Forsyth County Public Library: Biography and Memoir: August 2026

Recent Releases

Auden
by Peter Ackroyd

Historian and novelist Peter Ackroyd offers a closely studied portrait of W.H. Auden, the celebrated British expatriate poet, professor, and LGBTQIA+ figure. Readers get a detailed view of Auden’s staunch work ethic, fierce intellect, and singular lyrical virtuosity; but also an intimate look into the poet’s personal slovenliness and many romantic infidelities, all “told with flair and flourish” (Kirkus Reviews). Try this next: Byron: A Life in Ten Letters by Andrew Stauffer.

You With the Sad Eyes: A Memoir
by Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate came of age on sets and stages, expected to be on time, with lines learned, ready for lights-camera-action. She first gained stardom playing Kelly Bundy in the sitcom Married...with Children and went on to captivate audiences in her five-decade long career. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 confined her to bed and the company of memories she’d rather forget. In You With the Sad Eyes, Applegate unveils a story not even those closest to her fully know.

Catching Sight: How a Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself
by Deni Elliott with Graham Buck

Deni Elliott, a professor of ethics who was born with limited eyesight, co-authors her memoir with Graham Buck, the dog trainer who matched her with guide dogs Alberta and Koala, both of whom are charismatic characters in her story. Elliott narrates their shared adventures with humor and wit, helping readers appreciate both the challenges of vision-impaired disability and the amazing intelligence and sensitivity of her canine helpers.

Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling
by Frank Miller

Lauded comics author and artist Frank Miller (Dark Knight Returns, Ronin) tells his life story with a tone as edgy as his comics oeuvre. His passion for storytelling remains undimmed as he peppers his career highlights with advice for fellow creators, exhorting readers to “push the wall” – i.e. force creative boundaries outward to make something new. Miller’s book, generously illustrated with his groundbreaking artwork, will also appeal to fans of Alan Moore.

The Solo Honeymoon: A Brief Beautiful True Love Story
by Laura Murphy

When Laura and Devon sat down to plan their honeymoon, Castellina in Chianti, Italy, was the obvious destination. Four months later, Laura found herself standing alone in a secret spot at the edge of the village watching the sunset. It would have been perfect, but Laura's fiancé, the love of her life, had died in her arms a month before their wedding. Laura faces her fears and heartbreak by going alone on her honeymoon. The result is a beautiful exploration of what it means to choose life in the face of unimaginable pain.

Mother Tongue: A Memoir
by Sara Nović

When Sara Nović failed her school's hearing test, she told no one, staying in the hearing world for as long as she could. Eventually Nović sought out other deaf people and was welcomed into a community. Now the mother of two young sons – one, biological and hearing, the other, adopted and deaf – Nović reflects on her life both before and after parenthood. While raising her children within the deaf world, Nović understands that as her children grow, their own paths will branch off from hers in ways she cannot fully predict or plan for. Try this next: Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice by Rachel Kolb.

Enough: Climbing Toward a True Self on Mount Everest
by Melissa Arnot Reid

A determined climber overcomes personal turmoil, family estrangement, and devastating losses while conquering the world's toughest peaks, ultimately embarking on a transformative journey toward self-forgiveness, inner peace, and the realization that true strength lies within. In the candid and adventurous spirit of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, Enough is a story of a life in which the most dangerous mountain faces became a refuge – until suddenly they, too, no longer seem safe.

When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class
by Chris Smalls

When Chris Smalls, an employee at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, figured out that he was repeatedly passed over for advancement opportunities because he was Black, he staged a walkout and was fired for it. But that was only the beginning. Smalls recounts his founding of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) to combat unfair pay and poor working conditions at the only unionized Amazon warehouse in the country. For other inspiring examples of labor activism, try Get on the Job and Organize by Jaz Brisack.

Contact your librarian for more great books!