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Biography and Memoir April 2025 |
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| One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El AkkadIn his frank and thought-provoking blend of history and memoir, award-winning novelist Omar El Akkad (American War) examines the West's apathy and inaction toward Israel's ongoing destruction of Gaza. Try this next: The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates. |
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| Becoming Spectacularby Jennifer JonesIn her moving and inspiring debut, trailblazing dancer Jennifer Jones reveals the triumphs and trials of her 15-year career as a Radio City Rockette, becoming the troupe's first Black dancer in 1987. For fans of: The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby. |
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| Daughter of Daringby Mallory O'MearaMallory O'Meara's (The Lady from the Black Lagoon) engaging latest chronicles the life and career of Helen Gibson, Hollywood's first professional stunt woman, whose start in silent films included appearances in the long-running adventure serial The Hazards of Helen, from which she took her stage name. Further reading: Nobody's Girl Friday: The Women Who Ran Hollywood by J.E. Smyth. |
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| Legends and Soles: The Memoir of an American Original by Sonny Vaccaro with Armen KeteyianIn his candid and heartfelt memoir, retired sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro dishes on his successful career, including his role in signing Michael Jordan to a shoe deal with Nike and creating the Air Jordan shoe in 1984. For fans of: the 2023 movie Air, in which Matt Damon portrays Vaccaro. |
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Focus on: National Poetry Month
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| Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian BroomeIn his Kirkus Prize-winning debut, poet and screenwriter Brian Broome recounts coming of age Black and gay in 1980s Ohio, detailing his struggles with identity, addiction, and generational trauma. Try this next: No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black & Free in America by Darnell L. Moore. |
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| Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki GiovanniRenowned poet Nikki Giovanni's final published collection before her 2024 death poignantly explores aging, grief, injustice, and resilience. Booklist calls it "timeless and profoundly resonant for both poetry aficionados and casual readers." Further reading: This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets edited by Kwame Alexander. |
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| Poet Warrior by Joy HarjoFormer United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's engaging follow-up to her 2012 memoir Crazy Brave explores her Muscogee upbringing with a poetry-loving mother, who encouraged the author's interest in words, and how she survived abuse from her father and stepfather to find communion with fellow Indigenous writers as a University of New Mexico student in the 1970s. Further reading: When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: An Anthology of Native Nations Poetry edited by Harjo. |
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| Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir by Natasha TretheweyYears after her mother's murder, Pulitzer Prize winner and former United States Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway returned to the scene of the crime, where she found long-buried answers to questions lingering from childhood. Readers stirred by this lyrical and unflinching portrait of family violence will want to check out Blood by Allison Moorer. |
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| The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatleyby David WaldstreicherNamed a New York Times Notable Book of 2023, historian David Waldstreicher's thought-provoking and richly detailed biography chronicles the trailblazing life and work of Phillis Wheatley, the first known enslaved poet. Further reading: African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song edited by Kevin Young. |
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Recycled Craft: Blackout Poetry
Thursday, April 17,
3:30 PM
Bethany Library
Blackout poetry is for poets, crafters, DIYers, and artists of all kinds. At this program, you will be able to transform an old page into something new using erasure. Use different colored markers, stickers, collage bits, and glitter glue to make your poetry pop!
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Finding your Ancestor in Photographs
Thursday, April 17,
6:00 PM
Belle Isle Library
You may be in that lucky group having photos of your ancestors back in the 1800s, but if not, there's still hope. We'll learn a little about the history of photography, types of photographs, clues to look for to help in dating photographs, and websites and archives to search for photographs of your family members.
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Mixed Media Arts: Poetry Collages
Saturday, April 19,
2:00 PM
Northwest Library
Found amongst discarded old newsprints and magazines are many words and images waiting to be transformed into poetic works! Come out and join us in a guided writing exercise that will prompt explorations into the visual and written potentials of the expressive arts!
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Until We Meet Again: The Story of Oklahomans Who Survived The Holocaust
Monday, April 21,
6:00 PM
Northwest Library
Michael Korenblit, son of Holocaust survivors Manya and Meyer Korenblit, discusses the heartfelt and harrowing story of his parents, from before the Holocaust through their life raising Mike in Ponca City, Oklahoma. With moments of love, bravery, unbelievable pain and ultimate triumph, Michael's parents gained freedom and the ability to raise their son with full understanding of the evil of bigotry and racial discrimination, and with a determination to teach others how to live well in diverse community and fight back against hate when it rises.
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Luther Memory Project
Saturday, April 26,
9:30 AM
Luther Community Center
Free Scanning Day Hosted by Metropolitan Library System and the Luther Historical Society to help preserve your important documents and cherished memories. Bring your photos, letters, and records, and we'll help you make digital copies to protect them for years to come. The items you bring for scanning can be added to the Luther Historical Society Collection in the Special Collections and Research archive with your written permission. You can also learn more about how the library collects personal histories of individuals and families by doing oral history interviews.
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Creative Writing Sunday
Sunday, April 27,
3:00 PM
Warr Acres Library
Have you always wanted to explore creative writing but never had the chance? Are you looking for a supportive community of writers with whom you can share your work? Join us every Sunday where we'll be creating original work and sharing our works in progress. This creative writing program focuses on memoir and personal essays but is open to all genres of writing and all levels of writers!
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Pick Up Your Name and Write Your Poetry and the Urban Poets
Monday, April 28,
6:00 PM
Midwest City Library
Join biographer Betty Blanks as she shares some of Wilma McDaniel's poetry, and her story moving from Oklahoma to California during the Dust Bowl. Later OSU Oral History Professor and Librarian Karen Neurohr will lead participants through poetry writing exercises inspired by McDaniel's work. This program is appropriate for high school students and adults.
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Pie, Poetry, and the Life of Okie Poet Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel
Thursday, May 1,
2:00 PM
Del City Library
Join us for a slice of pie as author Betty Blanks tells us about the life of Okie poet Wilma McDaniel (1918-2007). McDaniel wrote several pieces the bounty of the earth and the join of good company, including sharing pie! Blanks will be joined by OSU Professor Karen Neurohr who assisted Blanks' research. Copies of Blanks' new book will be available for purchase.
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Lion Dance
Saturday, May 3,
2:00 PM
Belle Isle Library
The Hưng Việt Dragon and Lion Dance Association will bring vibrant lion dances to life this May in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. With dazzling costumes and high-energy performances, they honor tradition while sharing the rich cultural heritage of Vietnamese lion dancing. Don't miss this dynamic display of skill, artistry, and community spirit!
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Oklahoma History Center Genealogy Resources & Research
Wednesday, May 7,
6:30 PM
Edmond Library
Come out and enjoy an evening learning about genealogy and research at the Oklahoma History Center. Guests will learn how to uncover their ancestral stories, preserve family memories, and gain deep insights into their personal and cultural heritage through research.
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Poetry & Short Story Reference Center
This database provides a historically rich collection of full-text classic and contemporary poems, as well as short stories, biographies and authoritative essays on poetic forms, movements, techniques and more; includes contemporary content from the finest publishers.
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Literary Reference Source Plus
Literary Reference Source Plus includes full-text resources focusing on plays/drama, poetry, religious literature and children's literature. This database also includes volumes of fantasy/science fiction, contemporary literature, world philosophy and religious literature, and literary study guides covering American Literature, English Literature and literary genres.
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Biography Reference Bank
This database contains biographical full-text articles, page images and abstracts from today’s leading magazines and journals, providing the most current coverage of more than half a million individuals' lives and work.
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