916. - Melissa Auf der Maur

In 'Big Swiss', Greta, a transcriptionist for a sex coach, becomes infatuated with a client known as Big Swiss, a repressed married woman from Switzerland. When Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice in town, they accidentally meet and an explosive affair ensues. Despite Big Swiss being unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta finds herself more herself than ever before. The novel explores themes of romantic obsession, mental health, and sexual stereotypes with a unique and humorous voice.

Melissa Auf der Maur's memoir chronicles her upbringing in Montreal, her years as the bassist for bands like Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, and her life navigating fame, addiction in her circles, and personal growth. Drawing on diaries and thousands of photographs taken during the 1990s, she reconstructs vivid scenes from touring, friendships, and the cultural milieu of that era. The book also explores her family background, including her parents' influence, and her later life running an arts space and raising a family in upstate New York. Written as a cathartic purge, the memoir balances candid reflections on trauma and addiction with moments of empathy and resilience. It serves as both a personal reckoning and a time capsule of a pivotal period in alternative rock history.