Other books that might interest you

• 

  Daughter of the Dragon - Anna...

  Yunte Huang

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A trenchant reclamation of the Chinese American movie star, whose battles against cinematic exploitation and endemic racism are set against the currents of twentieth-century history. 
   
   
   
  Born into the steam and starch of a Chinese laundry, Anna May Wong (1905–1961) emerged from turn-of-the-century Los Angeles to become Old Hollywood's most famous Chinese American actress, a screen siren who captivated global audiences and signed her publicity photos—with a touch of defiance—"Orientally yours." Now, more than a century after her birth, Yunte Huang narrates Wong's tragic life story, retracing her journey from Chinatown to silent-era Hollywood, and from Weimar Berlin to decadent, prewar Shanghai, and capturing American television in its infancy. As Huang shows, Wong's rendezvous with history features a remarkable parade of characters, including a smitten Walter Benjamin and (an equally smitten) Marlene Dietrich. Challenging the parodically racist perceptions of Wong as a "Dragon Lady," "Madame Butterfly," or "China Doll," Huang's biography becomes a truly resonant work of history that reflects the raging anti-Chinese xenophobia, unabashed sexism, and ageism toward women that defined both Hollywood and America in Wong's all-too-brief fifty-six years on earth.

  Show book

• 

  The Sniper - The Untold Story of...

  Jim Lindsay, Chuck Mawhinney

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Jim Lindsay's The Sniper reveals, for the first time ever, the full story of the deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history, Chuck Mawhinney, who served in the Vietnam war at age 18—written with his full cooperation and participation.Charles "Chuck" Mawhinney is a United States Marine who holds the Corps' record for the most confirmed sniper kills (and the second most of any US service member in history), having recorded 103 confirmed kills in 16 months during the Vietnam War. He was also the youngest—killing the enemy as a teenager.In 1967, at the age of 18, Mawhinney joined the Marines and began his assent from recruit to the Marine Corps’ deadliest sniper. During his tours—in one of the most dangerous war zones of Vietnam—his character and charisma helped him deal with life and death in a hell hole with other young men a long way from home.After Vietnam, Mawhinney married and settled into his post-war life, raised a family, and was content that no one knew of his accomplishments in war. Then in 1991 he was startled and dismayed when outed by a fellow Marine sniper, Joseph Ward, who spoke of Mawhinney’s number of kills in his book, Dear Mom. Newspapers picked up the story and Mawhinney’s life changed forever. The notoriety troubled him at first, but then he accepted the fame and used the opportunity to train service men and lawmen in the art of long-distance shooting.At last, Chuck's full story is told, including his heroic exploits in battle and the terrible toll that taking a life exerts on a human being.A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

  Show book

• 

  A Star On The Other Side - A...

  Toua Lee

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Amidst the turmoil of the Secret War in Laos, Toua, a young Hmong boy of just ten years finds himself torn from the embrace of his family, catapulted into a world far beyond the innocence of childhood. This memoir unfolds the harrowing and inspirational journey of resilience and survival against the backdrop of a conflict that most weren’t aware of, where the Hmong people stood alongside Americans in the shadows of the Vietnam War. 
  Hidden within the unforgiving jungle's embrace, the boy finds solace and an unexpected sense of belonging among the Hmong Freedom Fighters. Together, they navigate the perilous terrain of warfare, where each day brings with it the heavy burden of survival and the haunting question of morality in the face of relentless danger. Despite the camaraderie and purpose he finds, the boy is plagued by an unyielding yearning for his family and a sense of displacement, his soul marred by the trials of war and the difficult tasks demanded of him. 
  At his lowest, contemplating the escape of death over the pain of existence, a glimmer of unwavering hope and the dream of family reunion guides him through the darkness. The North Star, known as the Bright Star to the Hmong, a beacon amidst the chaos, becomes his guide, steering him through his treacherous journey towards refuge, and ultimately, to the shores of America. 
  This memoir is more than a tale of survival; it's a testament to the indomitable spirit of a young boy thrust into the maelstrom of war. It's a story of the unbreakable bonds of family, the transformative power of hope, and the relentless resilience of the human spirit. Through the eyes of a child, we witness the cost of freedom, the price of survival, and the enduring strength of the human heart.

  Show book

• 

  The Storm of Steel

  Ernst Jünger

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Storm of Steel is a first-hand account of World War I trench combat lifted from the diaries of Ernst Jünger, a German infantryman who would become one of Europe's most renowned writers.
  
  The book was first translated into English in 1929 by Basil Creighton, the acclaimed translator of many other classic works of German literature, and was widely hailed as a masterpiece. To many, The Storm of Steel remains the definitive account of World War I, following Jünger through several major battles as he develops from an eager young soldier into a battle-hardened officer.

  Show book

• 

  I Heard What You Said - A Black...

  Jeffrey Boakye

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  An Amazon Best Non-Fiction Book of 2022'Essential reading' - The Guardian'Sharp and witty with moments of startling candour' - The i'Makes a powerful case' - Rt Hon Lady Hale‘Revealing and beautifully written’ - David Harewood________Before Jeffrey Boakye was a black teacher, he was a black student. Which means he has spent a lifetime navigating places of learning that are white by default. Since training to teach, he has often been the only black teacher at school. At times seen as a role model, at others a source of curiosity, Boakye’s is a journey of exploration – from the outside looking in.In the groundbreaking I Heard What You Said, he recounts how it feels to be on the margins of the British education system. As a black, male teacher – an English teacher who has had to teach problematic texts – his very existence is a provocation to the status quo, giving him a unique perspective on the UK’s classrooms.Through a series of eye-opening encounters based on the often challenging and sometimes outrageous things people have said to him or about him, Boakye reflects on what he has found out about the habits, presumptions, silences and distortions that black students and teachers experience, and which underpin British education.Thought-provoking, witty and completely unafraid, I Heard What You Said is a timely exploration of how we can dismantle racism in the classroom and do better by all our students.________'Hugely important' - Baroness Lawrence'Deeply compelling, intellectually rigorous and essential' - Nels Abbey'Personal and political, profound and playful' - Darren Chetty'Written with passion, fury, knowledge and, in spite of the painful subject, wit' - Patrice Lawrence

  Show book

• 

  When Jesus Met Hippies - The...

  Andrew Whitman

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Many books have been written on the Jesus People movement in the United States, but what about its impact in the United Kingdom? When Jesus Met Hippies explores how this counter-cultural movement of Christians found its own expression in the United Kingdom, reshaping the lives of individuals along with the life and mission of the new and existing churches across the nation. 
   
   
   
  By discovering the interaction between different characters and groups from across the Atlantic, experience an immersive retelling of the successes and failures that led to an enduring legacy. How did this new breed of Christians radically live out their faith and evangelize the youth of the United Kingdom in the 1960s and '70s? And how might it inspire fresh revival in the different yet equally chaotic era we live in today?

  Show book