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Biography and Memoir September 2021 |
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| Seeing Ghosts by Kat ChowWhat it's about: After her mother's death from cancer in 2004, Kat Chow struggled with her traditional Chinese family's refusal to acknowledge the loss.
Read it for: Chow's intimate and richly detailed tribute to her mother, marked by moving reflections and flashes of humor, like her mother's penchant for practical jokes and fondness for "kissing books."
For fans of: Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart. |
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| Ladyparts by Deborah CopakenWhat it is: Atlantic contributing writer and former combat photographer Deborah Copaken's raw and darkly humorous account of the myriad physical ailments she has endured over the years.
What sets it apart: the author's frank assessment of how the American medical establishment deprioritizes women's health care.
Reviewers say: "a strong act of self-assertion" (Booklist); "will engage readers of feminist memoirs" (Library Journal). |
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| All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days: The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of... by Rebecca DonnerStarring: American expat and academic Mildred Harnack, a leader in the German resistance whose 1943 execution was personally overseen by Adolf Hitler.
Why you should read it: This dramatic and well-researched account shines a spotlight on a lesser-known World War II hero widely considered to have been the only American leader in the German resistance.
Author alert: Novelist Rebecca Donner is Harnack's great-great niece. |
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| Run: Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by L. Fury and Nate PowellWhat it is: a graphic novel memoir from longtime civil rights activist and U.S. Congressman John Lewis, completed before his death in 2020.
What's inside: Richly detailed illustrations and thoughtful writing capture the turbulence that came after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, from the Vietnam War to the Watts Uprising to the splintering of Black activist groups.
Series alert: Run kicks off the follow-up series to the popular, National Book Award-winning March trilogy. |
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Focus on: Animal Companions
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| Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs by Jennifer Finney BoylanWhat it is: a funny and moving ode to the dogs that have helped author Jennifer Finney Boylan navigate pivotal moments in her life, including the death of her father and her gender transition.
Want a taste? "Everything I know about love I learned from dogs."
Is it for you? Readers unfamiliar with Boylan's life and work may want to start with her bestselling memoir She's Not There, which chronicles her transition in greater depth. |
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| Featherhood: A Memoir of Two Fathers and a Magpie by Charlie GilmourWhat it's about: Upon learning that his estranged biological father was ill, journalist Charlie Gilmour found solace raising a rescued magpie he named Benzene.
What's inside: a reflective exploration of grief, parenthood, and family trauma, featuring a star-making turn by the mischievous Benzene.
For fans of: Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk. |
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| Running With Sherman: How a Rescue Donkey Inspired a Rag-Tag Gang of Runners to Enter... by Christopher McDougallWhat it's about: Encouraged to give his newly adopted rescue donkey, Sherman, a purpose, author Christopher McDougall decided to enter his four-legged pal in the World Championship Pack Burro Race.
It takes a village: McDougall's Pennsylvania Amish community rallied around Sherman to offer support during his rehabilitation and training.
Read it if: you enjoy heartwarming sports stories. |
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| How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Rebecca GreenStarring: feisty Scottish terrier Molly; Christopher Hogwood, a pig with personality; tarantula Clarabelle, friend to children in French Guiana; and more!
Is it for you? Author Sy Montgomery opens up about her difficult childhood and lifelong struggle with depression, which is exacerbated by the passing of some of the animals featured in the book.
Crossover alert: Fans of Montgomery's National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus will remember charismatic cephalopod Octavia, who makes an appearance here. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Boca Raton Public Library
400 NW 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33432
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