Autobiography: general Books

Book SynopsisWhen Matt Ortile's family moved from Manila to Las Vegas, the locals couldn't pronounce his name. Bullied for his brown skin, accent, and femininity, he couldn't wait to move to New York, start over, and leave the past behind him - Filipino name included. In The Groom Will Keep His Name, Ortile traces his journey to an awakening of radical self-love.When we date and mate, we tell stories about ourselves, trying to put our 'best foot forward.' Dating apps and social media have encouraged us to further curate the face we show the world. Our personal myths, however true or false, reveal not just who we are, but who we want to be. The Groom Will Keep His Name explores the various fables Ortile has spun for himself: as a Vassar Girl, an American Boy, a card-carrying member of Gay Twitter, and a Filipino immigrant looking to build a home.With intelligence, wit, and his heart on his sleeve, Matt Ortile examines cruising and one-night stands, DMs and texts, relationships and whateverships that helped him interrogate his queer desire, race, complicity in white supremacy, and solidarity with other marginalized people.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKevan is just one of the guys. It's impossible to know him and not become a little more excited about life. He is an inspiring man permeated by joy, unafraid of sorrow, full of vitality and life! His sense of humor is infectious and so is his story.He grew up, he says, at 'belt-buckle level' and stayed there until Kevan's beloved posse decided to leave his wheelchair at the Atlanta airport, board a plane for France, and have his friends carry him around Europe to accomplish their dream to see the world together! Kevan's beloved posse traveled to Paris, England, and Ireland where, in the climax of their adventure, they scale 600 feet up to the 1,400-year-old monastic fortress of Skellig Michael.In WE CARRY KEVAN the reader sits with Kevan, one head-level above everyone else for the first time in his life and enjoys camaraderie unlike anything most people ever experience. Along the way they encounter the curiosity and beauty of strangers, the human family disarmed by grace, and the constant love of God so rich and beautiful in the company of good friends. WE CARRY KEVAN displays the profound power of friendship and self-sacrifice.

Read more less

Book Synopsis Not the Whole Story is a compilation of sixteen stories narrated by single mothers in their own way and about their own lives. Each story is unique, but the same issues appear again and again. Abuse, parenting as single mothers, challenges in the labour market, mental health and addictions issues, a scarcity of quality childcare, immigration and status vulnerability, struggles with custody, and poverty - these factors, combined with a lack of support, contribute to their continued struggles. The themes that recur across stories illustrate that the issues the women face are not just about individual struggle; they demonstrate that major issues in Canada's social system have been neglected in public policy. In order for these issues to be addressed we need to challenge the flawed public policies and the negative discourse that continue to marginalize single mothers - in terms of the opportunities in their own lives and in terms of how they are understood by other Canadians. The first-person narratives of the struggles and issues faced by low-income single mothers provide narrative richness and are augmented by introductory and concluding chapters that draw the narrative themes together and offer overarching discussion and analysis. Trade Review"How do single mothers break the cycle of poverty and what got them there in the first place? What are the barriers they face and how can we assist in breaking them down? How do they maintain hope as they try desperately to put food on the table at the end of the month? The real-life experiences of these tough, resilient, and resourceful mothers provide a road map and inspiration to reform our social and financial policies. Read their stories, and then work for change." -- Olivia Chow, former Toronto city councillor and Member of Parliament"The stories of the lone mothers depicted in the book are often horrifying, but the women are not defeated. They are realistic about the so-called choices available to them, but all can see a future. Caragata's text vividly captures the violence and poverty that shape these women's lives. She counterpoints participants' words to academic language. The result is not discordance but rather a wonderful analytic balance wherein the two voices resonate and reinforce each other." -- Sheila M. Neysmith, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of TorontoTable of ContentsTable of Contents for Not the Whole Story: Challenging the Single Mother Narrative edited by Lea Caragata and Judit AlcaldeAcknowledgementsIntroduction Lea CaragataWorkfare and Precarious WorkThe Making of This BookMethodologyIssues Shaping Poverty, Single Motherhood, and Social StatusFormat of the VolumeOn the Process of Creating This Book and on the Stories That Needed Telling RobinThe Individual StoriesSara's StoryMartha's StoryMary's StoryAnne's StoryMadison's StoryStacey's StoryRobin's StoryEmily's StoryCatrina's StoryLucy's StoryChristina's StorySusan's StoryMiriam's StoryVictoria's StoryIzabela's StoryJenna's StoryMaking Meaning Lea Caragata and Judit AlcaldeStory SummariesPulling It TogetherConclusion Lea CaragataReferences

