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Girls on Film: Lessons from a Life of Watching Women in Movies
by Alicia MaloneGirls on Film: Witty Life Lessons from Alicia Malone#1 Best Seller in Photography Criticism & Essays, Movie Guides & Reviews, Movie ReferenceWith humor and honesty, Girls on Film looks at the good, the bad, and the unfairly written women in film. This collection celebrates the power of cinema, media, culture and the faces of girls on film.Insiders from a Nerdy Film Lover. Weaving together life lessons with movie history, film reporter Alicia Malone celebrates the power of cinema and the women who shone brightly on the big screen, while also critiquing hidden messages in films. Alicia connects film analysis with her own journey of self-discovery —from growing up as a nerdy film lover in Australia to finding her voice as a woman on television.Each Movie has a Hidden Message. What messages and life lessons have been taken from these movies of the past —positive, negative or sometimes, both? Alicia Malone highlights many films, some with life changing moments and others with a tribute to feminist authors and messages.In this modern approach to film reviews and women, you’ll find essays on:Hidden messaging and life lessons in filmsThe journey of women's history in filmBreakdowns on movie stereotypes like the the femme fataleWomen nonfiction lovers who enjoyed Where the Girls Are, or feminism books like Extraordinary Women In History, When Women Invented Television, or Renegade Women in Film and TV, will love Girls on Film.
Your Story, Well Told: Creative Strategies to Develop and Perform Stories that Wow an Audience
by Corey RosenSo, you’ve got a story to sell . . . “A great resource” for business or social occasions from an Emmy winner and storytelling coach (Samantha Harris, cohost of Dancing with the Stars and author of Your Healthiest Healthy).2021 International Book Awards finalist in Self-Help: Motivational#1 New Release in Speech and Public SpeakingLearn the art of telling stories and make the sale, land the client, propose a toast, or impress a date. Corey Rosen is an Emmy Award–winning writer and actor with years of experience as a skilled storytelling coach, and his book is jam-packed with some of the best storytelling strategies out there.We’ve all got stories to tell-but how do you make your story the best? Here, the Moth Radio Hour veteran and master teacher conveys the best techniques from improvisational theater to design an accessible guide for all ages and skill levels. Crafted to help ordinary people tell extraordinary stories, this laugh-out-loud handbook covers everything from how to tell a good story to going off script.Learn how to sell yourself through the art of telling stories. The best storytelling uses improvisation to enthrall, entertain, and keep audiences on edge. Laugh along with tales of performance triumphs (and disasters) and explore ways to develop confidence and spontaneity. From brainstorming and development to performance and memorization techniques, learn how to tell a good story with:A variety of structures and editing approaches to bring out your best storyImprov exercises to stimulate creativity without feeling foolishQuick and easy lessons on building storiesResources for putting on a showcase to tell your story“Let Corey Rosen teach you how good-humored authentic story sharing, in any social and cultural context, beats those nasty public lying contests every time.” —Nancy Mellon, author of Storytelling and the Art of Imagination“I know I will return to it again and again for ideas, inspiration, and entertainment.” —Samantha Harris
Dungeons 'n' Durags: One Black Nerd's Comical Quest of Racial Identity & Crisis of Faith
by Ron DawsonFunny Stories About White Privilege and Black Identity from a Black Nerd’s PerspectiveAuthor and Ebony Magazine podcaster Ron Dawson lends his wit and comical social commentary to tell the story of how one of the “whitest” and nerdiest of black men finally woke up, found his blackness, and lost all inhibitions at dropping the f-bomb.A coming-of-age story of black identity. In the suburbs of Atlanta, Ron was a black nerd (aka “blerd”) living very comfortably in his white world. He loved his white wife, worked well with his white workmates, and worshiped at a white church. On November 8, 2016, everything changed when Trump became POTUS. Ron began a journey of self-discovery that made him question everything —from faith to friendships.Part social commentary and part fantastical narrative. This book goes where no blerd has gone before. In a psychedelic way, Ron is guided by a guardian “angel” in the guise of Samuel L. Jackson’s character from Pulp Fiction. Sam is there to help Ron, well, be more black. Ron confronts his black “sins” and wrestles with black identity, systemic racism, and what it means to be “black” in America. Uncomfortable conversations. Throughout this book, you’ll learn lessons from a man who deconstructs his faith and confronts personal demons of racial identity. Gain new perspectives through these funny stories that will reshape your current views on black identity.Inside, you’ll find:The funniest social commentary on white privilege and black identityPolitical satire wrapped in funny stories of a man’s journey to confront the systemic racism and Christian hypocrisy around himComical if not uncomfortable conversations about what it means to be black in AmericaIf you liked You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, Things That Make White People Uncomfortable, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, or I’m Judging You, you’ll love Dungeons ‘n’ Durags.
