Monday, December 9, 2013

New Biographies


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A Queer and Pleasant Danger by Kate Bornstein
"Bornstein shares her story: from a nice Jewish boy growing up in New Jersey to a strappingly handsome lieutenant of the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization flagship vessel, and later to 1990s Seattle, where she becomes a rising star in the lesbian community. In between there are wives and lovers, heartbreak and triumph, bridges mended and broken, and a journey of self-discovery that will mesmerize readers."–Jacket.
 
Carnivore by Dillard Johnson
"Amid ferocious fighting that many times nearly took his life, Sergeant Dillard 'C.J.' Johnson is recognized by the Pentagon to have accounted for more than two thousand enemy killed in action while battling inside and out of the 'Carnivore,' the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he commanded during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After miraculously beating stage-three cancer (caused by radiation exposure from firing armor-piercing depleted-uranium rounds during combat), he returned to his platoon in Baghdad for a second tour, often serving as a sniper protecting his fellow troops.”–Jacket.
 
Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson
”It isn’t often that a person can live a dream, but Phil Robertson, aka The Duck Commander, has proven that it is possible with vision, hard work, helping hands, and an unshakable faith in the Almighty. Phil’s is the remarkable story of one man who followed the call he received from God and soon after invented a duck call that would begin an incredible journey to the life he had always dreamed of for himself and his family. In the love of his country, his family, and his maker, Phil has finally found the ingredients to the “good life” he always wanted.”–Jacket.
 
 Jim Henson: the Biography by Brian Jay Jones
"He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters he created: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story. This biography covers the full arc of Henson's all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi; through the years of burgeoning fame in Washington D.C., New York, and London; to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three." –Publisher.
 
Nothin To Lose: The Making of Kiss 1972-1975 by Ken Sharp
Nothin To Lose chronicles the formative years of the legendary rock band KISS. Including interviews with band members, producers, management, stage and art designers, and rock photographers, this book examines the struggles and victories that led this band to the level of superstardom.–Summary.
 
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
"Written by Naoki Higishida when he was only thirteen, this remarkable book explains the often baffling behaviour of autistic children and shows the way they think and feel - such as about the people around them, time and beauty, noise, and themselves. Naoki abundantly proves that autistic people do possess imagination, humour and empathy, but also makes clear, with great poignancy, how badly they need our compassion, patience and understanding."–Publisher.
 
The Truth About Trudeau by Bob Plamondon
In this unprecedented and meticulously researched sweep of the record, Globe and Mail bestselling author Bob Plamondon challenges the conventional wisdom that Trudeau was a great prime minister. With new revelations, fresh insights, and in-depth analysis, Plamondon reveals that the man did not measure up to the myth.”–Jacket. 
 
The Witness Wore Red by Rebecca Musser
A gripping account of Rebecca Musser's struggle to escape the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints led by Rulon Jeffs and his son, Warren, and her subsequent decision to take the witness stand against the new prophet of the FLDS in order to protect her little sisters and other young girls from being forced to marry at shockingly young ages.–Summary. 
 
Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox
She spent four years in a foreign prison for a crime she did not commit. Separated from her family, she was demonized by the international press and treated harshly by the Italian justice system, including disdainful police. She endured humiliation, injustice, and loneliness thousands of miles from her home. Now, with intelligence, grace, and candor, Amanda Knox, the young American exchange student, tells the full story of her harrowing ordeal in Italy.–Summary.