National Book Club Conference ‘Book of the Year’ Award Winner!

From her more than three hundred appearances for film and television, stage and cabaret, performing comedy or drama, as an unforgettable lead or a scene stealing supporting character, Jenifer Lewis has established herself as one of the most respected, admired, talented, and versatile entertainers working today. This “Mega Diva” and costar of the hit sitcom black-ish bares her soul in this touching and poignant—and at times side-splittingly hilarious—memoir of a Midwestern girl with a dream, whose journey took her from poverty to the big screen, and along the way earned her many accolades.

With candor and warmth, Jenifer Lewis reveals the heart of a woman who lives life to the fullest. This multitalented “force of nature” landed her first Broadway role within eleven days of her graduation from college and later earned the title “Reigning Queen of High-Camp Cabaret.” In the audaciously honest voice that her fans adore, Jenifer describes her transition to Hollywood, with guest roles on hits like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Friends. Her movie Jackie’s Back! became a cult favorite, and as the “Mama” to characters portrayed by Whitney Houston, Tupac Shakur, Taraji P. Henson, and many more, Jenifer cemented her status as the “Mother of Black Hollywood.”

When an undiagnosed mental illness stymies Jenifer’s career, culminating in a breakdown while filming The Temptations, her quest for wholeness becomes a harrowing and inspiring tale, including revelations of bipolar disorder and sex addiction.

Written with no-holds-barred honesty and illustrated with more than forty color photographs, this gripping memoir is filled with insights gained through a unique life that offers a universal message: “Love yourself so that love will not be a stranger when it comes.”

Systems engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) says goodbye to his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt) and heads off on a flight to South America. En route the plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, leaving Chuck as its only survivor. Luckily, there is an uninhabited island nearby and Chuck manages to swim to safety. After a failed attempt to escape on an inflatable raft, Chuck accepts that he is unlikely to get back to civilisation and begins to make the most of what he has around him. Four years later he is still on the island, having adapted extremely well to his new environment, but decides the time is right to make another attempt at the long journey home and sets off for a remarkable adventure on a makeshift wooden raft.

Systems engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) says goodbye to his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt) and heads off on a flight to South America. En route the plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, leaving Chuck as its only survivor. Luckily, there is an uninhabited island nearby and Chuck manages to swim to safety. After a failed attempt to escape on an inflatable raft, Chuck accepts that he is unlikely to get back to civilisation and begins to make the most of what he has around him. Four years later he is still on the island, having adapted extremely well to his new environment, but decides the time is right to make another attempt at the long journey home and sets off for a remarkable adventure on a makeshift wooden raft.

The classic fairytale gets an updated twist in Disney's animated musical comedy set in the French quarter of the city of New Orleans. Transformed into a frog by the evil voodoo man Dr Facilier (Keith David), Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) from the land of Maldonia goes in search of a princess to break the spell. He finds a young African-American girl called Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) and, mistaking her for a princess, asks her for a restorative kiss. Things, however, don't go to plan when the kiss only succeeds in changing Tiana into a frog too. Together, the two unfortunate amphibians go in search of Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis), the good voodoo priestess of the Bayou. As they make their way through the mystical bayous of Louisiana, they encounter new friends in the form of Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a trumpet-playing alligator, and Ray (Jim Cummings), a hopelessly romantic firefly. The film's music comes from the Oscar-winning Randy Newman.

Animated comedy featuring the voices of Owen Wilson and Paul Newman. Successful rookie racer Lightning McQueen (Wilson) has just won a three-way tie with elder rival Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton) and 'The King' (Richard Petty). On his way to the big tie-breaking race, Lightning crashes through Radiator Springs on Route 66 and is forced to remain in town until he repairs the damage he has caused. At first, the tight-knit community doesn't accept Lightning's bad attitude but he eventually befriends redneck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and falls in love with Sally (Bonnie Hunt). However, he can't seem to get the gruff Doc Hudson (Newman) to change his mind about him. Soon Lightning learns the inhabitants of the town as a whole also had a different past that's painfully absent, and tries to help them enjoy it once more.