What do you think?
Rate this book
Memoirs of My Body
Shreya Sen-Handley wrote a wildly popular column about body parts and body fluids, flings and romantic encounters. As readers, young and old, began to write back to her, Shreya stepped back to think about it her body, her writing and her life. Intensely personal and utterly universal, this is a book about masturbation and the first kiss, pregnancy and sagging breasts, the wrong man and the right man. It is a tale of triumphs and tragedies, injustices (on a global scale) and ecstasy (the little ones we can all identify with). Funny, sad, serious and sometimes, very, very rude, Memoirs of My Body is the story of one woman and of Everywoman too.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2017
7 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Shreya Sen-Handley
3 books6 followersA CNBC and MTV journalist and producer, and East India head for Australasian Channel [V], Shreya Sen-Handley has authored three books for HarperCollins: the award-winning ‘Memoirs of My Body’ (2017), short story collection ‘Strange’ (2019), hailed by beloved Indian-English author Ruskin Bond as "masterful", and new travelogue ‘Handle with Care’ (2022), described by author and naturalist Lee Durrell as "a fabulous read...written lustrously and wittily".
A Welsh National Opera librettist, the first South Asian woman to write international opera, she has written for their film series ‘Creating Change’ (2020), and operas ‘Migrations’ (a 200-performer production touring Britain in 2022, listed by The Times as one of 50 best shows to watch this year) and ‘Blaze of Glory’ (2023). Her play ‘Quiet’ premiered in London with award-winning Tara Theatre (2021).
A columnist for National Geographic, CNN, The Guardian, and more, she also writes a syndicated newspaper column for India. Her essays can be found in anthologies, including the University of East Anglia’s ‘Writing Places’ (2019) and Hodder Education’s British secondary school English textbook, ‘Detectives’ (2020).
Her short stories and poetry have been published in award-winning anthologies, broadcast by the BBC and Australian radio, and shortlisted for prizes in Britain, India and Australia. Her poetry has also spearheaded British national social justice campaigns.
She teaches creative writing at British and Indian institutions, including the University of Cambridge, illustrates for Hachette, HarperCollins, Welsh National Opera, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, translates literature for National Literacy Trust, and commentates on BBC Radio.
A Welsh National Opera librettist, the first South Asian woman to write international opera, she has written for their film series ‘Creating Change’ (2020), and operas ‘Migrations’ (a 200-performer production touring Britain in 2022, listed by The Times as one of 50 best shows to watch this year) and ‘Blaze of Glory’ (2023). Her play ‘Quiet’ premiered in London with award-winning Tara Theatre (2021).
A columnist for National Geographic, CNN, The Guardian, and more, she also writes a syndicated newspaper column for India. Her essays can be found in anthologies, including the University of East Anglia’s ‘Writing Places’ (2019) and Hodder Education’s British secondary school English textbook, ‘Detectives’ (2020).
Her short stories and poetry have been published in award-winning anthologies, broadcast by the BBC and Australian radio, and shortlisted for prizes in Britain, India and Australia. Her poetry has also spearheaded British national social justice campaigns.
She teaches creative writing at British and Indian institutions, including the University of Cambridge, illustrates for Hachette, HarperCollins, Welsh National Opera, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, translates literature for National Literacy Trust, and commentates on BBC Radio.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 24, 2020
"Women must write themselves into history."
During an introductory course to psychoanalysis in my second year of college, I'd been asked to read Helene Cixous's essay "Laughter Of The Medusa". In it, Cixous talks about the systemic and systematic silences, involved in the gendering of literary voices. "Women must," she insisted, "write themselves into history." All this was fine and good, but even a thought as radical and important as this suffered from a grave oversight. It was elite and erudite in it's language, forgetting, perhaps, the first rule of language: communication.
When I read Shreya Sen-Handley's "Memoirs Of My Body", I found myself seated inside a dialectic; it was as if all that Cixous talked about was being retold, bur stripped of the ornamentation of language. In the place of theory, there was truth; in the place of speculation and analysis, there was life.