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, Revised Edition: Turn a Penny into a Radio, Change Milk into Plastic, Make a Dozen STEM projects with Everyday Things, and Other Amazing Feats (Sneaky Books)
by Cy Tymony&“A science activity book &“offering readers a chance to become real-life MacGyvers... [with] sections on gimmicks, gadgets and survival techniques. . . .&” (Publishers Weekly) Do you know how to make something that can tell whether the $20 bill in your wallet is a fake? Or how to generate battery power with simple household items? Or how to create your own home security system? Science-savvy author Cy Tymony does. And now you can learn how to create these things and more than forty other handy gadgets and gizmos in Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things. More than a simple do-it-yourself guide, this quirky collection is a valuable resource for transforming ordinary objects into the extraordinary. With over 80 solutions and bonus applications at your disposal, you will be ready for almost any situation. Included are survival, security, self-defense, and silly applications that are just plain fun. You'll be seen as a superhero as you amaze your friends by: * Transforming a simple FM radio into a device that enables you to eavesdrop on tower-to-air conversations. * Creating your own personalized electronic greeting cards. * Making a compact fire extinguisher from items typically found in a kitchen pantry. * Thwarting intruders with a single rubber band. By using run-of-the-mill household items and the easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams within, you'll be able to complete most projects in just a few minutes. Whether you use Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things as a practical tool to build useful devices, a fun little fantasy escape, or as a trivia guide to impress friends and family, this book is sure to be a reference favorite for years to come.
Letterboxed: The Evolution of Widescreen Cinema
by Harper CossarWhen widescreen technology was introduced to filmmaking in 1953, it changed the visual framework and aesthetic qualities of cinema forever. Before widescreen, a director's vision for capturing beautiful landscapes or city skylines was limited by what coul
Irvin S. Cobb: The Rise and Fall of an American Humorist
by William E. EllisThis biography of a little-remembered Southern humorist “delivers on its claim that Cobb’s life is emblematic of changes that registered on a larger scale” (Journal of Southern History).“Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.” ?Irvin S. CobbBorn and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, humorist Irvin S. Cobb (1876–1944) rose from humble beginnings to become one of the early twentieth century’s most celebrated writers. As a staff reporter for the New York World and Saturday Evening Post, he became one of the highest-paid journalists in the United States. He also wrote short stories for noted magazines, published books, and penned scripts for the stage and screen.In Irvin S. Cobb: The Rise and Fall of a Southern Humorist, historian William E. Ellis examines the life of this significant writer. Though a consummate wordsmith and a talented observer of the comical in everyday life, Cobb was a product of the Reconstruction era and the Jim Crow South. As a party to the endemic racism of his time, he often bemoaned the North’s harsh treatment of the South and stereotyped African Americans in his writings. Marred by racist undertones, Cobb’s work has largely slipped into obscurity.Nevertheless, Ellis argues that Cobb’s life and works are worthy of more detailed study, citing his wide-ranging contributions to media culture and his coverage of some of the biggest stories of his day, including on-the-ground reporting during World War I. A valuable resource for students of journalism, American humor, and popular culture, this illuminating biography explores Cobb’s life and his influence on early twentieth-century letters.
Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood's Zen Rebel (Screen Classics Ser.)
by Joseph B. AtkinsThe first biography of the man Vanity Fair described as “the philosopher poet of character acting.”After a series of minor parts in forgettable westerns, Harry Dean Stanton gradually began to get film roles that showcased his laid-back acting style, appearing in Cool Hand Luke, Kelly’s Heroes, The Godfather: Part II, and Alien. He became a headliner in the eighties?starring in Wim Wenders’s moving Paris, Texas and Alex Cox’s Repo Man?but it was his extraordinary skill as a character actor that established him as a revered cult figure and kept him in demand throughout his career.Here, Joseph B. Atkins unwinds Stanton’s enigmatic persona, shedding light on his early life in West Irvine, Kentucky, and exploring his difficult relationship with his Baptist parents, his service in the Navy, and the events that inspired him to drop out of college and pursue acting. Atkins also chronicles Stanton’s early years in California, describing how he honed his craft at the renowned Pasadena Playhouse before breaking into television and movies.In addition to examining his acclaimed body of work, Atkins explores Harry Dean Stanton as a Hollywood legend, following his years rooming with Jack Nicholson, partying with David Crosby and Mama Cass, jogging with Bob Dylan, and playing poker with John Huston. Stanton is often remembered for his crowd-pleasing roles in movies like Pretty in Pink or Escape from New York, but this impassioned biography illuminates the entirety of his incredible sixty-year career, drawing on interviews with the actor’s friends, family, and colleagues.
Hollywood As Historian: American Film in a Cultural Context
by Peter C. Rollins“A commendably comprehensive analysis of the issue of Hollywood’s ability to shape our minds . . . invigorating reading.” ?BooklistFilm has exerted a pervasive influence on the American mind, and in eras of economic instability and international conflict, the industry has not hesitated to use motion pictures for propaganda purposes. During less troubled times, citizens’ ability to deal with political and social issues may be enhanced or thwarted by images absorbed in theaters. Tracking the interaction of Americans with important movie productions, this book considers such topics as racial and sexual stereotyping; censorship of films; comedy as a tool for social criticism; the influence of “great men” and their screen images; and the use of film to interpret history. Hollywood As Historian benefits from a variety of approaches. Literary and historical influences are carefully related to The Birth of a Nation and Apocalypse Now, two highly tendentious epics of war and cultural change. How political beliefs of filmmakers affected cinematic styles is illuminated in a short survey of documentary films made during the Great Depression. Historical distance has helped analysts decode messages unintended by filmmakers in the study of The Snake Pit and Dr. Strangelove. Hollywood As Historian offers a versatile, thought-provoking text for students of popular culture, American studies, film history, or film as history. Films considered include: The Birth of a Nation (1915), The Plow that Broke the Plains (1936), The River (1937), March of Time (1935-1953), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Native Land (1942), Wilson (1944), The Negro Soldier (1944), The Snake Pit (1948), On the Waterfront (1954), Dr. Strangelove (1964), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), and Apocalypse Now (1979).“Recommended reading for anyone concerned with the influence of popular culture on the public perception of history.” ?American Journalism
Lost Attractions of Hampton Roads (Lost)
by Nancy E. SheppardTake a trip down memory lane to beloved destinations for fun and families across Virginia's tidewater.Cruise the rails of Ocean View Amusement Park's "The Rocket" roller coaster, dig for fossils at Hampton's Rice's Fossil Pit, celebrate the winter season at Portsmouth's Coleman's Nursery and learn the significant role that Buckroe Beach's Bay Shore Beach Park played in American history. From the Great White Fleet to a Wild West park, journey through this vibrant history with author and historian Nancy E. Sheppard and discover whether such cherished places can ever truly be lost.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Life of a Legend
by Fiaz RafiqArnold Schwarzenegger – a bodybuilder-turned-real-estate mogul who turned an undefeated streak at the Mr Olympia contest into an astonishing film career and eight years as the governor of California – is, for many people, the embodiment of the American Dream. From humble beginnings in a small village in Austria, Schwarzenegger has come to symbolise the opportunities that exist for anyone willing to work hard – parlaying success and self-confidence into the influence to shape hearts and minds across the globe. Even today, whether he&’s campaigning against climate change or fist-bumping fellow strongmen at his self-titled athletic event, he&’s one of the few men on the planet who&’s recognisable from his first name alone. Arnold. Fiaz Rafiq uses in-depth interviews with Schwarzenegger&’s peers to tell the life story of the one-time Governator, featuring exclusive interviews with his personal and close friends, fellow bodybuilders and training partners, Hollywood co-stars, directors, executive producers, political personalities and journalists – all offering first-hand accounts of the man they know. Together, these voices show new dimensions to the Arnold we all think we know – from the driven young man who brought building into the mainstream to the passionate advocate for political change.
