Library Love Fest

That Bird Has My Wings

Earlier in the year, I blogged about a book entitled, That Bird Has My Wings: the Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row, by Jarvis Jay Masters.  That Bird Has My Wings is a compelling memoir about a man who endured an extremely hard life and is now on death row.  Check out my article.

We received a great review from Zandra Blake, Teen and Public Services Librarian for the Capital Area District Library.  Here is the link.

Many thanks to Zandra and everyone at the Capital Area District Library for featuring That Bird Has My Wings on your blog!  I hope you add That Bird Has My Wings to your reading list.

Enjoy!

-Bobby

That Bird Has My Wings

Earlier in the year, I blogged about a forthcoming book entitled, That Bird Has My Wings, by Jarvis Jay Masters.  Check out my article:

http://tinyurl.com/n2o3s7

That Bird Has My Wings, on sale September 22nd is the compelling memoir of Jarvis Jay Masters which chronicles his early life, growing up with his four siblings and being surrounded by drugs at the hands of his mother and stepfather.  He also shares how he survived violence at the hands of his biological father.  They were left home alone days and weeks at a time, with no food or even the proper basic care.  After he and his siblings were taken out of the home by social services, they were put in the foster care system where his life became extremely unstable.  He was sentenced to prison at 19 for armed robbery and was put on death row at age 23 for being named an accessory in the death of a prison guard.  Since being in prison, he has written one book and several articles.  He also won a PEN Award for one of his poems.  What is even more amazing is that he does all of his writing with ball point pen filler, as that is the only writing instrument available to those in maximum security prison.

I hope you add That Bird Has My Wings to your reading list.

Enjoy!

-Bobby 

The Madoff Chronicles

By now, everyone has heard about the infamous Bernie Madoff and the Ponzi scheme that sent shock waves all over the world.  ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross gives us an in-depth look at the entire operation in The Madoff Chronicles: Inside the Secret World of Bernie and Ruth.

The Madoff Chronicles, on sale September 29, 2009 includes news and material never before revealed, such as:

• A reproduction of Bernie’s Little Black Book.  Ross has also secured Madoff's calendar for the past three years and other never-before-seen documents
• Read key details of how Madoff carried out his activities
• Learn what was going on inside the Madoff apartment as Bernie prepared for his life in prison and Ruth prepared for life in self-imposed confinement.
• Extensive cooperation by Madoff’s personal assistant
• Cooperation of childhood friends and neighbors that has helped display a compelling portrait of Bernie and Ruth in their early years

Also, Brian Ross will be featured on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America on September 29, 2009. This interview should be very eye-opening.  Make sure you check out The Madoff Chronicles next month.  It is sure to be a true page-turner!

-Bobby

What’s on Bobby’s Bookshelf?

While I am so excited that the weather in New York will actually reach (dare I say it) 80 degrees, I am still taking in a good book.  I am reading a fascinating, yet heart-breaking autobiography.  That Bird Has My Wings: the Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row, written by Jarvis Jay Masters is a compelling memoir that talks about all that he went through and what he continues to discover about himself.

That Bird Has My Wings, on sale in September of 2009, chronicles his early life, growing up with his four siblings and being surrounded by drugs at the hands of his mother and stepfather.  He also shares how he survived violence at the hands of his biological father.  They were left home alone days and weeks at a time, with no food or even the proper basic care.  After he and his siblings were taken out of the home by social services, they were put in the foster care system where his life became extremely unstable.  He was sentenced to prison at 19 for armed robbery and was put on death row at age 23 for being named an accessory in the death of a prison guard.  Since being in prison, he has written one book and several articles.  He also won a PEN Award for one of his poems.  What is even more amazing is that he does all of his writing with ball point pen filler, as that is the only writing instrument available to those in maximum security prison.

Currently there is a campaign where the goal is to get his sentence overturned.  There are those that believe he is innocent and the California Supreme Court is investigating new evidence that could lead to his release.  More information can be found on www.freejarvis.org.