In 'Memoirs Of My Body", Handley skillfully orchestrates a double act of humaneness: it begins as a narrative of and from the self, but travels outward, centripetally. The language is deceptively simple, but underneath the surface of quotidian lingo swims a universe written in invisible ink. A universe that is, in ways more than one, seething, bursting, wanting to make itself heard.
Handley's book is not about her own body, or not JUST about her body, but about the unacknowledged symphony of ALL bodies. The personal originates within, but grows, gets larger, becomes not just the political, but the universal. It is a narrative against shame, a narrative of remembering, of re-membering, of recognising the seemingly base and of unlearning fluid guilt.
It inverses connotations, decenters experience and language. It is a homage to the maimed rivers of the human body. What stood out for me, personally, was the honesty of the language, and the unflinching prose. It may be, as it was for me, difficult at first, if you're a man, to find axes of relation to the world Handley paints. But the message of feminism, it seems to me, is ALSO to the us, men. All of us are victims of this system, all of us are trapped inside frames of skin, blood and bone; the language of our dominant discourse will tell us, especially if we are women, that this frame is a cage of shame. But Handley tells us otherwise. Drawing us close, she whispers,
"Some frames are frontiers. Some frames are not cages or battlefields, but forests of hope, gardens of love."
Her book is, in the end, an act of love.
During an introductory course to psychoanalysis in my second year of college, I'd been asked to read Helene Cixous's essay "Laughter Of The Medusa". In it, Cixous talks about the systemic and systematic silences, involved in the gendering of literary voices. "Women must," she insisted, "write themselves into history." All this was fine and good, but even a thought as radical and important as this suffered from a grave oversight. It was elite and erudite in it's language, forgetting, perhaps, the first rule of language: communication.
When I read Shreya Sen-Handley's "Memoirs Of My Body", I found myself seated inside a dialectic; it was as if all that Cixous talked about was being retold, bur stripped of the ornamentation of language. In the place of theory, there was truth; in the place of speculation and analysis, there was life.
In 'Memoirs Of My Body", Handley skillfully orchestrates a double act of humaneness: it begins as a narrative of and from the self, but travels outward, centripetally. The language is deceptively simple, but underneath the surface of quotidian lingo swims a universe written in invisible ink. A universe that is, in ways more than one, seething, bursting, wanting to make itself heard.
Handley's book is not about her own body, or not JUST about her body, but about the unacknowledged symphony of ALL bodies. The personal originates within, but grows, gets larger, becomes not just the political, but the universal. It is a narrative against shame, a narrative of remembering, of re-membering, of recognising the seemingly base and of unlearning fluid guilt.
It inverses connotations, decenters experience and language. It is a homage to the maimed rivers of the human body. What stood out for me, personally, was the honesty of the language, and the unflinching prose. It may be, as it was for me, difficult at first, if you're a man, to find axes of relation to the world Handley paints. But the message of feminism, it seems to me, is ALSO to the us, men. All of us are victims of this system, all of us are trapped inside frames of skin, blood and bone; the language of our dominant discourse will tell us, especially if we are women, that this frame is a cage of shame. But Handley tells us otherwise. Drawing us close, she whispers,
"Some frames are frontiers. Some frames are not cages or battlefields, but forests of hope, gardens of love."
Her book is, in the end, an act of love.
February 4, 2018
'Memoirs of My Body' is a book every woman can relate to. Perhaps not in entirety in terms of the incidents mentioned, but they are all shadows that lurk in the corners of every woman's life, in some form or the other. For me, it settled quite a lot of uncertainties I had harbored about myself. Also, it gave me a glimpse of the dilemmas I may develop in my upcoming life as a woman. And helped settle them as well. The part I best liked about the book is when the author talks about the home she has created with the man she loves. The peace and joy she celebrates seep through the pages and into the hearts of the readers. It instills a certain warm hope, and reminds you to hang in there!The writing is exceptionally frank, and funny in a lot of places with mentions that can strike a chord with the 90's kids too. Any fact is supplemented with adequate references to numbers and statistics and links to details, available alongside. It becomes an entertaining read, taking up a solemn attitude whenever necessary.