A Woman First: A Memoir
by Selina MeyerA hilarious parody memoir for the beloved Veep character portrayed for seven seasons by Emmy-winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus.Born and raised deep in the American heartland of God-fearing suburban Maryland, young Selina Eaton learned to love her country and her fellow man from her parents, Catherine, a sportswoman, dog lover, and philanthropist, and Gordon, or “Daddy” as she always called him, a businessman and entrepreneur. From an early age, Selina, an active, curious, happy-go-lucky child, showed an uncanny ability to relate to others and to solve their real-world problems with real-world solutions. In this she was inspired by her idol: feminist, humanitarian, stateswoman, and first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.Eleanor Roosevelt maintained a lively relationship with many prominent figures of her time, including Adlai Stevenson, John F. Kennedy, Albert Schweitzer, and probably Pablo Casals. She inspired countless women to break out of the established roles for women in society, among them the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart, with whom she flew several times.Dubbed the “Queen of the Air,” Amelia Earhart captivated the nation both with her bravery, skill, and daring when flying her planes and when challenging society’s hidebound attitudes as to what constituted a proper place for women. America mourned when she disappeared mysteriously somewhere in the Pacific during an attempted around-the-world flight in 1937. Speculation continues to this day as to Amelia’s ultimate fate, even as hope has faded that she may yet be found alive.With wit, wisdom, eloquence, and fearless honesty, Selina Meyer reveals for the first time what really goes on in the halls of power, including the ultimate hall, the White House. It’s all here: the triumphs, the tragedies, the personalities, and the momentous events that have shaped our times, brought together in a page-turning tale told as only Selina Meyer could tell it. Selina Meyer’s compassion, her sense of humor, her grace, and her uncommon willingness to bare her heart make this story revelatory, beautifully rendered, and unlike any other president’s memoir ever written. First Woman: A Woman First would be a fitting title for a book about Selina Meyer, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Amelia Earhart, but in this case, it is about Selina Meyer.
More Fool Me: A Memoir
by Stephen FryThe British comedian recounts the highs and lows of his wild years: “A gifted writer with a perfect sense of comic timing and anecdote-spinning . . . Lots of fun.” —Kirkus ReviewsBy his early thirties, Stephen Fry—writer, comedian, star of stage and screen—had, as they say, “made it.” Much loved on British television, author of a critically acclaimed and bestselling first novel, with a glamorous and glittering cast of friends, he had more work than was perhaps good for him. As the ‘80s drew to a close, he began to burn the candle at both ends. Writing and recording by day, and haunting a never-ending series of celebrity parties, drinking dens, and poker games by night, he was a high functioning addict. He was so busy, so distracted by the high life, that he could hardly see the inevitable, headlong tumble that must surely follow . . . Filled with raw, electric extracts from his diaries of the time, More Fool Me is a brilliant, eloquent account by a man driven to create and to entertain—revealing a side to him he has long kept hidden.“Fry is an astonishingly charming fellow: erudite, playful and capable of writing in a style so intimate that readers can picture themselves sitting next to him at a splendid dinner party as he rather one-sidedly entertains the entire table.” —Slate
Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald
by Matthew J. Bruccoli&“Epic indeed, this is the definitive biography of Fitzgerald, plain and simple. There&’s no reason to own another.&” —Library Journal The Great Gatsby, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender Is the Night, &“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.&” These works and more elevated F. Scott Fitzgerald to his place as one of the most important American authors of the twentieth century. After struggling to become a screenwriter in Hollywood, Fitzgerald was working on The Last Tycoon when he died of a heart attack in 1940. He was only forty-four years old. Fitzgerald left behind his own mythology. He was a prince charming, a drunken author, a spoiled genius, the personification of the Jazz Age, and a sacrificial victim of the Depression. Here, Matthew J. Bruccoli strips away the façade of this flawed literary hero. He focuses on Fitzgerald as a writer by tracing the development of his major works and his professional career. Beginning with his Midwest upbringing and first published works as a teenager, this biography follows Fitzgerald&’s life through the successful debut of This Side of Paradise, his turbulent marriage to Zelda Sayre, his time in Europe among The Lost Generation, the disappointing release of The Great Gatsby, and his ignominious fall. As former US poet laureate James Dickey said, &“the spirit of the man is in the facts, and these, as gathered and marshalled by Bruccoli over thirty years, are all we will ever need. But more important, they are what we need.&”
