Happy’s Best New Books (8th November – 14th November)
Updated weekly by the fine folk at Happy Mag, these are the best new books that this week has to offer from Australia and around the world!
Paul McCartney – The Lyrics
As you might imagine, the autobiography requests of one of the most famous people in history are plenty. But Paul McCartney is a songwriter and they are his diary entries. So in lieu of a conventional chronology, the story of Paul McCartney is told through a selection of 154 of his songs, that range from his pre-Beatles days to the present.
A massive twin-volume set contains the lyrics themselves, painstakingly documented photography and handwritten notes, as well as the stories behind the songs — formed by countless hours of conversation between McCartney and the book’s editor Paul Muldoon. The result is a unique artefact and unparalleled insight into one of the most influential musicians in history.
9.7
BUY HERE
PAUL McCARTNEY
THE LYRICS
Emily Ratajkowski – My Body
A searing and profound analysis of the intersections of feminism, power, and the commodification of the female body lies at the heart of Ratajkowski’s new book. While it does have autobiographical elements, it also takes a broader view of a culture problematic relationship with female beauty and sexuality. It comes hot on the heels of her recent piece for New York magazine, Buying Myself Back — which exploded online and understandably created much anticipation for this full-length literary debut.
9.5
BUY HERE
EMILY RATAJKOWSKI
MY BODY
Eric Willmot – Pemulwuy: The Rainbow Warrior
Based on the period that began with the arrival of the First Fleet and finished in 1802, Pemulwuy chronicles the story of the Bidjigal man and fearsome Aboriginal warrior and how he led the fight against the British invaders in the early years of the colony. A remarkable story and fascinating historical account, it’s an essential read for people who seek a more comprehensive truth about the birth of modern Australia.
9.5
BUY HERE
ERIC WILLMOT
PEMULWUY: THE RAINBOW WARRIOR
Jocelyn Nicole Johnson – My Monticello
In My Monticello, novelist Jocelyn Nicole Johnson creates a bridge from the America’s past to a dystopian near future. Charlottesville, Virginia: the site of a real-life white supremacist rally during the Trump presidency is where the story takes place, as protagonist Da’Naisha leads a group away from a white supremacist mob who are on the attack. A thrilling, original, and incredibly thought-provoking debut.
9.4
BUY HERE
JOCELYN NICOLE JOHNSON
MY MONTICELLO
Clementine Ford – How We Love
In her new memoir, Clementine Ford takes a prismatic view of love and how it has shaped her. From parental love — on both sides of that equation — to platonic and romantic, to the much unexplored yet essential love of the self, it’s executed with Ford’s characteristic bravery, compassion, and humanity.
9.4
BUY HERE
CLEMENTINE FORD
HOW WE LOVE
Ai Weiwei – 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows
One of the most significant artists working today, Ai Weiwei’s memoir — like his sculptures — takes on a strikingly original form. Encompassing the last century of China’s tumultuous history, his family’s exile in the cultural revolution, and his eventual return to China as a superstar of modern art and formidable human rights activist. A powerful clarion call for freedom of expression.
9.2
BUY HERE
