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Alone : a love story / by Parise, Michelle,1974-author.;
"A memoir of heartbreak and hope. The church wedding, the new house, a beautiful baby ... Michelle was sold a dream and bought into it. But one day, nine years in, she wakes up in an empty bed, and "The Husband" isn't there. Then, he drops "The Bomb"-- he was having an affair with a woman at work. Adrift and on the edge of forty-- fuelled by grief, booze, and one-night stands-- Michelle battles the monster she calls Loneliness, juggling being a part-time parent and part-time partier. Though dangerously close to rock bottom, Michelle takes a chance on love again with a dashing but complicated man-- "The Man with the White Shirt." Michelle, an expert in "emotional forensics," dives into the wreckage with candour and humour, uncovering a story about falling in and out of love, divorce, single parenthood, and the messy world of dating. What she finds, beneath it all, is life and the courage to face it alone."-- Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Parise, Michelle, 1974-; Parise, Michelle, 1974-; Dating (Social customs); Man-woman relationships.; Single mothers.; Parenthood.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The truth about luck : what I learned on my road trip with Grandma / by Reid, Iain,1981-;
In the Truth about luck, Iain Reid, author of the highly popular coming-of-age memoir One bird's choice, accompanies his grandmother on a five-day vacation--which turns out to be a "staycation" at his basement apartment in Kingston. While the twenty-eight-year-old writer is at the beginning of his adult life, his ninety-two-year-old grandmother is nearing the end of hers. Between escorting his grandma to local attractions and restaurants, the two exchange memories and she begins to reveal details of her inspiring life story. Told with subtlety, humour, and heart, this delightful comic memoir reflects on family connections; how we experience adversity, the passage of time, and aging; and most importantly what it truly means to feel lucky.
Subjects: Reid, Iain, 1981-; Grandparent and child.; Authors, Canadian (English); Canadian wit and humor (English);
© c2013., Anansi,
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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I was never here : my true Canadian spy story of coffees, code names and covert operations in the age of terrorism / by Kirsch, Andrew,author.;
With humour, honesty, and candour, Andrew Kirsch shares his on-the-ground experience of becoming a member of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS): from his vetting and training, to his initial desk job as a policy analyst, to his rise up the ranks to leading covert special operations missions. Kirsch lives in Toronto, ON.
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Kirsch, Andrew.; Canadian Security Intelligence Service.; Spies;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Hockey moms : the heart of the game / by Bailey, Theresa,author.; Marcotte, Terry,author.;
A celebration of the unsung heroes behind the game, including first-hand stories from moms of the NHL's biggest stars Hockey Moms laces together the stories of NHL hockey moms like Kelly McDavid and Ema Matthews with those of mothers who never expected their children to set foot on the ice. With insight, warmth, honesty and humour, more than thirty hockey moms share their own journeys as they figure out how to juggle trips to the rink with raising a family, building their own backyard rinks, finding ways to pay for new gear and dealing with the sometimes-heartbreaking setbacks faced along the way. We learn first-hand, through personal examples, that there are different pathways that lead our children where they want to go. Often, it's mothers who carry the emotional burden of helping kids navigate their path. Hockey Moms features untold stories of the highs and the lows, the challenges and the triumphs, from the women who are the heart of the game. A perfect gift for the more than 600,000 hockey moms in Canada.
Subjects: Anecdotes.; Hockey for children; Hockey players; Hockey; Mother and child; Parenting;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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We've got this : unlocking the beauty of belonging / by Bhasin, Ritu,author.;
"In We've Got This, Ritu Bhasin, global speaker and internationally recognized expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion, brings forward a timely touchstone for readers who struggle with the truth that life is both beautiful and hard, especially in the face of difficult and hateful experiences. As a Woman of Colour and the child of working-class immigrants who overcame significant barriers to create an authentic life, Ritu offers a much-needed voice in the personal development space, one that combines practical wisdom for self-reflection, empowerment, and personal growth to help readers to live well, heal, and thrive. Blending first-person stories from Ritu's turbulent life with empathy, savvy, and self-deprecating humour, We've Got This is the book for finding belonging and joy that readers from across cultures have been waiting for"--
Subjects: Authenticity (Philosophy); Self-acceptance.; Self-actualization (Psychology); Self-confidence.; Success.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Before I go / by Cookson, Catherine,author.;
"A story of talent, good humour and determination. Known for the wit of her writing, Catherine Cookson was the UK's most widely read novelist during her lifetime. When her Estate discovered this never-before-published memoir in the attic of her home, it was an astonishing find. "Before I Go" is the definitive story of her life, in the author's own candid words. While Cookson had authored previous autobiographies, none have truly touched upon the tragedy and personal anguish she experienced until now. For the first time, she reveals the worst years of her life--her constant battles with illness and a series of devastating miscarriages, the damaging jealousy of her friend and her struggle to be taken seriously as a writer. But what shines through most is her strength in the face of adversity, her deep love for her husband, Tom, the solace she found in her art and her unmistakable character. "Before I Go" is an inspiring story of resilience and a must for any Cookson fan."--Container.
Subjects: Biographies.; Cookson, Catherine.; Women novelists, English; Working class;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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My Affair with Cancer / by Field, Susan.; Goodman, Nancy.; Laurin, Lyndsey.; Taeger, Gerit.; Wood, Brenda J.;
"A collection of heartfelt writings by its survivors. While each woman tells her own story, their truth has a common vein. Tackle diagnosis, chemotherapy, and radiation with strength and humour. Find just the right words to start your day, whether you are a patient, a survivor or a family caregiver. Poetry, honest inspiring words and self-laughter fill the book and yet leave space for the reader’s personal journal notes. You will enjoy reading this book simply because it lifts your spirits."--from Amazon.
