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Biography and Memoir September 2024 |
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Dancing on the Edge: A Journey of Living, Loving, and Tumbling through Hollywood
by Russ Tamblyn
With more than eighty years as a celebrated artist and actor under his belt, Russ Tamblyn is a cherished figure to name among cinephiles and pop culture fans alike, working with such legendary directors as Robert Wise, David Lynch, and Quentin Tarantino. He tumbled through his acclaimed starring role in the original West Side Story as an actor and acrobatic dancer, taught Elvis Presley some signature dance moves, and became an unlikely visionary in the counterculture movement of the sixties alongside peers and friends Henry Miller and Dennis Hopper.
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| That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda JonesIn her inspiring and incisive blend of memoir and manifesto, Louisiana middle school librarian Amanda Jones details her fight against censorship at her local public library, which led to death threats and social media smear campaigns. Further reading: Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge by Richard Ovenden; On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US by James LaRue. |
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| Alexander at the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great by Rachel KousserThis compelling latest from classics professor Rachel Kousser (The Afterlives of Greek Sculpture) offers fresh insights on the life and legacy of Alexander III of Macedon by focusing on his final seven years, arguing that this period was what cemented his status as "Alexander the Great." Further reading: Alexander the Great: His Life and His Mysterious Death by Anthony Everitt. |
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| A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune by Noliwe RooksHistorian Noliwe Rooks thoughtfully chronicles the trailblazing career of educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955), who worked tirelessly to obtain voting rights, economic independence, and educational opportunities for Black Americans. For fans of: Madam C.J. Walker: The Making of an American Icon by Erica L. Ball. |
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| Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl by Hyeseung SongHyeseung Song's moving memoir reveals her fraught coming of age as the child of ambitious and abusive Korean immigrant parents, detailing her struggles with identity, expression, and self-worth. For fans of: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. |
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Focus on: Hispanic Heritage Month
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| Illegally Yours by Rafael AgustinBorn in Ecuador, TV writer Rafael Agustin (Jane the Virgin) immigrated to the United States at age seven; he did not learn he was undocumented until he was a teenager. Augustin's witty and heartfelt debut offers "an enthusiastic and motivational self-portrait" (Kirkus Reviews). For fans of: In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero. |
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| First Gen by Alejandra CampoverdiTrailblazing women's health advocate and former Obama White House aide Alejandra Campoverdi's unflinching memoir discusses her life as a first-generation Mexican American woman who found success amid poverty, fractured family dynamics, and limited education opportunities. Try this next: Hood Wellness: Tales of Communal Care from People Who Drowned on Dry Land by Tamela J. Gordon. |
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| Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera GarzaIn her lyrical Pulitzer Prize-winning blend of memoir and true crime, author Cristina Rivera Garza grapples with the 1990 murder of her younger sister by an ex-boyfriend in Azcapotzalco, Mexico. Try this next: Fear Is Just a Word: A Missing Daughter, a Violent Cartel, and a Mother's Quest for Vengeance by Azam Ahmed. |
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| Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez CastilloPoet Marcelo Hernandez Castillo's debut memoir details the author's difficult coming of age as an undocumented immigrant, which was compounded by frequent ICE raids, his father's deportation back to Mexico, and the rigidity of the United States immigration system. Try this next: Solito by Javier Zamora. |
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| Chita by Chita Rivera with Patrick PachecoBroadway icon and three-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera's lively and intimate memoir chronicles her seven-decade career on the stage, featuring her reflections on originating roles in West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, and Chicago. For fans of: Rita Moreno by Rita Moreno. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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