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Purdum’s access to the Arnaz family and unpublished records allows him to essentially fact-check the memoirs written by Arnaz and Ball, and his honest reflection of a complicated man is poignant and heartfelt.
This short work is limited by its brevity but offers readers an intriguing summary of the vast history of music and invites further exploration.
PREMIUM
Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM
Brogan excels at detailing the breadth of Garland’s career alongside the highs and lows of her personal life. This sizeable (11 x 8.5 in.) and fully illustrated book is best for libraries with larger performing arts sections.
As dynamic a subject as Prince’s music is, this book’s unyieldingly academic writing style may deter some fans. However, academic libraries supporting studies in music theory should take note.
Chu’s intimate yet lively narration will charm film buffs and memoir lovers alike. Share with fans of Jimmy O. Yang’s How To American.
This thoughtful audio biography sheds light on Davis’s multifaceted career, offering valuable insights into Black history and the broader American political landscape during a period of social upheaval and transformation. Recommended for fans of Darryl Littleton’s Black Comedians on Black Comedy or those interested in the intersection of entertainment, race, and culture.
This well-researched study covers some well-trodden ground, but Fellner uncovers rarities and lost titles that amplify the volume’s value. Plus, there’s something quaintly appealing about movie critics trying to make sense of mad scientists and monkey costumes.
A substantial and engaging biography that contributes significantly to the history of jazz in the United States.
A strong choice for any film collection. Smokler and his interviewees demonstrate just how profound an impact women directors have had on the cultural landscape, and readers who pick this up to dip into a discussion with a favorite director will likely walk away with new creators and works to explore.
This academic analysis will interest film students and general audiences intrigued by the prolific film auteur’s works.
All music aficionados, not just Fleetwood Mac fans, will appreciate this traversal of an iconic group’s output and influence. It’s a fine encyclopedic complement to Mark Blake’s Dreams.
A meaty book that bursts at the seams with substance, it’s held together by the author’s familiarity with the subject and respect for Wagner as a composer.
Communications and media students and general readers will enjoy the interviewees’ excitement and may want to experience all four examples themselves.
An intense scholarly analysis of orchestral attendance in Nazi Germany puts forth the audience’s experience for context in a novel research approach.
This is not for readers looking for cold, hard answers; instead, it’s an exhaustively crowdsourced account of a grim chapter in punk history.
PREMIUM
Karen: A Brother Remembers
Grammer’s story is often raw and unflinchingly honest, and at other times self-centered. Readers of celebrity memoirs will want to consider.
Many people could produce essays on the songs in their lives that saved them, but Stratis’s well-practiced skill at writing on music, memory, and emotion gives this memoir a piercing and poetic quality that will move most readers.
PREMIUM
Some Like It Hot
Cohan is concise, intelligent, and respectful, and the film’s fans will be appreciative.
A fascinating, detailed biography of an enigmatic musician with a new author’s note and some updates since the 2022 edition. Recommended for libraries without an earlier copy.
PREMIUM
Doctor Who: A Cultural History
Gibson’s balanced blend of historical overview and cultural analysis takes readers where they need to go from the origins of Doctor Who to the present.
A very personal interpretive biography about an actor who deserves to be remembered, but readers may wish for more Robert and less Joanna.
Seller is an engaging storyteller and as passionate about directing summer camp theater as he is about producing award-winning Broadway shows. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Theater After Film
Written for an academic audience interested in this slice of theater history.
PREMIUM
Inspired Enterprise: How NASA, the Smithsonian, and the Aerospace Community Helped Launch Star Trek
Informed by archival research, Swanson takes a unique approach to a well-documented show. Fans will find it fascinating, especially fans of the 1966–69 original series.
Writing a balanced but heartfelt account that general readers will find riveting, Sheff characterizes Ono as a strong, brilliant, hard-working experimental artist and musician who battled racism and sexism in a largely solitary life.
Kwan’s beautifully written memoir offers thoughtful insights into the film industry and the era; it’s a must-read for film enthusiasts.
Seasoned cinephiles and viewers new to global film will find this a delightful guide to famous titles and obscure treasures.
An enthusiastic and emotional account of how personal lives and a fandom community can entwine. Potential readers should know that while the authors convey much love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the amount of content focusing on the TV show is relatively small, resulting in a book more likely to satisfy fans of the podcast specifically than Buffy fans in general.
Though these actors are mostly unknown today, movie mavens will lap up Wagner’s book. This is Hollywood Babylon for “B” movie stars.
This fascinating book will be a hit among music fans and students of popular culture at public and academic libraries.
Ideal for fans of 1970s TV, Stewart’s enjoyable and thought-provoking essays will give Columbo fans an additional excuse to rewatch old episodes.
Santopietro has amassed a large amount of research and interviews into a compelling and flowing narrative, while photos with fashion commentary by designer Banks enlighten the text.
Butler’s debut memoir is an enjoyable tribute to Little House on the Prairie and a testament to the life’s work of a thoroughly likable actor, director, and producer.
PREMIUM
Low-Hanging Fruit: Sparkling Whines, Champagne Problems, and Pressing Issues from My Gay Agenda
A recommended purchase, perfect for listeners who appreciate sharp humor and social commentary. Whether looking for a quick laugh or an insightful take on current events, this book provides both in abundance.
Shield’s inspiring and insightful narrative resonates. This fresh conversation will be a valuable addition to any collection focused on gender, personal growth, or aging.
Sanchez is unafraid to share her worst moments in this relatable and inspirational take on overcoming life’s unexpected obstacles.
Despite covering most of the significant bands of the time, Einarson tends to deal with time-worn material and offers few new insights in a book that may seem repetitive to most rock fans.
