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Biography and Memoir December 2016 |
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| The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary by John SimpsonJohn Simpson, the former chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, recounts his life as a "word detective," enriching this memoir with witty commentary on the history of language. From 1976, before the OED computerized their operations, to his retirement 37 years later, Simpson was immersed in the process of dictionary building. The Word Detective is rich with linguistic insights, but it's not limited to Simpson's job: it recounts intriguing personal details and anecdotes about his family. Simpson's life story will appeal not only to language buffs, but also to those who enjoy reading about unusual professions. |
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| Moscow Nights: The Van Cliburn Story -- How One Man and His Piano Transformed the... by Nigel CliffAt the height of the Cold War, a young pianist from Texas wowed a Moscow audience and won the first International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition -- even though Russian officials were initially reluctant to give the prize to an American. In Moscow Nights, former London Times critic Nigel Cliff details Cliburn's passionately musical life against the backdrop of 20th-century history. Biography fans, Cold War buffs, and music history aficionados won't want to miss this "rousing, well-researched" (Kirkus Reviews) life story. |
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| You Will Not Have My Hate by Antoine Leiris; translated by Sam TaylorOn November 13, 2015, terrorists attacked several locations in Paris, France. That evening, author Antoine Leiris was at home with his 17-month-old toddler while his wife, Hélène Muyal-Leiris, attended a concert at the Bataclan theater. The terrorists killed 89 people there, including Hélène. In this brief and heartrending memoir, Leiris offers a moving chronicle of that evening and the following days, during which he struggled to comprehend his loss, tried to establish a new-normal routine with his son, and addressed the terrorists in a Facebook post titled "You Will Not Have My Hate." This portrait of bereavement will speak to many who have suffered loss or observed its effects on friends and family. |
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| Something in the Blood: The Untold Story of Bram Stoker, the Man Who Wrote Dracula by David J. SkalIn Something in the Blood, author David Skal examines the life experiences, personality, and thought processes of Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula. Making use of his own extensive research, previously published materials on Stoker, and detailed descriptions of Dracula productions through the years, Skal discusses Victorian beliefs and anxieties about sexuality and diseases, as well as Stoker's connections with Oscar Wilde and theater manager Henry Irving. Skal skillfully digests the results of his extensive research into an "engrossing narrative" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) enhanced with illustrations. Lovers of Victoriana, in addition to Stoker's fandom, should be sure to check this out. |
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Einstein's greatest mistake : a biography
by David Bodanis
An accessible portrait of Albert Einstein shares critical insights into both the genius and hubris of modern physics, linking Einstein's popular downfall through the final decades of his life to the same imagination and self-confidence that ignited his early successes. By the best-selling author of E=mcŒ. 35,000 first printing.
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The man who knew : the life and times of Alan Greenspan
by Sebastian Mallaby
An author who was granted complete access to former chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan presents a biography of the man whom some believe to be the most important economic statesman of our time.
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American dreamer : my life in fashion & business
by Tommy Hilfiger
The business and pop culture icon traces the story of his life and career, covering such topics as his working-class childhood with eight siblings, the dyslexia that challenged his education, his novel approaches to commerce and his enduring influence on American style.
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Contact your ALPL librarian for more great books! |
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Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd.
Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
440-933-8128alpl.org |
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