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Biography and Memoir June 2018
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Falling with wings : a mother's story
by Dianna De La Garza
The mother of global superstar Demi Lovato describes how her own musical ambitions were challenged by an eating disorder, addictions and unhealthy relationships, sharing perspectives on her daughters' fame and the ways their family has endured adversity through faith.
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Everything is horrible and wonderful : a tragicomic memoir of genius, heroin, love, and loss
by Stephanie Wittels Wachs
The space between life and death is a moment. But it will remain alive in me for hundreds of thousands of future moments. One phone call. That's all it took to change Stephanie Wittels Wachs' life forever.. Her younger brother Harris, a star in the comedy world known for his work on shows like Parks and Recreation, had died of a heroin overdose. How do you make sense of such a tragic end to a life of so much hilarious brilliance? In beautiful, unsentimental, and surprisingly funny prose, Stephanie Wittels Wachs alternates between her brother's struggle with addiction, which she learned about three days before her wedding, and the first year after his death, in all its emotional devastation. This compelling portrait of a comedic genius and a profound exploration of the love between siblings is A Year of Magical Thinking for a new generation of readers. A heartbreaking but hopeful memoir of addiction, grief, and family, Everything is Horrible and Wonderfulwill make you laugh, cry, and wonder if that possum on the fence is really your brother's spirit animal.
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My plastic brain : one woman's yearlong journey to discover if science can improve her mind
by Caroline Williams
Exploring “neuroplasticity” by volunteering herself as a test subject, a science journalist with access to cutting-edge experts and facilities around the world challenges researchers to make real changes to the function and performance of her brain and shares her intimate journey with readers to discover what neuroscience can really do for us.
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I Found My Tribe
by Ruth Fitzmaurice
A transformative, euphoric memoir about finding solace in the unexpected for readers of H is for Hawk and When Breath Becomes Air. Ruth's tribe are her lively children and her filmmaker husband Simon who has ALS and can only communicate with his eyes. Ruth's other "tribe" are the friends who gather at the cove in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and regularly throw themselves into the freezing cold water, just for kicks. The Tragic Wives' Swimming Club, as they jokingly call themselves, meet to cope with the extreme challenges life puts in their way, not to mention the monster waves rolling over the horizon. Swimming is just one of the daily coping strategies as Ruth fights to preserve the strong but now silent connection with her husband. As she tells the story of their marriage, from diagnosis to their long-standing precarious situation, Ruth also charts her passion for swimming in the wild Irish Sea--culminating in a midnight swim under the full moon on her wedding anniversary. An invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the natural world, and the brightness of life.
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The Kevin show : an Olympic athlete's battle with mental illness
by Mary Pilon
The best-selling author of The Monopolists shares the story of an Olympic sailor and the "Truman Show" psychiatric syndrome that makes him believe he stars in a live production about his life, describing how the condition is marked by delusions about a "Director" who commands him to commit high-risk and deviant acts.
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Iris Apfel : Accidental Icon
by Iris Apfel
Lavishly photographed with previously unpublished images and mementos, including some by leading fashion photographers and artists, a collection of observations and anecdotes by the nonagenarian fashion icon traces her co-founding of Old World Weavers, her boundary-breaking art shows and her influential legacy.
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Picasso and the painting that shocked the world
by Miles Unger
Traces the story of Picasso's rise from an obscure young painter in Barcelona to one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, documenting the events of his first visit to Paris, his emergence as a leader of a group of bohemian artists, his gradual recognition by collectors and the 1906 creation of the disturbing masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Illustrations
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Unmasked : a memoir
by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Published to coincide with his 70th birthday, a memoir by the award-winning composer, producer and impresario of some of the most recognized musicals in theater history traces his half-century career, sharing insights into his eccentric, diverse family; his Oxford education; his creative process; and the events that shaped his characters and productions.
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Agatha Christie : A Mysterious Life
by Laura Thompson
The award-winning author of The Six offers a portrait of the iconic mystery writer that shares insights into her Edwardian youth, her marriages, her relationship with her daughter and her mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926.
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My Dead Parents : A Memoir
by Anya Yurchyshyn
A young woman describes what it was like going through her parents’ belongings after their death and discovered evidence of a life and people she barely recognized and how she was forced to reconstruct and reimagine everything she thought she knew about her family.
