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A Life in Parts
by Bryan Cranston
A humorous coming-of-age memoir and meditation on creativity by the star of Breaking Bad chronicles his theatrical childhood and recommitment to acting in the aftermath of his father's disappearance, describing his early acting jobs and the performances that earned him Tony and Emmy Awards.
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| Irena's Children: A True Story of Courage by Tilar J. MazzeoIn 1942, Irena Sendler, a young Polish social worker, was assigned to the Warsaw ghetto as a public health specialist. When she realized the grim fate that loomed over the Jewish families enclosed within, she joined with colleagues to smuggle children out and connect them with helpful Gentiles. Though most of the families later died in the Holocaust, her remarkable efforts saved 2,500 of their children. Author Tilar Mazzeo draws on Polish records that were unavailable until the 1990s, interviews with survivors, and other accounts of Sendler's life to produce this accessible and inspiring chronicle of courage and self-sacrifice. |
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Not Dead Yet: The Memoir
by Phil Collins
The Genesis frontman and successful solo artist presents a reflective memoir that shares insights into the remarkable experiences behind many of his iconic songs and performances, offering unstinting discussions of his early years, relationships with fellow artists and struggles with addiction.
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| Danger Close: My Epic Journey as a Combat Helicopter Pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan by Amber SmithFew American women have served as combat helicopter pilots, but former 101st Airborne Pilot-in-Command Amber Smith flew in both Iraq and Afghanistan during two deployments. In this no-nonsense memoir, she relates her aspiration to become a pilot like both her parents, her decision to join the Army after 9/11, and her training. The bulk of her account provides vividly detailed views of what it's like to fly a Kiowa Warrior low and fast, sometimes under fire. Though Smith avoids controversial issues, this compelling narrative will appeal to fans of combat memoirs and women who want to know more about military service. |
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November and December Birthdays
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| Spoken from the Heart by Laura BushNovember 4, 1946. In Spoken from the Heart, former First Lady Laura Bush offers a "fine, lyrical" (Los Angeles Times) account of her life from her childhood and youth in Midland, Texas, to her marriage to the 43rd President of the U.S., George W. Bush. Thoughtful and insightful, this compelling memoir provides commentary on aspects of American history as well as an intimate portrait of its author. |
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| Louisa May Alcott: A Personal Biography by Susan CheeverNovember 29, 1832. Louisa May Alcott only wrote her immortal novel Little Women because she needed the money to support her family, but its success both provided financial benefits and assured her place in women's and literary history. In this thoroughly researched biography, author Susan Cheever views her as a writer, a volunteer nurse during the Civil War, an intellectual progressive, and a woman who defied the conventions of her time. This engrossing life story offers an introduction for readers unfamiliar with Alcott's life and a complement to more conventional biographies, such as Harriet Reisen's acclaimed Louisa May Alcott. |
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Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, A Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill
by Candice Millard
November 30, 1874. The best-selling author of Destiny of the Republic presents a narrative account of Churchill's lesser-known heroics during the Boer War, describing his daring escape from rebel captors, trek through hundreds of miles with virtually no supplies and eventual return to South Africa to liberate the soldiers captured with him.
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| Furious Cool: Richard Pryor and the World That Made Him by David Henry and Joe HenryDecember 1, 1940. By the time he died in 2005, Richard Pryor had won an Emmy, five Grammys, and several other awards. He is still Number One on Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest standup comedians. But he also was addicted to drugs, married seven times (to six different women), and served time in an Army prison. Though regarded as a brilliant comic and known for his uncompromising and outspoken work, Pryor had difficulty maintaining emotional connections with others: both may have resulted from a difficult childhood marked by abuse. In Furious Cool, his biographers (both fans) have created an engaging and insightful account of the troubled genius' life. |
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