Huntington Public Library Adult Reading Challenge

  A great memoir from great actor Al Pacino ! This page turner shows him from a young boy who came from nothing on his rise to stardom! His hard fight to remain in the career changing film The Godfather is just one of this book's highlights a great story from a great actor

This book describes the life of a CIA spy and it is not what you would think it would be. Lindsay describes it a lonely, soul-breaking job. In reading the book, it seems as if she is disillusioned with her job almost immediately. She describes often that she thought it would be like in the movies, scaling walls or ziplining from building to building. In reality, she spent most of her time in her car, driving around making sure she was not being followed and trying to recruit "assets." As a case officer, she was considered the upper echelon of the CIA, although she describes almost every aspect of the "company" as sexist and chauvinistic. After 9/11, she became further disillusioned, feeling that the company had let the United States down. Not surprisingly, she left the CIA, although that was not an easy process either.

  Blogger and James Beard Award winner shares her thoughts on the intertwining relationship amongst food, feminism and fury. Cleverly titled essays fill the memoir with thought provoking topics, leaving the reader hungry for a good meal and a bit of debate.

The second part of Marjane Satrapi's memoir follows her life in Austria as a student before moving back to Iran after the end of the war. Satrapi shares how her culture shock affected her life in both countries and her attempts to carve her own way.  

  Lesbian Cartoonist Alison Bechdel recounts her life growing up in Pennsylvania, coming out in college, and dealing with the aftermath of her father's death. Bechdel uses the books that were important in her and her father's lives to make sense of their odd relationship and his proclivities as a funeral home director, home restorer, and closeted gay man.

  Puts your own life and parenting into perspective, regardless of politics i think every parent should read this book and take a second look at how we react to our children’s behavior. I'm very impressed by what this man overcame.

 A fascinating look at the evangelical culture written by the ex-wife of one of its most prominent figureheads. The book itself focuses on her thoughts so it makes sense to read about the history of the evangelical movement for more context.

 Politics aside, this is an engaging and fascinating look into the Appalachian communities and the story of how one man made it out of abject poverty to join the marines and law school.

  I enjoyed this well written book on a sensitive traumatized reclusive man's relationship to cats and this particular cat. As a cat lover it was particularly enjoyable. Perhaps not to non cat lovers!

  Megan is a soccer super star.....World Cup team winner, Olympic team winner, warm and attached family member, super sister to her twin, terrific partner to her girlfriend. Megan tells it like it is--nothing (much) left out. The parts I especially like, aside from learning so much about soccer, is her fight for equal pay for women's soccer teams--equal to the men's soccer teams. These are hard working, world class athletes. They deserve the same pay and winnings as the men athletes.

Cute and funny: this tugs at one's heart. A coming of age and aging story of a superb actor, her privileged upbringing in Scarsdale, NY, Sarah Lawrence College education, and her drive to be a top performer, singer, storyteller.

  Marji is a young Iranian girl living with her parents during the Islamic Revolution. Her inner rebel grows as she becomes a teenager, but she is constantly dealt blows as friends and family are killed by bombings or captured by secret police. This autobiographical work cuts to the core and shows the dangers of radical fundamentalism and the importance of maintaining oneself in times of adversity.

  I learned much about the Korean immigrant experience and family relations, as well as Korean foods & recipes; I didn't know there were Korean foods associated with family events, rites of passage. I know of course certain holidays have special foods. The discussion of H Mart made me find the local one in Hicksville and also encouraged me to go to 99 Rance Asian Market in Westbury. What an experience...like taking a trip.

Libyan born Author Matar has a fascination with the art and artists of 14th, 15th, and 16th Century Siena, Italy. He craves seeing these paintings...visits every museum's galleries to study This art period. Along the way we learn a bit about Libya, the repressive politics, military government. It is art history--so know before you start to read it. NO plot.

 Did not like the book. He lead an interesting life. Totally different than parts he played in the movies. He has great principles and glad he is living them!!

  I'm not usually a reader of nonfictions books or memoirs. But this year I want change that! So I decided to start with Viola Davis' memoir, Finding Me. I found it to be extremely entertaining, enriching, thought-provoking and satisfying. Viola begins by telling us about her poor upbringing in Rhode Island. Her family was so poor they didn't have soap or hot warm to bath regularly and as a result often smelled like pee. She recounts how teachers, fellow students, and others ridiculed her and her siblings. Fast forward to her life as an adult and she continued to face challenge after challenge. As a dark-skinned black woman, Viola had to face many challenges in the entertainment industry including, racism and colorism. However, throughout all she faced, including her poor upbringing, her father's alcohol abuse, her mother's experiences of domestic violence, her own experiences of sexual abuse, and more, she was able to find herself and what she loves to do. Her word...

  We learn in this book how important - and necessary - sometimes, to retreat and rest. Learning the importance of going within, and learning how to be peaceful with it are tools we all need. The author related our needs to the needs of the natural world, and how it is not giving up, but growing stronger to take some time to rest, so that we can grow taller and stronger.

 I always enjoy an autobiography where when you read it, it seems as if you're having a PRIVATE conversation with the author. Such was the case with Barbra's book. She is a VERY talented lady in so many walks of her life. Plus a philanthropist of the FIRST degree. Well worth the read!

 A memoir of Viola Davis's life. Heart wrenching at times, rooting for her at times. This book is a page turner and makes you think again about race in America.

 This is a fascinating and well-written memoir that goes deep into heiress Paris Hilton's harrowing experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the "emotional growth boarding school," CEDU. Covers her undiagnosed ADHD, her advocacy against the troubled-teen industry, and other previously untold stories from Paris' life. The references to the genius of NFTs and crypto have not aged well, however!