LemuriaBooks

There are some wonderful new biographies that have arrived in the store recently.

Sidney Poitier's latest book entitled: Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter, is a perfect example. Poitier draws upon perspective and wisdom gained from memories of growing up poor in the Bahamas; experiences of racism upon coming to the United States; raising a family; breaking the racial barrier within theatre and film and ultimately the satisfaction of achieving great sucess in Hollywood. He also speaks from his years as a diplomat and humanitarian. He shares his thoughts and dreams through letters with his great-granddaughter and extols the virtues that helped him through tough times and how he gained a powerful sense of purpose. These letters are filled with stories about the people of courage he has met along the way and how all of these factors led him to find true meaning in his life.

 Another new arrival that has garnered much talk within the book world is: The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel. This is a story about an actual diary which was rescued from a dumpster outside of a New York apartment building. It had resided inside an old steamer trunk that had been stored in the basement for over half a century. When new owners took over, they had everything cleared out and thrown away but it was spotted and rescued by Lily Koppel, a young writer who just happened to be working at the New York Tim

es! The diary paints wonderfully vivid pictures of 1930's New York and the reader can't help but fall in love with its author, a young, headstrong woman whose thoughts and emotions fill every page; from tea at Schrafft's to riding horses in Central Park; to summer excursions in the Catskills; this story harkens back to a time long forgotten. Remarkably, the story ends with Lilly Koppell locating and reuniting the diary with it's original owner and author. This book is a wonderful read!

The last book I will mention is entitled: Mistaken Identity by Don and Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Coleen and Whitney Cerak. This is the actual story of an horrific accident involving two vans full of college students from Taylor University in which two girls, Whitney Cerak and Laura Van Ryn were misidentified at the crash scene. One of the girls was killed in the wreck and the other had broken bones and a severe head injury. For the next six weeks no one knew that they had been confused for the other and their families were thrust into a nightmare situation that is too inconceivable to be believed. This is the first hand account written in alternating chapters, by their families and friends, as the truth is eventually discovered and the faith and strength of these families is put to the ultimate test. A truly inspirational story that will have you in tears one minute and amazement the next.