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Biography and Memoir June 2018
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| Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces by Michael ChabonWhat it's about: In his signature stylish prose, Pulitzer Prize winner (and father of four) Michael Chabon reflects on parenting and his relationship with his own father in this breezy collection of essays.
Don't miss: "Adventures in Euphemism," about how Chabon grappled with racial epithets during bedtime readings of Mark Twain.
Want a taste? "You are born into a family and those are your people, and they know you and they love you, and if you are lucky, they even on occasion manage to understand you." |
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| Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World by Eileen McNamaraWhat it is: an insightful portrait of the Stanford-educated Kennedy -- the 5th of Joseph and Rose's nine children -- whose efforts helped advance the disability rights movement.
About the author: Eileen McNamara is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and director of the Journalism Program at Brandeis University.
Why it's significant: Shining a light on an overlooked member of the Kennedy dynasty, McNamara argues that Eunice's political legacy rivals that of her more famous brothers. |
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| Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage by Barney FrankWhat it's about: In this sharp and engaging memoir, former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank candidly reflects on his four-decade political career, including his decision in 1987 to come out as gay (becoming the first member of Congress to do so).
Topics include: Frank's role in voting rights campaigns in the 1960s and the 2010 repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell;" his reflections on the Iraq War and the fight for marriage equality. |
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| Logical Family: A Memoir by Armistead MaupinWhat it's about: After brief stints in law school and the military, beloved author Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City) eschewed his conservative Southern upbringing for the freewheeling San Francisco of the 1970s, finding a community in the burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement.
Is it for you? With a nonlinear yet nuanced narrative, Logical Family will appeal to Maupin's fans and general readers alike.
Want a taste? "Sooner or later, we have to venture beyond our biological family to find our logical one, the one that actually makes sense for us." |
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| Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet MockWhat it is: a courageous memoir from trans activist Janet Mock, foregrounding her transition and coming-of-age against the larger societal plight of trans women of color.
Reviewers say: "An enlightening, much-needed perspective on transgender identity" (Kirkus Reviews).
Further reading: Mock published a follow-up memoir, Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me, in 2017. |
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| Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space by Lynn SherrWhat it is: an intimate biography of the astronaut and icon, whose heavily guarded personal life remained a secret until her death in 2012, when her obituary revealed her as a lesbian survived by her partner of 27 years.
What sets it apart: Written with the cooperation of Ride's partner, family, and colleagues, journalist (and longtime friend of Ride) Lynn Sherr's sensitive, thoroughly researched portrait celebrates Ride's life and legacy. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Richmond Public Library 101 E. Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 (804)646-7223
rvalibrary.org
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