Subjects: Local author.; Local self-published author collection.; Poetry.; Cancer.;
© c2020., Brenda J Wood,
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Leonard Cohen, untold stories. by Posner, Michael,1947-author.;
"The second volume of the extraordinary life of the great music and literary icon Leonard Cohen, in the words of those who knew him best. Poet, novelist, singer-songwriter, artist, prophet, icon--there has never been a figure like Leonard Cohen. He was a true giant in contemporary western culture, entertaining and inspiring the world with his work. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as 'Suzanne,' 'Dance Me to the End of Love,' and 'Hallelujah,' Cohen is one of the world's most cherished artists. His death in 2016 was felt around the world by the many fans and followers who would miss his warmth, humour, intellect, and piercing insights. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories chronicles the full breadth of his extraordinary life. This second of three volumes--From This Broken Hill--follows him from the conclusion of his first international music tour in 1971 as he continued to compose poetry, record music, and search for meaning into the late 1980s. The book explores his decade-long relationships with Suzanne Elrod, with whom he had two children, and various other numerous romantic partners, including the beginning of his long relationship with French photographer Dominique Issermann and, simultaneously, a five-year relationship with a woman never previously identified. It is a challenging time for Cohen. His personal life is in chaos and his career stumbles, so much so that his 1984 album, Various Positions, is rejected by Columbia Records, while other artistic endeavours fail to find an audience. However, this period also marks the start of his forty-year immersion in Zen Buddhism, which would connect him to the legendary Zen master Joshu Sasaki Roshi and inspire some of his most profound and enduring art. In From This Broken Hill, bestselling author and biographer Michael Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man. Honest and entertaining, this is a must-have book for any Cohen fan."--
Subjects: Biographies.; Cohen, Leonard, 1934-2016.; Composers; Singers; Poets, Canadian (English);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Crow : a novel / by Spurway, Amy,1976-author.;
"When Stacey Fortune is diagnosed with three highly unpredictable - and inoperable - brain tumours, she abandons the crumbling glamour of her life in Toronto for her mother Effie's scruffy trailer in rural Cape Breton. Back home, she's known as Crow, and everybody suspects that her family is cursed. With her future all but sealed, Crow decides to go down in a blaze of unforgettable glory by writing a memoir that will raise eyebrows and drop jaws. She'll dig up "the dirt" on her family tree, including the supposed curse, and uncover the truth about her mysterious father, who disappeared a month before she was born. But first, Crow must contend with an eclectic assortment of characters, including her gossipy Aunt Peggy, hedonistic party-pal Char, homebound best friend Allie, and high-school flame Willy. She'll also have to figure out how to live with her mother and how to muddle through the unsettling visual disturbances that are becoming more and more vivid each day. Witty, energetic, and crackling with sharp Cape Breton humour, Crow is a story of big twists, big personalities, big drama, and even bigger heart."--
Subjects: Psychological fiction.; Humorous fiction.; Families; Life change events;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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My stories, my times / by Chrétien, Jean,1934-author.; translation of:Chrétien, Jean,1934-Mes histoires.English.; Fischman, Sheila,translator.; Winkler, Donald,translator.;
"One of the most popular Canadian Prime Ministers in recent history, elected to government for three consecutive majority terms, Jean Chrétien has some stories to tell. Recounted with warmth, insight and his distinctive sense of humour, these brief and candid essays feature many behind-the-scenes stories from a long, distinguished and colourful career. October 2018 marks twenty-five years since Jean Chrétien took the helm as Prime Minister. In this collection of short essays, he has picked up his pen to reminisce about his long years in the public eye, and the many luminaries he met and worked with. Readers will learn why his commonsense judgment continues to influence our lives to this day, in ways both profound and subtle: from forging long-lasting relationships with foreign countries to making it easy to identify our national airline when we travel. He recalls a memorable trip with the royal family to the Northwest Territories in 1970, and how Ross Perot tried to influence his views on free trade in 1992. Of course, many familiar names figure into these stories, including George W. Bush, Boris Yeltsin, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Pierre Trudeau, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. There are reflections on the many different posts over Chrétien's career, including becoming Canada's first-ever francophone finance minister. He pays tribute to old friends and colleagues, where the values of honour and dedication to public service transcend political views. He reserves his greatest admiration for his wife of more than sixty years, Aline, whom he calls his Rock of Gibraltar. These stories offer his unique perspective: we are at the Prime Minister's side on 9/11 when he is asked to give authorization to shoot down a passenger airliner that has not responded to identification requests. We learn how he attempted to correct the record as explained in his grandson's history book on the so-called "Night of the Long Knives" (Despite having special access to an eyewitness to history, his grandson got a failing grade on his paper.) There are even glimpses of the young Jean, as a teen canvassing with his father, and as a young man who dared complain personally to Premier Maurice Duplessis about the food at his seminary. Survival in politics requires stamina, creativity and toughness, as well as the ability to share a laugh now and again: qualities that the self-described "little guy from Shawinigan" never lost. In these days of "alternative facts" and politics-by-Tweet, these stories are a necessary antidote, told by a leader who always held fast to his vision of what Canada was and what it could be."--
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Biographies.; Chrétien, Jean, 1934-; Prime ministers; Prime ministers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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