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Honest and raw, this book serves a slice of an inspiring life that reminds readers to keep trying. Williams’s story will likely appeal to readers interested in music, poetry, literature, or mental health.
This is an eye-opening exploration and essential reading for readers interested in pop or queer culture.
PREMIUM
Third Girl from the Left
A deeply personal, emotionally wrenching memoir and eyewitness account of the AIDS pandemic.
PREMIUM
Paris: The Memoir
Hilton’s fans and supporters, along with readers interested in pop culture and books by celebrities, might request this one.
The subject matter might appeal only to a limited audience of strict cinephiles, but McEwen’s sentimental devotion is both noteworthy and impressive in this entertaining work.
Some readers will enjoy the author’s free-ranging, exuberant style. For others, there are more traditional treatments of Beethoven in books such as Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph by Jan Swafford and Beethoven: The Man Revealed by John Suchet.
Barber knew everybody in his milieu, and this book reflects that. Scholars will devour this exceptional study, but any music lover will benefit from reading it.
Spiced with fascinating stories, this book provides a valuable personal insight into the heyday of ’80s electropop that will appeal to general readers.
Pink Floyd fans will enjoy this handsome collection of rare and mostly previously unseen photos of the band during their 1972–75 tours.
A sympathetic, extensively researched biography of an often-neglected swing-era pioneer that jazz fans will find compelling.
For fans of The Dark Side of the Moon, this book is especially welcome. Those not familiar with Pink Floyd or this particular venture will still likely appreciate the well-researched and swiftly flowing tale that combines musical intricacies with cultural context.
The bulk of the book is comprised of a detailed catalogue of 1,880 soundies, their production and casting notes, and more. Very much a specialty book best suited for music aficionados, not general readers.
With so many overlapping narratives and meanderings, this crowdsourced mélange lacks a throughline to the main man. However, it will send Russell’s fans to their hi-fis to give his music another listen.
Often repetitive, but nevertheless an immersing and compelling read about a renowned Hollywood family.
Despite McCormick’s engaging performance, this dense book may bog some listeners down. An enlightening addition to music history and Black history collections, although the print edition better reveals the breadth of Gaddy’s research.
PREMIUM
Twelfth Night
Full-cast audio is an excellent way to experience Shakespeare as the author intended, and this well-produced version will please both fans and listeners new to the play. Highly recommended for all audio collections.
PREMIUM
Hollywood: The Oral History
This unique perspective is a treasure trove of insights covering a century of the film industry.
Interest in Bourdain continues to be high; expect this audiobook to be popular among library patrons.
Bonneville is a great storyteller, and this recollection of the ups and downs of his career is a winner.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a thought-provoking analysis and social critique of pop culture paragons from Sailor Moon to Spider-Man. Recommended for fans of media meets memoir that is well researched but relatable.
Narrator Steven Crossley elevates the book with his excellent reading, providing personality and a sharp, biting sarcasm appropriate to the material. A foreword by Emma Thompson is voiced by Bonnie Wright, and editor Taylor’s prologue is read by Alfred Enoch. Rickman’s wife, Rima Horton, provides a touching afterword.
The layout and photos in the print version are truly fabulous, but the audiobook is still a key purchase. This charismatic duo slays both on the page and in the recording booth.
The narration of this play is tons of fun. Purchase multiple copies and give patrons an opportunity to relish this outstanding audio that brings two original pop icons to life.
While listeners won’t necessarily agree with all of Dylan’s selections, they will likely enjoy learning about both obscure songs and chart-toppers. The all-star narration makes this audiobook shine.
Rap’s dominance in popular culture makes this an excellent addition to any library celebrating music, but it is especially important for libraries in the Southeastern United States, a region whose cultural and musical accomplishments, particularly those by Black artists, are sometimes overlooked.
PREMIUM
Making a Scene
This engaging memoir will appeal to listeners interested in entertainment-industry memoirs and more specifically, Asian American women navigating Hollywood and fame.
This highly recommended collection will be an essential addition to all libraries with theater collections.
PREMIUM
Call Me Anne
A candid, vulnerable insight into Heche’s life that will appeal to fans and to those who have been abused.
An accessible and essential read for TV enthusiasts who enjoy reading about the history of the medium as much as they do watching it.
The book is stellar as a filmography, but, due to its heavy reliance on IMDb and other internet sources, fans of Windsor may find few new details about the star’s personal life.
Sure to entertain and enlighten The Hobbit and LOTR fans and settle arguments on details large and small.
Burlingame has produced a thorough analysis of music composed for television that will probably remain in readers’ heads. Those seeking more information about these rerunning tunes will find it here.
PREMIUM
Parks and Recreation
Limited appeal, as it’s strictly a study of the show’s take on government and its ability to remain relevant. It’s not a homage to the characters or episodes.
PREMIUM
Rock Legends at Rockfield
This anecdotally rich book is breezily written with extended quotations forming the heart of the story of a still-in-use studio. It will appeal to rock-history fans in search of both musical lore and the stories behind some of rock’s most memorable albums and bands.
McCormick conveys a wild enthusiasm for his research and the music of Robert Johnson that readers will find contagious.
It is not necessary to be a fan of Reed, the Velvet Underground, or the martial arts to appreciate the beauty and serenity the book provides.
PREMIUM
Guitar: The Shape of Sound
A feast for the eyes that is sure to pull at the heartstrings of any guitar fan.
PREMIUM
Kevin Smith: His Films and Fans
Given the profanity-laced text and graphic sexual descriptions, this is not intended for all readers, but it provides a diverting, insider-y thrill ride for Kevin Smith fans and those interested in the mechanics of the movie business.
