New and Recently Released! Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter - by Randy Schmidt Publisher: Chicago Review Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/17/2010 ISBN-13: 9781556529764 ISBN-10: 1556529767 Singing sensation Karen Carpenter's death in 1983 at the age of 32 shocked and saddened the world and brought to public knowledge the severe dangers of anorexia nervosa. While biographies of Karen and her brother, Richard, have been published before, Randy Schmidt's well-reviewed work focuses solely on Karen, was written without editorial input from the Carpenter family, and includes inside information about Karen and her family drawn from Schmidt's interviews with the people closest to her. As a result, Little Girl Blue is a must-read for anyone interested in the details of Karen's bright life and untimely death. Table of Contents The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village - by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri; with Susan Urbanek Linville Publisher: Viking Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/10/2010 ISBN-13: 9780670021840 ISBN-10: 0670021849 When he returned to his Ugandan village after completing postgraduate studies in the United States, Twesigye Jackson Kiguri was confronted with the deaths of his brother and sister from AIDS. Spurred by his loss as well as the broader tragedy of the AIDS epidemic sweeping his country, Kiguri decided to build his district's first free school for AIDS orphans. The Price of Stones tells not only Kiguri's account of his efforts to do so despite numerous challenges, but also haunting stories of the children who attend the completed school. Table of Contents Denial : a memoir of terror - Jessica Stern Publisher: Ecco Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/22/2010 ISBN-13: 9780061626654 ISBN-10: 0061626651 Much of the power of this memoir comes from the central irony that its author, who has traveled the world for 20 years interviewing terrorists, plotting counterterrorism strategies, and advising people with post-traumatic stress disorders, is herself a PTSD sufferer, the effect of a trauma she kept so locked down that, until recently, she wasnt aware of how it had commandeered her life. Stern, who has a doctorate in public policy from Harvard, lectures at Harvard Law School and is the author of the acclaimed Terror in the Name of God (2003). When she was 15, a home invader raped Jessica and her 14-year-old sister in their Concord, Massachusetts, home. Police doubted their stories, their father took a stiff-upper-lip approach, and Jessica learned to substitute accomplishment for feeling. Finally, her extreme lack of feeling urged her to investigate what happened. Part of this book is her search, with the help of a cop who believes her, for the identify of the man who raped her and what happened to him. While this is satisfying on a cold-case level, far more suspenseful is Sterns chronicle of what PTSD feels like and her struggle to surmount it. Stern dedicates her book to all the victims of terrorism and assault. Wonderfully compassionate, absorbing reading for anyone. Table of Contents Original Gangster: The Real Life Story of One of America's Most Notorious Drug Lords - by Frank Lucas with Aliya S. King Publisher: St. Martin's Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/08/2010 ISBN-13: 9780312544898 ISBN-10: 0312544898 Former drug lord Frank Lucas amassed millions of dollars by cutting out the middleman and smuggling top-grade heroin from Asia to the United States via servicemen's coffins. The 2007 movie American Gangster starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe is based on his life story, but in Original Gangster, Lucas recounts his dark history in his own words. Fans of American Gangster as well as those who enjoy gritty looks into the underbelly of American society will appreciate this chilling and compelling memoir. Captive: My Time As a Prisoner of the Taliban - by Jere Van Dyk Publisher: Times Books Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/22/2010 ISBN-13: 9780805088274 ISBN-10: 080508827X While traveling through the tribal areas of eastern Afghanistan in 2008, journalist Jere Van Dyk was captured by the Taliban and imprisoned in a dark room for 45 days. Though well fed, he was kept in a state of constant anxiety about whether he would live or be killed. Captive tells the claustrophobic story of Van Dyk's experience as a prisoner, the psychological challenges he endured, and the understanding he gained of his captors, from their paranoia, fanaticism, and odd hospitality to their ability to manipulate and to cultivate fear. Publishers Weekly calls Captive "a gripping tale of endurance and a vivid evocation of Afghanistan's grim realities." Table of Contents Born in August The Queen Mother: The Official Biography - by William Shawcross Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/27/2009 ISBN-13: 9781400043040 ISBN-10: 1400043042 August 4, 1900. With a lifetime spanning a century and then some, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wife of King George VI and later Queen Mother of England, remains one of the English monarchy's most beloved figures. Author William Shawcross had complete access to Elizabeth's papers for this authorized biography, which provides a detailed account of her eventful life, including her reluctant romance with her future husband, the abdication of his brother, the perils of World War II, and, finally, Elizabeth's long widowhood. Those looking for juicy scandal will want to read elsewhere, but anyone who simply wants to know more about Elizabeth's life will appreciate this tribute. First Chapter Table of Contents Ted Williams : the biography of an American hero - Leigh Montville Publisher: Doubleday Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/01/2004 ISBN-13: 9780385507486 ISBN-10: 0385507488 August 30, 1918. Montville, who also penned the bestselling bio about racer Dale Earnhart (The Altar of Speed), covers all of Williams's heroic achievements-a Hall of Fame baseball career, two tours of duty as a Marine fighter pilot, an unmatched thirst for the thrill of the outdoors. But thanks to the author's ability to track down new sources of information, Montville presents a more nuanced portrayal of the baseball star than many previous biographies. The Kid, as Williams was known, is brought to life with portraits supplied from the people who made up Williams's very compartmentalized life. Distinct recollections of his former teammates, fishing