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Biography and Memoir May 2018
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| The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma's Table by Rick BraggWhat it's about: In this heartfelt and nostalgic tribute to the cuisine of his Alabama childhood, author Rick Bragg (All Over but the Shoutin') shares the stories behind his family's recipes.
Recipes include: pinto beans and ham bone, baked possum.
Want a taste? "She cooks in dabs, and smidgens, and tads, and a measurement she mysteriously refers to as 'you know, hon, just some.'" |
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| Patriot Number One: American Dreams in Chinatown by Lauren HilgersWhat it's about: After attracting powerful enemies in his home village of Wukan, Chinese dissident Zhang Liehong immigrated to New York City in 2014, finding solace among fellow Chinese exiles and activists.
Why you should read it: Timely and nuanced, Patriot Number One thoughtfully explores the struggles of modern immigration.
Reviewers say: "This book is hard to put down" (Library Journal). |
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Eunice : the Kennedy who changed the world
by Eileen McNamara
What it's about: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines the life and times of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, arguing she left behind the Kennedy family's most profound political legacy.
Why you should read it: Spurred by the virtual loss of her intellectually disabled sister Rosemary, whom Joseph had lobotomized in 1941, and who then "disappeared" from the family, Shriver became a relentless campaigner for those similarly disabled. She helped expand the Special Olympics into an international organization, persuaded her brother John to establish a National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, and funded programs through the Kennedy Foundation.
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The monk of Mokha
by Dave Eggers
What it's about: The best-selling author of The Circle traces his upbringing as a Yemeni-American in San Francisco and his dream of resurrecting the ancient art of cultivating, roasting and importing Yemeni coffee, an endeavor that is challenged by the brutal realities of Yemen's 2015 civil war.
Reviewers say: "Readers will never take coffee for granted or overlook the struggles of Yemen after ingesting Egger's phenomenally well-written, juggernaut of a tale of an intrepid and irresistible entrepreneur on a complex and meaningful mission." (Booklist)
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| The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair That Rocked the Crown by Penny JunorWhat 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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The lady with the Borzoi : Blanche Knopf, literary tastemaker extraordinaire
by Laura P Claridge
What it's about: The untold story of Blanche Knopf, the singular woman who helped define American literature
Why you should read this book: She was a conduit to the literature of Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance. Blanche also legitimized the hard-boiled detective fiction of writers such as Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Raymond Chandler and others.
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The first lady of Fleet Street : the life of Rachel Beer : crusading heiress and newspaper pioneer
by Eilat Negev
What it's about: Documents the rise and fall of the Victorian era newspaper heiress and social crusader, tracing how she overcame period conventions to assume editorship of two venerable Sunday newspapers and promote revolutionary social causes.
What reviewers say: "This biography, much more than the sum of its parts, will appeal to a wide audience, especially those interested in Jewish, feminist, and British journalism histories." (Library Journal)
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| Manderley Forever: A Biography of Daphne Du Maurier by Tatiana de RosnayWhat it is: a compelling portrait of prolific author Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn), whose popularity throughout her career did not translate to critical praise -- she was often inaccurately (and dismissively) called a romance novelist.
What sets it apart: Through extensive research and insights from family members, Tatiana de Rosnay depicts the depth of Du Maurier's talents and influence, affording her the admiration that eluded her in life.
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| Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir by Amy TanWhat it is: a captivating, nonlinear chronicle of the forces that have shaped Amy Tan's writing, including her tumultuous upbringing and her love of music and drawing.
Featuring: Tan's difficult mother, in whom her fiction fans will recognize a familiar character type.
For fans of: reflective literary memoirs like Richard Ford's Between Them. |
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The outsider : my life in intrigue
by Frederick Forsyth
What it's about: The #1 New York Times author of The Day of the Jackal and numerous other best-sellers traces the story of his life, detailing the high-risk experiences as a wartime Royal Air Force pilot that inspired many of his famous storylines.
Why you should read it: But what most people don't know is that some of his greatest stories of intrigue have been in his own life. It is a memoir like no other--and a book of pure delight.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Carrollton Public Library 1700 Keller Springs Road, Carrollton Texas 75006 4220 North Josey Lane, Carrollton Texas 75010 |
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