|
Biography and MemoirJanuary 2016
|
"We lit candles, and then Mom and Dad led us into a pew, where we dropped to our knees and prayed to Sainte Anne, even though none of us had anything that needed fixing." ~ from John Grogan's The Longest Trip Home
|
|
| We Were Brothers: A Memoir by Barry MoserIn this affecting memoir, acclaimed artist and illustrator Barry Moser relates his white supremacist upbringing in Chattanooga and his severe conflicts with his older brother Tommy. Expressing remorse for his heritage of bigotry and violence, Moser focuses on his brother and their estrangement while highlighting the complexity of their family's racial views. Through an exchange of letters, the brothers come to understand each other more clearly as adults and enjoy a close relationship during the final eight years of Tommy's life. Nuanced and detailed illustrations enhance Moser's spare but emotionally revealing prose. |
|
| Prince of Darkness: The Untold Story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, Wall Street's... by Shane WhiteIn the mid-19th century, one of the richest men in America was Jeremiah Hamilton, who competed successfully with Cornelius Vanderbilt and other business magnates. The fact that Hamilton was African American makes his prominence and wealth in that era even more interesting, and offers reasons why his name is so obscure today. In Prince of Darkness, Australian historian Shane White explores Hamilton's life and career, during which the black press disparaged him and white businessmen bitterly resented him. Employing "superb scholarship and a sprightly style" (Kirkus Reviews), White vividly depicts Hamilton and the society in which he operated. |
|
Focus on: January and February Birthdays
|
|
| Then Again by Diane KeatonJanuary 5, 1946. Actress Diane Keaton, perhaps best known for her Oscar-winning role as the title character in Woody Allen's Annie Hall, thoughtfully explores memories of her own life and her mother's in Then Again. Keaton alternates excerpts from her mother's journals and descriptions of her increasing dementia with passages that portray Keaton's early life, her acting experiences and love affairs, and her adopted children. This emotionally engaging memoir weaves a colorful tapestry depicting Keaton's family and her relationship with her mother. |
|
| Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster by Jonathan EigJanuary 17, 1899. Drawing on long-overlooked government files and other records, journalist Jonathan Eig offers a compelling account of Al Capone's life and a vivid history of Prohibition-era Chicago. Setting the record (which has been distorted by legend) straight, Get Capone brings to life the usual suspects along with the more obscure law enforcement agents who determinedly built the case that won Capone's conviction. This is an irresistible biographical study: informative, engagingly written, and richly detailed. |
|
| The Longest Trip Home: A Memoir by John GroganFebruary 24, 1961. John Grogan, author of the bestselling Marley & Me, grew up in a devout Catholic family whose vacation trips featured visits to religious shrines. In The Longest Trip Home, Grogan relates his childhood, during which his family's deep involvement in the church contrasted with his less devout -- even sacrilegious -- attitudes. As an adult, Grogan's distinct break from his Catholic upbringing distanced him from his parents. Eventually, as his father's health failed and he felt guilt and emptiness in his skeptical views, he found a way to span the gap between them. Those who appreciate a humorous but poignant family story should pick up Grogan's memoir. |
|
| Johnny Cash: The Life by Robert HilburnFebruary 26, 1932. In Johnny Cash, former Los Angeles Times music critic Robert Hilburn compellingly presents all the downs and ups of the country music star's life. Growing up on an Arkansas farm, Cash dreamed of performing to large audiences, but didn't know how to achieve his dream. Eventually, he moved to Nashville and persuaded a reluctant Sam Phillips (the groundbreaking record producer) to listen to his songs. Years of stardom, struggles with drugs, divorce, remarriage, and an apparent end to his performing life followed -- until he re-launched his career in the 1990s. Hilburn's thoroughly researched and "spellbinding" (Publishers Weekly) biography will please showbusiness fans. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Round Rock Public Library at
512-218-5400, 221 E. Main Street Round Rock, Texas 78664
|
|
|