October 27, 2020
i've never digested literature on the female experience with such ease before.
don't make assumptions about what that might mean; let me dig myself out of this one.
It's digestible not because it's reductive or simplistic; it's just rare for important subjects to be written about this tastefully. It wasn't till I was halfway through the book that I realized just how ... relaxed I was. I hate using the word 'uncomfortable' when it comes to the female body, but I speak on behalf of all men when I say that we treat it like its way too big of a deal. It's not. I'd be lying if i said i haven't felt intimidated by the subject before, and that is exactly why Memoirs of my Body is so much fun to read – it's the exact opposite of the dry presentation style I'm used to. I was fully engaged from beginning to end because it didn't feel like someone was trying to educate me; I just wanted to know what happens next. And now I feel the need to bring up the topics discussed in this book more.
Guys, you need to read this.
don't make assumptions about what that might mean; let me dig myself out of this one.
It's digestible not because it's reductive or simplistic; it's just rare for important subjects to be written about this tastefully. It wasn't till I was halfway through the book that I realized just how ... relaxed I was. I hate using the word 'uncomfortable' when it comes to the female body, but I speak on behalf of all men when I say that we treat it like its way too big of a deal. It's not. I'd be lying if i said i haven't felt intimidated by the subject before, and that is exactly why Memoirs of my Body is so much fun to read – it's the exact opposite of the dry presentation style I'm used to. I was fully engaged from beginning to end because it didn't feel like someone was trying to educate me; I just wanted to know what happens next. And now I feel the need to bring up the topics discussed in this book more.
Guys, you need to read this.
January 4, 2021
Shreya Sen Handley's voice shines through as she takes the reader on a journey around the female body in this highly entertaining, sometimes harrowing narrative. From the first flush of sexual awakening, romantic encounters, abusive partners, marriage, childbirth and beyond, this is one woman's story that could be everywoman's story. Amusing and engaging - especially when it comes to naming our parts - (why wouldn't you?), we are encouraged to throw off our cloaks of shame and celebrate who we are without fear or favour.
With plenty of data to back her theories, this book highlights the often grim hold society claims over the female form (yes, sadly, even today in the 21st Century}, and encourages us all to reclaim what has always belonged to us. As a woman of a certain age, I can certainly appreciate the positive in that.
A must-read for any fans of memoir.
With plenty of data to back her theories, this book highlights the often grim hold society claims over the female form (yes, sadly, even today in the 21st Century}, and encourages us all to reclaim what has always belonged to us. As a woman of a certain age, I can certainly appreciate the positive in that.
A must-read for any fans of memoir.
December 27, 2019
Simply loved this book, before anything it's is an amazing read, the language so fluid it just grips you like a peasant and intellectually stimulating conversation over warm cup of coffee on a cold wintry morning. The book itself is a must read for all, women, and men alike. It deals with some very grave and serious issues while keeping it real with edges the slightly smoothened with wit and humour, and anecdotes. For me it took me on quite an emotional ride, meandering through laughter, introspection and sometimes a bit of sadness, and as a man was amazing to see an honest perspective from the other side and it helped to some extent change the image in my mirror. All in all a fantastic read. I refer this hands down.
April 12, 2020
Memoirs of my body is awesome in many ways. Using her experiences in life, the writer tries to dispel the ignorance of our society regarding our bodies. She takes on racism, gender discrimination, menstruation taboo and many more issues in this wonderful book. The book is a smooth read. To me, it felt like a self-help book along with being a memoir. There were many instances while reading it that I wanted to thank the writer for writing this book. It was an eye opener in many ways. Reading this book gave me the courage to stand up for my dreams. I am so glad I bought the book. This is a must read for everyone.
