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PREMIUM

The Purple One: Prince, Race, Gender, and Everything in Between

Readers looking for a comprehensive or easy-reading book on Prince’s career will be better served elsewhere. However, those wanting to take a scholarly deep dive into Prince’s work and its impact on cultural, political, and social subjects will discover unique insights that have not yet been covered in other academic literature.
PREMIUM

American Noir Film: From ‘The Maltese Falcon’ to ‘Gone Girl’

A well-written introduction to noir films and how the genre has continued to thrive as times changed.
PREMIUM

Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music

Pop confectionery with surprising depth, much like its subject. For Swift fans and those who love them.

‘Giant’ Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-Selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film

Ferber enthusiasts will relish the scope and depth of this fine and captivating narrative.
PREMIUM

Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King

While Elvis generally credited gospel, R&B, and a few artists by name, he was fundamental in fusing aspects of American culture from disparate racial traditions when segregation was beginning to lift. His appropriation, explored here, remains polarizing.
PREMIUM

We Found Love, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Romantic Hits

These reminders of popular culture melodies covering nearly 100 years will foster wistful reflection.

PREMIUM

Weep, Shudder, Die: On Opera and Poetry

There is much for general readers to absorb in this long walk through an art form that has been evolving for 500 years.

How Sondheim Can Change Your Life

A generous reading of the works of a master composer and lyricist who reinvented the American musical.
PREMIUM

Damn Glad To Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches

Matheson is honest and self-effacing when discussing his personal life, and he provides valuable advice for those trying to get into the business. Yes, he does discuss John Belushi.

Box Office Poison: Hollywood’s Story in a Century of Flops

A surefire hit for movie lovers.
PREMIUM

Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly

Other than Perkins’s own 1996 autobiography, little has been published about him, and Apter admirably fills the gap with this detailed and emotionally charged biography.

Carson the Magnificent

Filled with tidbits such as the origin of the famous golf swing and humanizing stories of regret over losing his first wife to divorce and his son to a car accident, Zehme expertly fully captures a full portrait of Carson.
PREMIUM

The Name of This Band Is R.E.M.: A Biography

Though never pinpointing the reasons for the explosive, major-label success of a rebellious band, which ostensibly distrusted corporate rock, Carlin assembles a solid, much-needed narrative of one of the major alternative rock bands that both complements and updates David Buckley’s 2002 R.E.M. Fiction: An Alternative Biography.

Growing Up Urkel

A candid and surprisingly touching memoir from the actor who created one of television’s most memorable characters.

Crafting the Ballets Russes: Music, Dance, Design; The Robert Owen Lehman Collection

With beautiful images and accessible writing, this is recommended for readers interested in modern ballet of the early 20th century.
PREMIUM

Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound

This distinctive title gives readers vivid insight into the lives of four fascinating cellists. It also pays homage to the uniqueness of cellos.
PREMIUM

Never Understood: The Jesus and Mary Chain

Alternative rock fans will enjoy this book, which is well-suited to most public libraries.
PREMIUM

One Tough Dame: The Life and Career of Diana Rigg

An enjoyable account of Diana Rigg’s accomplished career.
PREMIUM

Autonomy: Portrait of a Buzzcock

Guitarist and songwriter Diggle’s engaging memoir will appeal to fans and music lovers alike.
PREMIUM

Christmas Movie Ultimate Trivia Book: Test Your Superfan Status and Relive the Most Iconic Christmas Movie Moments

This quiz book is suitable for circulation if answers are written on a separate piece of paper. An optional holiday purchase for public libraries.

The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime

A must for MacLaine’s fans and entertainment buffs.
PREMIUM

The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music

Though his book is thought-provoking, Rowell never thoroughly explains the reasons for the fixation on older music beyond the obvious penchant for comforting nostalgia, easy access to past hits through technology, and corporate greed. An interesting but not entirely satisfying book for rock fans.
PREMIUM

Can You Hear Me?

This fascinating peek into the mind of a remarkable inventor is appropriate for family listening.
PREMIUM

Nora Ephron at the Movies: A Visual Celebration of the Writer and Director Behind ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ ‘Sleepless in Seattle,’ and More

A solid pick for public libraries. Devotees of Ephron will find this volume delightful to delve into, while casual cinephiles will enjoy it as a thoughtful analysis of an influential writer-director and her various legacies.
PREMIUM

A Whole Life in Twelve Movies: A Cinematic Journey to a Deeper Spirituality

Inviting multiple viewings, this book concurs that cinema is a properly communal experience that can benefit spirituality.
PREMIUM

Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy That the History Books Left Out

Tepper has fashioned a winning book on the unsung heroines of Broadway musicals that will be appreciated by readers of women’s studies and theater lore.
PREMIUM

Ida Lupino, Forgotten Auteur: From Film Noir to the Director’s Chair

This academically written and accessible contribution to film history should please a wide range of readers.
PREMIUM

Made in NuYoRico: Fania Records, Latin Music, and Salsa’s Nuyorican Meanings

Written more like a commentary on Fania’s cultural significance to Latin music and Nuyorican culture than an overall history, this work will be of interest to diehard fans of salsa and music professors.