The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography
by Stephen FryThe British actor, writer, and comedy legend tells his story: “Funny, poignant . . . His prose feels like an ideal form of conversation.” —The Washington PostA #1 Sunday Times BestsellerWhen Stephen Fry arrived at Cambridge, he was a convicted thief, an addict, and a failed suicide, convinced that he would be expelled. Instead, university life offered him love and the chance to entertain. He befriended bright young things like Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson, and delighted audiences with Blackadder and A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Covering most of his twenties, this is the riotous and utterly compelling story of how the Stephen the world knows (or thinks it knows) took his first steps in theater, radio, television, and film. Tales of scandal and champagne jostle with insights into hard-earned stardom. The Fry Chronicles is not afraid to confront the chasm that separates public image from private feeling, and it is marvelously rich in trademark wit and verbal brilliance.“Charming.” —The Wall Street Journal“Genuinely touching and often hilarious.” —Publishers Weekly
X-Ray: The Unauthorized Autobiography
by Ray Davies“Like his songs, Davies’s book is alternately poignant, funny, and bawdy . . . indispensable for Kinks fans and recommended for anyone interested in 1960s pop music.” —Library JournalThis subversively brilliant, one-of-a-kind rock autobiography is ingeniously styled as a biography, written by a nameless, faceless writer hired by an Orwellian entity called “the Corporation” to capture the essence of Ray Davies, lead singer and songwriter of the Kinks and one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time. The Kinks frontman reveals his life and times to the young writer, often seemingly passing his stories directly into the writer’s consciousness. Carnaby Street, Top of the Pops, the Cavern Club, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and other fixtures of the times fade in and out of this compelling narrative. Part autobiography, part social history, part psychological thriller, this elusive and daring book exposes rock stardom as the heaven, hell, and purgatory it is.“In an age when everybody’s in show business and writes a lousy book about it, Ray Davies is to be honored for not doing the usual thing. We would expect no less of him.” —Rolling Stone“A major addition to pop-culture literature.” —Booklist
Back From the Future: A Celebration of the Greatest Time Travel Story Ever Told
by Brad GilmoreThe ultimate guide to the classic time travel trilogy by the host of Back to the Future: The Podcast—“Great Scott, this is a must-read” (Ken Napzak, author of Why We Love Star Wars).The Back to the Future series of films is, in a word, timeless. From the original films to spin-off cartoons, toys and more, generations of fans never seem to get enough of Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and their adventures through the space-time continuum. In this celebration of all things Back to the Future, author Brad Gilmore discusses the films, the fascinating history behind them, and why they mean so much to so many.Pairing his knowledge with his passion for the films, Gilmore explores aspects and movie trivia you won’t hear about anywhere else. He dives into fan theories and provides answers to many questions readers have—because, as a superfan himself, they are the very questions he has asked himself.This volume features:Completed timelines of all the main characters from the franchiseIn-depth studies of various Back to the Future fan theories that will surprise and intrigue youA detailed comparison of the films’ predictions of the future to our world today
Susan Boyle: Dreams Can Come True
by Alice MontgomeryAn unauthorized biography examining the inspirational Cinderella story of the British TV talent show competitor who shocked the world.On Britain’s Got Talent on 11 April 2009, forty-year-old spinster Susan Magdalane Boyle stepped out onto the stage to jeers and sniggers.As she announced she was going to sing “I Dreamed a Dream,” the judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan didn’t bother to hide their amusement. One minute later they, and very soon the world, were giving Susan Boyle a standing ovation. She had the voice of an angel, and her story was to become a modern day fairytale, a dream come true.In hours the news of Susan’s extraordinary, heartbreaking performance had spread around the globe. She was an instant international star. And today she holds the record for the fastest selling female debut album of all time.In this, the first book to explore Susan’s amazing rags to riches story, we follow her from her humble West Lothian background to topping the charts and performing for millions worldwide on TV. Whether it was bullying or nearly not entering Britain’s Got Talent because “it was a young person’s game,” when faced with the toughest challenges, Susan never gave up. The memory of her mother inspired her to give her dream one last chance.