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSamantha Dunn used to live for the feeling of wind blowing in her hair and the powerful intoxication of her horse's steady gallop. A tug of Harley's leathery reins could instantly eradicate mounting bills, unfinished work, and the reality of a troubled marriage from her mind. But one day, as she was leading Harley across a stream in a picturesque California canyon, he panicked, knocked her to the ground, and trampled her—nearly severing her leg in the process. Dunn had always been “accident prone”—but in the aftermath of this incident, she began to analyze the details of her life and her propensity for accidents. Was she really just a klutz? Or could there be some underlying emotional reason she was always putting her life in danger? A blend of personal narrative and of research about what drives some people to have more accidents than others, Not by Accident is an insightful, incisive memoir that helps bridge the gap in understanding that exists on the concept of accident proneness.Trade Review“Dunn’s clear prose and lively recall of her calamities make for an effortless read.” —People “Witty, smart, droll, moving, and always entertaining, Dunn’s book is nothing short of a thoroughly enjoyable triumph . . .” —The Oregonian “I loved this book.” —Rosie O’Donnell “Samantha Dunn pulls no punches in this tough, witty, and deeply personal memoir of a brave woman’s moment of crisis as she examines the parts played by the elements or risk, identity, and the unexamined life in her own catastrophe, and the unexpected requirements of healing. A beautiful, necessary book.” —Janet Fitch “The book you hold in your hands is more than a moving example of art as healing; it’s a perfect triumph.” —Darin Strauss “Ms. Dunn is the storyteller we all one day want to be: a writer unafraid of the less flattering truths, a writer keen to know why the up is at times down, a writer undaunted by the mysteries peculiar to this planet, a writer for whom the easy answers are no answers at all.” —Lee K. Abbott

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnn is sixty and suffering from celibacy. Going through two divorces has made her skittish; having two children has made her cautious. But finally her longing for sex and romance sends her hurtling out of her comfort zone. Her adventure begins with a very nice transvestite—and gets more interesting from there. Put a divorcee raised in the 1950s into the Internet world, and this is what you get: a comic romp that evolves into a profound and touching experience, complete with some meaty moral questions—and answers. Ranging from Montclair, New Jersey to Harare, Zimbabwe, Daring to Date Again: A Memoir is a compelling, often racy memoir of one woman’s late-life adventures with sex and dating in the modern world.Trade Review“…funny and introspective, filled with compassion and written without an ounce of affectation or disingenuousness.… Her explorations are illuminating. They’re also a kick, with a surprisingly uplifting effect. A candid, breezy memoir that may inspire even the most dating-averse.” —Kirkus Reviews “A wise, witty memoir about a woman of a certain age who boldly and unapologetically seeks—and finds sexual adventure, and surprises herself by discovering love in the process.” —Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train “Women of any age will fi nd inspiration in Ann Anderson Evans’ compelling tale of romantic adventure and self-reinvention. Want to know how not to act old? Live as if your story can still have the happiest of endings.” —Pamela Redmond Satran, author of New York Times bestseller How Not To Act Old “Daring to Date Again is a lively, witty, achingly honest, well-crafted account of one woman’s emergence from twelve years of celibacy to become a sexual enthusiast in her sixties. You’ll laugh—and sometimes worry!—as Ann jumps into bed with her Mr. Right-for-the- Moment parade. She wears her heart on her sleeve—or she wears nothing at all—and we share her adventures.” —Joan Price, author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex “Ann Anderson Evans details how a sophisticated lady of the Internet era opens doors to serious relationships [This is] a manual for sexy, smart people of a certain age, of either sex.” —Ford Burkhart, Pulitzer Prize Winner, former editor at The New York Times “Daring to Date Again: A Memoir is a sassy internet dating memoir with an attitude. … One doesn't expect wit along with the wisdom, but it's there. What's also unexpected is the spirit of adventure in a sixty-something who is willing to travel halfway across the world to Zimbabwe to meet an internet contact—but it's there, too. Most surprising of all is the quest for sexuality in older years: something few dating books even discuss. The result is best viewed as a rollicking train ride that leads to a few wrecks, excitement, and a lot of fun.” —D. Donovan, Sr. eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs a young girl in the Midwest, Constance Hanstedt was consumed by fear—of her parents, especially her disapproving mother, Virginia; of social situations; and of people in general. Unable to connect with those around her, she embraced perfectionism as a substitute for love. Raising her own family eased some of Hanstedt’s self-doubt. But even as an adult she remained guarded around her mother, avoiding conflict at all costs. Still, when Virginia developed Alzheimer’s, Hanstedt did what the perfect daughter she’d always struggled to be would do: she returned to the Midwestern town where she was raised to help care for a mother who could no longer care for herself. In Don’t Leave Yet, Hanstedt recounts her journey toward facing her fears and rising above the past; her mother’s unrelenting bitterness regarding life, even as she loses memories of it; and her unexpected discovery of an emotion that reaches beyond familial duty: compassion.Trade Review“In this touching memoir, poet and writer Hanstedt tries to reconcile her suddenly vulnerable mother, who is slipping into Alzheimer's, with the strong-willed matriarch of her childhood. When it becomes evident that her mother, once so decisive and sure, is suffering from depression and memory loss, Hanstedt and her older sister decide to move her (under protest) to an assisted-living facility. The battles begin as their mother begs to go home and complains constantly. As Hanstedt and her sister inventory their childhood home for auction and sale, items remind the author of growing up in a family that was often torn by her parents' fights, her father's drinking, and her mother's demands. Although the children weren't neglected, there seem to be few moments of love and tenderness. Interweaving these memories with the logistics of dealing with a lifetime of possessions and heartbreaking health-care decisions, Hanstedt works to understand her mother, forgive her actions, and accept her. Anyone dealing with an aging parent will empathize with Hanstedt's struggles and find comfort in her honesty.” —Booklist “Don’t Leave Yet is a moving memoir of a woman maturing into her own independence, confidence, and connectedness as she cares for her mother who is losing her identity through Alzheimer’s. As her mother declines, Constance Hanstedt remembers back through her childhood, rendering these scenes with precise and often heartbreaking details. This is a story that is being lived out in all its variations in so many families today, and Don’t Leave Yet tells it with a clear and honest eye in a memoir that is graceful, vivid, and deeply human.” —Ellen Bass, author of Like a Beggar

