Escape
By Carolyn Jessop
What a harrowing story. What a brave woman. Born into the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, Carolyn became the fourth wife of Meril Jessop when she was 18. This was not one big happy family. Jessop was abusive and controlling. The wives were jealous and cruel to one another and each others children. Carolyn gave birth to 8 children with no prenatal care and received no financial, physical or emotional support through four life threatening pregnancies and the serious illness of her 7th baby. This book offers insight into this mysterious religious sect and is the story of a brave woman’s survival and fight for her children.
- Phyllis
James Tiptree, Jr.:The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon, by Julie Phillips
Whether or not you’ve ever heard of James Tiptree, Jr., be prepared to be completely absorbed by this biography. Alice Sheldon (a.k.a. Tiptree) is famous for having written award-winning science fiction stories under a male pseudonym. This, however, is only a small part of her story.
The child of African explorers, she came out as a debutante, served in the Women’s Army Corps, and worked for the CIA before her career in science fiction. She was a woman with many traditionally “male” qualities, and the book’s main appeal is its exploration of how gender issues affected her life. These themes are also present in her fiction, which made the eventual discovery that she was a woman even more shocking (since it gives her stories an altogether different slant). For a fuller experience, pair this with Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, a collection of Tiptree/Sheldon’s best-known stories.
- Beth
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This book is basically an enchanting foray into someone else’s brain. In short alphabetical entries, Rosenthal describes the minutiae of her life and feelings, from Letters (“The letters a, e, g, and s seem nice; k, v, and x seem meaner.”) to Prison Escape Movies (“They can’t make enough of these movies as far as I’m concerned.”). Also featured are tables (“What My Childhood Tasted Like”, “Things That Confused Me for Much Longer Than They Should Have”) and a chronology of her childhood memories. A light look at contemporary life, this would make an engaging beach read.
- Beth
Jimmy Connors Saved My Life
by Joel Drucker, 2004
Author Joel Drucker puts new meaning into the word obsession with this detail-packed, unauthorized (”Don’t write a book about me, son”) biography of one of tennis’s most determined, winning and elusive figures.
Connor’s tenacity and single-minded drive is chronicled here by insider Drucker, who managed to meet and talk with Jimbo on many occasions – yet could never convince him to sanction an authorized biography. No matter – the author weaves details of his own life and of his brother’s troubling mental illness in with his passion for tennis and emotional alliance with the guy from “down in the boondocks.”
This makes for a fascinating and pretty comprehensive biography with some interesting insights from someone who really seemed to get Connors. You’ll trip back to the days when Borg and McEnroe ruled, when the hated Ivan Lendl was just coming up, and when Connors himself was a perennial threat at the US Open or being written off again. In the end – and this can be said of author and subject – they did it their way!
- Phil
Chet Baker: His Life and Music
by Jeroen de Valk
Every time I hear the muted, forlorn trumpet solo Chet Baker provides to Elvis Costello’s 1983 gem “Shipbuilding” it makes me appreciate his singular, deliberate tone.
Chet Baker: His Life and Music, by Jeroen de Valk, sheds light on his troubled and ultimately tragic life and his musical accomplishments in an unvarnished style.
Starting with the end and the small funeral after his death in Amsterdam in 1988, de Valk traces back to Chet’s Oklahoma roots, the early years and peaks with Gary Mulligan and Russ Feeman to his European sojourns and years marked by drug addiction and prison time.
Keeping track of his various wives and periods is helped by a chronology at the beginning, an excellent interview from 1979 and a comprehensive discography.
What I especially appreciated were the photos – from seeing Chet with those giant glasses from the late ‘70’s to a look of intense immersion in his playing to that shot of him from 1961 sitting on a window ledge in Italy (made me think of his death 27 years later) – captures how much he changed over the years.
For those who have seen the film “Lets get Lost” or want to really know more about the trumpeter capable of playing with exceptional clarity and style, this book is very worthwhile reading.
-Phil
Every Second Counts
By Lance Armstrong
This is an excellent book to read prior to Armstrong’s attempt at a record six straight Tour de France victories in 2004. That would be an awesome achievement. Reading this book will give you unique perspectives and insight into what makes the brash Texan so tenacious and motivated.
Lance shares his thoughts on a variety of topics along the way, covering details from each of his tour victories, his preparation, the incessant doping control visits and his life in Spain and France. He treads upon the trials of his marriage, his disappointment at his Olympic performances, his great supporting teams on US Postal Service and how he is looked upon in the cancer survivor community.
Having seen him race a few times early in his career and as a devoted Tour de France fan, I highly recommend this book.
-Phil
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