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Biography and Memoir December 2020
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| This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing by Jacqueline WinspearWhat it is: an evocative and richly detailed memoir of novelist Jacqueline Winspear's childhood in post-World War II Kent.
Want a taste? "Mist hangs across the land like a silk scarf -- not quite touching the earth, but not rising high enough to join a cloud."
Who it's for: Fans of Winspear's Maisie Dobbs mysteries will enjoy spotting real-life inspirations for the series; readers who appreciate family histories will also find much to savor in this reflective coming-of-age tale. |
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The impossible first : from fire to ice--crossing Antarctica alone
by Colin O'Brady
What is it: A multiple world-record holder and premier endurance athlete recounts his triumphant recovery from a disabling burn accident in early adulthood and his inspiring 932-mile solo crossing of Antarctica.
Read it for: "O'Brady's gripping storytelling will have readers feeling they are right there with him, experiencing the subzero temperatures and blizzards. A feel-good, must-read for fans of adventure stories" (Library Journal).
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Red comet : the short life and blazing art of Sylvia Plath
by Heather L. Clark
What it's about: Focuses on Sylvia Plath's remarkable literary and intellectual achievements, while restoring the woman behind the long-held myths about her life and art. Illustrations.
Why you may like it: "draws on new material, including unpublished letters and manuscripts; court, police, and psychiatric records; and fresh interviews..." (Library Journal).
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| Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie TateWhat it's about: After years spent battling suicidal ideation and bulimia, lawyer Christie Tate entered group therapy, where she found a renewed sense of self-worth.
Why you might like it: Tate's candid and hopeful account "empowers readers to better understand their own lives" (Booklist).
Book buzz: This New York Times bestselling debut was named a Reese's Book Club pick in November. |
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Greenlights
by Matthew McConaughey
What is it about: From the Academy Award-winning actor comes an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction. Illustrations.
Why you make like it: "This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life." (Author)
Reviewers say: "this book is entertaining and full of good lessons. A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey's life and thought" (Kirkus).
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Finding freedom : Harry and Meghan and the making of a modern royal family
by Omid Scobie
What it's about: With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, the insider authors offer an honest, up-close and disarming portrait of a confident, influential and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition.
Reviewers say: "If you've ever thought being in the royal family sounds like a nightmare, this book leaves no doubt" (Kirkus).
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| Missed Translations: Meeting the Immigrant Parents Who Raised Me by Sopan Deb; foreword by Hasan MinhajWhat it's about: comedian and New York Times reporter Sopan Deb's attempts to reconnect with his divorced Bengali parents, from whom he became estranged in adulthood.
Why you might like it: Though Deb's insightful memoir candidly addresses topics like South Asian stereotypes, intergenerational trauma, and fractured family dynamics, his prose is witty and engaging.
Reviewers say: "Deb addresses firsthand experiences of ignorant racism with wise humor...A delightful memoir of people and place" (Library Journal). |
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The chiffon trenches : a memoir
by André Leon Talley
What it's about: A deeply revealing memoir by a noted style icon captures the fashion world from the inside out, in its most glamorous and most cutthroat moments. Illustrations.
Why you might like it: a compelling read that captures the essence of a world few of us will ever have real access to, but one that we all want to know oh so much more about.
Reviewers say: "this balanced, entertaining memoir is dramatic proof in print. A heartfelt and often eyebrow-raising memoir..."(Kirkus).
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| The Art of Resistance: My Four Years in the French Underground by Justus RosenbergWhat it is: a riveting account of Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Justus Rosenberg's time spent fighting in the French Resistance, which he joined after fleeing his native Poland as a teen.
About the author: As of this writing, the 99-year-old Rosenberg is the Professor Emeritus of Languages and Literature at Bard College.
Reviewers say: "has all the suspense of a tense spy thriller" (Publishers Weekly); "a welcome addition to the World War II memoir shelf" (Kirkus). |
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| The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President by Jill Wine-BanksWhat it's about: While serving as the only female prosecutor during the Watergate trial, Jill Wine-Banks navigated sexism (including the press-appointed nickname "the mini-skirted lawyer"), burglary attempts, wire-tapping, and combative encounters with FBI agents and Nixon acolytes.
Read it for: a juicy behind-the-scenes account of a career-defining case.
Don't miss: the epilogue, which Wine-Banks uses to draw comparisons between the Nixon and Trump administrations. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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