A young man in Ghana dribbles a ball on a dusty field in anticipation of his home country’s World Cup campaign. Audrey Hepburn strolls down a Manhattan boulevard. A literary agent on the rise descends into the bowels of addiction hell. Meanwhile, a young boy follows an enchanted owl on a chilling journey. With summer about to spread its wings (well, over one half of the sphere), this week’s Guru Giveaways run the gamut of emotions and worlds. They’re below.
As usual, last week’s books are still finding homes with winning Glue Gurus and the Wolfman still beckons…
The Owl Keeper, by Christine Brodien-Jones
In this fantasy for ages 10 and up, when a mysterious force comes to town, young Maxwell Unger must rediscover his courage and his passion for life through the wondrous stories his now-gone grandmother used to tell.
Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man, by Bill Clegg
From the outside, Bill Clegg had an impressive life, from his promising gig as a literary agent to his abiding boyfriend. However, the tendrils of addiction are powerful, and he loses it all on a two month crack bender illustrated in his debut memoir.
Africa United, by Steve Bloomfield
The 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa, features an unprecedented six teams from Africa. Steve Bloomfield’s exquisitely timed travelogue elegantly illustrates the distinct power soccer has over the continent’s culture and politics.
Fifth Avenue, 5 AM, by Sam Wasson
In his second book on the topic of the iconic 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sam Wasson focuses on the movie’s star, Audrey Hepburn, whose turn as Holly Golightly hinted at the modern on-the-go, have-it-all urban woman — ubiquitous little black dress and all.