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1967, when Jo Ivester was ten years old, her father transplanted his young family from a suburb of Boston to a small town in the heart of the Mississippi cotton fields, where he became the medical director of a clinic that served the poor population for miles around. But ultimately it was not Ivester’s father but her mother—a stay-at-home mother of four who became a high school English teacher when the family moved to the South—who made the most enduring mark on the town. In The Outskirts of Hope, Ivester uses journals left by her mother, as well as writings of her own, to paint a vivid, moving, and inspiring portrait of her family’s experiences living and working in an all-black town during the height of the civil rights movement.Trade Review“What makes this book particularly valuable is its vivid depiction of the abhorrent consequences of legalized segregation. What gives it heart is the window it opens to the personal journeys of mother and daughter. An important, riveting history lesson that, unfortunately, is still relevant today.” —Kirkus Reviews “A sensitive and powerful memoir of racial change in the South in the 1960s.” —Booklist “The Outskirts of Hope is a yesteryear tale (1967) that could not be more pertinent and helpful to the racially complex and perturbed time we are living in now.” —Norman Lear “A powerful personal perspective of a tumultuous time in America, seen through the eyes of a mother and her daughter navigating family and societal currents in the midst of the civil rights movement. White and Jewish from Boston, the family is transplanted into the segregated Deep South of the 1960s, trying to make a difference in people’s lives. Although their new world is fraught with fear and anxiety, their strength of character and dedication to being allies rather than bystanders results in their participation in history.” —Barry Curtiss-Lusher, National Chairman of the Anti-Defamation League “Not all stories about the south are fictional and have characters in them named Atticus and Scout. Some are true and have real people in them named Aura and Jo. But just as Atticus and Scout have seared themselves into our cultural consciousness, Aura and Jo will take up residence in your own after reading The Outskirts of Hope. I began this book thinking it was about civil rights and Mississippi and a Jewish family’s singular, brave saga there in the 1960s. I ended it realizing it is a story about us all. It is an American one. And it is one, told forgivingly, about forgiveness.” —Kevin Sessums, author of Mississippi Sissy and I Left It on the Mountain “The Outskirts of Hope is a highly personal narrative that shines a light on the struggles within the Deep South in a passionate, moving way. Told with wit, warmth, and heart, this family’s story places the reader right on the ground as Mound Bayou, Mississippi copes with a world reluctant to change, providing an intimate view of the Civil Rights Movement most have never even considered.” —Anthony Rudel, author of Hello, Everybody!: The Dawn of American Radio “The Outskirts of Hope is a courageous confession of a daughter about her mother and herself that lays bare the front line of the American civil rights struggle of the 1960s.” —Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin, Texas “In the sixties, a lot of people talked the talk about civil rights. The Kruger family lived the life. This sensitive but no-holds-barred account of their life in Mound Bayou, Mississippi is one of the most gripping real-life stories of confronting and dealing with racism ever written. Warning – once you start reading The Outskirts of Hope, you won’t be able to stop.” —Forrest Preece, Columnist, West Austin News “An unflinching memoir of the hopes, triumphs, and disappointments of a white family that moves to a black community in one of the most segregated areas of the American South in the late 1960s. This engaging book offers a rare and moving narrative of the power of seemingly modest personal activities in delivering the durable social changes promised by laws and policy.” —Bob Flanagan, Emeritus Professor, Stanford University “This is a fascinating tale of a family who talked the talk and walked the walk during the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The family with their youngest three children left a middle class New England suburb and moved to an essentially all black community in the Mississippi Delta, where the father opened a medical clinic and the mother taught in an all black school and the kids survived, albeit dramatically at times.” —Dave Richards, former Civil Rights Commissioner “This is the fearless mother-daughter memoir about a white family's move from Boston to a small black town in the Mississippi Delta to help launch the nation's first community health center providing health care to the poor and neediest. The leaders of the civil rights struggle—black and white, male and female—are famous, but we hear much less about the 'ordinary people' in the families that came with them. Aura Kruger and Jo Ivester's journey across the chasms of race and poverty also, profoundly, changed their lives. It may well do the same for readers of their story.” —H. Jack Geiger, MD, founding director of the Delta Health Center and Arthur Logan Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine, City University of New York Medical School “Ivester’s Jewish-Bostonian family took a chance on the importance of being human at a time when life was minimized based on the color of a person’s skin. Ivester captures the essence of the resulting journey through the dual eyes of a child and her mother as they learn the impact of just saying yes.” —Gigi Edwards Bryant, Trustee, Austin Community College District

