Moving into the Top 10, I’ve got another memoir, but this one moves into the world of film, thanks to The Brattle Theater’s Podcast. An episode from lat year featured filmmaker Susan Seidelman talking about her memoir detailing her life as a woman creating films in the 80’s to today. Thanks for the tip, Brattle pals! Another genre that I’ve alway enjoyed throughout my life is science fiction. Yuma Kitasei is a Japanese-American author whose second novel has made a respectable showing on this year’s list.
#9 – Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls by Susan Seidelman (2024)
Susan Seidelman, best known for directing DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, has written a lively, entertaining, memoir that incorporates growing up in a suburban bubble during the 60’s, then spending most of her adult life in New York City, seeing the evolution of Manhattan from a gritty, urban proving ground, to the gentrified wonderland it is today. Her story focuses on the struggles of being a woman in a man’s world — the world of making movies — and the challenges she face creating both independent films and Hollywood studio pieces. She comes across as smart, fun, and independent. The weaving of various themes into her personal story is masterful.
#8 – The Deep Sky by Yuman Kitasei (2023)
Yume Katiasei’s debut science fiction novel is a space faring journey where a crew of specialized young people who are capable of giving birth are sent as a last hope from Earth to Planet X to create a new civilization. The book bounces back and forth quite nicely between the academy where these young people are trained and tested, where representatives from each country (number based on population or political clout) compete for a spot on the flight, and the ship after ten years of deep sleep, where those selected to go must deal with an unexpected emergency.
Asuke, half Japanese/half American, wants desperately to honor her younger brother who always wanted to go to space, but was killed in a fire. Asuke’s mother doesn’t want her to go. Asuke lives in a perpetual state of underestimating her skills and doubts herself every step of the way. Even after she makes the cut (not a spoiler, you know that immediately) her doubts continue to plague her as does the turbulent relationship with her mother who she left behind on Earth.
The rest of the crew are filled with varied personalities that make the story interesting and fun. The tension is high, as this crew must deal with an emergency, potential sabotage, and maybe even a traitor in their midst. Kitasei keeps the drama and the suspense ever-present, and Deep Sky provides an action packed, emotional roller-coaster of a ride for a fun space suspense story.