Child Star By: Shirley Temple Black

I have to say that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this.  This is the first volume of Shirley Temple Black's autobiography (I don't know if she ever got around to writing the second one).  It covers her birth through the birth of her third.  Filled with wonderful insights into her career, her upbringing and life in Hollywood, this is an engaging read.  I was particularly struck by her general attitude toward everything in her life-which boils down to it is what it is and it was what it was.  She lead an extraordinary life as the biggest star int he world as a little girl as well as  finding her self a wife and mother (and later in life her amazing career in the foreign service).  

Trouble in Mind By: Alice Childress

 

A brilliantly written piece that is so relevant to today-unfortunately, it was written almost 70 years ago-which is an extremely sad statement. A play within a play, Trouble in Mind delves into the same issues that actors of color are still dealing with today; issues which they shouldn't be dealing with, us white folks should be! This was an especially moving read today in light of the horrific decision that have been handing down by the SCOTUS this week. READ THIS PLAY!

Come and Knock on Our Door: A hers and Hers and His Guide to Three's Company By: Chris Mann

Clearly written by a super-fan, this is a love letter to Three's Company.  Full of interesting bits of trivia, and a lot of love, Mann doesn't gloss over the ugly side of what happened with the show.  I thoroughly enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane with one of my favorite shows!

 

Civil War Boston By: Thomas H. O'Connor

Told through the lens of Class (Boston's businessmen), Race (Boston's free African Americans), Ethnicity (Boston's Irish population) and Gender (Boston's women); showing the events leading up to, during and immediately after the Civil War in Boston and on the battlefield, this is an educational and endlessly fascinating look at the Civil War.

For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf By: Ntazake Shange

A stunning collection of poems, which together create an astonishing play.  The use of music and dance help to highlight, and in turn be highlighted by, the poems.  Moving and full of history, anguish, pain, pride, happiness and love, this piece should be performed continuously until it is no longer a continuous reflection of society.  Premiering on Broadway 46 yeas ago, it is sad to say that nothing depicted in these poems has changed, which is an incredibly sad commentary on us!

The Persian Boy By: Mary Renault

I love a good history-unfortunately, this one did nothing for me.  I found it incredibly slow moving, and very boring.  I don't understand the reason why Alexander's life was told through the eyes of his lover-it didn't add anything to the story.  This just didn't work for me on any level.

A New Thriller (an unpublished manuscript) By: A Friend

I'm so blessed that my friends trust me with their book-babies.  This particular thriller has a twist-the protagonists are over the age of 50 and a lot of the action is cerebral instead of physical.  Like other great thrillers it's fast paced, lots of twists and turns and a great deal of fun!  

The Battle of Saratoga By: Rupert Furneaux

Reminiscent of Tuchman's work.  Well researched, well written and presented with no prejudice-both sides made mistakes, both sides did things really well.  A well balanced presentation of pivotal moments/battles leading up to and including Saratoga.  Also proves my long standing thought that wars are really pointless and are guided by immense ego, lust for power, incredible stupidity, and blind luck!

 

The Big Book of Rogues and Villains Edited By: Otto Penzler

 

Another superbly curated tome by Otto Penzler!  The great fun in this collection is the focus on the "baddie" in literature, and what a great bunch of baddies are presented here! What I love about Penzler's collections is the diversity of works, and the groupings of the stories.  Laid out from Victorian times through current times, you can see how the use of language has changed over the centuries.  I also have to say that there were and are some truly twisted minds out their in the world of authordom!