Curry combines extensive research with deft writing to reveal the life of a Z-movie director through his unconventional oeuvre. Aimed at cinephiles, the book celebrates an underdog who made movies in Hollywood’s shadow.
PREMIUM
Chita: A Memoir
An enjoyable and inspiring inside look at a life in the theater; will be of interest to celebrity watchers and aspiring actors.
A subtle, insightful book likely to be on many readers’ radar for its nuanced look at the consequences of a racial divide with roots that, as Jacobson makes clear, are longstanding, systemic, and institutional.
Even ardent Streisand fans will find undiscovered gems and will likely appreciate Howe’s meticulous research.
Readers will learn a lot about the stars they think they know with this well-researched, smart book about misogyny in the music industry.
A perfect fit for music lovers who’ve always wondered how a recorded performance reaches their ears.
A terrific translation by fellow actress Ringwald makes this concise, harrowing book a powerful read.
The range, both in chronology and subject, of this collection should provide much food for thought to dedicated scholars of auteur cinema and its intersections with queer filmmaking and criticism.
Although some acquaintance with musicology and world history is assumed, the author’s engaging style and the universality of the subject matter will likely have widespread appeal. This title is warmly recommended.
While Stephen Cavalier’s The World History of Animation places this art in an international perspective, Scott’s decades-long undertaking, including his second volume, of references, is a contender for best source on American cartoon vocalization.
This volume is an absolute must-have resource guide and vade mecum for all popular-culture and American-culture enthusiasts. It enables readers to view U.S. culture through cinema and television.
Like a rollicking drum solo, Moss’s writing will reward readers willing to go along for the ride. The author’s passion and joy for both music and spirituality are radiant.
PREMIUM
My Three Lives: A Memoir
Cole looks back on her life and career fondly, but she doesn’t shy away from the parts that were challenging and less than idyllic, making this a compelling read.
A fun and fascinating addition to the showbiz-memoir genre that will be of interest to celebrity mavens and serious film students alike.
Provides a revealing look into the mind of a thoughtful, searching, driven artist navigating a world in which the old rules of performance have lost their validity. Like a Levit musical performance, this book lingers long after the last note is sounded.
This poignant memoir will not only be loved by music fans but will also likely appeal to readers who want to go on a journey of love, ambivalence, and acceptance.
This carefully crafted academic treatment will enhance library shelves, although this book’s conceptual language may challenge lay readers. Still, it’s worth the effort.
PREMIUM
Why Dance Matters
A thoughtful and engaging look at dance and its place in the human experience that will likely appeal to readers with an interest in dance, culture, and forms of human expression.
PREMIUM
The Annotated Abbott and Costello: A Complete Viewer’s Guide to the Comedy Team and Their 38 Films
A useful and valiant effort that sadly falls short.
With 26 pages of notes, this is a detailed and well-researched biography of a popular film that avid fans and film students will likely find fascinating.
In a tour de force, Blecha offers all music fans the definitive book about the highly significant but much neglected story of Northwestern U.S. rock.
Some entries are more successful than others in fleshing out who Taylor Mac is and what Mac is trying to accomplish. Nonetheless, this eclectic, no-holds-barred exposition represents an important addition to theater and gender studies.
A must-have reference with a near encyclopedic, yet readable, survey of nearly 1,000 horror movies containing more than 1,500 appearances by Black characters, from minor, nonspeaking roles to the exploration of Black films that have progressively broadened Black roles in horror and in cinema as a whole.
A nostalgic dive into a slice of fashion history, a behind-the-scenes look at famous TV and film costuming, and a celebration of the contributions of LGBTQIA+ culture. Readers from several points of entry will appreciate Field’s accomplishments and her perspective.
Fans of classic cinema will relish this well-researched and illuminating biography of an important filmmaker.
Bono’s epic, introspective memoir is given an impressive music-filled production. It’s certainly one of the best audiobooks of the year.
Stoppard’s play was meant to be performed just like this, with relish and verve. An outstanding production that makes the most of the audio medium.
Will appeal to listeners seeking a humorous, heartwarming memoir teeming with Hollywood stars and stories. Recommended for fans of amusing, empowering movie-star memoirs like Betty White’s and Lauren Graham’s.
PREMIUM
Love, Pamela
Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism.
Seinfeld collects funny and introspective conversations with several generations of world-class comedians. Ideal for those interested in stand-up comedy orclever observations about the world.
Though this book doesn’t unearth much new material, Clark admirably assembles information about the era that will appeal to blues scholars.
Irvin is an engaging raconteur with a star-studded cast of interview subjects. A terrific reference resource for horror movie fans.
This is everything readers would expect in an official guide composed of recipes and crafts from the show. Gather some friends, and enjoy!
Adventurous film buffs will enjoy the keen-eyed observations and backstories about these obscure, odd, and underappreciated films.
Readers interested in Sayers’s religious writings or in general religious literature will find this book to be informative and useful.
Ronstadt celebrates her roots in this engaging, personal and entertaining hybrid family memoir/cookbook and social history.
This exceptional resource will be useful for students and researchers wishing to know more about the remarkable works of Asian American artists and writers over the past 150 years. A recommended purchase for large public libraries and all academic collections.
Though not unearthing any new material or assembling the definitive guide to his subject, Weidman offers a rock-solid, well-informed overview of punk rock and its offspring for the uninitiated.
Winer’s exploration of Hammerstein’s journey is timely, respectful, and deserving of inclusion in strong performing arts collections.
This scholarly interpretation of Polanski’s work will be appreciated by his most devoted fans and cinephiles who appreciate ’60s films.
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