Biography and Memoir February 2020 Recent Releases A Bookshop in Berlin: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape... by Françoise Frenkel Starring: Berlin-based Polish Jewish bookseller Françoise Frenkel, who fled the Nazis in 1939 and spent the next four years evading capture in occupied France. Read it for: a nail-biting tale of courage and survival.  What sets it apart: Originally published to little fanfare in 1945 Switzerland, Frenkel's memoir lingered in obscurity until a copy resurfaced in 2010, leading to its English language publication nearly 75 years after its initial release. The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire by Francesca Cartier Brickell What it is: a sweeping family history of French jewelry dynasty the Cartiers, from their humble 19th-century Parisian beginnings to their contemporary status as purveyors of globally-renowned luxury goods. Read it for: the glitz, the glamour, and the gossip.  Author alert: Francesca Cartier Brickell is the great-granddaughter of Louis-François Cartier, who founded the eponymous company in 1847. And Then We Grew Up: On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood by Rachel Friedman What if? Years after her attendance at the Interlochen Arts Camp stoked her passion for a career as a violinist, author Rachel Friedman contemplates the path her life might have taken had she stuck with her childhood dreams.  Don't miss: interviews with Friedman's former Interlochen classmates exploring creativity, ambition, and identity. Is it for you? Readers who've felt conflicted about their life's path or the weight of expectation will find much to relate to in this reflective chronicle. All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard -- Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy by Phil Keith with Tom Clavin Starring: the first African American fighter pilot, Eugene Bullard, a war hero whose remarkable life has been largely forgotten by history. What he did: Bullard achieved fame as boxer "Black Sparrow," served in the French Foreign Legion during both world wars, ran a Paris nightclub during World War II that he used to spy on Germans, and much more. Don't miss: the surprising connection Bullard's life had to Casablanca; a jaw-dropping who's who of famous figures. Henry VIII and the men who made him : And the Men Who Made Him by Tracy Borman What it's about: Presents a portrait of Henry VIII through the lens of his relationships with the men who surrounded him--companions, confidants, servants, ministers, and rivals--and explores how they impacted his life and historic reign. Reviewers say: "It’s generally agreed that to be a woman in Henry’s circle was to throw caution to the wind in hopes of great reward; Borman’s ambitious narrative shows that being a man in Henry’s court could be just as fraught—and fascinating." (Publishers Weekly) The yellow house by Sarah M. Broom What it's about: Describes the author’s upbringing in a New Orleans East shotgun house as the unruly 13th child of a widowed mother, tracing a century of family history and the impact of class, race and Hurricane Katrina on her sense of identity. Acclaim: Winner of the National Book Award in nonfiction. Reviewers call it: "A moving tribute to family and a powerful indictment of societal indifference." (Booklist) Imperfect union : how Jessie and John Frémont mapped the West, invented celebrity, and helped cause the Civil War by Steve Inskeep What it's about: The riveting story of John and Jessie Frémont, the husband and wife team who in the 1800s were instrumental in the westward expansion of the United States, and thus became America’s first great political couple.  Reviewers say: "This sweeping yet fine-grained account contextualizes the issues facing pre–Civil War America without losing sight of the interpersonal dynamics at the heart of the narrative. History buffs will savor Inskeep’s fluid, multifaceted approach to the subject." (Publishers Weekly) Wham! George Michael & me by Andrew Ridgeley What it's about: The second half of the famous 1980s band breaks decades of silence to trace his lifelong friendship with the late George Michael, the meteoric successes of Wham! and the iconic Wembley Stadium concert that ended their partnership.  The inside story: "Readers get a front row seat to Wham!'s early live and TV appearances, music videos, and world concert tours, including a historic one of China in 1985. Ridgeley vividly portrays the pandemonium of excited fans and tabloid frenzy." (Library Journal) I am not your slave : a memoir by Tupa Tjipombo What it is:  The true story of a young African girl who was abducted from southwestern Africa and funneled through an extensive yet almost completely unknown human-trafficking network spanning the entire African continent and channeled to her ultimate destination in Dubai. Her three-year odyssey exposes the brutal horrors of a modern day middle passage. Reviewers say: "The miracle of Tjipombo isn’t so much that she escaped Dubai and eventually made it back to her family in Namibia, but that she reclaimed her human rights and chose to tell her story to author and global health consultant Lockhart in the hope of helping other endangered and trafficked young women." (Booklist) Building a Life Worth Living : A Memoir by Marsha M. Linehan What it's about: Traces the author’s journey from a suicidal teen to the award-winning developer of the life-saving DBT behavioral therapy, describing the hardscrabble existence she endured to get her education and the beneficial impact of Zen spirituality on her life quality. Why you might like it: "Survivors of all kinds and seekers of professional and spiritual growth will appreciate Linehan's inquisitive nature and her path to recovery and understanding. Her groundbreaking work should be read by anyone considering a career in psychology and related fields." (Library Journal) Contact your librarian for more great books! If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contactthe Winfield Public Library 630-653-7599, 0S291 Winfield Rd. Winfield, IL 60190