This year's Markham Read's title is The Heart of a Superfan: A Memoir of Grit, Love, Family and Basketball, opens a new window by Nav Bhatia. Biographies and memoirs are increasingly popular with readers of all ages. This non-fiction genre inspires and motivates readers through stories that make accessible the lives of individuals, their perspectives on history and society, and the universality of the human experience. Memoirs allow us a glimpse into how others experience our world, it helps to foster empathy and compassion and can help empower us to overcome challenges. Biographies can also be a portal to bygone eras, helping us understand history and society at particular times, and help us contextualize historical trends and societal transformations.
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Bush Runner - The Adventures of Pierre-Espirit Radisson , opens a new windowby Mark Bourrie
- Travel back to New France and explore the life of this adventurer who helped shape the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company more than 350 years ago.
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Black Activist, Black Scientist, Black Icon: The Autobiography of Dr. Howard D. McCurdy, opens a new window by Dr. McCurdy
- McCurdy was Canada's first Black tenured professor; founder of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; a founder of the National Black Coalition of Canada, and the second Black Canadian elected to Parliament. Learn about the extraordinary life of this Canadian Icon.
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Terry & Me - The Inside Story of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, opens a new window by Bill Vigars
- Terry Fox is a household name, inspiring many with his dedication and selflessness. Bill Vigars was alongside Terry Fox during his Marathon, and shares with us a new understanding of this Canadian hero in this memoir.
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Love, Pamela , opens a new windowby Pamela Anderson
- A memoir that redefines the genre through poetry and empowering one of Canada's most famous actress to share her truth.
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Indian in the Cabinet - Speaking Truth to Power , opens a new windowby Jody Wilson-Raybould
- From her life as daughter of a hereditary Chief of We Wai Kai to Canada's first Indigenous minister of justice and attorney general, this memoir provides a snapshot of Canadian politics and the resiliency of Indigenous leadership.
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The Year of Finding Memory, opens a new window by Judy Fong Bates
- In this critically acclaimed memoir, Bates explores the lives of her parents as she travels back to China revealing untold family history through this daughters emotional journey.
There is a memoir to interest every reader, explore how memoirs span eras and experiences with these Canadian titles, and checkout our reading lists for more.
Do you want to learn how to write a memoir and connect others with your life experiences and memories, join our Writing Your Life program at the Milliken Mills Branch July 24, register today: Writing Your Life | Events | Markham Public Library (bibliocommons.com)
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