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Biography and Memoir August 2019
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| Places and Names: Reflections on War, Revolution, and Returning by Elliot AckermanWhat it is: a reflective memoir in essays detailing former marine Elliot Ackerman's five tours of duty in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Don't miss: Ackerman's unlikely friendship with a former jihadi.
About the author: A National Book Award finalist for the novel Dark at the Crossing, Ackerman has also earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart for his military service. |
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| Formation: A Woman's Memoir of Stepping Out of Line by Ryan Leigh DostieWhat it is: a sobering account of army linguist Ryan Leigh Dostie's rape by a fellow soldier, and the isolation and PTSD she endured after her superior officers mishandled the case.
Why it matters: With more than 25% of women in the military reporting sexual assault (and with numbers on the rise), Dostie's resonant memoir illuminates the systemic bias and injustice women continue to face in the male-dominated military. |
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The Chief : the life and turbulent times of Chief Justice John Roberts
by Joan Biskupic
What it is: Offers an analysis of Chief Roberts' personal life, career, judicial experience, and approach to constitutional interpretation.
Why you should read it: Biskupic contends that Chief Roberts is torn between two priorities: to carry out a conservative agenda and to protect the Court's image and his place in history. These dual commitments often create distrust among his colleagues.
About the author: Biskupic covers the Supreme Court for CNN. Her books include biographies of Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia and Sonia Sotomayor.
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Alexander the Great : his life and his mysterious death
by Anthony Everitt
What's it about: Discusses Alexander's growing empire, his respect for regional traditions, and his mysterious death.
Did you know? Alexander's death remains a mystery. Did he die of natural causes? Or did his marshals angered by his tyrannical behavior kill him?
About the author: Everitt is a British historian and author of several books, including, The Rise of Rome, Cicero, and Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome.
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| More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth; foreword by Ava DuVernayWhat it's about: Former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth's breakthrough in the predominantly white worlds of fashion and media, and the setbacks she endured on her path to success.
Did you know? Welteroth is the youngest person and the 2nd African American to be named editor-in-chief in magazine publisher Condé Nast's 110-year history.
Reviewers say: "The millennial Becoming...inspiring and empowering" (Entertainment Weekly). |
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Hitch-22 : a memoir
by Christopher Hitchens
What it is: Presents the author's reflections on matters literary and political.
Did you know: He describes his ideological evolution from socialist, Marxist and Trotskyist to a conscientious anti-fascist, a radical without a party.
About the author: Hitchens wrote or contributed to over thirty books, including, five collections of essays on culture, politics, and literature.
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| Mothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces by Dawn DaviesWhat it is: a humorous, moving, and non-linear glimpse into essayist Dawn Davies' life that touches on topics like her troubled childhood, parenting three children, postpartum depression, and divorce.
Don't miss: the title essay, which explores Davies' complicated feelings about parenting a son with autism.
Reviewers say: "Readers will laugh and cry, probably at the same time" (Booklist). |
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In Other Words
by Jhumpa Lahiri
What it is: Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri's bilingual memoir of how her love of Italian prompted her to move her family to Rome, where she made surprising discoveries about her identity as a writer.
Want a taste? "Writing in another language represents an act of demolition, a new beginning."
Did you know? A national bestseller, In Other Words is Lahiri's first foray into nonfiction and was originally published in Italian.
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| Maeve in America: Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else by Maeve HigginsStarring: Maeve Higgins, an Irish comedian and podcaster living in New York.
What it is: a collection of funny yet thoughtful essays about Higgins' time in the United States that discusses everything from the Irish immigrant experience in America to renting expensive clothing for formal affairs.
Don't miss: "Pen as Gun," describing a comedy workshop in Iraq. |
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Theft by finding : diaries (1977-2002)
by David Sedaris
What it is: An anthology of the author's personal favorite diary entries. .
Why you might enjoy it: His witty observations of the absurd aspects of everyday life and the quirks of ordinary people.
About the author: An American humorist, Sedaris has written several books, including, Calypso, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Santaland Diaries.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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