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Popular Culture November 2021
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| The Master: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer by Christopher ClareyWhat it is: a well-researched and richly detailed biography of tennis star and 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
Topics include: Federer's playing style, memorable matches, and rivalries; his personal life and philanthropic pursuits.
About the author: New York Times tennis correspondent Christopher Clarey has followed Federer's career for decades and has interviewed him more than any other sports journalist. |
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Impossible : My Story by Stan WalkerFor the first time, Stan Walker speaks with startling honesty about abuse and addiction, hardship and excess, cancer and discrimination, and growing up in a family where love and violence were horribly entwined. From one of the finest singers to emerge from Australia and New Zealand Aotearoa in a generation, Impossible is a story of redemption and the power of forgiveness. It's also a story about courage and hope; about a young Māori boy finding his place and purpose, never forgetting who he is and where he came from.
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| Forever Young by Hayley MillsWhat it's about: child star and Disney darling Hayley Mills' roller-coaster life in the spotlight.
Read it for: Mills' frank assessment of the perks and pitfalls of the Disney star system -- after rising to fame with roles in Pollyanna and The Parent Trap, she was forced to maintain a wholesome image, losing out on roles in Lolita and other adult-oriented films.
Did you know? For her role in Pollyanna, Mills became one of only 12 actors in history to receive the Academy Juvenile Award. |
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| Mellencamp by Paul ReesWhat it is: a richly detailed biography of pioneering heartland rock singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, written by veteran music journalist Paul Rees.
Featuring: exclusive interviews with Mellencamp's loved ones and colleagues; never-before-told stories of his life and career; a deep dive into his discography.
For fans of: Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. |
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| Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley TucciWhat it is: a charming and witty memoir detailing actor Stanley Tucci's culinary pursuits and the stories behind them, filled with simple recipes made from inexpensive ingredients.
For fans of: the foodie memoirs of journalist Bill Buford and chefs Gabrielle Hamilton and Ruth Reichl.
Recipes include: Italian staples including ragú, pasta fagioli, and Negronis. |
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Prince Philip's Century 1921-2021 : The Extraordinary Life of the Duke of Edinburgh by Robert JobsonFor decades Prince Philip shared the Queen's burden of office without upstaging her, always privately providing reassurance and advice but never overstepping the boundaries of his supporting role. It was an unforgiving position - a challenge for anyone - but one that he met head on. He remained the Queen's adviser and closest confidant and was known as such the world over. That said, he was wise enough to recognise his limitations and the constraints of his role. He always seemed to instinctively know when it was time to step back and let his wife take the lead. His job was, after all, to allow her star to shine. Robert Jobson's magnificent biography of the Duke of Edinburgh tells the full story of his remarkable life and achievements, and how, after his marriage in 1947 to Princess Elizabeth, this dedicated military man spent so much of his life dutifully supporting his wife. Though he created a role for himself as a determined moderniser and environmental campaigner, and through the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, encouraged young people to reach their potential, it was perhaps his greatest achievement to have been a loyal husband and companion, and a loving father and grandfather.
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Far from Home by Rosie AyliffeBritish mother Rosie Ayliffe thought her 21-year-old daughter, Mia, would be safe travelling around Australia on a gap year. But Mia wanted to extend her visa and in order to do that needed to find 88 days of work on a farm -- a requirement that would lead to catastrophic events. Four short days after Mia moved to a hostel in Queensland to take a job on a sugarcane farm, she was brutally killed. Faced with every parent's worst nightmare, Rosie travelled to Australia to retrieve Mia's body. From the moment she landed, however, she started to hear stories about the terrible treatment of young workers like Mia -- stories of exploitation, sexual harassment, rape. Mia was Rosie's only child and she brought her up as a single parent. Her death was traumatic and life-changing. In Rosie's memoir, she describes movingly how she has found the strength to come to terms with devastating loss, drawing on inspiration from her daughter's short life. She also explains how she has become the driving force behind an international campaign to press for change to the 88 days system.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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