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Biography and Memoir January 2019
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In My Mind's Eye: A Thought Diary
by Jan Morris
The award-winning nonagenarian author of the Pax Britannica trilogy shares an irreverent collection of diary entries that riffs on such subjects as aging, cats, Brexit, royals, the #MeToo movement and Britain's "special relationship" with the U.S.
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| The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant; edited by Elizabeth D. SametWhat it is: the classic 1885 autobiography of America's 18th president, freshly updated with vivid footnotes, maps, and illustrations.
About the editor: Elizabeth D. Samet is a Professor of English at The United States Military Academy.
What sets it apart: Samet's insightful introduction discusses Grant's literary influences, including Washington Irving and John Wesley. |
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Monk!: Thelonious, Pannonica, and the Friendship Behind a Musical Revolution
by Youssef Daoudi
Set against the backdrop of New York during the heyday of jazz, Monk! explores the rare alchemy between two brilliant beings separated by an ocean of social status, race, and culture, but united by an infinite love of music. This breathtaking graphic novel by Youssef Daoudi beautifully captures the life of the “the high priest of bop” in spontaneous, evocative pen and ink that seems to make visible jazz itself.
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Crave: A Memoir of Food and Longing
by Christine Scherick O'Brien
The author recounts a life spent struggling with food, telling the story of her own cravings and her painful, yet ultimately satisfying, journey to find balance.
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Handel in London: A Genius and His Craft
by Jane Glover
The veteran conductor and author of Mozart's Women presents an evocative portrait of German composer George Freidrich Handel that places his achievements against a rich backdrop of 18th-century music and society.
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| Late-Life Love by Susan GubarWhat it's about: the bittersweet realities of aging as faced by self-described "antique lovers" and retired English professors, New York Times columnist Susan Gubar (70) and her husband Don Gray (87).
Topics include: the couple's difficult decision to downsize; their reduced mobility and health issues; Gubar's "resounding retort" to ageism.
Want a taste? "Late-life love may heat at a lower temperature, but it bubbles and rises." |
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Debussy: A Painter in Sound
by Stephen Walsh
A beautifully written, highly original biography of one of the greatest, most popular modern composers—who managed to reinvent the language of music in the modern era without alienating the majority of music lovers—investigates his beloved work, his profound influence on French culture, and his complicated life and struggles.
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Stone Free: Jimi Hendrix in London, September 1966-June 1967
by Jas Obrecht
Featuring the voices of rock’s greatest guitarist, his bandmates and other eyewitnesses, an award-winning music journalist and former editor of Guitar Player magazine focuses exclusively on the happiest and most productive period of Jimi Hendrix’s life.
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In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter
by Angalia Bianca
In Deep is a blunt, honest look at Angalia Bianca's life. Her mind-blowing stories take readers deep into a world of grit and gang violence that seems inescapable. Her story is at once fascinating, terrifying, and ultimately full of hope. Readers will be inspired by Bianca's escape from the depths of depravity, and by her commitment to those facing the worst that the city of Chicago has to offer.
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| In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey HilsumWhat it is: an evocative account of American reporter and London Sunday Times correspondent Marie Colvin's courageous life and heartbreaking death that is as intense as it is inspiring.
Who it's for: "everyone, including journalism junkies, history buffs, and casual readers" (Publishers Weekly).
Did you know? Colvin lost her left eye in a Sri Lankan battlefield in 1999 and wore an eye patch until her 2012 death in Syria. |
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An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice
by Khizr Khan
The Pakistani immigrant-turned-U.S. citizen and Gold Star parent documents the story of his family's pursuit of the American dream, discussing the need to respond to challenges in modern society and advocate for what is most important.
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Being John Lennon: A Restless Life
by Ray Connolly
Provides an intimate yet unsparing biography of one of the greatest and most mythologized musicians of the 20th century.
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| Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food by Ann HoodWhat it is: a moving and amusing essay collection from bestselling author Ann Hood (The Knitting Circle) that chronicles her love of food in times of both celebration and catharsis.