The Misfit
by Steven PoserA fascinating account of the unusual relationship between Marilyn Monroe and her last psychiatrist in the fifteen months leading to her suicide. Marilyn Monroe is remembered as both an iconic sex symbol and a heartbreaking figure who suffered through a chaotic childhood and wrestled with addiction and mental illness. This short true account shines new light on the last days of her life. Dr. Ralph Greenson, a clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA Medical School and a star among Hollywood psychoanalysts, treated Monroe for the fifteen months before her August 1962 suicide. He saw her seven days a week and brought her into his home. He never got over losing her. Written by a practicing psychoanalyst, The Misfit recounts this tragic alliance and Marilyn Monroe&’s borderline personality, offering compelling insight into the deteriorating mental state of a singular superstar.
Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story
by John YorkeAn analysis of the fundamental narrative structure, why it works, the meanings of stories, and why we tell them in the first place.The idea of Into the Woods is not to supplant works by Aristotle, Lajos Egri, Robert McKee, David Mamet, or any other writers of guides for screenwriters and playwrights, but to pick up on their cues and take the reader on a historical, philosophical, scientific, and psychological journey to the heart of all storytelling. In this exciting and wholly original book, John Yorke not only shows that there is truly a unifying shape to narrative—one that echoes the great fairytale journey into the woods, and one, like any great art, that comes from deep within—he explains why, too. With examples ranging from The Godfather to True Detective, Mad Men to Macbeth, and fairy tales to Forbrydelsen (The Killing), Yorke utilizes Shakespearean five-act structure as a key to analyzing all storytelling in all narrative forms, from film and television to theatre and novel-writing—a big step from the usual three-act approach. Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey into Story is destined to sit alongside David Mamet’s Three Uses of the Knife, Robert McKee’s Story, Syd Field’s Screenplay, and Lajos Egri’s The Art of Dramatic Writing as one of the most original, useful, and inspiring books ever on dramatic writing.Praise for Into the Woods“Love storytelling? You need this inspiring book. John Yorke dissects the structure of stories with a joyous enthusiasm allied to precise, encyclopedic knowledge. Guaranteed to send you back to your writing desk with newfound excitement and drive.” —Chris Chibnall, creator/writer, Broadchurch and Gracepoint“Outrageously good and by far and away the best book of its kind I’ve ever read. I recognized so much truth in it. But more than that, I learned a great deal. Time and again, Yorke articulates things I’ve always felt but have never been able to describe. . . . This is a love story to story—erudite, witty and full of practical magic. I struggle to think of the writer who wouldn’t benefit from reading it—even if they don’t notice because they’re too busy enjoying every page.” —Neil Cross, creator/writer, Luther and Crossbones“Part ‘how-to’ manual, part ‘why-to’ celebration, Into the Woods is a wide-reaching and infectiously passionate exploration of storytelling in all its guises . . . exciting and thought-provoking.” —Emma Frost, screenwriter, The White Queen and Shameless
My First Hundred Years in Show Business: A Memoir