David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials

A remarkable book, as intriguing and unique as its subject.

What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts)

A delicious serving of Tucci’s special blend of tasteful prose and sparkling wit that his fans and general foodies will savor.

Instrument of War: Music and the Making of America’s Soldiers

Scholars will appreciate this nuanced history of music and pop culture in wartime.

A Queer History of Flamenco: Diversions, Transitions, and Returns in Flamenco Dance (1808–2018)

Scholars and queer history readers will gain newfound knowledge and deep flamenco appreciation from Rodríguez’s comprehensive research. This significant contribution to dance scholarship is critical for all performing arts collections.
PREMIUM

Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw

A fascinating look at an authentic Hollywood influencer, told with affection, honesty, and unprecedented access to the memories of numerous legends
PREMIUM

The Ultimate Book of Blues Guitar Legends: The Players and Guitars That Shaped the Music

A visual feast of blues guitar icons.
PREMIUM

Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood

As they say in Hollywood, you’re only as good as your last movie, and Sonnenfeld is in top form.
PREMIUM

Movies with Balls: The Greatest Sports Films of All Time, Analyzed and Illustrated

This mishmash of information feels a bit unfocused, but sports buffs may find it worth browsing.
PREMIUM

Dorothy Parker in Hollywood

Well-researched with many absorbing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes accounts, this thoughtful work will provide a fascinating and satisfying read for devotees of Parker and Hollywood history.
PREMIUM

Shemp: The Biography of the Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard, the Face of Film Comedy

Fans will “soitenly” enjoy this entertaining and detailed look at Shemp’s career with and without the Three Stooges.
PREMIUM

The Silver Snarling Trumpet: The Birth of the Grateful Dead—The Lost Manuscript of Robert Hunter

Hardcore Deadheads or those interested in the cultural transition from Beat to hippie may find something of value here. Those looking for a more focused history of the beginnings of the Grateful Dead should turn to the early chapters of David Browne’s excellent So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead.
PREMIUM

Within You Without You: Listening to George Harrison

An informed and loving tribute to a rock legend.
PREMIUM

Only in America: Al Jolson and The Jazz Singer

This fluidly written book illuminates an influential era, asserting that the United States is a singular space where things can happen on a grand scale.
PREMIUM

Days and Days: A Story About Sunderland’s Leatherface and the Ties That Bind

The strength of this memoir is MacDonald’s experiences traveling through the United Kingdom. Recommended for fans of MacDonald’s writing, Leatherface’s music, and the UK punk music scene.
PREMIUM

Dion: The Rock and Roll Philosopher

Dion’s friendly and laid-back approach to writing makes this an easygoing read, appealing to rock and roll biography fans and self-help readers.
PREMIUM

Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac

Music lovers and fans of the band will enjoy Blake’s fast-paced but comprehensive mosaic biography.
PREMIUM

A Few Words in Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman

A laudatory biography that is a must-read for any fan of Randy Newman, popular culture, and the creative process.
PREMIUM

Rebel Rising

A funny, poignant, and relatable celebrity memoir that will surely garner Wilson more fans.
PREMIUM

Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV

Nussbaum’s well-researched and philosophical discussion of the impact of reality television reveals the influence that it has had, not only on the entertainment industry but on society as a whole. Insightful, unsettling, and thought-provoking.
PREMIUM

A New Philosophy of Opera

An inspiring treatise that should provoke new interest in opera’s potential. For anyone involved with opera or who thinks they might like to be.
PREMIUM

Talkin’ Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America’s Bohemian Music Capital

A thorough and thoroughly human history of a unique locale and era. For fans of American folk, jazz, and New York City.
PREMIUM

The SNL Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live

This is a comprehensive ticket to learning more about every aspect of the late-night comedy staple and its storied history.
PREMIUM

The Documentarian: The Way to a Successful and Creative Professional Life in the Documentary Business

Nygard abundantly supplies suggestions for those in the business; casual readers will savor stories about the genre’s history.

