Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Happy 200th Birthday, Abraham Lincoln

Happy 200th Birthday, Abraham Lincoln!


During 2009, celebrations in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday were abundant.

What has also been abundant over the last year or so has been the number of books published about our 16th President of the United States who successfully led the country through the following:
  • our country's greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War,
  • saving the Union through much adversity,
  • and last but not least,the end slavery.
The following recommended titles about Abe are owned by the Beaverton City Library:

1864:Lincoln at the gates of history.
Charles Bracelen Flood. 2009.
Critically acclaimed historian Charles Flood offers the reader a brilliant and persuasive account of Lincoln's dramatic last year of life, a year in which the war finally turned in the Union's favor.

Check out our catalog for this title






A.Lincoln: a biography.

Ronald C. White. 2009.

Using Lincoln's private papers and those of his contemporaries, veteran historian Ronald White was able to write a biography that created a vivid picture of Lincoln's thoughts as he matured and then guided our nation through the worst years of its existence.


Check out our catalog for this title







Abraham Lincoln.

James M. McPherson. 2009.

An introductory biography by American Civil War historian and award winning author James McPherson. Even though this book is only 79 pages long it offers us a perceptive overview of the topic.



Check out our catalog for this title








Abraham Lincoln: great American histories on our sixteenth president.
Brian Lamb and Susan Swain, C-SPAN, editors. 2008.
America’s top Lincoln historians offer their varied perspectives, developed from original C-SPAN interviews, on the legacy of America’s 16th president. These essays span Lincoln’s life and provide a compelling, composite portrait of Lincoln that offers up new stories and fresh insights.
Check our catalog for this title


Lincoln anthology: great writers on his life and legacy from 1860 to now.

Harold Holzer, editor. 2009.


This anthology brings together for the first time 110 insightful and imaginatve selections by a diverse group of 95 writers inclusive of William Cullen Bryant to E.L. Doctorow. This portrait of Lincoln is offered by journalists, biographers, satirists, essayists, novelists, clergymen, poets, play-wrights, historians, memoirists, and statesmen who have shaped our understanding of Lincoln over the years.

Check out our catalog for this title






Team of rivals: the political genius of Abraham Lincoln.
Doris Kearns Goodwin. 2005.

With all of the books about Abraham Lincoln that were written during his 200th birthday celebration year, highly regarded author Doris Kearns Goodwin has written a book that is proof that there is always room for more books if they are written by someone with her skill and endurance. (It took her ten years to write.) Even though she did cover some familiar points, she offered readers fresh insights into Lincoln's leadership style and his understanding of human behavior and motivation.

Check our catalog for this title

Enjoy the variety of titles offered for your reading pleasure.

Marie






















Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Top 100 lists from the American Film Institute

The American Film Institute, celebrating the 100th anniversary of American film, created several top 100 lists covering movies in American cinema.

The series are:

1998: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies
1999: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars
2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs
2001: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills
2002: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions
2003: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains
2004: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs
2005: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes
2005: AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores
2006: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers
2006: AFI's 100 Years of Musicals
2007: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)
2008: AFI's 10 Top 10
2009: To be announced

You can register and download lists at: AFI's 100 Years

AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media.