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I.M.: A Memoir
by Isaac Mizrahi
What it is: A memoir by the multifaceted pop culture icon includes coverage of his experiences as a gay youth in a Syrian Jewish Orthodox family, his education at LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts and the making of his documentary, Unzipped.
Reviewers say: “In I.M., Isaac Mizrahi puts his life to paper with the same mix of spirit and wryness as the designs he popularized.” (Vanity Fair)
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| Grinnell: America's Environmental Pioneer and His Restless Drive to Save the West by John TaliaferroWhat it is: an absorbing biography of conservationist George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938).
Notable accomplishments: Grinnell formed the Audubon Society, spearheaded efforts to establish national parks, lobbied for Native American rights, and saved Yosemite and Yellowstone from developers.
Why you might like it: John Taliaferro draws on Grinnell's correspondence and diaries to present an engaging portrait of an advocate who fought tirelessly to preserve America's natural beauty. |
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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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We Have Always Been Here : A Queer Muslim Memoir
by Samra Habib
What it's about: A memoir of Muslim lesbian Samra Habib who grew up in Pakistan and came to Canada as a refugee. In Canada, she faced new challenges including bullies, racism, the threat of poverty, and an arranged marriage.
Reviewers say: "“We Have Always Been Here challenges so many received wisdoms on gender, faith and sexuality that its very existence in the world is cause for celebration.” (The Globe and Mail) and “Habib writes through a lens of compassion, hope, and ever-widening circles of understanding.” (Quill and Quire)
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The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live
by Heather B Armstrong
What its about: the author's struggle with depression and her decision to participate in an experimental clinical trial that chemically induced comas approximating brain death multiple times.
Reviewers say: "“Breathtakingly honest, this story is a bridge to empathy and a bright beacon of hope. I’m telling everyone to read this book.” (Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice)
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| How to Write An Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander CheeWhat it's about: how novelist Alexander Chee's identities as a gay man, a Korean American, and an activist inform his life and writing career.
What sets it apart: Boasting numerous awards and accolades, Chee's unconventional yet immersive narrative is as wide-ranging as it is intimate.
For fans of: reflective writing memoirs like Where the Past Begins by Amy Tan and The Writing Life by Annie Dillard (a mentor of Chee's). |
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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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| Essays After Eighty by Donald HallWhat it is: a witty and reflective collection from America's 14th Poet Laureate and National Medal of Arts recipient Donald Hall.
Essays include: "Garlic with Everything," a passionate ode to Hall's favorite food; "Rejection and Resurrection," which tackles professional ambition and legacy.
Further reading: Hall's posthumous follow-up, Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety, was published only two weeks after his death. |
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Bad Feminist: Essays
by Roxane Gay
What it is: A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched young cultural observers of her generation, Roxane Gay.
Topics include: In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of colour (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown).
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What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays
by Damon Young
What it is: a candid collection of humorous and bittersweet musings on contemporary black manhood.
Topics include: gentrification's impact on author Damon Young's Pittsburgh neighborhood; the relationships forged in barbershops and on basketball courts; the use (and misuse) of racial epithets.
Author alert: Debut author Young is the co-founder of the website Very Smart Brothas and a senior editor at The Root.
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How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
by Sy Montgomery
What it is: A naturalist and adventurer discusses the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals who have profoundly affected her, exploring themes of learning to become empathetic, creating families, coping with loss, and the otherness and sameness of people and animals.
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