Tigers, Italians and all the news that’s fit to print

Lincoln – A Photobiography

By Russell Freedman – Read by Robert Petkoff

Listening Library, $19.95

This enlightening portrait of our 16th president will interest readers of all ages, especially as we celebrate the bi-centennial of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth this month.

Lincoln is portrayed as the common man, but with uncommonly and extraordinary wisdom and speech.

Petkoff narrates the bio emulating Lincoln’s manner of speech in quotes from his boyhood; living in a log cabin, to his rise to the presidency, living in the White House.

Lincoln hated slavery, yet he despised war, giving his authority for battle only to save the Union. The photo journal includes his last portrait, the glass negative of which eerily shattered after only one print was made. Also pictured is Edwin Francis Jemison, a Louisiana boy killed in action, just one of many child soldiers in the war.

The New York Times: The Complete Front Pages

Introduction by Bill Keller

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing, $60

Ever wonder what important events happened on the day you were born? Or your parents, friends, uncles and aunts? Well, you’ll find out in this huge and incredible collection of every New York Times front page since 1851, in print and on three DVDs.)

Among the book’s 300 pages reproduced are the Emancipation Proclamation, Nazi Germany’s attacks on Poland, John Glenn’s orbit of earth and up to and including the attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

The remaining 54,267 pages are on the DVDs, making for an easy search through history.

You Must Remember This – The Warner Bros. Story

By Richard Schickel & George Perry Running Press, $50

So, how did it all begin, our love for the movies? Credit the Warner Brothers; Sam, Harry, Jack and Albert, the pioneers who introduced the first talking and singing film, Al Jolson’s “The Jazz Singer.” They followed up with gritty film noir flicks starring Bogart, Cagney and Robinson and today’s colorful “Dirty Harry” and “Harry Potter” series.

This is truly the story of Hollywood itself. If you caught the five-hour PBS series of this story, you’ll absolutely want this book to relive and enjoy again the history of the movies.

The Fighting Tigers 1993-2008

By Scott Rabalais

LSU Press, $34.95

If you’re a fan who still hasn’t had enough LSU football, then here’s the ultimate Tiger book: 15 years worth of Tiger records; wins and losses, stats and photos of memorable moments, all compiled by Baton Rouge Advocate Sports Writer, Rabalais.

He chronicled the Tigers through their six-season losing streak to their unprecedented two-time BCS national championship wins. In addition, the appendix contains every game, every player and every important statistic since the Tigers’ first one-game season of 1893. (They lost to Tulane, 34-0.)

You’re going to enjoy reliving every exciting event in Tiger history.

Journey of the Italians in America

By Vincenza Scarpaci

Pelican Publishing, $35

This is a wonderful book certain to be enjoyed, not just by Italians, but also by those who love all things Italian. The cuisine, of course: pasta, cannelloni’s and muffulettas. Great vocalists: Caruso, Como, Lanza and, let’s not forget, Sinatra. The movies: Academy Award winners Roberto Benigni’s “A Beautiful Life” and “The Godfather”; and actors Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.

Italians have immigrated here during past centuries in astronomical numbers and author Scarpaci, the daughter of a Sicilian immigrant, has collected a comprehensive reflection of more than 400 photographs confirming the Italian legacy in the United States.

Cooking with the Uglesiches

By John Uglesich

Pelican Publishing, $24.95

Here, at last, is the sequel to the original Uglesich cookbook, which featured mainly Creole seafood dishes. This one not only includes Italian and American dishes Anthony and Gail prepare in their home but even more recipes from their restaurant.

Anyone who’s experienced dining in the restaurant will certainly relish the many nostalgic color photos of the Uglesich family and customers, as well as the mouth-watering dishes and the nostalgia of the “Last Day” before closing.

All hopes for their reopening this iconic New Orleans destination unfortunately appear to be abandoned… to our great loss