buddies, former lovers, caretakers, family members and brothers in arms coupled with Montville's ability to display each memory in its own context gives readers an extraordinary glimpse into Williams's complex psyche. Though he admits to worshipping Williams as a youth, Montville's crisp prose holds nothing back when it comes to exposing Williams's many flaws, his heartbreaking final years and the controversy surrounding his death. Relying on his years as a sports writer, Montville is also able to subtly shift the tone of the book to fit Williams's personality as he evolved from an energetic youth to a cantankerous star, from America's bigger-than-life legend to a bedridden invalid. Sure, Teddy Ballgame was an American icon, but Montville's ability to show the darker and lighter human sides of Williams is a pretty remarkable achievement in its own. First Chapter Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities - by Kathie Lee Gifford Publisher: Ballantine Books Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/14/2009 ISBN-13: 9780345512062 ISBN-10: 0345512065 August 16, 1953. If you're a fan of morning television celebrity Kathie Lee Gifford, formerly of ABC's Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, then you're sure to enjoy her latest book, a candid memoir peppered with humorous observations and opinions about the ups, downs, and oddities of life. From discussing personal details about life with husband Frank and their kids to lamenting her aging body, yet enjoying new opportunities for creativity and productivity, Gifford's trademark upbeat personality combines with her wit to create a sparkling read. First Chapter Heart of a Patriot: How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed and Karl Rove - by Max Cleland with Ben Raines Publisher: Simon & Schuster Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/06/2009 ISBN-13: 9781439126059 ISBN-10: 1439126054 August 24, 1942. In Heart of a Patriot, former U.S. Senator Max Cleland offers a deeply personal memoir of a life in which achievement and tragedy are inextricably mixed. While serving as an army captain in Vietnam, Cleland lost both his legs and an arm. He later found success as a politician, but eventually lost his Senate seat in a bitter race. After his defeat, Cleland faced a terrible battle with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Whether he's discussing his war experiences, detailing life as a senator, or describing his dark depression, Cleland compels readers with both his honesty and his deep love for his country. First Chapter Table of Contents Focus on: History's Greats Frederick the Great: A Life in Deed and Letters - by Giles MacDonogh Publisher: St. Martin's Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/01/2001 ISBN-13: 9780312272661 ISBN-10: 0312272669 Though Frederick the Great of Prussia is considered to be one of history's greatest military tacticians, he was also a man of the Enlightenment, passionate about the arts and interested in legal reform. In Frederick the Great, author Giles MacDonogh seeks to examine Frederick from all angles and create an accurate portrait of the man. As such, he explores facets such as Frederick's contentious relationship with his father and nearly equally complicated relationship with the philosopher Voltaire as well as his military maneuverings. Kirkus Reviews calls this biography "a captivating, diverse study of an equally fascinating figure." First Chapter Table of Contents Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power - by Virginia Rounding Publisher: St. Martin's Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/22/2008 ISBN-13: 9780312378639 ISBN-10: 0312378637 Less than a century after the death of Peter the Great, Russia experienced its other "great" ruler, Catherine II. Born in Germany, Catherine seized power only after her husband was deposed; she then reigned as Empress for more than 30 years. Author Virginia Rounding offers an intimate and absorbing portrait of Catherine, theorizing that the ruler was at her best when her personal life was satisfying. She also discusses Catherine's attempts to succor the arts, modernize Russia, and transform it into a major European power. Table of Contents Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend - by Richard Stoneman Publisher: Yale University Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/09/2008 ISBN-13: 9780300112030 ISBN-10: 0300112033 The recent Hollywood movie Alexander, starring Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie, is merely among the latest in a centuries-long string of retellings of the life of Alexander the Great, the renowned Macedonian king and conqueror. In Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend, author Richard Stoneman focuses on dissecting the many legends that have flourished around the world about Alexander, whose extraordinary life certainly provided plenty of fodder for storytellers. For a more straightforward biography of Alexander, try Alexander the Great, by Robin Lane Fox. Table of Contents Peter the Great - Derek A. Wilson Publisher: St. Martin's Press Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/05/2010 ISBN-13: 9780312550998 ISBN-10: 0312550995 A seasoned biographer, Wilson presents the remarkable personality who oriented Russia toward the West, with lasting historical -- and not completely resolved -- consequences. Simultaneously developing Peter Is character and providing a narrative of his life, Wilson depicts traits such as restless curiosity and a markedly despotic streak within events such as his European tour of 1697-98 and his suppression of any perceived disloyalty. Suggesting Peter's political ruthlessness originated in the contested circumstances of his ascension to the throne, Wilson reminds readers that the achievements that underlie his appellation of the Great territorial expansion, creation of St. Petersburg, and a spate of government and social reform modeled on Western practiceflowed from the autocratic power Peter wielded. However impressed subsequent generations have been, the human price of Peters ventures was huge, especially in his war with Charles XII of Sweden. Yet the Great Northern Wars victorious outcome inducted Russia into Europes international politics, one of many examples of Peter the Great's long-lasting legacy. Wilson's portrait is a fine introduction to the man and his reign. Table of Contents __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5372 (20100817) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com