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Saga boy : my life of Blackness and becoming / by Downing, Antonio Michael,1975-author.;
Antonio Michael Downing's memoir of creativity and transformation is a startling mash-up of memories and mythology, told in gripping, lyrical prose. Raised by his indomitable grandmother in the lush rainforest of southern Trinidad, Downing, at age 11, is uprooted to Canada when she dies. But to a very unusual part of Canada: he and his older brother are sent to live with his stern, evangelical Aunt Joan, in Wabigoon, a tiny northern Ontario community where they are the only black children in the town. In this wilderness, he begins his journey as an immigrant minority, using music and performance to dramatically transform himself. At the heart of his odyssey is the longing for a home. He is re-united with his birth parents who he has known only through stories. But this proves disappointing: Al is a womanizing con man and drug addict, and Gloria, twice abandoned by Al, seems to regard her sons as cash machines. He tries to flee his messy family life by transforming into a series of extravagant musical personalities: "Mic Dainjah", a punk rock rapper, "Molasses", a soul music crooner and finally "John Orpheus", a gold chained, sequin- and leather-clad pop star. Yet, like his father and grandfather, he has become a "Saga Boy", a Trinidadian playboy, addicted to escapism, attention, and sex. When the inevitable crash happens, he finds himself in a cold, stone jail cell. He has become everything he was trying to escape and must finally face himself. Richly evocative, Saga Boy is a heart-wrenching but uplifting story of a lonely immigrant boy who overcomes adversity and abandonment to reclaim his black identity and embrace a rich heritage.
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Downing, Antonio Michael, 1975-; Downing, Antonio Michael, 1975-; Authors, Canadian (English); Musicians; Musicians;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Why didn't you tell me? : a memoir / by Wong, Carmen Rita,author.;
A DNA test and an immigrant mothers long-held secrets upend her daughters understanding of her family, identity and place in the world, in this powerful and dramatic memoir.
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Wong, Carmen Rita.; Authors, American; Internet personalities; Television personalities;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Hitman : the untold story of Canada's deadliest assassin / by Sher, Julian,1953-author.; Fitterman, Lisa,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."For Yves Trudeau, the blood was all business. An assassin for the Hells Angels in the '70s and '80s, Trudeau was known as Apache, the Mad Bumper and the Mad Bomber. As a contract killer, he did his job so well that the bikers sometimes lent him out to other organized-crime empires in Montreal, including the east-end French gangs led by the deadly Dubois brothers and the upstart Irish Mafia in the west end. Yves Trudeau remains one of Canada's most prolific serial killers. When he narrowly missed being assassinated because he was in rehab, he turned government informant and confessed to his crimes, which included killing forty-three people. But as a witness, Trudeau was a disaster. His testimony led to so many acquittals that prosecutors avoided him. Award-winning writers Julian Sher and Lisa Fitterman tell the incredible story of how this assassin escaped the police and the justice system for over a decade. A compelling and revealing account of corruption, incompetence and murder, Hitman is based on extensive research and exclusive new interviews with police, lawyers and bikers who knew Yves "Apache" Trudeau"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Personal narratives.; True crime stories.; Trudeau, Yves, 1946-2008.; Assassins; Informers; Motorcycle gangs; Organized crime;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Notorious Ontario : outlaws, criminals & gangsters / by Da Silva, Maria.; Hind, Andrew.;
Subjects: Crime; Crime; Outlaws; Criminals;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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An American story : everyone's invited / by Valderrama, Wilmer,1980-author.;
Includes bibliographical references.An American Story is the stirring memoir by actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama, delving into his upbringing in Venezuela. Following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, he created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That 70s Show, which catapulted him to stardom. Over the coming years, he would create the smash show, Yo Mamma, voice the lead character in Disney's Encanto, and so much more, culminating in his joining the cast of the hit show NCIS in 2016. Through his work, Valderrama hopes to demonstrate his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life. An American Story weaves Valderrama's personal stories with those of the remarkable people he's met along his philanthropic journey. This isn't just Valderrama's story, though. It's a view of America through an immigrant's eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all its native challenges. It is the profound and gripping story of someone who found the way and is now inviting as many as possible to join him on the adventure.
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Valderrama, Wilmer, 1980-; Immigrants; Television actors and actresses; Venezuelans;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Boys in the trees : a memoir / by Simon, Carly.;
Subjects: Biographies.; Simon, Carly.; Singers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Anonymous Male : A Life Among Spies. by Whitcomb, Christopher.;
In September 2001, Christopher Whitcomb was the most visible FBI agent in the world. Then one day in 2006, Whitcomb packed a bag, flew into Somalia, and dropped off the face of the earth. For 15 years, he travelled the world with aliases, cash, and guns. He built a private army in the jungles of Timor-Leste, working contracts for intelligence agencies. But while surfing the wilds of Indonesia, Whitcomb found himself trapped beneath a giant wave, where, at the edge of drowning, he came to terms with the chaos of his own clandestine life. He survived the wave to find his way home and rebuild the world that he had abandoned.Library Bound Incorporated
Subjects: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs; PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD);
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Tiger Woods / by Benedict, Jeff,author.; Keteyian, Armen,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Subjects: Biographies.; Woods, Tiger.; Golfers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Naked imperfection : a memoir / by Deacon, Gillian,author.;
Subjects: Deacon, Gillian.; Breast; Perfectionism (Personality trait); Women broadcasters; Women environmentalists; Women authors, Canadian (English);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Beyond the throne : epic journeys, enduring friendships, and surprising tales / by Nairn, Kristian,author.;
"The story of an unlikely hero who fulfilled his destiny ... Fans will be fascinated by Kristian Nairn's experience on Game of Thrones, from his unlikely audition to his on-the-job training as an actor to his ascendance as one of the most beloved and pivotal characters on the show. Nairn details the camaraderie that develops as the actors face the elements on set, not entirely unlike the ones their characters must endure on screen, as well as the life-altering effects of worldwide stardom. Nairn's personal story -- raised by a single mother during the Troubles in Ireland, coming of age as a gay man in Lisburn and Belfast, navigating intolerance, and seeking out his scene -- is an epic, often rollicking, sometimes heartbreaking journey all its own. Nairn finds his voice and his confidence performing as a drag queen called Revvlon, and eventually DJing at the legendary nightclub Kremlin. Through the pitfalls and revelations of his creative pursuits, Nairn comes to understand who he really is, and that he is enough -- a message that will resonate for anyone who has struggled to find their place"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Nairn, Kristian.; Disc jockeys; Male actors; Television actors and actresses;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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