Biography and Memoir August 2019 Recent Releases Love thy neighbor : a Muslim doctor's struggle for home in rural America by Ayaz Virji A Muslim doctor recounts how his rural community targeted his family with racism in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election, describing his efforts with a local pastor to give talks raising awareness about the Muslim faith. Haben : the deafblind woman who conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma Documents the incredible story of the first deaf and blind graduate of Harvard Law School, tracing her refugee parents’ harrowing experiences in the Eritrea-Ethiopian war and her development of innovations that enabled her remarkable achievements. Chase darkness with me : how one true-crime writer started solving murders by Billy Jensen The journalist and co-author of the best-selling I’ll Be Gone in the Dark reveals how he has used social media and other less-monitored online sources to help detectives solve cold cases as a digital consultant. Wright brothers, wrong story : how Wilbur Wright solved the problem of manned flight by William Elliott Hazelgrove Analyzes the myth of the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments in the world of aviation and makes a convincing case that Wilbur, and not Orville, did most of the work on the first successful airplane. Reading behind bars : a true story of literature, law, and life as a prison librarian by Jill A. Grunenwald Over the course of a little less than two years, Jill came to see past the bleak surroundings and the orange jumpsuits and recognize the humanity of the men stuck behind bars. By helping these inmates, Jill simultaneously began to recognize the humanity in everyone and to discover inner strength that she never knew she had. At turns poignant and hilarious, Reading behind Bars is a perfect read for fans of Orange is the New Black and Shakespeare Saved My Life. Our women on the ground : essays by Arab women reporting from the Arab world by Zahra Hankir 19 Arab women journalists speak out about what it's like to report on their changing homelands in this first-of-its-kind essay collection, with a foreword by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour International media coverage of the Arab world and its many complex, interconnected conflicts is dominated by the work of Western correspondents, many of whom are white and male--meaning we see only one side of the story.  The queen : the forgotten life behind an American myth by Josh Levin An editor for Slate provides an account of the life of one of America's most notorious welfare cheats, who also committed much darker crimes. Hungry : eating, road-tripping, and risking it all with the greatest chef in the world by Jeff Gordinier A food critic and a Danish chef set off on a globe-trotting culinary adventure to find the world's best flavors, traveling from the jungles of the Yucatán peninsula for the secrets of molé to the arctic circle for sea urchins. Coffee With Mom : Caring for a Parent With Dementia by Mike Glenn This book isn’t about knowing all of the answers. It is one son’s journey with his mom—a mom with Alzheimer’s and a son who did the best he could, and who wrote this story in hopes that you’ll find a few laughs for your journey, realize you’re not alone, and find the courage to do the best you can. My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen When women share their stories, loudly and clearly and honestly, things begin to change - for the better. Dottir : My Journey to Becoming a Two-Time Crossfit Games Champion by Katrin Davidsdottir A memoir by the boundary-breaking CrossFit Games champion documents her early gymnastics years in Iceland, the failures that motivated her Olympics ambitions and the training, nutrition and mental toughness that shaped her achievements.  The volunteer : one man, an underground army, and the secret mission to destroy Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather Documents the remarkable true story of an ill-fated Polish resistance fighter's infiltration of Auschwitz to sabotage the camp from within, chronicling his daring escape to smuggle evidence of murderous Nazi activities to Allied forces. The family next door : the heartbreaking imprisonment of the thirteen Turpin siblings and their extraordinary rescue by John Glatt An investigative journalist details the disturbing case of Louise and David Turpin who outwardly displayed the perfect picture of domestic bliss, but in reality perpetrated shocking abuse, including isolation, torture and near starvation on their 13 children.  Welcome home : a memoir with selected photographs and letters by Lucia Berlin A compilation of previously unpublished sketches, photos and letters from the late American short story writer depict and describe the places and people she met in Alaska, Argentina, Kentucky, Mexico, Chile and New York City. Leaving the witness : exiting a religion and finding a life by Amber Scorah A first book by the creator of the "Dear Amber" podcast describes her strict upbringing as a third-generation Jehovah's Witness and her efforts to find her true place in the world apart from the edicts of her family and faith. Dignity : seeking respect in back row America by Chris Arnade A widely acclaimed photographer and writer shines new light on America’s poor, drug-addicted and forgotten—both urban and rural, blue state and red state—and indicts the elitists who’ve left them behind. Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century by George Packer Who it's about: brilliant but flawed American diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who successfully negotiated the Dayton Accords in 1995 but spent the later years of his career encumbered by his outsized ego.      About the author: George Packer is the National Book Award-winning author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America. Reviewers say: "Both a sweeping diplomatic history and a Shakespearean tragicomedy" (The New York Times).  Alone at dawn : Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman and the untold story of the world's deadliest special operations force by Dan Schilling Chronicles the remarkable true story of Medal of Honor recipient and Special Ops Combat Controller John Chapman, detailing the events of his heroic self-sacrifice to save the lives of 23 comrades-in-arms. Every man a hero : a memoir of D-Day, the first wave at Omaha Beach, and a world at war by Ray Lambert Timed to the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, a first-hand account of D-Day by a decorated U.S. Army medic describes how he landed with the first wave on June 6, 1944, and saved dozens of his fellow American soldiers on Omaha Beach. Life is a marathon : a memoir of love and endurance by Matt Fitzgerald Step after step for 26.2 miles, hundreds of thousands of people run marathons. But why--what compels people past pain, lost toenails, 5.30 am start times, The Wall? Sports writer Matt Fitzgerald set out to run eight marathons in eight weeks across the country to answer that question. Contact your librarian for more great books! Bloomington Public Library 205 E. Olive St. Bloomington, Illinois 61701 309.828.6093 www.bloomingtonlibrary.org/