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In this issue: Recent Releases and Focus on: Athletes
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| Frank & Ava: In Love and War by John BradyOne of the most celebrated Hollywood love affairs in history plays out in the pages of Frank & Ava, which relates their initial affair (Frank Sinatra left his wife and kids for Ava Gardner), their marriage in 1951, quarrels, and divorce (final in 1957)…and their continuing relationship until Ava's death in 1990. In author John Brady's thoroughly researched dual biography, vivid portraits of the couple emerge, offering a "quick-paced and poignant" (Library Journal) account that any reader will find absorbing. For more on Sinatra's later life, try Lady Blue Eyes, by his fourth wife, Barbara. Those interested in Gardner will also appreciate Peter Evans' Ava Gardner. |
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| A House of My Own: Stories from My Life by Sandra CisnerosIn A House of My Own, award-winning Chicana author Sandra Cisneros compiles essays and lectures to build an autobiography. Some of her vignettes were previously published, but she's reviewed all the pieces and added contextual comments to each. Noting that the presence of a typewriter constitutes "home," she describes places she's lived, considers the meaning of "home" for other writers, and relates the concept to her fiction and poetry. By turns funny, poignant, and contemplative, this memoir brings the author to life, presenting a woman you'll be sure you've met before. |
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| Stars Between the Sun and Moon: One Woman's Life in North Korea and Escape... by Lucia Jang and Susan McClellandImagine that you're pregnant and in jail, and the authorities release you with the promise that you'll be reimprisoned and your child killed after you give birth. This is the prospect author Lucia Jang faced after years of struggling to survive in famine-ridden North Korea. But it's only the worst of many harrowing experiences, which include marriage to an abusive man and dangerous trips across the Chinese border to secure food. Eventually, Jang escaped to Mongolia and made it to Canada. In Stars Between the Sun and Moon, Jang chronicles her life in a riveting, anecdotal fashion that creates a you-were-there impression. |
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| The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin by Steven Lee MyersIn The New Tsar, former New York Times Moscow bureau chief Steven Myers recounts in great detail the career of Vladimir Putin, who emerged on the Russian political scene in the 1990s and succeeded Boris Yeltsin as President in 2000. Myers describes Putin's initial economic reforms, which transformed the Russian economy, but which he soon followed with oppressive authoritarian measures and military actions that created global angst. Offering a personal assessment and political analysis designed to help Westerners understand the Russian leader, Myers presents a "highly effective portrait of a frighteningly powerful autocrat" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum by Kennedy Odede and Jessica PosnerFind Me Unafraid is a dual autobiography told by the authors in alternating chapters. Co-author Kennedy Odede founded a youth program in a giant slum in his native Kenya; American Jessica Posner worked with Odede's program as a college student, then joined him there permanently. Relating their love story (which led to marriage), their work offering hope to Kenyan children through education and other services, and their plans for additional aid programs, the couple offer inspiration to anyone seeking systemic economic changes to overcome extreme poverty. |
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"Ever since she turned 90, Olga Kotelko has presented a problem for organizers of the track meets she enters: Whom does she compete against?" ~ from Bruce Grierson's What Makes Olga Run?
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| What Makes Olga Run? The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What She... by Bruce GriersonBorn in 1919, Canadian track star Olga Kotelko doesn't fit into anybody's preconceptions of a star athlete. For one thing, her career was in elementary school teaching; for another, she didn't take up track and field until she was 77. But by the time she died in 2014, she held over 30 world records. In What Makes Olga Run?, journalist Bruce Grierson engagingly recounts Kotelko's life, especially her athletic career, and describes meetings with scientists looking for an explanation for her longevity. While no definitive answers emerge, this engaging narrative presents a compelling portrait of a nonagenarian champion -- and inspiration for those who are staring old age in the face. |
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| Dr. J: The Autobiography by Julius Erving with Karl Taro GreenfeldJulius "Dr. J" Erving transformed basketball in the 1970s when he brought playground-style moves to the pro game. In Dr. J, Erving frankly relates his private struggles and successes; his thoughtful self-assessment complements the details of his basketball career, from his teamwork on an obscure college squad to the emergence of the wizard who played with and against legends such as Bill Russell, Moses Malone, and Larry Bird. General readers will appreciate this engaging and insightful autobiography, and sports fans will revel in the basketball stats and anecdotes. |
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| Doc: A Memoir by Dwight Gooden and Ellis HenicanEarly in his Major League Baseball career, pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden was acclaimed as a superstar, only to succumb to alcohol and cocaine addiction. Despite his success on the field, his personal life went progressively more out of control, leading to suspensions, rehab, and arrests. Though his 1999 autobiography Heat covered much of this, here he also talks of the difficult years since, directly and honestly. From his childhood to his ultimately successful stint on television's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Gooden takes pains to explore both the good and the bad. |
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| Rafa by Rafael Nadal and John CarlinMallorcan tennis star Rafael Nadal comes from a large but close family, who have helped sustain his championship career through every point and match. In Rafa, Nadal vividly describes his mental preparation and the games he plays, while his co-author John Carlin adds a third-person narration of the same events to each chapter. These engaging parallel accounts also portray Nadal's youth, his family, and other aspects of his life, which was focused for years on the highest level of professional tennis. Any reader -- not just tennis fans -- will find this a totally absorbing biography. |
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| In the Blink of an Eye: My Life in NASCAR by Michael WaltripIn the 2001 Daytona 500, stock car racer Michael Waltrip won his first NASCAR victory. But the day ended in tragedy when teammate Dale Earnhardt, Sr., died of injuries sustained in a crash. Despite the wrenching sadness that marked Waltrip's initial win, this compelling autobiography also contains humorous and engaging details of the joys of racing. In the Blink of an Eye chronicles Waltrip's childhood, his racing career, and his relationships with other drivers, including his older brother Darrell and the Earnhardts. NASCAR fans will savor the book, and anyone curious about stock car racing will want to pick up this informative and entertaining account. |
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Look for the next issue of Biography and Memoir on January 19!
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