Recipes include: lemon meringue pie, "doctored" ramen, Italian meatballs, and Indiana fried chicken.
Try this next: For another food memoir by a prolific author, check out Rick Bragg's The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table. |
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Shadow Daughter: A Memoir of Estrangement
by Harriet Brown
The author reflects on her own estrangement from her mother and explores the family estrangements of others and the deep conflicts that often cause them, deeply shrouded in secrecy, stigma and shame.
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King Edward VIII: An American Life
by Ted Powell
Before he fell in love with Wallis Simpson, Edward VIII had fallen in love with America. As a young Prince of Wales, Edward witnessed the birth of the American century at the end of the First World War and, captivated by the energy, confidence, and raw power of the USA as it strode onto the world stage, he paid a number of subsequent visits. But Edward's fascination with America was not unreciprocated. America was equally fascinated by the Prince, especially his love life, and he became an international media celebrity through newsreels, radio, and the press. Indeed, even in the decades after his abdication in 1936, Edward remained a celebrity in the US and a regular guest of Presidents and the elite of American society.
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| Let Her Fly: A Father's Journey by Ziauddin Yousafzai with Louise CarpenterWhat it's about: In this intimate and sincere memoir, Pakistani education rights activist Ziauddin Yousafzai shares his life story and the lessons he has learned from his daughter, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai (who wrote the book's foreword).
Want a taste? "I come from a family in which my gender made me special. But I did not want to be special for this reason."
What sets it apart: Rather than recounting his life story chronologically, Yousafzai does so based on the most important relationships in his life. |
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Albert Gore, Sr.: A Political Life
by Anthony J Badger
In chronicling the life and career of Albert Gore, Sr., historian Anthony J. Badger explores the successes and failures of this Tennessee politician who was in the national eye for more than thirty years and whose career illuminates the significance of race, religion, and class in the creation of the modern South.
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| The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-Wise Cat by James BowenWhat it is: London musician James Bowen's engaging sequel to his bestselling memoir A Street Cat Named Bob.
What happens: After the publication of his first book, Bowen grapples with overnight celebrity and his ongoing struggles with homelessness and addiction. Luckily, his quirky feline companion is by his side to help him get through tough times.
Series alert: Bowen's third memoir, A Gift from Bob, completes the Bob the Cat trilogy. |
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| The Boy Who Runs: The Odyssey of Julius Achon by John BrantWhat it's about: At 12, Julius Achon was abducted from his Ugandan village by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and forced to become a child soldier. After his quick feet helped him escape the LRA, he honed his competitive running skills and eventually became an Olympic athlete.
Why you might like it: John Brant expertly balances the fast-paced, white-knuckle suspense of Achon's remarkable escape with his uplifting journey toward sports stardom and humanitarianism. |
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| Rise: How a House Built a Family by Cara BrookinsWhat it's about: After leaving her abusive husband, Cara Brookins set out to create a new home for her family.
What happened next: Brookins and her four children built the home -- from the ground up -- by themselves. Though the process was not without its challenges, it gave the family a healing start to a life free of violence and trauma.
For fans of: inspiring, can-do memoirs such as Cheryl Strayed's Wild. |
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| Mid-Life Ex-Wife: A Diary of Divorce, Online Dating, and Second Chances by Stella GreyWhat it is: Guardian columnist Stella Grey's hilarious adventures in online dating following her unexpected divorce at age 50.
Why you might like it: Brimming with practical tips and insights, Grey's frank yet optimistic memoir is "an unforgettable glimpse into the search for love in the twenty-first century" (Booklist).
Who it's for: singletons of any age contemplating online dating. |
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| The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery by Barbara K. Lipska with Elaine McArdleWhat it's about: In 2015, neuroscientist Barbara K. Lipska was diagnosed with melanoma that spread to her brain and led to dementia and schizophrenia-like symptoms. After her treatment plan gave her a miraculous "second chance at sanity," she began a long road to recovery, grappling with the memories -- and irony -- of her illness.
Want a taste? "I am living through some of the processes of a disease that I've spent my life studying and trying to cure." |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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