biography

Jun 21, 2011

I usually like funny, fast-paced reads only if they’re poking fun at our society or have some deeper cultural undertones. But occasionally even I get sick of dwelling in life’s neurotic muck and want something to read that’s light-hearted and escapist, but still realistic enough that my eyeballs don’t get strained from rolling too far back into my head.

My mom has been on my case to read Lisa Scottoline’s legal thrillers, but I’m allergic to adrenaline, or at least anything with the word “thriller” in it. Then one day my mom emailed me the link to Scottoline’s “Chick Wit” column from the

May 20, 2011

      Addie of the Flint Hills is the autobiography of Adeline Sorace, born in the Flint Hills of Kansas in 1915.  Now, while overlooking New York city from her high-rise apartment, Adeline recounts her life.  Her grandparents were among the earliest settlers in this territory and came to Kansas on a covered wagon. She recounts her memories of the prosperous 1920s, cattle herds and cattle auctions, life during the Great Depression, the comings of the dust storms and droughts and later times when here father had to go away to find work.  Addie’s memories transport the reader back into the

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
May 14, 2011

 

This non-fiction genre book is one of the two biographies of Cleopatra recently published (in 2011).  It tells the life of Cleopatra the 7th, an Egyptian Queen at 18, a ruler for 22 years, a sole female ruler of the ancient world , considered the richest person in the whole Mediterranean, she descended from the tenth generation of the Ptolemy’s - Macedonia Greeks, a dynasty of murderers, and faithfully upheld the family tradition.  Family tradition married her to her younger brother. To keep her empire she later married two men who held the faith of the whole Mediterranean in their hands. 

May 6, 2011

Louis Zamperini was a spirited youth who found his groove in running. So good was he that he decided he was going to run in the 1936 Olympics -- just a couple of years away. That's a lot of determined training. And he did it. The determination and self discipline required for this accomplishment would serve him well just a few short years later. Unbroken is the story of Zamperini's service in the Pacific Theater of WWII, especially his survival of the Japanese POW camps.
Zamperini served with the air corps and in 1943 his plane was shot down. He and two comrades survived the crash and

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
May 6, 2011

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is a memoir by Amy Chua, professor at Yale Law School. The memoir concentrates on her family life, especially on raising her two daughters. As a second generation Chinese, Chua is determined to raise her daughters the Chinese way. Some of her parenting methods might be perceived as too strict by some readers. Chua is definitely a firm parent and she often tells her girls that her goal as a parent is to prepare them for the future – not to make them like her. Even though, her daughters are not allowed to choose their own extracurricular activities or have a play

May 3, 2011

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend time behind bars in a maximum security prison?  Award winning poet and writer Jimmy Santiago Baca knows exactly what it is like to be in prison.  A Place to Stand is Baca's memoir of his troubled early life, subsequent incarceration in prison at the age of 21 for selling drugs and how he turned his life around and be came an award winning poet and writer.

Baca's early life in New Mexico was not easy and unquestionably violent.  Abandoned by everyone he entered the legal system as an "orphan" and then as a  juvenile deliquent.  However, the

Temple Grandin [DVD]


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Mar 4, 2011

Temple Grandin, if you don't already know, is an autistic woman that invented a more humane way of slaughtering cows.  Her chute is a circular walk for these cows which creates little to no anxiety.  "Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be."  This movie shows the ups and downs of an autistic person trying to make her way in "normal" society and how these "normal" people treat her.  I remember seeing Temple Grandin for the first time on Oprah! and how she was so intriguing.  So when I saw that Claire Danes was portraying her in a movie, I wanted to see itand was not disappointed.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Nov 23, 2010

glass-castle.jpgThis memoir, that reads like a novel and should appeal to anyone who enjoys family drama, defies convention when it comes to predictability. Jeannette Walls grew up in a family of nomads. She and her three siblings were born in the west to a couple who were brilliant but ungrounded, to say the least. Her father, Rex, had the makings of a scientist but alcoholism and wanderlust kept him from settling in a job too long. Her mother, Rose Mary, was a college-educated teacher who hated teaching. She saw herself as an artist and free spirit. Jeannette was born in Phoenix, but the family lived

Oct 27, 2010

True Compass by Edward M. KennedyAfter reading many news stories through the years about Ted Kennedy and his family, I looked forward to the release of his memoir. In the media, Ted Kennedy was often portrayed as a stereotypical, hard-drinking, womanizing politician. His father was portrayed as a philanderer, a power-hungry man who pushed his sons into politics and who was willing to play dirty in business and politics. True Compass provides insight into the man who maintained a fair degree of privacy while living in the public eye. In his memoir, he reveals himself to be a family man. As the youngest of the nine

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Oct 26, 2010

henriettalacks.jpgThis very “readable” biography should be a must-read for all biology and medical students. HeLa cells, taken from Henrietta Lacks when she was in treatment for cervical cancer in 1951, are still alive and have been used in developing the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilization, cloning, gene mapping and much more. They are still in use and it is estimated that if all the HeLa cells grown were piled together they would exceed 50 million metric tons. This is the story of Henrietta and her family. She grew up and worked the same land as her slave ancestors. The author did a massive amount of

