WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival 2014
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New and Recently Released!
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| Vanessa: the life of Vanessa Redgrave by Dan CallahanVanessa Redgrave, an award-winning actor from a prominent theatrical family, is known for both her stage and film successes and her political engagement. In Vanessa, author Dan Callahan provides a meticulous critical assessment of her career while rounding out her biography with details of her family, her marriages, and the controversies aroused by her activism. Callahan "refreshingly eschews gossipy tabloid fodder" (Booklist) while shining the spotlight on Redgrave's acting technique and achievements. This absorbing and informative portrait will please her admirers and general fans of film and theatre. |
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| Sergeant Stubby: how a stray dog and his best friend helped win World War I... by Ann BausumWhile members of the 102nd Infantry trained at Yale University before embarking for Europe to fight in World War I, soldier James Conroy found a friend -- a stray terrier who soon won the devotion of the enlistee and the hearts of the whole regiment. On the front, where Conroy served as a scout and messenger, mascot "Sergeant" Stubby warned soldiers of incoming gas and helped medics find the wounded. In this engaging biography of a man and a dog, author Ann Bausum vividly depicts conditions on the front, the horrors of trench warfare, and the experiences of the human soldiers, while portraying Stubby's contribution to the effort. [Only available as an eBook and an eAudiobook]. |
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The Late Starters Orchestra
by Ari L. Goldman
A middle-aged professor with back problems recounts his experiences in taking up the cello after 25 years of not playing, and describes his participation in an amateur string orchestra that welcomes adult players who haven't practiced in years.
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| Sally Ride: America's first woman in space by Lynn SherrSally Ride, the first American woman to go into space, competed successfully in the male-dominated profession of physics and became an inspiration to girls who dreamed of science careers. Journalist Lynn Sherr, drawing on materials provided by Ride's family and friends as well as official records and Sherr's own friendship with Ride, offers a moving and sensitive portrait of this pioneer who guarded her private life -- her long-term lesbian relationship only became known through her obituary. Publishers Weekly praises Sally Ride as a "window into one of the most fascinating figures of the 20th century." |
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As I walked out one midsummer morning
by Laurie Lee
Once in a while it’s refreshing to dip back into a classic and enjoy a good old-fashioned read. Lee’s book is part memoir, part travelogue and part history. In 1935, Lee set off from his home in Gloucestershire to walk to London, and instead found himself in Spain, caught up in the Civil War. A fascinating and heartwarming tale of a young man who learns to live by his wits playing fiddle in the streets, sleeping in fields and relying on the kindness of strangers. Still in print, for it truly is the perfect book.
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The Putin mystique: inside Russia's power cult
by Anna Arutunyan
In The Putin Mystique, Anna Arutunyan presents an unusual and original view of Vladimir Putin, and in particular, of his place in a long line of autocrats that the Russian people seem to need and, almost, to have wished upon themselves. Mixing anthropology, sociology, and reportage of the major Putin news stories of the last decade, Anna Arutunyan presents an inside view of the rule of a man whose actions seem so at variance with western democracy, yet are in the continuing tradition of Russian autocracy. Arutunyan reveals Russia as a neo-feudal country with a power structure straight out of the Middle Ages, where the people have a deep need for autocracy. The result: every ruler of Russia plays the role of a tsar, whether or not he is crowned.
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Relapse
by Jake Anderson
The author, a fourth generation fisherman and a featured personality on the Discovery Channel television series Deadliest Catch, recounts his life story, including deep-sea fishing off the coast of Alaska and in the Bering Sea, his passion for skateboarding, a series of personal tragedies, and his struggles with injury, addiction and homelessness.
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It will get better
by Stella Gibney
Stella Gibney grew up in 1960s New Zealand. She was the fifth child in a family of six. Unlike her brothers and sisters, Stella suffered a number of abusive incidents during her formative years. But Stella was determined not to let years of horrific abusive situations and domestic violence determine her life. She found solace in writing her thoughts down in a series of journals. Through writing she began to understand her feelings and how to gain control of her life. Over the course of 16 journals, Stella relived every moment of her life and managed to deal with the memories and move on with her life in a positive way. Now Stella has completely turned her life around and become the happy, confident person she had always wanted to be. Today Stella has a happy healthy life with her two loving sons. This is her inspiring story of reclaiming her life and creating a happy home for herself and her two boys.
