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Biography and Memoir August 2019
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| Places and Names: Reflections on War, Revolution, and Returning by Elliot AckermanWhat it is: a reflective memoir in essays detailing former marine Elliot Ackerman's five tours of duty in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Don't miss: Ackerman's unlikely friendship with a former jihadi.
About the author: A National Book Award finalist for the novel Dark at the Crossing, Ackerman has also earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart for his military service. |
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| Formation: A Woman's Memoir of Stepping Out of Line by Ryan Leigh DostieWhat it is: a sobering account of army linguist Ryan Leigh Dostie's rape by a fellow soldier, and the isolation and PTSD she endured after her superior officers mishandled the case.
Why it matters: With more than 25% of women in the military reporting sexual assault (and with numbers on the rise), Dostie's resonant memoir illuminates the systemic bias and injustice women continue to face in the male-dominated military. |
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| Definitely Hispanic: Growing Up Latino and Celebrating What Unites Us by LeJuan JamesWhat it's about: YouTuber LeJuan James' upbringing in Puerto Rico and the United States, and the culture clashes he navigated as the U.S.-born son of Puerto Rican and Dominican parents.
Read it for: an introspective guide to embracing one's identity.
Is it for you? James' broad sense of humor may not be for everyone, though fans of his videos will appreciate his candid musings. |
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| Grinnell: America's Environmental Pioneer and His Restless Drive to Save the West by John TaliaferroWhat it is: an absorbing biography of conservationist George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938).
Notable accomplishments: Grinnell formed the Audubon Society, spearheaded efforts to establish national parks, lobbied for Native American rights, and saved Yosemite and Yellowstone from developers.
Why you might like it: John Taliaferro draws on Grinnell's correspondence and diaries to present an engaging portrait of an advocate who fought tirelessly to preserve America's natural beauty. |
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| More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth; foreword by Ava DuVernayWhat it's about: Former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth's breakthrough in the predominantly white worlds of fashion and media, and the setbacks she endured on her path to success.
Did you know? Welteroth is the youngest person and the 2nd African American to be named editor-in-chief in magazine publisher Condé Nast's 110-year history.
Reviewers say: "The millennial Becoming...inspiring and empowering" (Entertainment Weekly). |
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| How to Write An Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander CheeWhat it's about: how novelist Alexander Chee's identities as a gay man, a Korean American, and an activist inform his life and writing career.
What sets it apart: Boasting numerous awards and accolades, Chee's unconventional yet immersive narrative is as wide-ranging as it is intimate.
For fans of: reflective writing memoirs like Where the Past Begins by Amy Tan and The Writing Life by Annie Dillard (a mentor of Chee's). |
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Mothers and strangers : essays on motherhood from the new South
by Samia Serageldin
"In this anthology of creative nonfiction, twenty-eight writers set out to discover what they know, and don't know, about the person they call 'Mother.' ... Writers Lee Smith and Samia Serageldin have curated a diverse and insightful collection that challenges stereotypes about mothers and expands our notions of motherhood in the South. The mothers in these essays were shaped, for good and bad, by the economic and political crosswinds of their time. Whether their formative experience was the Great Depression or the upheavals of the 1970s, their lives reflected their era and influenced how they raised their children. The writers in 'Mothers and Strangers' explore the reliability of memory, examine their family dynamics, and come to terms with the past"
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Look alive out there : essays
by Sloane Crosley
A latest collection of essays by the award-winning author of I Was Told There'd Be Cake shares her trademark, laugh-out-loud observations on subjects ranging from scaling active volcanoes and crashing shivas to assisted fertility and playing herself on Gossip Girl.
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| Maeve in America: Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else by Maeve HigginsStarring: Maeve Higgins, an Irish comedian and podcaster living in New York.
What it is: a collection of funny yet thoughtful essays about Higgins' time in the United States that discusses everything from the Irish immigrant experience in America to renting expensive clothing for formal affairs.
Don't miss: "Pen as Gun," describing a comedy workshop in Iraq. |
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How to fall in love with anyone : a memoir in essays
by Mandy Len Catron
Shares the love stories that impacted the author's life and explores the romantic myths people create, explaining how implausible fantasies limit one's ability to achieve and sustain intimacy
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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New Hanover County Library
201 Chestnut Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 910-798-6301 www.nhclibrary.org |
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