Barbara Rinella, a former teacher, defines herself as an “academic entertainer.” For many years she has been celebrating literature and learning through her delightful programs on current books. Ms. Rinella is now presenting a new program on Paula McLain's terrific historical fiction, The Paris Wife, by becoming Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson! Let's go to Paris in the 1920's, let's go to Spain and run with the bulls...will the passion last? She is also bringing Jackie Kennedy to life, based on the fascinating tapes released this year by Caroline Kennedy to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her father's Presidency, Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy. Another fabulous new program is a dramatization of Cleopatra: A Life by Stacey Schiff. When did you first meet fascinating Cleopatra? Was it through Shakespeare or the late Liz Taylor? This program will include a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. Another current favorite program is a dramatization of Stephanie Cowell's wonderful historical fiction, Claude and Camille, A Novel of Monet. Barbara Rinella also presents a current list of her “favorite reads” at each program. Contact information and her updated reading list is given below.
Events open to the Public:
May 9, 2012, Glenview Public Library event Celebrating the Life of Fanny Simon. Program, "From Einstein to Steve Jobs." Contact: Jennifer Black (847) 729-7500
May 14, 2012, The Little Traveler, Geneva, IL, 9:30AM, The Paris Wife program. Contact Sandy Fisher, (630) 232-4200
May 14, 2012, Fremont Public Library, Mundelein, IL, 1pm, The Paris Wife program. Contact Jan Oblinger, (847) 918-3239
May 15, 2012, Platinum Adventures, Midlane CC, Wadsworth, IL, 1pm, Cleopatra program. Contact Sandra Nolan, (847) 838-7030
May 16. 2012, Northbrook Park District Senior Center, 1pm, Program on Jackie Kennedy. Contact Cindy Schaar, (847) 897-6159
June 4, 2012 Winnetka Community House, 6:00p, Program Paris Wife. Contact http://brinella.eventbrite.com/
August 29, 2012 Bettendorf Public Library, Iowa. Luncheon, Program TBD. Contact Deborah Stafford 563-344-4182
September 7, 2012 Howard Area Community. 11:00a, Program TBD. Contact Nanda LaPata 847-486-0763
Phone: (847) 251-1164
Email: barrar1@aol.com
BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY BARBARA RINELLA , 2012
Non Fiction
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Cleopatra: A Life, Stacy Schiff
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Catherine, the Great: Portrait of a Woman, Robert K. Massie
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Elizabeth the Queen,The Life of a Modern Monarch, Sally Bedell Smith
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Paris Without End: The True Story of Hemingway's First Wife, Gioia Diliberto
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Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand
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That Woman, The Life of Wallis Simpson, Anne Sebba
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Steve Jobs & Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson
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Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy, foreword by Caroline Kennedy
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Stones Into Schools, Three Cups of Tea, Listen to the Wind, (Children's book) Greg Mortenson
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Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero, Chris Matthews
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Mrs. Kennedy and Me, Clint Hill
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I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing Nora Ephron,
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10 and 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said, Charles Wheelan
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The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris, and The Path Between the Seas, David McCullough
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Amelia Earhart, The Thrill of It , Susan Wells
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Washington, A Life, Ron Chernow (Winner of the 2011 Puliter Prize)
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Searching for Beauty, The Life of Millicent Rogers, Cherie Burns
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Killing Lincoln, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
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American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, Jon Meacham (Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize)
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Bossypants, Tina Fey
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The Magnificent Medills, Megan McKinney
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Monet and His Muse, Camille Monet in the Artist's Life, Mary Mathews Gedo
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Monet's Impressions Words and Pictures by Claude Monet, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua
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Friends:True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships, Catherine Thimmesh (young readers)
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The Pleasure of His Company, Paul B. Fay (Published in 1966, by one of John F. Kennedy's very best friends!)
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Open, Andre Agassi
Fiction
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The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
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11/22/63, Stephen King
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Claude and Camille, A Novel of Monet, Stephanie Cowell
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The Litigators, John Grisham
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The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh
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Pictures of the Past, Deby Eisenberg
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State of Wonder, Ann Patchett
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The House I Loved & Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay
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Lark & Termite, Jayne Anne Phillips (Winner of the Heartland Prize, 2009)
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Loving Frank, Nancy Horan
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Dreams of Joy & Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
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Room, Emma Donoghue
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The Invisible Bridge, Julie Orringer
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The Book Thief, Martin Zusak
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The Help , Kathryn Stockett
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Carry the One, Carol Anshaw
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A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan (Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize)
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The Commoner, John B. Schwartz
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Zenzele, A Letter for my Daughter, J. Nozipo Maraire
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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
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American Dervish, Ayad Akhtar
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Rules of Civility, Amor Towles
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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo , The Girl Who Played with Fire, & The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Stieg Larsson (author), Reg Keeland (translator)
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Sikander, M. Salahuddin Khan
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The Tiger's Wife, Tea Obreht
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The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga ( Winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize)
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The Feel-Good Guide to Girlfriends' Golf, Marilyn Webster (order through www.girlfriendsgolf.com)
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Z is for Moose, Kelly Bingham (young readers)
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Bun Bun Button, Patricia Polacco (young readers)
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Blowin' in the Wind, lyrics by Bob Dylan, Illustrations by Jon J. Muth (young readers)
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Sacre Bleu, Christopher Moore