The De Palma Decade: Redefining Cinema with Doubles, Voyeurs, and Psychic Teens

Bouzereau persuasively shows readers the substance behind De Palma’s style while revealing how he connected to these films as a young gay man.
PREMIUM

The Spamalot Diaries

The backstage story of one of the most successful musicals (nominated for 14 Tony Awards and winner of three) will appeal to theater buffs and fans of Monty Python.
PREMIUM

Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother

This book is revelatory not just about Zeppo but also about the rest of the Marx Brothers.

PREMIUM

First Lady of Laughs: The Forgotten Story of Jean Carroll, America’s First Jewish Woman Stand-Up Comedian

Well-written and thoroughly researched using numerous primary and family sources. Readers who enjoy comedy and entertainment history will find this particularly absorbing.
PREMIUM

When Rock Met Reggae: How the Cultural Crossover of Bob Marley, the Clash, the Specials and More Changed the Face of Rock Music

While not unearthing any major revelations, Blush’s nimble outline of the interplay between reggae and British punk will appeal to music fans.
PREMIUM

The Beatles in America: The Stories, the Scene, the Memories

Though tackling an often-told story, Leigh successfully recaptures the mayhem and exhilaration of the British invasion for readers of all types.

Sidney Poitier: The Great Speeches of an Icon Who Moved Us Forward

Poitier’s unmistakable voice shines through in this emotional time capsule.
PREMIUM

Lost: Back to the Island; The Complete Critical Companion to the Classic TV Series

Lost loyalists will find vindication, but even detractors will be forced to admit that the show’s execution wasn’t as haphazard as the internet suggests.
PREMIUM

Bruce Songs: The Music of Bruce Springsteen, Album-by-Album, Song-by-Song

A lot of accurate information in a less-than-thrilling package.

Ira Gershwin: A Life in Words

Great reading for more than music lovers. This will be the definitive book on Ira for a long time.
PREMIUM

We Take Care of Our Own: Faith, Class, and Politics in the Art of Bruce Springsteen

Sawyers’s command of her subject and fluent style help her integrate various disparate elements into a convincing whole. This is a valuable sociological addition to the ever-growing Springsteen bookshelf.
PREMIUM

They Went Another Way: A Hollywood Memoir

Readers will be drawn to Kaplan’s humorous writing.
PREMIUM

Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom

Entertaining, but without original interviews or personal anecdotes, it might have a limited audience.

Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush

This updated biography adds to the currency of Bush’s work and will interest her fans and fans of music biographies.
PREMIUM

On Audrey Hepburn: An Opinionated Guide

Cohan successfully shines a light on Hepburn’s talent beyond the fashion icon stereotype, and her fans will appreciate the different perspectives he brings.
PREMIUM

Miracle on 34th Street: The Making of a Christmas Classic

Thompson’s nostalgic book shows how an endearing film created an enduring legacy. Recommended for holiday and film collections.
PREMIUM

Beyond the Throne: Epic Journeys, Enduring Friendships, and Surprising Tales

Nairn’s book will appeal to Game of Thrones fans and those who enjoy good memoirs.
PREMIUM

Joanna Hogg

A thoroughly useful text for cinema scholars plumbing the depths of Hogg’s work and a strong addition to UI’s “Contemporary Film Directors” series.
PREMIUM

Who’s That Girl?: A Memoir

Eve’s historic place in hip-hop is highlighted in this candid memoir that will appeal to both music lovers and fans of the artist.
PREMIUM

William L. Dawson

A valuable addition to the literature on celebrated music composed by Black artists and music education in the United States.

PREMIUM

Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt’s Journey to His Musical Language

A remarkable tale that’s enriched with few words and plenty of neutral-toned illustrations. It beautifully spotlights movement and the music of Pärt.
PREMIUM

Pat Metheny: Stories Beyond Words

Recommended for both jazz enthusiasts and readers exploring any of the music genres that have evolved from jazz over the past six decades.
PREMIUM

Cocaine and Rhinestones: A History of George Jones and Tammy Wynette

This volume includes fascinating stories about Wynette and Jones, but fans might wish for more of those and fewer digressions in the first part of the book. For comprehensive country music collections.
PREMIUM

Breaking into TV Writing: How To Get Your First Job, Build Your Network, and Claw Your Way Inside the Writers’ Room

College students and amateur writers will devour this book, filled with clear instructions, interesting tidbits, and insight on the workings of writers’ rooms. University libraries will most benefit from this purchase.
PREMIUM

Moments of Happiness: A Wisconsin Band Story

A joyous memoir by a band leader with a storied, impactful career.

