The theme for August was Biography, Autobiography, and/or Memoir. The conversation resolved around the sharing of stories of fascinating lives!
Wang, Qian Julie, 1987- author
2021
When seven-year-old Qian arrives in New York City in 1994, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, Qian's parents were professors; in America, her family is "illegal" and it will require all the determination and small joys they can muster to survive. Searing and unforgettable, this memoir is a story about a family fracturing under the weight of invisibility, and a girl coming of age in the shadows, who never stops seeking the light.
Wallach, Janet, 1942- author
1996
Thistle, Jesse, author
2019
Abandoned to the foster care system as a toddler, Jesse Thistle succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of addiction and crime, resulting in more than a decade living on and off the streets. Knowing he would die unless he turned his life around, he managed through sheer perseverance and newfound love to find his way back into the loving embrace of his Indigenous culture and family.
Zafar, Samra, author
2019
With almost no warning, Samra Zafar was married to a stranger at 17 and had to leave behind her family in Pakistan to move to Canada. In the years that followed she suffered her husband's emotional and physical abuse that left her feeling isolated, humiliated and assaulted. Samra tells her harrowing and inspiring story, following her from a young girl with big dreams, through finding strength in the face of oppression and then finally battling through to empowerment.
Jordan, Leslie, 1955- author
2021
Viral sensation and Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan regales fans with entertaining stories about the odd, funny, and unforgettable events in his life in this unmissable essay collection.
Kelly, Angela (Image consultant), author.
2019
In The Other Side of the Coin, The Queen has personally given Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. Whether it's preparing for a formal occasion or brightening Her Majesty's day with a playful joke, Angela's priority is to serve and support. Sharing never-before-seen photographs - many from Angela's own private collection - and charming anecdotes of their time spent together, this revealing book provides memorable insights into what it's like to work closely with The Queen, to curate her wardrobe and to discover a true and lasting connection along the way.
Fairweather, Jack, author
2019
