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Biography and Memoir May 2019
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What you'll learn: about his early career as a radical political cartoonist and his beliefs on subjects like empathy and environmentalism By the best-selling author of: recent biographies of Jim Henson and George Lucas
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Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen
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Mary Norris
What it's about: New Yorker copy editor Mary Norris' passion for Greek language, history, and culture, which began in unlikely earnest after she saw the science fiction film Time Bandits, partially set in ancient Greece.
Immersive study: Norris traveled solo to remote Mediterranean locales, performed in Greek-language productions of Elektra and The Trojan Women, and convinced her employers to subsidize Greek language courses to aid her in her copy editing work.
Read it for: a lively and upbeat blend of memoir and travelogue.
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This title will be released May 21.
What it is: memoirs of a retired four-star general and Navy SEAL, written in anecdotes of his many adventures, including his involvement in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Skip it if: you have a weak stomach. You may remember the author from: his bestselling book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World.
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What it's about: Chelsea Handler's account of her year of self-discovery and self-sufficiency – working with a therapist, becoming politically active, and learning how to use her remote. Read it for: self-reflection, insight, and dark humor Advanced praise: “You thought you knew Chelsea Handler—and she thought she knew herself – but in her new book, she discovers that true progress lies in the direction we haven’t been.”—Gloria Steinem “I always wondered what it would be like to watch Chelsea Handler in session with her therapist. Now I know.” —Ellen DeGeneres “I love this book not just because it made me laugh or because I learned that I feel the same way about certain people in politics as Chelsea does. I love this book because I feel like I finally really got to know Chelsea Handler after all these years. Thank you for sharing, Chelsea!” —Tiffany Haddish
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Including: ferns, swimming, horsetails, and Dr. Sacks' final case histories exploring schizophrenia, dementia, and Alzheimer's Critics are saying: “Eclectic and satisfying... Informative and engaging... Sacks writes with his characteristic compassion and attention to detail... This final posthumous collection provides one last peek into the author’s generous, curious, and brilliant mind.” (Library Journal)
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A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win WWII
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Sonia Purnell
Who it's about: undeterred American Virginia Hall, who didn't let workplace sexism and the loss of her leg in a hunting accident stop her from serving as a Special Operations Executive (SOE) spy in occupied France, where she established an underground resistance network.
Why you might like it: Offering breakneck pacing and plenty of wartime intrigue, this celebration of a little-known hero is "a joy to read" (Booklist).
Movie buzz: Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley is set to play Hall in a forthcoming film adaptation.
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Driving Miss Norma: One Family's Journey Saying "Yes" to Living
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Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle
What it is: a therapeutic and life-affirming family road trip.
Starring: nonagenarian Norma, who forgoes intensive chemotherapy after her terminal cancer diagnosis to tour the country with her retired son Tim and his wife, Ramie, in their "mobile assisted living home."
Norma says "yes" to...hot air balloon rides, NBA courtside seats, a feted appearance at the Boston St. Patrick's Day parade, and more.
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Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches
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John Hodgman
What it's about: humorist John Hodgman's neurotic attempts to maintain summer homes in Massachusetts and Maine, which he does with middling degrees of success.
Read it for: droll, hard-earned wisdom on topics as varied as male privilege, dumpster etiquette, and regional humor.
Want a taste? "Here is some homeowner's advice. Do not put even a single box of stale Cheerios down the garbage disposal, never mind three."
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In Other Words
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Jhumpa Lahiri
What it is: Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri's bilingual memoir of how her love of Italian prompted her to move her family to Rome, where she made surprising discoveries about her identity as a writer.
Want a taste? "Writing in another language represents an act of demolition, a new beginning."
Did you know? A national bestseller, In Other Words is Lahiri's first foray into nonfiction and was originally published in Italian.
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The Comfort Food Diaries: My Quest for the Perfect Dish to Mend a Broken Heart
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Emily Nunn
What it's about: Grappling with the aftermath of her brother's suicide and the end of her engagement, grief-stricken food writer Emily Nunn embarks on a cross-country road trip to visit loved ones and indulge in favorite comfort foods.
Recipes include: country ham biscuits; lemon sponge cups; cream cheese and olive sandwiches; collard soup.
Reviewers say: "nourishing" (Kirkus Reviews); "gorgeous and moving" (Publishers Weekly).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Demarest Free Public Library |
90 Hardenburgh Ave. |
Demarest, New Jersey 07627 |
(201) 768-8714 |
demarestlibrary.org |
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