Memoir

We have always been here : a queer Muslim memoir book cover

We have always been here : a queer Muslim memoir

Samra Habib

eBOOK
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+, Memoir, Religion

"A queer Muslim searches for the language to express her truest self, making peace with her sexuality, her family, and Islam. Growing up in Pakistan, Samra Habib lacks a blueprint for the life she wants. She has a mother who gave up everything to be a pious, dutiful wife and an overprotective father who seems to conspire against a life of any adventure. Plus, she has to hide the fact that she's Ahmadi to avoid persecution from religious extremists. As the threats against her family increase, they seek refuge in Canada, where new financial and cultural obstacles await them. When Samra discovers that her mother has arranged her marriage, she must again hide a part of herself--the fun-loving, feminist teenager that has begun to bloom--until she simply can't any longer. So begins a journey of self-discovery that takes her to Tokyo, where she comes to terms with her sexuality, and to a queer-friendly mosque in Toronto, where she returns to her faith in the same neighbourhood where she attended her first drag show. Along the way, she learns that the facets of her identity aren't as incompatible as she was led to believe, and that her people had always been there--the world just wasn't ready for them yet."--

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How we fight for our lives : a memoir book cover

How we fight for our lives : a memoir

Saeed Jones

eBOOK
Memoir, LGBTQ+, Literary Nonfiction, Nonfiction

"Written from the crossroads of sex, race, and power in America, How We Fight for Our Lives is a stunning coming-of-age memoir and a haunting reflection of the nation as a whole"--

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In the dream house : a memoir book cover

In the dream house : a memoir

Carmen Maria Machado

eBOOK
Nonfiction, Memoir, LGBTQ+, Literary Nonfiction

The author's engrossing and wildly innovative account of a relationship gone bad, and a bold dissection of the mechanisms and cultural representations of psychological abuse. Tracing the full arc of a harrowing relationship with a charismatic but volatile woman, Machado struggles to make sense of how what happened to her shaped the person she was becoming.

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Iowa Writers Workshop graduate -Melody

My Cubs : a love story book cover

My Cubs : a love story

Scott Simon

eBOOK
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

"NPR's Scott Simon's personal, heartfelt reflections on his beloved Chicago Cubs, replete with club lore, memorable anecdotes, frenetic fandom and wise and adoring intimacy that have made the world champion Cubbies baseball's most tortured--and now triumphant--franchise. No metaphor is necessary; the Chicago Cubs have been the living example of disappointment and failure for more than a century--until now. The Cubs' 2016 World Series win marked the end of a 108-year drought in the team's history, and Game 7 will forever be remembered as one of the most thrilling, monumental moments in sports history. For Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday and a lifelong Cubs fan, it was a moment he never thought he'd live to see. MY CUBS chronicles Simon's adolescence in Chicago as a die-hard fan to tell the story of the relationship between the team and the neighborhood and city, and how the condition of Cubness has both charmed and haunted the lives of so many fans. From theories and curses to jinxes and myths, Simon chronicles how a team of "loveable losers" inspired such fervor and dedication from their fans, and how their 2016 win transcended sports to become an underdog narrative for the whole nation"--

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Forward : a memoir book cover

Forward : a memoir

Abby Wambach

eAUDIO
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

"Abby Wambach has always pushed the limits of what is possible. Named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of 2015, the iconic soccer player captured the nation's heart when she led her team to its recent World Cup Championship. Admired for her fearlessness and passion, Abby is a vocal advocate for women's rights and equal opportunity, pushing to translate the success of her team to the real world. She has become a heavily requested speaker to a wide a range of audiences, from college students to executives at Fortune 500 companies. In Forward, Abby recounts her own decisions, wins, losses, and the pivotal moments that helped her become the world class athlete and leader she is today. Wambach's book goes beyond the soccer field to reveal a soulful person grappling universal questions about how we can live our best lives, and become our truest selves. Written with honesty and heart, Forward is an inspiring blueprint for individual growth and rousing call to action"--

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The incomplete book of running book cover

The incomplete book of running

Peter Sagal

eAUDIO
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

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Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me's Peter Sagal muses on his running life. -Melody

The Sixth Man : A Memoir book cover

The Sixth Man : A Memoir

Andre Iguodala

eBOOK
Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

"A standout sports memoir from NBA powerhouse, a swingman and NBA All-Star of the Golden State Warriors"--

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A personal favorite of former President Barack Obama, this is more than just a sports book. It's an intimate look at the strength of individuals in teams and enduring the challenges as a young Black man. -Melody

Kitchen confidential : adventures in the culinary underbelly book cover

Kitchen confidential : adventures in the culinary underbelly

Anthony Bourdain

eBOOK
Memoir

Anne W's picture

Anthony Bourdain spills all the tea and it's super enjoyable. -Anne W

Sweetbitter book cover

Sweetbitter

Stephanie Danler

eBOOK
Memoir

"A year in the life of a young woman who comes to New York to discover herself"--

Anne W's picture

Fascinating coming-of-age story set in the enthralling world of a famous New York City restaurant, where the author spends a year as a waitress. -Anne W