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Sep 26, 2010

teamofrivals.jpgThis biography of Lincoln the covers the start of his quest for the presidency until his assassination, chronicles his relationship with the men who made up his Cabinet. Most of these politicians ran against him during the 1960 Republican Convention. Lincoln recognized that all were able men and patriots who would benefit his administration during the most challenging point in the nation’s short history. Goodwin’s expertise as an historian and a writer are clear in this well-researched work. The reader glimpses the thoughts and emotions of Seward, Stanton, Chase and others as they work with

Aug 13, 2010

barnes.jpgThis book I love. Julian Barnes is an author of essays and works of fiction, most recently his novel, Arthur and George. In this memoir, Barnes explores his thoughts on religion and death, more specifically fear of death. He muses on his parents life and death with open eyes, devoid of the maudlin adoration often bestowed on family memories. What amazes me the most is everything he feels, I feel the exact opposite. Yet I respect him so much because of his genius in expressing himself and his desire to be true to oneself when facing that final moment. Barnes also considers the life and death of

Aug 2, 2010

triumph.jpgIn this follow up to “Escape”, Jessop effectively answers the question, “If life is so bad for women in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) why don’t they leave?”

In 2008, based on a call from a young woman claiming abuse, Texas authorities raided the Yearning for Zion Ranch and ended up placing over 400 children in foster homes while investigating the alleged abuse. Overwhelmed by the number of children and utterly confused by the reaction of the mothers and children, Jessop was brought in to help child-care workers and authorities understand FLDS culture. I

Lost German Slave Girl


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Jul 26, 2010

The Lost German Slave GirlTrue story.  In 1818, a very young German immigrant orphan is bought (indentured) for the cost of her ocean passage from Europe to New Orleans.  Twenty five years later she is spotted on the streets of the city - the slave of a wealthy, well-connected, though quite unpopular local businessman.  The German community rallied around her, determined to free her by proving in a court of law that Sally Miller the slave was the same person as Salome Muller, redemptioner and white woman.
This is a fascinating page of investigative social and legal history.  The author has sorted through a complex

May 22, 2010

By Tilar J. Mazzeo (Published 2009)

This well researched non-fiction book tells a fascinating story of one of the early champagne tycoons, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin. As the daughter of a prosperous Reims merchant, she married into the Cliquot champagne family. She found herself widowed at a young age and took charge of the cellars, improving the process of making champagne and turning the family business into a very successful venture, an unusual task and accomplishment for a woman in the 1700s. In times when women were not part of the business world, she cleverly ran the business via her German

Apr 30, 2010

Dewey by Vicki MyronAs is true with many of the titles I read, this one was recommended by a patron. Dewey is the sweet story of a kitty that was found in the book return box of the Spencer, IA public library one cold winter morning. The library director adopted the cat and the library became his home. He was given the name Dewey and throughout his 19 years of living in the library, he touched so many lives. Through his kind, loving and sometimes mischievous presence, he provided comfort and support to the director, the staff, and many patrons. He was featured in local, national, and international newspaper

The Bolter By Francis Osborne


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Apr 27, 2010

bolterThe Bolter is a scandalous biography of Idina Sackville written by her great-granddaughter who is married to the finance minister of England. It begins in the flapper age and continues until World War II. Idina was a blue-eyed beauty, elegant and smart. She was born into a social class of irresponsible wealth, nightclubs, country clubs and weekends of wife-swapping, which was not unusual behavior for the aristocracy of England in the early twentieth century.
After the First World War, Osborne describes a world with too much money, too much death and too many parties. By 1922 nudity and

Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Apr 21, 2010

In this well written, concise autobiography, Carmen Bin Laden goes beyond the usual "ain't it awful" stories about women's lives in the Islamic world. With eloquence showing deep reflection, she tells the history of the Kingdom and explains the conditions of women who practice Wahhabi Islam or who live under its power.

Apr 12, 2010

Satchel by Larry Tye  Wouldn't it have been great fun to see a pitcher so confident he could call in his outfielders and tell them all to take a seat – he’d guarantee to strike out the next batter? Leroy Satchel Paige could deliver the best sport and the best all round entertainment in baseball.  A natural showman, his lively persona and storied skills drew in the crowds, increasing the “gate” (and thereby everybody’s income), and fueling a legend.  Never mind that a goodly portion of the Satchel Paige legend was started by Satchel himself!  That was  part of the game - and the charm!

Veteran sports writer Larry

The Oxford Project by Peter Feldstein and Stephen Bloom


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Mar 15, 2010

“I like Oxford. You can trust everyone in this town-from Highway 6 to the Interstate. But one think about Oxford is that if you’re and outsider, you don’t wanna cause any trouble. You mess with Oxford, you’re gonna have problems.” –Bob Lindley P. 42.

