Week Eight Work

Four Nonfiction Genre Areas:

Biography:   The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Biography genre: Books listed alphabetically in the Biography section, the first area of nonfiction at the Towson branch.

Crime: Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi

True crime genre: Dewey 364’s.

History: Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

History genre: Dewey area by subject, this particular work in civil war history 973s.

Memoir: The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball

Memoir genre: Located throughout collection in Dewey area by subject. This particular work was in the gardening section 635s.

Book Talks:

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball – This nonfiction work reads so much like a fun fiction novel that you will find yourself checking the spine label to confirm that this is indeed a true story.  The main character of this memoir is a young female journalist from New York City who decides to write an article on organic farming.  She spends several weeks doing research on a farm, working alongside the owner with whom she falls in love. They decide to start their own farm and co-opt in upstate New York and the story recounts the many obstacles and unexpected realities she faces with such a 180 degree change in her lifestyle. This story will appeal to those who enjoy a strong female character.  It is written with humor, honesty, and some suspense.  Can this couple make their farm work in time to provide their products to the people who have paid into the co-opt? Will their engagement survive the first year of starting their massive endeavor?  Readers will enjoy this interesting narrative, learn a ton about farming, and be rewarded with many recipes utilizing products raised on their farm.

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi – This disturbing, graphic, and horrific story contains all the suspense of a first rate fiction thriller.  Knowing that these events actually took place adds to the fear factor.  As the author recounts the background history of Charles Manson and his followers, it becomes understandable how this charismatic, persuasive psychopath could manipulate and warp lost individuals into doing his bidding.  The description of the actual murders will chill readers to the bone.  This story will appeal to people who enjoy a good crime story as the reader gets to follow the investigation of the murders, to the apprehension of the culprits and their trial.  As Manson and his followers periodically come up for parole and these events are recounted in the press, the interest in this book stays current.  Helter Skelter will appeal to those who enjoy reading about famous cases and shocking crime stories that one could only wish had been the work of the author’s imagination.