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Biography and Memoir September 2018
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| From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-SteinWhat it is: a gossipy chronicle of Beck Dorey-Stein's five-year tenure as a White House stenographer during the Obama administration.
Is it for you? Dorey-Stein's funny and touching reflections focus more on workplace relationships (including an affair with a senior staffer) than political intrigue.
Reviewers say: "[This] breezy page turner is essentially Bridget Jones goes to the White House" (The New York Times). |
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| Crux: A Cross-Border Memoir by Jean GuerreroWhat it's about: After her Mexican immigrant father was diagnosed with schizophrenia, journalist Jean Guerrero set out to investigate his claims that he was being targeted by the CIA, digging into her family history to traverse borders both tangible and inexplicable. For fans of: dysfunctional family memoirs like Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle and Mary Karr's The Liars' Club.
Book buzz: Crux is the winner of the PEN/FUSION Emerging Writers Prize. |
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| Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan by Ruby LalWhat it's about: the life of Nur Jahan (1577-1645), an aristocratic and politically savvy Muslim woman who rose to prominence serving as co-sovereign of the Mughal empire of India with her husband, Emperor Jahangir.
Notable achievements: Considered the true ruler of the empire, throughout her reign Nur Jahan minted currency, designed gardens, palaces, and tombs that influenced her stepson's design of the Taj Mahal, and once led men into battle "sitting atop a war elephant and armed with a musket" to rescue her kidnapped husband. |
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| No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNicolWhat it's about: On the eve of her 40th birthday, Glynnis MacNicol grappled with her ambivalence over society's expectations for women of a certain age (getting married, having children) and feeling like a failure for not wanting those things.
Reviewers say: "a funny, frank, and fearless memoir" (Kirkus Reviews).
Want a taste? "I had known early on that I did not want my mother's life. If anything, I actively unwanted it." |
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The prison letters of Nelson Mandela
by Nelson Mandela
More than two hundred of the anti-apartheid champion's letters, written during his twenty-seven year incarceration, convey his perspectives on such subjects as his wife's imprisonment, the death of his son, and human rights
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Jackie's Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family
by Kathy McKeon
What it is: a charming account of Irish immigrant Kathy McKeon's decade serving as Jacqueline Kennedy's live-in assistant and governess following President Kennedy's 1963 assassination.
Don't miss: Kennedy's loyalty and generosity to her staff inspired a deep friendship and devotion that endured even after McKeon left her employ.
Is it for you? McKeon's humorous (and occasionally sobering) reflections offer a personal peek into the post-Camelot era, perfect for those fascinated by the Kennedy dynasty.
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No better friend, no worse enemy : the life of General James Mattis
by Jim Proser
Provides the first in-depth look at the marine hero who has become one of the most beloved and admired men in America today: Secretary of Defense James Mattis. In this illuminating biography, Jim Proser looks beyond Mattis’ professional competence to focus on the driving element behind Mattis’ success: his unimpeachable character—a formidable personal integrity that fosters universal confidence. Proser carefully examines the events of Mattis’ life and career to reveal a man who leads with insight, humor, fighting courage, and fierce compassion—not only for his fellow Marines, but for the innocent victims of war. Chronicling how Mattis’ martial and personal values have elevated him to the highest levels of personal success and earned him the trust of a nation, Proser makes clear how America is stronger because of his service and his example.
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Summer
by Karl Ove Knausgård
The conclusion to one of the most extraordinary and original literary projects in recent years, Summeronce again intersperses short vividly descriptive essays with emotionally-raw diary entries addressed directly to Knausgaard's newborn daughter. Writing more expansively and, if it is possible, even more intimately and unguardedly than in the previous three volumes, he mines with new depth his difficult memories of his childhood and fraught relationship with his own father. Documenting his family's life in rural Sweden and reflecting on a characteristically eclectic array of subjects--mosquitoes, barbeques, cynicism, and skin, to name just a few--he braids the various threads of the previous volumes into a moving conclusion.
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A river in darkness : one man's escape from North Korea
by Masaji Ishikawa
At thirteen Masaji Ishikawa moved to North Korea, where he and his family became part of the lowest social caste and where he spent the next thirty-six years under the crushing totalitarian regime before escaping to Japan
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Live long and-- : what I learned along the way
by William Shatner
The Star Trek legend and New York Times best-selling author reflects on his career and the health scare that informed and reinforced his beliefs about living a good life, sharing engaging stories about his childhood, personal setbacks and iconic successes
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Fashion climbing : A Memoir With Photographs
by William J Cunningham
The iconic New York Times photographer and creative force behind the columns On the Street and Evening Hours presents a sophisticated, visual account of his early education in New York City's high-fashion circles. Illustrations
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The Shadow President : The Truth About Mike Pence
by Michael D'Antonio
In this landmark biography, Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael D’Antonio and Emmy-nominated journalist Peter Eisner follow the path Pence followed from Catholic Democrat to conservative evangelical Republican. They reveal how he used his time as rightwing radio star to build connections with powerful donors; how he was a lackluster lawmaker in Congress but a prodigious fundraiser from the GOP’s billionaire benefactors; and how, once he locked in his views on the issues—anti-gay, pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro big-business—he became laser-focused on his own pursuit of power.
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Every day is extra
by John Kerry
John Kerry tells the story of his life—from son of a diplomat to decorated Vietnam veteran, five-term United States senator, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee and secretary of state for four years.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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