Biography & History Staff Picks
Born into a staunchly religious family, Tara is the youngest of 7 children. Tara's father forces the family to live "off the grid" and prepare for "The Days of Abomination." As Tara grows, she longs for independence and education. But the act of pursuing her dream threatens to divide Tara from her family. This is an inspiring memoir of the strength it takes to be true to oneself.
Beware: Uncensored, unaduterated and wildly entertaining. Duncan Hannah, artist, writer, musician and hopeless romantic releases his personal journals to the public. Reading this is like listening to someone else's innermost thoughts
Leslie Jamison is my new author crush. Though the memoir genre is rife with addiction stories, Jamison offers a new perspective, attempting to answer the question of whether stories of recovery can be as captivating as the trainwreck tales of people in the thrall of addiction. "The Recovering" is equal parts a memoir of the author's addiction and recovery, literary criticism of the "drunken genius" cadre, and a history of the way society has viewed people with substance issues. I also recommend checking out her interviews online, especially her talk with Marty Moss-Coane at the Philadelphia Free Library.
Carrie Brownstein is best known as a vocalist and guitarist in the band Sleater-Kinney and as an actor and writer on the hit television show Portlandia. Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl is a witty and brilliant book that gives us a peek inside what it is like to be in an indie rock band.