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Boundless: a wayward entrepreneur's search for peace
by Greg Hopkinson
A near-death experience in an avalanche set Greg Hopkinson on a quest for happiness. He forged into the Soviet Union to make money, just as it collapsed. Ironically, the greater his business success the more he battled his inner demons. He caught a glimpse of what he'd become, and it wasn't pretty. As Greg stumbled out of Russia, his marriage failed and he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He soon found his soul mate, but realised that he was incapable of sustaining a loving relationship. Full of despair, he committed to finding peace and love within himself, and he did the most unlikely thing - he became a monk. As Greg became calmer and happier he was able to reconnect with his soul mate and to begin to live the life he had always dreamed of.
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Focus on: Books You Might Have Missed
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| Taking the stand: my life in the law by Alan DershowitzIn Taking the Stand, law professor and appellate attorney Alan Dershowitz engagingly narrates his childhood and youth and presents in detail his experiences as a lawyer and teacher. His outgoing personality shines through in this entertaining but highly informative memoir as he presents his views on capital punishment, affirmative action, freedom of speech, and national security, among other controversial topics. |
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Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani
by David W. Forbes
Queen Lili'uokalani, born as Lydia Lili'u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka'eha, was the last reigning monarch of the kingdom of Hawai'i. As part of her efforts to stave off annexation, the Queen published Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani in early 1898. She worked closely with the American journalist Julius Palmer on the manuscript, and the book reflects her experiences and perspectives. This classic work is the only autobiography written by a Hawaiian monarch, and provides a glimpse of life in Honolulu during her lifetime. This new edition of Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani is based on the 1898 edition, enhanced with additional illustrations, and annotated by David W. Forbes.
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| March. Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by Nate PowellIn the early 1960s, John Lewis became chairman of the civil rights group SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), speaking at the 1963 March on Washington and taking part in other major demonstrations in the civil rights movement. In this memoir in graphic novel format, Lewis relates his early life as a sharecropper's son, his introduction to nonviolent protest tactics while in college, and his continued involvement in peaceable efforts to bring about integration in the South. This is the 1st of three planned volumes, though it stands on its own as an introduction to Lewis' life and the social movement he helped lead. |
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| Beethoven: the man revealed by John SuchetThough he suffered from deafness, Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the greatest composers of all time. While he had many admirers, he was often angry and sometimes cruel towards friends and associates. In this biography, journalist John Suchet delves into influences on Beethoven's personality, the education and training that helped form his musicianship, and the supportive relationships he had with others, including other musicians. Though he includes little musicological analysis of Beethoven's compositions, Suchet offers a sympathetic and informative study of his life. |
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Talent is not enough
by Danny Buderus
Danny Buderus is a record maker in the toughest rugby league competition in the world. The New South Wales captain in every match from 2004-2008, Buderus holds the record for most successive appearances (21) of any NSW state of origin player as well as most as captain (15). Buderus takes the footy fan behind the scenes, to his traumatic introduction to the captaincy of NSW in 2004, the match that saw Anthony Minichiello and Mark Gasnier sacked for drunken off-field behaviour; to how he endured a level of constant pain and injury that few players could have tolerated; and his views on why the international game needs an overhaul. He gives his views on why players are leaving the grind of the NRL for the English game or rugby union and a best-mate's insight into the game's greatest player, Andrew Johns. He lists his most respected opponents, takes the reader into the heart of Origin battles and gives his perspective on the impact of the controversial clean-out of his beloved Newcastle Knights under coach Brian Smith. There is also plenty of humour and emotion and, mostly, genuine motivation for aspiring NRL players from one of the most respected and courageous players the sport has seen.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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