Recently, Peter White Public Library received some biographies that make for interesting reads. Enjoy!

I recently joined the Lincoln-bicentennial-birthday craze and read a new volume about his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. In Mrs. Lincoln: A Life, Catherine Clinton expounds on Mrs. Lincoln's background as a Southern-born woman, fighting within herself to deal with personal struggles brought on by Civil War ideologies.

Our current first lady is introduced to the public in Michelle: A Biography by Lisa Mundy. Mundy's description of Michelle Obama portrays her as an educated lawyer, a mother of two daughters as well as an organized list maker who loves to tease. Color photos show Michelle growing up, cherishing moments with family and working on the recent presidential campaign trail. This book illustrates her as a dynamic woman who will boost her husband's new place in world politics.

Amy Dickinson, writer of the "Ask Amy" column and a contributor to National Public Radio, writes her memoirs in The Mighty Queens of Freeville. Her personal stories tell of family, mostly women, who are raising their children as single parents and live in the same small town. It relates how their strengths and support help Dickinson and her daughter learn to cope and survive. Although she has lived in many places, Freeville has always called her and her daughter home. Home to the love, family and support that only the small town can.

American Widow by Alissa Torres is a biography in the graphic novels section. Torres worked with illustrator Sungyoon Choi to create a compelling new approach to the biography format. Her new graphic-novel style draws even the casual reader into her recollection of her life since Sept. 11, 2001, when she found herself a young, pregnant widow. This quick read tells another story of the effects of this tragedy-filled day.

Two other Washington, D.C., icons have new biographies in the PWPL collection. John McCain recently came out with a new family memoir entitled Faith of My Fathers, which talks about his grandfather and father and how their military bearing taught him to honor country. He relates stories of these "imperfect men" and himself as the McCain family has faced public and private turmoil.

Joe Biden's Promises to Keep provides a candid picture of the man who is now our vice president. He relates stories of how his classmates nicknamed him "Joe Impedimenta" or "DASH," not because he was quick on the football field, but for his dot-dot-dot manner of speech. Joe had a bad stutter that reared its head when he was in unknown or stressful situations. Biden details a staunch Catholic upbringing of strong values along with the obligation to make people's lives better. Lessons that led him into 35 years of public service in support of the American promise.

Leonard Bernstein: American Original gathers essays about the famed conductor of the New York Philharmonic by distinguished members of music's elite. Authors Burton Bernstein, Leonard's brother, and Barbara B. Haws, current NYP archivist and historian, also include black and white photographs of Bernstein as he conducted the orchestra and his life. A chronology creates a selective timeline from his birth in 1918 through his music career with the Philharmonic that began in 1943 to 1990 and his last concert with the famous orchestra. Music-related biographies such as this one are catalogued under the Dewey Decimal number 780.92.

Randy Owen, songwriter and lead singer of the country music group Alabama, has a new bio out entitled Born Country: How Faith, Family and Music Brought Me Home. Written by Owen with Allen Rucker, he talks of his Christian upbringing in northeast Alabama and how it grounds him. He takes the reader through touring with his band, supporting U.S. troops with concerts and leading the country music industry in its support of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. This book contains color photographs and is also found with music biographies.

Columnist and film critic Roger Ebert is the author of Scorsese by Ebert about film director Martin Scorsese. Ebert has been a fan of Scorsese since 1967 when both their careers were beginning. Personal interviews between the two men are reproduced in this volume and add information about individual directorial works as well as the entirety of Scorsese's films. An index aids in finding topics of interest.

- Vicki Mann

Reference Desk