August 4, 2022
Memories of My Body is full of innuendos—that sometimes approach the sublime, and oftentimes the ridiculous. It is not to be taken any less seriously for either of these reasons. The sentences are fluid as they talk about fluids (literally). While reading parts of the book I felt unsettled by the erotic language. This was not because the words were obscene or perverse (which they are). The discomfort comes from recognising your own resistance to such language and raises larger questions about the literature we consume. Are we constantly made to consume sexually sanitised writing? And if that is the case, then reading Memories of My Body becomes all the more important.
February 17, 2018
Done! Finished reading Shreya Sen Handley’s “Memoirs of my Body”.
Shreya written a bold, frank and brutally honest memoir.
It takes guts!
She has backed all her comments on various issues with references and statistics.
Most of all, I love her sense of humour. Cheeky at times but delicious.
Shreya weathered many a storm to get to where she is today.
Including depression and I commend her heartily for writing about it.
She has dealt with parental care and love and romantic love with tenderness.
This is a book every woman (and men) should read. Much to learn.
Bravo Shreya!
Shreya written a bold, frank and brutally honest memoir.
It takes guts!
She has backed all her comments on various issues with references and statistics.
Most of all, I love her sense of humour. Cheeky at times but delicious.
Shreya weathered many a storm to get to where she is today.
Including depression and I commend her heartily for writing about it.
She has dealt with parental care and love and romantic love with tenderness.
This is a book every woman (and men) should read. Much to learn.
Bravo Shreya!
July 31, 2022
I was captivated from the beginning by the precocious little girl and her big ideas, and this frank and achingly honest voyage of self discovery will stay with me for a long time. A challenge to all of the prejudices a young Indian woman may face Shreya's writing is as fierce as it is tender. Made to feel ashamed of her desires, it is the story of her own emancipation and a timely reminder that women all over the world need us to continue to speak up for them. An empowering read that will have you cheering from the sidelines for all the strong ambitious women in our lives.
May 6, 2020
A beautifully written and extremely thought provoking book.
This is a wonderfully candid and insightful look into a woman's relationship with her body.
The storytelling is superb and the author's voice relatable, highly recommended for all fans of memoir books.
This is a wonderfully candid and insightful look into a woman's relationship with her body.
The storytelling is superb and the author's voice relatable, highly recommended for all fans of memoir books.
February 28, 2023
This book is a brilliant work by Handley. Loved the way the book tried to give girls of my age a chance to explore their bodies. Cheers to our bodies and to the making of new friendships with them!! ❤️
January 6, 2020
An absolute must-read... the author paints a vivid picture with her words, and every chapter leaves you wanting more.
June 22, 2019
Wow! Couldn't have read a more revolutionary book.
February 17, 2023
Shreya writes a fantastic memoir, focusing on different aspects of her her body and her life. She is beautifully honest and poignant, and takes the reader on the fascinating journey of some of her life experiences. I particularly enjoyed the down to earth, frank discussions about real life issues, and genuine experiences that a lot of women go through. Though this book is absolutely not just for women! I recommend everyone, of every age and identity read this book for a unique insight into one woman's life. (and a lot of women's lives, I think.) I found there were so many bits that I could relate to, and so many bits that it was just refreshing to have someone talk about so openly and honestly. Couldn't recommend more!
March 9, 2018
A kaleidoscope of emotions, Shreya Sen-Handley’s “Memoirs Of My Body” does things to you. It makes you really soppy and weepy or it makes you angry. Sometimes it makes you sad and you wish to curl up in a corner (because you remember your very own shrivel-up-and-die experience) and then again it tickles your funny bones so hard that you sometimes burst out laughing in the most inappropriate of places (remembering a particular portion). This book is a real roller coaster ride. Frankly, ‘unputdownable’ is how I would describe it. Reading Memoirs… one’s head tends to get completely filled with the feisty Shreya and her heart-warming anecdotes till one becomes so akin that the writer and the reader are completely in sync and it is an almost cathartic experience. As I read on, I realize that she is actually telling everyone's story. It brings so many memories flooding back. Thank you for writing that book for all of us, Shreya.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews