CRESTVIEW — As part of her article on how helpful biographies can be for a reader, Crestview reference librarian Sandra Dreaden recommended the books listed below.
“And the Good News Is . . . Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side” by Dana Perino. Perino writes a buoyant, insightful memoir, describing her childhood in Denver; years in the George W. Bush administration, in which she served as press secretary from 2007 to 2009; and her success as a TV pundit. She also gives excellent advice for those aspiring to media careers.
“Keep Moving and Other Tips and Truths About Aging” by Dick Van Dyke. Show-business legend Dick Van Dyke is living proof that life does get better the longer you live it. Who better to offer instruction, advice, and humor than someone who’s entering his ninth decade with a jaunty two-step?
His optimistic outlook is an invigorating tonic for anyone who needs a reminder that life should be lived with enthusiasm, despite what the calendar says.
“Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story” by Rick Bragg. For nearly 60 years, Jerry Lee Lewis has been a monumental figure in American life. The wildest and most dangerous of the early rock and rollers, he electrified the world with hit records such as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Breathless.”
Now, for the first time, Lewis’s story is told in its full human complexity, as he shared it over two years with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg. The result is a story of fire and faith and resilience, informed by Bragg’s deep understanding of the American spirit, and rich with Jerry Lee’s own unforgettable voice.
“Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography” by Pamela Smith Hill, editor. Having grown up 25 miles from “Little Town on the Prairie,” DeSmet, South Dakota, I love anything Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Hidden away since the 1930s, Wilder’s never-before-published autobiography reveals the true stories of her pioneering life. Some of her experiences will be familiar; some will be a surprise. “Pioneer Girl” re-introduces readers to the woman who defined the pioneer experience for millions of people around the world.
It also contains 125 images, eight fully researched maps, and hundreds of annotations based on numerous primary sources, including census data, county, state, and federal records, and newspapers of the period.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview reference librarian recommends these biographies