Patron Lori T.* recently asked us to track her down some history and biography titles using our Your Next 5 Books service, and graciously allowed us to share her interests and answers. Lori was particularly interested in biographies of people in the entertainment industry, especially those from the mid-century era of glamour, as well as Wisconsin history, but wanted to stay away from World War II or true crime books.
My main interest is biographies. I especially enjoy biographies about famous people/stars in the 1940’s & 1950’s, including about places like the Catskill and French Riviera resorts during that time. I’d also like to find a biography of Lawrence O’Donnell and Rachael Maddow, and Desi Arnaz’s [of “I Love Lucy”] biography A Book.
Who are your favorite authors? Matthew Perry
What is your preferred genre? Biography
What are your favorite books? Biographies of William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Danny Kaye, Burt Lancaster, Jerry Lee Lewis, Martha Stewart, Kelly Ripa, Jerry Apps, Charles Kuralt, John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, & Ted Kennedy
Are there authors or books we should avoid? I rarely read fiction. I avoid violent books like about Mafia or infamous crimes. I now also avoid books about the horrific Holocaust. I avoid books by or about Trump.
This is a great scope to work with: there are plenty of books to choose from, but knowing that Lori doesn’t like true crime rules out some otherwise “shoo-in” titles like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, about a murder in Savannah’s upper class. Most of the people she’s mentioned had TV or film-centric careers, so in picking out books for Lori, I tried to both honor that and expand a little outside her usual picks.
Lori’s Next 5 Books
Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill – written by the Secret Service agent assigned to Jackie Kennedy. Well reviewed and persistently popular, this one was an easy pick.
Hollywood’s Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A. by Lili Anolik – Eve Babitz was an author and artist, not a performer, but she was very much part of the Hollywood scene during the 60s and 70s. This one falls a little later than the 1940s & 50s era Lori likes, but hits many of the same notes.
Down by Prange’s 150 Years of Sheboygan History by Bill Wangemann — because Lori like Jerry Apps’ writing. Bill Wangemann has a more local flair, but shares his celebration of history.
Stormy Weather: the Life of Lena Horne by James Gavin – Lena Horne appeared in a score of movies, mostly in the 1940s, and made dozens of albums of the course of her storied career, but tends to be forgotten when people think of the big names of the time.
The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society by Mary S. Lovell – this history of Château de l’Horizon spans forty years, from its first leap into fashionable society in the 1920s all the way to 1960. This title lingers in the backlist, so here was a perfect opportunity for it to shine.
Bonus Pick! Rachel Maddow by Lisa Rogak – Lawrence O’Donnell doesn’t have a biography out yet but Rachel Maddow does. This biography was a straight match to Lori’s interests as well.
The only thing missing now was the Arnaz biography. Fortunately, while Mead Library doesn’t own a copy, we were able to request one for Lori from the statewide system. Happy reading, Lori!
To request your own personalized reading list, fill out a Your Next 5 Books form on the Mead Library website.
* name changed for privacy; YN5B entry has been lightly edited for clarity
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