Books matching: personal stories
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Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century is a powerful anthology that brings together a diverse group of individuals with disabilities to share their personal stories and experiences. Through a collection of short essays, interview transcripts, articles, and creative prose, edited by Alice Wong, the book celebrates the universal nature of the disabled experience. Readers are taken on a journey that is raw, painful, beautiful, and inspiring, shedding light on the challenges, joys, discrimination, and resilience faced by those with disabilities in the modern world. The book is structured across four sections - Being, Becoming, Doing, and Connecting - each contributor leaving a piece of themselves within the pages, offering distinct voices and vivid experiences that highlight the intersectionality of disabled lives.
He insists he doesn’t want to kill me. He simply thinks it would have been better, all things considered, to have given my parents the option of killing the baby I once was and to let other parents ki...- #2
Save:'We Band of Angels' by Elizabeth M. Norman is a compelling account of American nurses who became prisoners of war during WWII in the Philippines. The book delves into the harrowing experiences of these women as they endured war, overwork, starvation, and imprisonment under Japanese captors. It highlights their resilience, sacrifices, and the challenges they faced in a time when the role of women in the military was not fully recognized. The narrative explores the physical and emotional trials these nurses went through, showcasing their heroism and determination in the face of adversity.
IN THE FALL of 1941, while the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy secretly stockpiled tons of materiel and readied regiments of troops to attack American and European bases in the Pacific, the officers o... - #3
Save:Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir recounting the author's tumultuous childhood growing up in Idaho in a dysfunctional family. Tara's father, a strict Mormon and anti-government supporter, forbids her from attending school, leading her to work in the family's scrap yard instead. Despite the isolation and abuse she faces at home, Tara eventually breaks free and pursues education, earning scholarships and grants to study at prestigious universities like Cambridge and Harvard. The book delves into themes of familial dysfunction, survivalism, mental illness, and the transformative power of education.
My strongest memory is not a memory. It’s something I imagined, then came to remember as if it had happened. The memory was formed when I was five, just before I turned six, from a story my father tol... - #4
Save:"Ship of Ghosts" chronicles the harrowing journey of the USS Houston and its crew during the early days of World War II, focusing primarily on the experiences of the men who survived the shipwreck and faced brutal imprisonment by the Japanese. The narrative captures the ship's sinking and the subsequent struggles of the prisoners, many of whom were forced to work on the infamous Burma-Siam railway. James D. Hornfischer weaves together a mix of historical context and personal stories, providing a vivid portrayal of the violence and hardship endured by the crew, while also highlighting their resilience and camaraderie amidst the horrors of war.
Hornfischer's writing style is noted for being accessible, with a blend of descriptive analysis that brings the events to life. While some readers found the narrative occasionally dense with detail or repetitive, the emotional weight of the survivors' stories shines through. The author successfully avoids sensationalism, opting instead for a more genuine representation of the brutal realities faced by the prisoners, making the book both a compelling historical account and a deeply moving personal narrative.
Off the island of Bali, in the silhouette of mountains made sacred by the favor of local gods, a warship plied the black waters of an equatorial sea. The night of February 4, 1942, found her moving sw... 'Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal' by James D. Hornfischer is a detailed account of the U.S. Navy's battles in the Pacific during World War II around Guadalcanal. The book provides insights into the obstacles faced by the Navy, the bravery and sacrifices of sailors, and the impact of poor leadership on the outcomes of the battles. The author, through thorough research and in-depth reporting, sheds light on the sheer terror faced by those involved in the naval engagements, highlighting the importance of this often overlooked campaign in the Solomon Islands.
TWO YEARS BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN, AN OLD SPANISH PRIEST IN A Filipino village said to an American journalist, “The Pacific: Of itself it may not be eternity. Yet certainly you can find in it the scale, ...- #6
Save:'The Operator' by Robert O'Neill is a personal and insightful account of the author's journey as a Navy SEAL, culminating in the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. The writing style is described as accessible, full of reflections and insights on the world of the US Navy SEALs, showcasing the sacrifices made by these elite warriors. The narrative delves into the intense training, combat deployments, and the camaraderie within the SEAL teams, ultimately leading to the significant mission that took down a notorious terrorist leader.
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Save:"Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from World War II's 'Band of Brothers'" by Don Malarkey is a detailed narrative focusing on the real men who were part of Easy Company during World War II. The book delves into the experiences and emotions of the soldiers, providing insights into their lives before, during, and after the war. Malarkey's writing style offers a personal and intimate account, revealing the relationships, strengths, weaknesses, and tensions among the soldiers, presenting a fuller and more substantial picture of the group than other memoirs about Easy Company.
It was January 1945, seven months since me and the guys in the 101st Airborne’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment had jumped into that dark sky over Normandy. Now, a handful of us E Company guys were ... The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer is an exceptionally moving and detailed account of the naval action off Samar Island in October 1944 during World War II. The book vividly portrays the bravery of the men who fought in the Battle of Samar despite being outgunned and outnumbered by the Japanese ships. The narrative provides a gripping description of the confusion and heroism during the battle, emphasizing the sacrifices made by the sailors to protect their ships and comrades.
The book offers a thorough and engrossing look at the Battle off Samar, highlighting the extraordinary valor displayed by the American sailors facing overwhelming odds. Readers are taken on a journey through the intense naval warfare, where small carriers, ships, and pilots valiantly fought against a formidable Japanese fleet towards the end of the war. The author skillfully weaves together personal accounts, battle details, and the human angle of the conflict, creating a compelling and emotional narrative that brings the reader into the heart of the action.
In the war’s early days, Japan had overwhelmed enemies stretched thin by the need to defend their scattered colonies throughout the hemisphere. But as the war continued, the geographical breadth of it...- #9
Save:'The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945' by James D. Hornfischer is a detailed historical account focusing on the latter years of the Pacific War. It covers pivotal events such as the Marianas Campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the island battles of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, and the aerial bombardment of mainland Japan. Through eye witness accounts and individual stories, the book brings to life the experiences of frontline infantrymen, airmen, sailors, generals, and admirals during this intense period of the war. The author also delves into the complexities of amphibious assault planning and the psychological impact of the Japanese determination to fight to the last man.
Almost two years underway, the war in the Pacific, the Navy’s war, was not yet total. Indeed, some were calling it a phony war. Such a term had been applied to the eight-month period of stasis in Euro... "The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City" by Jennifer Toth delves into the hidden world beneath the bustling streets of New York City, exploring the lives of individuals living in the underground tunnels. Through detailed descriptions and firsthand accounts, Toth uncovers a diverse society of people ranging from those suffering from mental illness and drug abuse to individuals with advanced degrees, all living in unconventional conditions below the city. The book paints a vivid picture of the subterranean realm, revealing communities, mysteries, and the resilience of those who call the tunnels their home.
HE’D HEARD ABOUT THE TUNNEL. SOME MONTHS EARLIER A corpse was found in it, not far beyond the tracks, its face half-eaten by rats, one eye scratched out and punctured with small teeth. The fleshless c...
