Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

Kate Mulgrew is perhaps best known as Star Trek's first female captain and I really enjoy watching Star Trek Voyager so I made a point to put this on in my reading queue. A lot of things impressed me about it; perhaps most is that she wrote it herself and that it is well written; it reminded me of Arthur Golden's style in Memoirs of a Geisha. And I identified with her because she emphasizes “the work” (for her, acting) to make it through the most difficult times in life. That really resonated with me and my life.

I learned things about Ms. Mulgrew's like that she gave a child up for adoption when she was 22. That series of passages, the pregnancy written into the soap opera she was on and the part when she glimpsed her child in the bassinet, were powerful. I felt a lot of empathy for Ms. Mulgrew and I credit that to her writing. The same holds for her chapters detailing her adventures with her two sons. I like that although work is important to Ms. Mulgrew, family is also very important to her. And I like how well that was communicated in her memoir.

If you are looking for a tell-all about Star Trek Voyager, you'll be disappointed. Likewise if you are looking for insight into Orange is the New Black, her memoir stops before getting there. She actually stops before Voyager concluded. That being said, it is still a really engaging and interesting book and I think you ought to read it.

Visit Kate Mulgrew's site for more information about the author and how to purchase her book(s).