Read more less

Book SynopsisWho would you be if you lost everything? Hollye Dexter and her husband Troy woke one night to find their house ablaze. To escape the fire, they had to jump from their second-story window with their toddler son—and then watch their house and home-based businesses burn to the ground. Over the next two years, the family went bankrupt, lost their cars and another home, and got dropped by their best friends. As the outer layers of her life were stripped away, Dexter began to unravel emotionally; but then she found herself on the brink of losing her marriage, and she realized that if she was going to save her family, she would have to pull herself back together somehow. As she fought to reassemble the pieces of the life she’d had, Dexter discovered that a shattered heart has the ability to regenerate in a mighty way; that even in the midst of disaster, you can find your place; and that when everything you identify with is gone, you are free to discover who you really are. Poignant and inspiring, Fire Season is a story for anyone who has ever lost hope—and found it again.Trade Review“Hollye Dexter’s book made me cry and laugh—sometimes all within one paragraph. She tells her story with power and punch, and a truth that is unsettling and astonishing and ultimately uplifting. There isn't a soul who can't relate to her memoir. It is filled with revelations, humanity, poignancy, balls-out courage, and humor. She is a role model extraordinaire.” —Amy Ferris, screenwriter (Mr. Wonderful, Funny Valentines), playwright, and author of Marrying George Clooney “In Fire Season, Hollye Dexter gives me no choice but to experience fully and passionately the horrors of a house on fire, and to remember that how we face tragedy often defines who we are. As I read about a childhood fraught with loneliness and pain, and how she fought with valor to attain the love and trust she deserved, I was reminded of the phoenix. Dexter did what so many of us can only imagine: literally rising from the ashes and beginning anew. This memoir is a reminder that the joys of life are based not on what we possess, but what we appreciate." —Victoria Zackheim, author of The Bone Weaver and Exit Laughing “Fire Season will take your breath away and singe your fingertips from turning the pages so quickly. Like Dexter, you’ll fall madly in love with her husband, Troy, who could “rock the world off its axis” and right it again. Musician that she is, Dexter's prose sings in this beautiful and complicated love story, a story that inspires both tenderness and courage, and a deep belief that we can all, like the phoenix and the author, rise from the ashes." —Amy Friedman, author of Desperado’s Wife: A Memoir

Read more less

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER Now with a new foreword by the author celebrating the five-year anniversary of her sweeping, inspiring memoir. The world had doubted Greece's ability to successfully stage the 2004 Olympic Games. In rescuing the Athens Olympics and delivering what IOC President Jacques Rogge called an “unforgettable dream games,” Gianna Angelopoulos also delivered a new Greece, a modern can-do nation, a Greece worthy of its illustrious heritage. Little did she know that a few years later her country would abandon the lessons of the Olympics and become embroiled in a political and economic crisis that would devastate Greece and threaten the economic security of Europe. My Greek Drama captures the burning ambition of the rebellious girl from the island of Crete who ''lit'' the Olympic torch. Her story should help rekindle the spirit of the Greek people, and of every person who has ever struggled to change the world.

Read more less