Everyone has a story. And none of them are just ordinary, although many of the residents of Oxford, IA might tell you they are just ordinary folks. In 1984, photographer Peter Feldstein invited all 676 residents of Oxford to come have their picture made for free and by late summer almost everyone had been photographed. Twenty years later

Mar 6, 2010

index1.gifJoni Eareckson Tada broke her neck in a diving accident in 1967 and has been a quadraplegic for over forty years. She could have wallowed in misery and grief, but instead she chose to live her life in a different way. Her joy shines through this book as she describes the wisdom that she has gained through God's hand in various life circumstances. Her relationship with God is her key focus and joy radiates from her. She speaks internationally and has written several books including her autobiography, Joni. One of her greatest accomplishments is the Joni and Friends non-profit organization

Nothing to Do but Stay: My Pioneer Mother by Carrie Young


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Mar 5, 2010

In 1904, 25-year-old Carrine Gafkjen traveled to bleak, blustery North Dakota to stake out a 160-acre homestead. After living alone for 6 months, barring her door against coyotes and walking 10 miles weekly for drinking water, she meets the conditions of the Homestead Act, and the land is hers. This is just the beginning of a remarkable true story of pioneering courage.

Later, despite harsh winters, crop failures, illness, and backbreaking sunup-to-sundown work, Carrine and her homesteader husband raise 6 children (and all 6, at her insistence, attend school and college: no small feat, often

Feb 2, 2010

It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life by Denise J. JacksonC.S. Lewis move over! Here comes Denise Jackson. Reminiscent of the Oxford doyen's Surprised by Joy, Jackson's faith biography comes to us in the tenor of a Southern blonde belle. Her unabashed naked soul shakes the reader to the core. As a graying librarian I've learned to listen carefully to my patrons. One day a mousey female in her late 20's approached saying, "I want the book, It's All About Him. You know --the book by the wife of Alan Jackson, the country-western music star." When she said his name, her lowered face raised to shine into mine. Some people think librarians know everything

Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Jan 29, 2010

Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael GreenbergThis biography is an up-close-and-personal view of mental illness as a father watches his teenage daughter develop psychotic manic-depressive disorder. It is a quick read, like reading a very long newspaper article. It is difficult, too, because you want a happy ending but know from the beginning that there is no way to cure the disease.

I picked the book up based on reviews from others and an ongoing interest in both parenting and mental health issues. I appreciated the first-person narrative and empathized with the father, but also thought that he over-emphasized the randomness of the

Jan 22, 2010

A life of Louis Armstrong by Terry TeachoutLouis Armstrong is an iconic figure in American popular culture and in jazz. This newest biography reveals a little more of the man than previous books, but the story is the same: Rising from the bottom of society in early twentieth-century New Orleans to virtually create jazz improvisation, becoming a popular music star, finding a niche in the entertainment world that ensures fame and fortune and ending life beloved by black and white, rich and poor, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong comes to epitomize the American dream.

The author had access to tapes of hundreds of recordings that Armstrong made

Secrets of the Savannah by Mark and Delia Owens


Rated by Library Staff (not verified)
Jan 14, 2010

Secrets of the Savannah by Mark and Delia OwensThis poignant story of a remarkable and complex struggle in one of the darkest corners of Africa brings light to our shaken world. Mark and Delia Owens have developed a revolutionary and enlightened economic system which uplifts the local population and preserves wildlife. Devoted to conservation, the Owens survived threats to their lives and overcome ruthless corruption. Working within unfamiliar cultures, they successfully helped elephants, lions, and other native animals recover and flourish. The lion-hearted Mark and doe-eyed Delia bring hope to us all. For anyone interested in Africa or

Where Did You Sleep Last Night?: a Personal History

By Danzy Senna
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Jul 22, 2009

Senna’s narrative is very much in the vein of Walls’ The Glass Castle or Bragg’s All Over But the Shoutin. It surpasses both for its examination, not only of Senna’s parents relationship, but for its exploration of identity today, yesterday and tomorrow.

Carl Senna is a black man born in the south when Jim Crow was alive and well. Fanny Howe, on the other hand, was born of eminent Bostonians whose histories are traceable back to the Mayflower. Of her parents’ divorce Senna says “The divorce was so ugly because the marriage was so unequivocally beautiful. My parents’ marriage had been steeped

Mar 9, 2009

This memoir would be overwhelmingly sad for me, had I not already read Old School by the same author and know that he becomes a successful author and teacher of literature at Stanford. But if you didn’t know that this child redeems himself in the end, this would be sad, a sad tale indeed.

 

 Tobias’ parents divorced when he was a young boy, and his mother set off looking for a better life, leaving her oldest son with her ex-husband. In 1955 it was hard for a single mother, and life treated Tobias’ mother no better than the next. When the hard-scrabble life started to wear her down, she

Feb 4, 2009

In a departure from her usual fiction and mystery books, Paretsky turns her pen to her childhood and the significant events that shaped her writing. It’s fascinating stuff. Her eccentric parents moved their family to a secluded part of Lawrence, Kansas and raised her conservatively, keeping her at home to take care of household tasks. Her brother had taught her to read, and she began telling stories from a very young age.

As a graduate student in 1969, Sara remembers being paralyzed by a professor, the first person ever, to ask her what she wanted to do with her life. Having been sent to