CHECK IT OUT:Make a reading resolution this year
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New Year’s! What’s your style of celebration? Is it party hearty, leaping into the New Year or a quiet evening at home with a glass of bubbly and Dick Clark?
Elegant gourmet dining and dancing or a home-made turkey dinner with all the fixings enjoyed with family and friends? Maybe New Year’s Day is the Rose Bowl Parade and football galore or the “Twilight Zone” marathon while reading the Daily Pilot?
Whatever you choose, it unfolds as your life’s story ringing in another year. What will the New Year bring for you? How will you spend your year? Is there a story to be told?
Here’s a sampling of some brand-spanking new 2007 released “life stories” of the famous and not-so-famous, all on order at the Newport Beach Public Library.
“Infidel” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali — A true modern-day heroine, the former Dutch politician tells about her life, beginning with her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia and escape from a forced marriage to her refugee status in the United States after film director Theo Van Gogh’s murder, which was a criminal response to her film called “Submission.”
Still under numerous threats to her life, she bravely perseveres, speaking out for basic human rights and individual freedom.
“Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer” by Bill Gifford — Trace the footsteps of almost-forgotten explorer John Ledyard, veteran of Captain Cook’s final voyage.
He walked the length of Russia and suggested to Thomas Jefferson the idea of traversing this continent, thus inspiring the Lewis and Clark expedition. He was only 38 when he died in 1789. Let “Outside” magazine journalist Gifford take you on a wonderful adventure.
“Keep Climbing” by Sean Swarner — Marvel at the inspiring life story of this Hodgkin’s disease and Askin’s sarcoma cancer survivor, who conquered Mt. Everest with only partial use of his lungs and is preparing to accomplish his future goal — the “Adventure Grand Slam.”
For the armchair traveler, that means climbing the tallest mountains on each of earth’s seven continents, plus trekking the North and South poles.
“Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations” by Georgina Howell — Along with T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Bell is recognized for creating the political boundaries of the Hashemite Dynasty of Jordan and the modern state of Iraq.
Embarking to Palestine and Syria in 1899, Howell describes how Bell transcended the restrictions of her gender, class and era to become a renowned world traveler, archaeologist, spy, Arabist, linguist, author and the only female political officer in the Middle East British Forces.
“On the Shoulders of Giants: My Personal Journey through the Harlem Renaissance” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Raymond Obstfeld — Immerse yourself in Kareem’s historical account of 1920-to-1940’s Harlem Renaissance and its influence on American culture.
Through interviews with Magic Johnson, Quincy Jones, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, see how the writings and art of “giants” such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Huston, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong influenced a new generation. Co-author Obstfeld teaches English literature, film and creative writing at Orange Coast College.
“My Year Inside Radical Islam: A Memoir” by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross — Experience the contemporary journey of a Jewish American who converted to radical Islam during his college years. He accepted a job working for the Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, a Wahhabi extremist charity that was charged by the U.S. government with funding terrorist organizations and Al Qaeda.
When the FBI raided the office, he assisted in their investigations and is currently a lawyer. Among his numerous TV and talk-show appearances, he writes articles for the Washington Times, the Wall Street Journal and others.
Exciting information giveaway for readers of this column: J.K. Rowling, author of the hugely popular “Harry Potter” series, has announced the title of her seventh novel, Harry’s last year at Hogwarts School. And the title is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
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