The story is full of vivid descriptions and anecdotal details that capture something so specific it transcends to the realm of universal. In this delightful essay, Koul talks about trying to learn the secrets of her mother’s Kashmiri cooking after growing up a first-generation American. SHORT MEMOIRS ABOUT GROWING UP SCAACHI KOUL, “THERE’S NO RECIPE FOR GROWING UP” A short memoir might be an account of a single, life-changing event, or it may be reflection on a period of growth or transition. Anyone with any amount of life experience can write a memoir-no dramatic childhood or odd-defying life accomplishments required. It was not until I took a college class on creative nonfiction that I realized memoirs were not just autobiographies of people with exciting lives. Memoir essays were my gateway into reading full-length memoirs. Others are stand-alone pieces published in essay collections.
You see examples of short memoirs all the time on sites like Buzzfeed and The New York Times. What exactly are short memoirs? I define them as essay-length works that weave together life experiences around a central theme. In roughly 5–30 minutes, I can consume a complete morsel of literature, which always leaves me happier than the same amount of time spent doom-scrolling through my various social news feeds. The length allows me to read broadly on a whim with minimal commitment. I love delving into the details of other people’s lives. I love memoirs and essays, so the genre of essay-length short memoirs is one of my favorites.