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Barbara Rinella

 

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 bringing to life B. A. Shapiro's new historical fiction, The Art Forger, which is inspired by the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  Come meet struggling artist, Claire Roth, who is asked to reproduce a stolen painting.  Is that illegal? The phenomenal Isabelle Stewart Gardner herself will also make an appearance--fascinating and fun!  Barbara is still presenting her fantastic dramatization of Robert Massie's wonderful biography, Catherine The Great, Portrait of a Woman. Come to Russia to meet this powerful Empress, who is the only woman in history given the surname "The Great."  Another new program is titled "From Einstein to Steve Jobs" based on the two remarkable biographies by Walter Isaacson, where each man is described as a "genius." Other current programs include  "A Tribute to Nora Ephron and the Panama Canal,"  a dramatization of Paula McLain's terrific historical fiction,  The Paris Wife, and an amazing 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. As the 50 year anniversary of the tragedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, approaches, Barbara is also presenting "A Visit with Jackie" based on the many recent books focusing on the Kennedy family!  Ms. Rinella also gives 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 28, 2013-Bristol Court, Mount Prospect, IL-1:30p Einstein/Steve Jobs. Contact Marlene Psenka- (847) 296-7529

     May 29, 2013-Michigan Shores Club, Wilmette, IL-10:00a The Art Forger. Contact Paula Danoff (847) 910-0246

 

 

Phone:(847) 251-1164

Email: barrar1@aol.com 
 

BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY BARBARA RINELLA ,  2013                

Non Fiction

  1. Catherine, the Great: Portrait of a Woman,  Robert K. Massie
  2. Cleopatra: A Life, Stacy Schiff
  3. Elizabeth the Queen,The Life of a Modern Monarch, Sally Bedell Smith
  4. Counting One's Blessings: The Selected Letters of the Queen Mother, William Shawcross
  5. Until I Say Good-Bye, My Year of Living With Joy, Susan Spencer-Wendel
  6. Coco Chanel,An Intimate Life, Lisa Chaney
  7. Unbelievable Happiness and Final Sorrow-The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Marriage, Ruth A. Hawkins
  8. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,  Laura Hillenbrand
  9. That Woman, The Life of Wallis Simpson,  Anne Sebba 
  10. Steve Jobs  &   Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson
  11. Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy, foreword by Caroline Kennedy
  12. The Patriarch, The Life and Times of Joseph P. Kennedy, David Nasaw
  13. Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero, Chris Matthews  
  14. Mrs. Kennedy and Me, Clint Hill
  15. I Feel Bad About My Neck and I Remember Nothing Nora Ephron
  16. 10 and 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said, Charles Wheelan
  17. The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris, and The Path Between the Seas,  David McCullough
  18. Make It Beautiful, Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home, Monica Pedersen
  19. Washington, A Life, Ron Chernow (Winner of the 2011 Puliter Prize) 
  20. Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy,  Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
  21. Thomas Jefferson (new, 2012) and American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, Jon Meacham  (Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize) 
  22. Bossypants, Tina Fey
  23. PAWS Chicago 2013 Pet Calendar (order from www.pawschicago.org)
  24. Friends:True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships, Catherine Thimmesh (young readers)
  25. The Pleasure of His Company, Paul B. Fay (Published in 1966, by one of John F. Kennedy's very best friends!)
  26. Open, Andre Agassi
  27. The Unstoppable Golfer, Dr. Bob Rotella
  28. Barefoot Contessa Foolproof, Recipes You Can Trust, Ina Garten

 

 

Fiction

  1. The Art Forger, B.A. Shapiro
  2. The Aviator's Wife, Melanie Benjamin
  3. Claude and Camille, A Novel of Monet, Stephanie Cowell 
  4. The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
  5. The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
  6. The Burgess Boys, Elizabeth Strout
  7. The Dinner, Herman Koch
  8. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
  9. Rules of Civility, Amor Towles
  10. Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks
  11. The Racketeer, John Grisham
  12. The Casual Vacancy, J. K. Rowling
  13. Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
  14. Where We Belong, Emily Giffin
  15. Schroder, Amity Gaige
  16. The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh
  17. The Sandpiper, Susan Brace Lovell
  18. Wonder, R.J. Palacio (young adult)
  19. The Light Between Oceans, M. L Stedman
  20. 11/22/63, Stephen King
  21. Loving Frank, Nancy Horan  
  22. Dreams of Joy & Shanghai Girls, Lisa See
  23. The Invisible Bridge, Julie Orringer
  24. The Book Thief, Martin Zusak
  25. A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan (Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize)
  26. Carry the One, Carol Anshaw
  27. The Feel-Good Guide to Girlfriends' Golf, Marilyn Webster
  28. Llama Llama Mad at Mama, Anna Dewdney
  29. Goodnight iPad, Ann Droyd (young readers)
  30. A Snow Day for Hannah and A Beach Day for Hannah, Linda Petrie Bunch (young Readers, plus stuffed dog available at mountaindogbooks.com)
  31. Z is for Moose, Kelly Bingham (young readers)
  32. Pansy at the Palace, Cynthia Bardes (young readers)
  33. Poems to Learn by Heart, Caroline Kennedy
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