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Biography and MemoirMarch 2016
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"Her grandmother had called her "farbrent" -- Yiddish for "on fire" -- because even as a child Barbara had never been able to accept "no" for an answer." ~ from William J. Mann's Hello, Gorgeous
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| Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine (But Also My Mom's Which I Know... by Michael Ian BlackFor most people, a loved one's cancer diagnosis is nothing to laugh at, but comedian and bestselling author Michael Ian Black floods difficult topics with light in Navel Gazing. Recounting his mother's cancer treatments while looking at his own aging process as he approaches 40, Black reports on negative events in his life, from being bullied as a child to being punched out by a scam artist in New York City. If you're looking for an engaging take on grim realities, try this "slight, breezy memoir that delves into serious subjects" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Drawing Blood: A Memoir by Molly CrabappleAcclaimed artist and writer Molly Crabapple grew up in a comfortable New York City family, but from a young age she longed for a wider experience of the world. In Drawing Blood, she relates how she went to Paris on her own at age 17, lived the starving artist's life, and -- back in New York -- turned to sex work to supplement her art income. Despite receiving some notice for her early drawings and portraits, she didn't feel fulfilled until becoming involved with Occupy, which led her to acclaim as a political writer and illustrator. "Prepare to be blown away" by the text and images in this memoir, says Booklist in a starred review. |
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| A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and... by Kevin HazzardIn September 2001, journalist Kevin Hazzard was looking for a more fulfilling occupation. The 9/11 attacks inspired him to become an EMT, after which he served for a decade in Atlanta as a first responder. In A Thousand Naked Strangers, Hazzard (who has returned to journalism) relates his whole life story, punctuated and enlivened by his recollections of patients saved and lost, accidents and overdoses, and his own adrenaline highs. This enthralling tale, which includes graphic descriptions of what Hazzard witnessed, will appeal more to readers with strong stomachs, but it's well worth the ride. |
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| Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988-1998 by Michael PalinAt the beginning of his third volume of published diaries, former Python Michael Palin notes that he was looking for a more adventurous life in the waning months of the 1980s. Next thing he knew, he had been recruited to star in televised travelogues that took him to far-flung corners of the world. In Travelling to Work, he recounts travel adventures, notes his impressions of Fergie, Duchess of York, muses about IRA bombings, and records his self-doubts. Pick up this engaging chronicle if you're an armchair traveler, show-biz buff, or fan of Palin. |
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| The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth WarinerHigh school Spanish teacher Ruth Wariner's childhood was filled with violence and sexual abuse in a fundamentalist Mormon community in northern Mexico. In The Sound of Gravel, she relates how her isolation and ignorance gradually yielded to awareness of a different life during short periods living in the U.S. away from her abusive step-father. After her mother's accidental death, the 15-year-old Wariner fled across the border with her youngest sisters and raised them independently in the U.S. Her absorbing account of her childhood and escape to safety offers grim insight into the dysfunctional sect she fled and an inspiring testament to her undaunted transition to a successful new life. |
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March and April Birthdays
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| Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy SchmidtMarch 2, 1950. Singing sensation Karen Carpenter's death in 1983 at the age of 32 shocked and saddened the world and brought to public knowledge the severe dangers of anorexia nervosa. While biographies of Karen and her brother, Richard, have been published before, Randy Schmidt's well-reviewed work focuses solely on Karen, was written without editorial input from the Carpenter family, and includes inside information about Karen and her family drawn from Schmidt's interviews with the people closest to her. As a result, Little Girl Blue is a must-read for anyone interested in the details of Karen's bright life and untimely death. |
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| Scalia: A Court of One by Bruce Allen MurphyMarch 11, 1936. The late Justice Antonin Scalia's opinions in Supreme Court decisions attracted both praise and criticism from legal scholars and political activists. In this lively, insightful, and well-researched biography, historian Bruce Allen Murphy depicts a devout Catholic, an enthusiastic lover of argument, and an outspoken proponent of his "originalist" interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Reviewing his upbringing and legal training, Murphy examines Scalia's career as an academic and judge and demonstrates how the Justice's acerbic style alienated potential allies and contributed to divisions within the Court. Both legal history buffs and general biography readers will find much to appreciate in this life story. |
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| My Journey with Maya by Tavis Smiley with David RitzApril 4, 1928. Talk-show host Tavis Smiley first met poet and performer Maya Angelou when he was a 21-year-old assistant to the mayor of Los Angeles and she was 58. They later became friends during a trip to Ghana, and they shared many conversations over the subsequent years. In My Journey with Maya, Smiley draws on his memories of those conversations, on interviews, and on Angelou's speeches and writings to compose a vivid portrait of the acclaimed author. In reading this book, those who encountered Angelou in life will recognize her grace and wisdom, and those who never met her will feel as though they had. |
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| Charlie Chaplin: A Brief Life by Peter AckroydApril 16, 1889. In this brief biography, author Peter Ackroyd details the literal rags-to-riches life of actor Charlie Chaplin. Sometimes sleeping rough as a child and begging for food, Chaplin rose from wrenching poverty in London to stardom in Hollywood. Though he had superb theatrical instincts that brought him acclaim in acting and directing, Chaplin received criticism for his political views and alleged immorality. Ackroyd insightfully depicts Chaplin as a human being while shedding light on his ground-breaking motion picture achievements. Film history buffs and Chaplin fans, especially, will want to read this concise account. |
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| Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand by William J MannApril 24, 1942. Growing up, Barbara Streisand (who changed her name to Barbra early in her career) wanted to be an actress, not a singer, though her singing voice got her into show-biz. Ultimately, she seems to have accomplished it all: as one of the most successful women on stage and screen, she's also written, produced, and directed. This biography, which covers her breakout years in the 1960s, traces the hard work leading up to her starring role in Funny Girl. "Surprisingly suspenseful and masterfully paced" (Kirkus Reviews), it sheds light on a hardworking woman by combining interviews with archival research, mixing personal and professional in equal measure. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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