A treasure for those interested in music and women’s history. The easy-to-read narrative will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
This peek inside what it takes to become a Russian ballet dancer will inspire appreciation for Womack’s dogged determination to achieve her dream.
Stanfield captures the emergence and evolution of 1960s British blues that will captivate classic rock fans.
The short chapters make this a fast read, and the variety of musicians reckoning with their legacy means that this should have appeal for a broad selection of readers and fans.
Koehler is passionate and persuasive, but this scholarly work will probably appeal primarily to diehard Reeves fans and film students.
MacKinney’s level of research and analysis will likely appeal more to music scholars than casual readers. However, as the first complete history of the Shangri-Las, this volume should still draw interest from music historians and classic pop fans.
King brings erudition to sexploitation, grounding this work in film theory and exploring the subjectivity of taste. Less subjective are the movie stills used to illustrate his points.
This breezy oral history will appeal to most rock fans. The authors explore the festival’s impact on ’90s rock culture and provide intimate portrayals of the bands that Lollapalooza featured.
Little has been available heretofore about Crouch other than his 1974 autobiography Through It All, so Darden and Newby are to be commended for this title, likely to become the definitive exploration of this influential artist.
Caine has a wealth of wisdom, experience, and genuine positivity, and his fans and cinephiles will significantly enjoy his musings.
Slater’s thorough research and astute analyses of cinematic themes make this an exemplary biography of a filmmaking pioneer.
This attractively designed book, featuring film stills, publicity posters, and gorgeous photos of its subjects, is a valuable addition to the genre.
RuPaul’s many fans will want to check out his self-narrated memoir, which offers a candid and sincere account of his experiences, reflections, and growth.
An intimate glimpse of Presley’s experiences growing up in the shadow of her father Elvis. This memoir is a beautiful tribute to the enduring power of love and the complexity of human experience through enduring family bonds.
PREMIUM
The Glass Menagerie
A superb production, sure to delight longtime fans and those just discovering Williams’s iconic play.
PREMIUM
Dorothy Parker in Hollywood
The thorny, enigmatic Parker is a great subject, and Crowther’s flawlessly narrated account is recommended for any audio biography collection.
An enlightening account of the hurdles that women creators, performers, and artists have overcome. Vibrant, essential, and empowering.
Overall, Evers’s book provides a good analysis of Taylor Swift’s evolution as both an artist and a brand unto herself. A good choice for all academic libraries and public libraries with strong business collections.
Sensitively drawn and without hindsight judgment, Sen’s biography of Oberon depicts a determined woman who triumphed at a high personal cost.
Peacock’s lyrical writing will draw readers in and keep them interested. This memoir will appeal to those interested in one man’s experiences in several contemporary music spaces.
An indispensable resource for any musician or budding luthier getting serious about acoustic or classical guitars.
Best for serious students of theater or colonialism and violence studies, but may be challenging for general audiences.
PREMIUM
Monument Eternal
Coltrane’s winning spiritual exercise will appeal to readers looking for a wonderful memoir about music and personal faith.
A top-shelf audiobook production from a well-known actor and director with the staying power and talent needed to navigate the fickle Hollywood realm.
Practitioners in women’s and cinema history and general readers will appreciate information about this trailblazing pioneer.
A celebration of the healing power of family and dance, Holker’s memoir to show how to heal from tragedy without wrapping everything up in a neat bow.
A much-needed and meticulously detailed study of an under-explored aspect of 20th-century music in the United States. This is for jazz listeners, musicians, DJs, influencers, musicologists, and historians.
PREMIUM
Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn: A Walk on the Wild Side with Andy Warhol’s Most Fabulous Superstar
Should interest pop culture enthusiasts and fans of Woodlawn and Warhol.
Arogundade charges that changes such as expanding the number of films nominated and internationalizing the Academy’s voting membership have gradually increased the cultural makeup in the still largely white AMPAS, with more improvements expected.
PREMIUM
‘Murder, She Wrote’
Public libraries may wish this enjoyable but optional purchase was a coffee table tribute book, while academic libraries may struggle to find an audience.
Despite Restall’s Bowie asides, this is a magnificent overview of John’s music and legacy; an excellent addition to the plethora of music criticism.
This timely retrospective on inner city reality as a cultural phenomenon will appeal to media scholars and crime show fans.
Like physical combat veterans, many on the front lines in Hollywood subsequently seldom talked about their efforts, which makes this book valuable.
PREMIUM
Lloyd Kaufman: Interviews
Kaufman’s shtick gets repetitive, but readers will gain insight into the world of no-budget cinema.
PREMIUM
Fearless and Free: A Memoir
This dialogue with Baker revels in her poetic and often humorous way of speaking. Pair with Chris Chase and Jean-Claude Baker’s authoritative biography Josephine Baker: The Hungry Heart.
This title is not merely essential for any collection on popular music or queer history. Savage’s ability to turn a wealth of information into a compellingly readable narrative should make this volume of interest to readers of all stripes.
Hooker has survived more in his life than most people, and fans of his music and the blues will appreciate learning his story.
PREMIUM
Hip-Hop Is History
A fascinating and exuberant account of hip-hop’s music and poetry, dances, storytelling, breakbeats, and the skills of turntablists. In audio form, Questlove’s sharply observant and vital music history lets listeners tap into the genre’s rhythms and beats and consider what the next decades of hip-hop music and entertainment may hold.
PREMIUM
Doc Watson: A Life in Music
The combination of meticulous research and fluent writing makes this title important for anyone interested in Doc Watson or the evolution of old-time, traditional, and folk music over the past 90 years.
Recommended for scholars possessing the requisite musical background and for sophisticated readers interested in the relationship of the arts to the human condition.
Alford’s smart prose will captivate readers and leave music fans with thoughtful questions about Mitchell and her musical influence.
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