reader: there is redemption in the end.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to​ be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ​picks! Tell us what you'd recommend: Leave a comment or email us.