Staff Recommendations
Sheryn Morris
Pages
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Oriana Fallaci : the journalist, the agitator, the legend
by De Stefano, Cristina, 1967-
March 21, 2018
Call Number: 075.092 F194De 2017
Long before there was Christiane Amanpour, Arwa Damon, Marie Colvin, Christopher Hitchens, and Hunter Thompson’s Gonzo journalism, there was the Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci. In the 1950s she had broken through the mysogynistic newsrooms in Italy by writing about whatever she was assigned, and with great determination worked her way into reporting serious subjects of her own choosing. Fearless, aggressive and assertive, unrelenting and incapable of being deflected, she fought for and got assignments not available to other female journalists. At the time, "She worked and smoked constantly... Read Full Review
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Bullets into bells : poets & citizens respond to gun violence
March 7, 2018
Call Number: 811.08 B9365
Through poetry and prose, parents, poets, politicians, social and political activists, and survivors of indiscriminate individual and mass shootings, express their thoughts and feelings about gun violence in the United States. The writing is presented in a call and response format: first a poem and then a prose commentary. In the introduction, novelist Colum McCann states why poetry is a good place to begin, "The poems assert the possibility of language rather than bullets to open our veins.” He emphasizes why discussion is invaluable by quoting the Algerian poet and journalist... Read Full Review
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The Lovings : an intimate portrait
by Villet, Grey, photographer.
February 12, 2018
Call Number: 770.9964 V748
In real life as well as in novels, plays and movies, there are love stories where two people often have to face obstacles, tragedies and are fortunate to reach a relatively happy ending: Heloise and Abelard, Elizabeth and Robert Browning, Romeo and Juliet, and others. Modern times are not without problematic love stories, usually not for the two people involved, but for others: family, friends, neighbors and governments. So it was for Richard Loving, who was white, and Mildred Jeter, who was black, and lived in Virginia in the 1950s. They had grown up as neighbors, in a community... Read Full Review
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Courage is contagious : and other reasons to be grateful for Michelle Obama
February 6, 2018
Call Number: 808.35 C8585
This collection of seventeen essays is not intended to be a biography of Michelle Obama, many of which can be found here in LAPL’s catalog, rather this is an appreciation of who she is as a person, who also happened to be First Lady of the United States. The essays are from students and from working professionals in different fields: fashion, literature, arts and entertainment, social and political activists.There is a commonality to their perceptions and expectations about the First Lady, as some recall... Read Full Review
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Bravetart : iconic American desserts
by Parks, Stella,
December 20, 2017
Call Number: 641.8 P2524
It is that time of year when many of us want to serve up homemade sweets for family and friends, but the clock is ticking, and what are you going to do? Is it too late? No, it is not and you can trust CIA-trained, award-winning pastry chef, Stella Parks, who is Senior Editor at SeriousEats.com. She loves desserts and is here to help all of us make good tasting ones from scratch, and have fun doing it: "And that's my deal--I love American dessert, in all its cozy splendor, every messy, unpretentious bite." She wants us... Read Full Review
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LACMA so far : portrait of a museum in the making
by Muchnic, Suzanne,
December 4, 2017
Call Number: 708.1 L8817Mu
The county and city of Los Angeles have rapidly grown into a major domestic and global region, internationaly diverse and fearlessly innovative in social, political and economic areas. All of this did not happen without bumps and mishaps, which are interesting and add to the colorful past and recent history of an area that has legends and myths surrounding it. LACMA, aka The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, represents all of that in microcosm. The idea for the present art museum began in 1913, and was to be part of the The Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art, in Exposition Park.... Read Full Review
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The catcher in the rye
by Salinger, J. D. (Jerome David), 1919-2010.
September 28, 2017
Call Number: Ed.c
Catcher in the rye is one of the most repeatedly banned and controversial coming-of-age books, and as we celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, it is a book worth reading or rereading. The novel has been challenged and/or banned because of profane language and sex, most of which seem tame in comparison to today's books, films and television programs. However the feelings and thoughts of the book's protagonist, Holden Caulfield, have appeal for teens and adults who are questioning their identity and place in... Read Full Review
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Daring to drive : a Saudi woman's awakening
by Sharif, Manal, 1979-
August 23, 2017
Call Number: 301.412953 S531
Manal al-Sharif did not plan to be a rebellious leader of a social or political movement, or to be civilly disobedient, and certainly not to bring any type of public notice to herself, but that is just what happened. She said the cause chose her. Raised in a traditional Muslim home in Saudi Arabia, she tried to be an obedient daughter and student, but inwardly questioned rules and regulations that seemed unfair and irrational. As a smart young woman, she attended King Abdulaziz University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science which led to a job with Aramco, the... Read Full Review
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At Balthazar : a tale of the New York brasserie at the center of the world
by Nadelson, Reggie,
July 31, 2017
Call Number: 647.95 B197Na
Located in Manhattan’s Soho, Balthazar is a Parisian-style brasserie with its own unique features. Very much like its Parisian counterpart, the eatery is both a neighborhood hangout and place to enjoy a fine meal. Created by a British transplant, Keith McNally, who at the time was an illegal immigrant, but in 2017 the owner, staff and restaurant are legal and thriving. Balthazar has been in business for twenty years. The decor, service, and most importantly the menu, all have French roots. In the great tradition of European brasseries and bars, regulars feel a strong sense of... Read Full Review
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The price of illusion : a memoir
by Buck, Joan Juliet,
July 11, 2017
Call Number: 051.092 B922
Over many years Joan Juliet Buck contributed excellent reviews and criticism on a variety of subjects (fashion, media, the arts, film and music) to Vogue Magazine. After an ill-fated assignment in 2011 she and her work evaporated from the printed media. It was an interview with the first lady of Syria printed a few weeks before Bashar al-Assad ordered violent attacks against masses of protesters. Buck is not a stupid woman, perhaps guileless in trusting those who had given her the interview assignment. She has detractors who have not spoken in her defense, and... Read Full Review
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Seeds on Ice: Svalbard and the Global Seed Vault
by Fowler, Cary
May 30, 2017
Call Number: 631.5211 F785
In the modern industrialized world we rarely give much thought about the future availability of food. Domestic and international world disasters remind us about famines and starvation. Wars, terrorism and natural disasters cause displacement of people and destroy their access to farmland. In addition there are global concerns about GMOs. A doomsday vision was the incentive for the creation of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault aka The Doomsday Vault, which is located on one of the islands in the Norwegian archipelago. Millions of seeds are stored in cold vaults deeply buried in rock, and... Read Full Review
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The great British bake off : perfect cakes and bakes to make at home
by Collister, Linda,
January 24, 2017
Call Number: 641.71 C713-3
What better time to get ready for Valentine's Day treats than to try some recipes from the ever popular television program: The Great British Bake Off, found on local PBS stations and YouTube. The show is hosted by Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, a pair of cut-ups, with the hard core judging done by two redoubtable bakers, Mary Berry, aka Mary Queen of Cakes, and Paul Hollywood--their real names by gum. Mary Berry has a solid background in food preparation and judging, having graduated from Bath College of Domestic... Read Full Review