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Odd Girl Out : My Extraordinary Autistic Life
by Laura James
From childhood, Laura James knew she was different. She struggled to cope in a world that often made no sense to her, as though her brain had its own operating system. It wasn't until she reached her forties that she found out why: Suddenly and surprisingly, she was diagnosed with autism. With a touching and searing honesty, Laura challenges everything we think we know about what it means to be autistic. Married with four children and a successful journalist, Laura examines the ways in which autism has shaped her career, her approach to motherhood, and her closest relationships. Laura's upbeat, witty writing offers new insight into the day-to-day struggles of living with autism, as her extreme attention to sensory detail--a common aspect of her autism--is fascinating to observe through her eyes. As Laura grapples with defining her own identity, she also looks at the unique benefits neurodiversity can bring. Lyrical and lush, Odd Girl Out shows how being different doesn't mean being less, and proves that it is never too late for any of us to find our rightful place in the world.
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The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair That Rocked the Crown
by Penny Junor
What it's about: Royal biographer Penny Junor sympathetically delves into the life of "the other woman" deemed responsible for the dissolution of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage.
Topics include: Camilla's romance with Charles prior to his marriage; how she handled her highly publicized vilification once their extramarital affair was revealed.
Is it for you? This persuasive portrait recasts Camilla from reviled to redeemed, arguing that her support of the royal family strengthens their standing.
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Prince Harry : The Inside Story
by Duncan Larcombe
Describes the life and antics of the most rebellious member of the British royal family, recounting his military career and love life and the public’s unending devotion to him.
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Nine Irish Lives : The Thinkers, Fighters, and Artists Who Helped Build America
by Mark Bailey
Combining history with personal reflection, and written by nine contemporary Irish Americans, an anthology profiles nine incredible Irish immigrants, including Margaret Haughery, known as “Mother of Orphans”; muckraking journalist Samuel McClure, who not only became American but helped to shape the United States; actor Pierce Brosnan; and others.
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William Howard Taft : the 27th president, 1909-1913
by Jeffrey Rosen
A latest entry in the critically acclaimed series offers a provocative assessment of the 27th President, who was the only man to also serve as Chief Justice, to offer insight into how he approached decisions from a constitutional basis and dedicated his administration to defending the Founders' vision against populist threats.
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Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World
by Eileen McNamara
What it is: an insightful portrait of the Stanford-educated Kennedy -- the 5th of Joseph and Rose's nine children -- whose efforts helped advance the disability rights movement.
About the author: Eileen McNamara is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and director of the Journalism Program at Brandeis University.
Why it's significant: Shining a light on an overlooked member of the Kennedy dynasty, McNamara argues that Eunice's political legacy rivals that of her more famous brothers.
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Lady in Red : An Intimate Portrait of Nancy Reagan
by Sheila Tate
A long-awaited collection of behind-the-scenes stories and iconic images of the influential First Lady, compiled by a close confidante and former press secretary, shares insights into her personal life, from her daily routines and diplomatic travels to her friendships and enduring influence in the Reagan White House.
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| Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage... by Debbie Cenziper and Jim ObergefellWhat it is: a moving, suspenseful account of the plaintiffs and legal teams involved in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
About the authors: Debbie Cenziper is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Jim Obergefell was the plaintiff in the landmark case.
Why you might like it: Love Wins' timely, empowering narrative makes it an ideal book club selection. |
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| Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage by Barney FrankWhat it's about: In this sharp and engaging memoir, former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank candidly reflects on his four-decade political career, including his decision in 1987 to come out as gay (becoming the first member of Congress to do so).
Topics include: Frank's role in voting rights campaigns in the 1960s and the 2010 repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell;" his reflections on the Iraq War and the fight for marriage equality. |
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| Logical Family: A Memoir by Armistead MaupinWhat it's about: After brief stints in law school and the military, beloved author Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City) eschewed his conservative Southern upbringing for the freewheeling San Francisco of the 1970s, finding a community in the burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement.
Is it for you? With a nonlinear yet nuanced narrative, Logical Family will appeal to Maupin's fans and general readers alike.
Want a taste? "Sooner or later, we have to venture beyond our biological family to find our logical one, the one that actually makes sense for us." |
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| Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet MockWhat it is: a courageous memoir from trans activist Janet Mock, foregrounding her transition and coming-of-age against the larger societal plight of trans women of color.
Reviewers say: "An enlightening, much-needed perspective on transgender identity" (Kirkus Reviews).
Further reading: Mock published a follow-up memoir, Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me, in 2017. |
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| Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space by Lynn SherrWhat it is: an intimate biography of the astronaut and icon, whose heavily guarded personal life remained a secret until her death in 2012, when her obituary revealed her as a lesbian survived by her partner of 27 years.
What sets it apart: Written with the cooperation of Ride's partner, family, and colleagues, journalist (and longtime friend of Ride) Lynn Sherr's sensitive, thoroughly researched portrait celebrates Ride's life and legacy. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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