★Aduba, Uzo. The Road Is Good: How a Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter’s Purpose. Viking. Sept. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9780593299128. $29. MEMOIR

In this moving memoir, three-time Emmy Award winner Aduba reflects on her experiences as a Nigerian American daughter of immigrants and as a Black actor who challenges stereotypes in the entertainment industry. Best known for her role as the character Crazy Eyes on Orange Is the New Black, Aduba here alternates between her own story and the experiences of her parents, especially her mother, Nonyem, whose death from pancreatic cancer in 2020 led to a tidal wave of grief. Nonyem’s inner life is revealed through her journals—the lifelong diarist passed this habit on to Aduba—which show how through war, domestic strife, and personal hardships, she remained a pillar of strength, a source of beauty, and a fount of intelligence. VERDICT Poignant and well-written, this memoir not only celebrates the achievements and talents of its author but also grounds readers in the customs of Nigeria. It is a must-have for fans of Aduba or Orange Is the New Black and for those wanting to read about the African diaspora.—Amy Shaw

Bishop, Kelly. The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir. Gallery. Sept. 2024. 288p. ISBN 9781668023778. $28.99. MEMOIR

The Playbill bio that accompanied Bishop’s first starring stage role (playing Sheila in the original 1975 Broadway production of A Chorus Line) emphasized the actor’s “survival” in show business for, at that point, 12 years. Bishop went on to win a Tony for that role and have a successful career on the stage and screen. Today, she’s most known for playing Emily Gilmore, the matriarch of The Gilmore Girls. Bishop’s memoir fills in all the scenes of her fascinating life leading up to that role. From her childhood study of ballet to her steep climb to Broadway and Hollywood, her story is one of perseverance and good old-fashioned chutzpah. Though Bishop describes herself as a private person who’s not nosy or interested in gossip, her book is a definitively dishy read, written with warmth and refreshing frankness about the hard work and luck that contributed to her career. VERDICT A captivating narrative, engagingly told.—Claire Sewell