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Biography and Memoir September 2018
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| From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-SteinWhat it is: a gossipy chronicle of Beck Dorey-Stein's five-year tenure as a White House stenographer during the Obama administration.
Is it for you? Dorey-Stein's funny and touching reflections focus more on workplace relationships (including an affair with a senior staffer) than political intrigue.
Reviewers say: "[This] breezy page turner is essentially Bridget Jones goes to the White House" (The New York Times). |
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The Final Race : The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire
by Eric T. Eichinger
He was the most famous Briton at the time, having just won the gold in the Olympic 400-meter race. The story of that race―and the one he didn’t run―was told in the popular movie classic Chariots of Fire.
But what most of us don’t know is what became of Eric Liddell in the years after the credits rolled. As the storm clouds of World War II rolled in, Eric had already made decisions in his life that gave him the resilience to stand tall while others fell into despair. His strength of character led him to choose an uncertain future in China during World War II in order to continue helping the Chinese. He lived purposefully even as his world crumbled and he experienced the horror and deprivations of a Japanese internment camp.
Eric’s story is a story of hope in the face of uncertainty, resilience in the face of unspeakable odds, and inspiring vision of what life means, even when the final hour comes.
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Depression the Comedy : A Tale of Perseverance
by Jessica Holmes
Holmes shares her two cents on how to play it cool when your medication makes you hear Kate Hudson's voice, and why you don't sneak elk pepperettes into the movies. It's a validating read for anyone who has suffered from depression a little ("I get sad every January") or a lot ("My psychiatrist doesn't have a name for what I've got") or who just thinks real life calls for levity and understanding.
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| No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNicolWhat it's about: On the eve of her 40th birthday, Glynnis MacNicol grappled with her ambivalence over society's expectations for women of a certain age (getting married, having children) and feeling like a failure for not wanting those things.
Reviewers say: "a funny, frank, and fearless memoir" (Kirkus Reviews).
Want a taste? "I had known early on that I did not want my mother's life. If anything, I actively unwanted it." |
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| The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela; edited by Sahm VenterWhat it is: an illuminating collection of 255 letters written by anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela during his 27-year imprisonment.
Why it's significant: Editor Sahm Venter's meticulous annotations complement Mandela's resonant prose, providing rich context to the spheres -- both personal and political -- that Mandela stayed active in throughout his incarceration.
Don't miss: Mandela's letters to his own captors, in which he advocates for stronger prisoners' rights. |
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| Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Conflict Photographer, and Their Journey Back... by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O'ReillyWhat it's about: Marine sergeant Thomas J. Brennan and war photographer Finbarr O'Reilly met in 2010 during a Taliban attack, striking up a friendship after O'Reilly photographed Brennan's injuries.
What sets it apart: In this ode to the healing power of friendship, alternating chapters recount the men's battle-weary postwar life, providing unique perspectives on post-traumatic stress disorder and the will to survive. |
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| The Bridge Ladies by Betsy LernerWhat it is: a moving chronicle of how a New Haven, Connecticut women's bridge club helped author Betsy Lerner reconcile with her estranged mother.
Read it for: Engaging profiles of the five bridge club members reveal how their shared hobby has sustained them through more than 50 years of personal triumphs and tragedies.
You might also like: Becky Aikman's Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives. |
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| Jackie's Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family by Kathy McKeonWhat it is: a charming account of Irish immigrant Kathy McKeon's decade serving as Jacqueline Kennedy's live-in assistant and governess following President Kennedy's 1963 assassination.
Don't miss: Kennedy's loyalty and generosity to her staff inspired a deep friendship and devotion that endured even after McKeon left her employ.
Is it for you? McKeon's humorous (and occasionally sobering) reflections offer a personal peek into the post-Camelot era, perfect for those fascinated by the Kennedy dynasty. |
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Let's take the long way home : a memoir of friendship
by Gail Caldwell
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Strong West Wind traces her close friendship with the late fellow writer Caroline Knapp, describing their shared experiences with sobriety, a love of dogs and Caroline's battle with cancer. Reprint.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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