The Road Is Good: How a Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter’s Purpose

Poignant and well-written, this memoir not only celebrates the achievements and talents of its author but also grounds readers in the customs of Nigeria. It is a must-have for fans of Aduba or Orange Is the New Black and for those wanting to read about the African diaspora.
PREMIUM

Passionate Work: Choreographing a Dance Career

Dancers past and present might be gratified by having their experiences validated, but this book mostly makes the case for discouraging aspirants from pursuing a career in dance.
PREMIUM

Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck

This illuminating book sheds light on brothers at least as influential as the Warners, but lesser known in cinematic popular culture.

And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music

Boyd’s treasure trove of information about the global impact of world music (particularly on the United States) is a tour de force that will fascinate music lovers.
PREMIUM

Blues Mamas and Broadway Belters: Black Women, Voice, and the Musical Stage

A deep dive offering a valuable perspective to readers interested in the history of Black women vocalists.

Witches Run Amok: The Oral History of Disney’s Hocus Pocus

This beguiling read is sure to put a spell on readers.
PREMIUM

The Year That Made the Musical: 1924 and the Glamour of Musical Theatre

Theater aficionados and historians will find much to applaud in this impeccably researched work.
PREMIUM

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir

A captivating narrative, engagingly told.
PREMIUM

Mystery Science Theater 3000: A Cultural History

Best for devoted and loyal MST3K fans.

PREMIUM

I Love Romcoms and I Am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms

A colorful, breezy collection that will give rom-com lovers a passel of new titles to check out while also encouraging them to take a closer look at the elements that make up their familiar favorites.

Mary C. McCall Jr.: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Most Powerful Screenwriter

Smyth deftly spotlights a sardonically witty woman and film pioneer whose contributions are little known. Film students and biography readers will be delighted.
PREMIUM

Ink: The Indelible J. Mayo Williams

A good biography that also reveals a lot about the music industry and early 20th-century football.

Hitchology: A Film-by-Film Guide to the Style and Themes of Alfred Hitchcock

A delightful and valuable guide to Alfred Hitchcock’s films.
PREMIUM

Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen

Looking through a camera’s viewfinder, a director focuses in on the best shots to tell a movie’s story; with his filmmaker’s eye, it’s no surpise that Chu’s memoir (written with Jeremy McCarter) tells an effective story. Film students will relish his insight into filmmaking.
PREMIUM

Circus World: Roustabouts, Animals, and the Work of Putting on the Big Show

Fascinating, thoughtful research that will appeal to circus buffs and students of labor history.
PREMIUM

The Story of Elvis: The Rise and Fall of the Undisputed King of Rock ’n’ Roll

This lavishly illustrated book with stunning, oversized photos gives a straightforward, accurate, but often-told synopsis of the life and music of the man known as the King of Rock and Roll. Will appeal to Elvis fans, music lovers, and readers who enjoy perusing titles with strong and plentiful images.
PREMIUM

Dolly Parton All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track

This book may be about Parton’s songs, but it is also a walk through musical history beyond just one woman. An extensive volume that would be a great addition to music collections.
PREMIUM

Say It with a Beautiful Song: The Art and Craft of the Great American Songbook

A valuable addition for collections or courses on popular culture or music history. Fans of old musicals, movies, and music will appreciate learning more about the names and tunes they love.
PREMIUM

King Vidor in Focus: On the Filmmaker’s Artistry and Vision

Film aficionados and scholars will welcome this informative and sympathetic book-length Vidor study, the first since 1988’s King Vidor, American by Raymond Durgnat and Scott Simmon.
PREMIUM

Film Noir and the Arts of Lighting

This scholarly reference is a valuable source for film students and general readers interested in the art of Hollywood lighting.

Queer Horror: A Film Guide

An essential reference guide with engaging writing that shines. This is an exhaustive and valuable encyclopedia of the hits and misses of queer horror cinema. Genre fans will find plenty of titles to add to their watchlist.

The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic

This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an in-depth but accessible behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of rhythm and blues music and the rock and roll lifestyle. Recommended for fans of engaging arts and entertainment exposés, such as Nick de Semlyen’s Wild and Crazy Guys.

Innocent When You Dream

Narasaki’s sensitive play about Japanese Americans seeking to understand the past resonates with humor and insight. An excellent pairing with Narasaki’s No-No Boy or Phillip Kan Gotanda’s Sisters Matsumoto, both available through L.A. Theatre Works.
PREMIUM

Playing the Changes: Jazz at an African University and on the Road

A close look at what it takes to contribute to lasting and meaningful social change. For jazz musicians, teachers, and historians.
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