Wednesday, May 22, 2013

New Biographies

Here are some fantastic biographies new to our collection:

Affairs of the art: love, loss and power in the art world by Katrina Strickland.
Interviews with the people who handle the estates of famous artists such as Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Howard Arkley, Bronwyn Oliver, George Baldessin and Albert Tucker

All good things by Sarah Turnbull.
From the author of the best selling Almost French!  Sarah's next journey is from Paris to the paradise of Tahiti!

The ambitions of Jane Franklin by Alison Alexander.

A new biography of the adventurous Jane Franklin who was an independent traveller, wife of Tasmanian Governor James Franklin and spirited 19 Century lady.

The Anna Meares story : the fighting spirit of a champion in her own words by Anna Meares

Anna fell off her bike at a time trial at the World Cup in 2008, fracturing her neck, dislocating her shoulder and tearing ligaments.  She overcame this to break more records and win gold medals!

Bend, not break : a life in two worlds by Ping Fu.

When the cultural revolution came to Shanghai Fu was forced out of her grand home and punished for being the child of an educated, well-off family.  She survives abuse and suffering and escapes to America and become the CEO of a computer software company.  

Beyond belief : my secret life inside scientology and my harrowing escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill with Lisa Pulitzer.

Being born into Scientology meant growing up was very different for Jenna.  At age 21 she left and has written this memoirs which shows Scientology from the inside.

The book of my lives  by Aleksandar Hemon.

Hemon grew up in Sarajevo before the Bosnian war.  This is his memoirs and collection of essays.  His gift for language is exquisite despite the difficult subject areas he chooses to explore.

Boomer and me by Jo Case

Jo's son Leo is found not to be so much gifted as having Asperger's.  This is a generous and brave memoirs which is not afraid to say what needs to be said.  Jo's sense of motherhood is touching but not without humour.

Boy, lost : a family memoir by Kristina Olsson.

Kristina's brother was taken from her mother when he was just a boy.   She did not see him again for 40 years.  This is the story of growing up in a family that is incomplete.

Chinese lives : the people who made a civilization by Victor H. Mair, Sanping Chen, Frances Wood.

Get to know China through some it's most impressive and famous people.  This a collection of short biographies which tells the grand narrative of Chinese history as well as depicts daily life. From emperors and empresses to poets and pacifists.