by Mary Louise WilsonThis Tony winner&’s memoir is &“a riot of characters met and characters played . . . a funny, frank, and savvy chronicle of a wonderful life.&” —David Hyde Pierce Mary Louise Wilson became a star at age sixty with her smash one-woman play Full Gallop, portraying legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. But before and since, her life and career—including the Tony Award for her portrayal of Big Edie in Grey Gardens—have been celebrated and varied. Raised in New Orleans with a social climbing, alcoholic mother, Mary Louise moved to New York City in the late 1950s; lived with her gay brother in the Village; entered the nightclub scene in a legendary revue; and rubbed shoulders with every famous person of that era and since. My First Hundred Years in Show Business gets it all down. Yet as delicious as the anecdotes are, the heart of this book is in its unblinkingly honest depiction of the life of a working actor. In her inimitable voice—wry, admirably unsentimental, mordantly funny—Mary Louise Wilson has crafted a work that is at once a teeming social history of the New York theatre scene and a thoroughly revealing, superbly entertaining memoir of the life of an extraordinary woman and actor. &“Brims with anecdotes . . . plenty of laughs [and] plenty of candor, too.&” —Nola.com
True Blood (And Other Creatures of Satan): A Field Guide to Vampires
by Gianna Sobol Michael McMillianA hilarious handbook by Bon Temps&’s famed anti-vampire activist—with photos, letters, and some snark in the margins from Pam and Eric . . . The vampires, werewolves, faeries, and other supernatural creatures that call Bon Temps, Louisiana home aren&’t universally accepted around town—and sweet-talking, bible-thumping Steve Newlin is their self-appointed nemesis. In his demented field guide, Steve has recorded all he knows about these Creatures of Satan, and that&’s a lot: their strengths, their weaknesses, their bylaws, and, of course, how to kill them. Sadly for Steve—but luckily for True Blood fans everywhere—his journal was stolen by Fangtasia vampires Pam and Eric, who have defaced it in a most disrespectful and snarky manner. From an associate producer of the show and the actor who played Steve, Steve Newlin&’s Field Guide to Vampires is packed with untold insight into these compelling characters, along with photos, letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and Steve&’s own idle doodles, perfectly capturing the tongue-in-cheek camp that made True Blood a major HBO hit and a genuine TV classic.
Someone Has to Set a Bad Example: An Anne Taintor Collection
by Anne TaintorThe phenomenally popular artist wittily reveals the realities behind images of perfect women in midcentury marketing. We can&’t be good all the time, and no one knows it better than Anne Taintor. This generous collection of her most popular artwork includes more than 150 images in categories such as friendship (a real friend will help you hide the body), motherhood (WOW! I get to give birth AND change diapers!), money (screw the budget!), attitude (let a smirk be your umbrella), and more. Also featuring an introduction by Taintor, this hilarious volume perfectly captures the deliciously sarcastic, snarky, and honest things that most women have found themselves thinking at one time or another. If you&’re looking for trouble, look no further. . . .
Michael Jackson: The Life & Legacy of Pop Music's King
by Daryl EasleaRelive the incredible history of the King of Pop in reverse. Michael Jackson: Rewind charts the life to Michael from his tragic, unexpected passing to his childhood.By the time Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, he had sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide over his career. He had won 26 American Music Awards and 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was ranked number three, after The Beatles and Elvis Presley, of best-selling music artists. Five years after his death, the net worth of his estate is more than 600 million dollars. He is, without a doubt, one of the most popular - and controversial - artists of all time. Now, for the first time ever, author Daryl Easlea will explore the life and history of Michael Jackson... in reverse. Starting with his tragic death and rewinding to his early hits with the Jackson 5 and life in Gary, Indiana, this is a complete illustrated history of the King of Pop: his genius, his life, and his demons. Loaded with over 300 images, a timeline of his life, a complete discography, and more, this is the must-have book for any Michael Jackson fan.
Watching Porn: And Other Confessions of an Adult Entertainment Journalist
by Lynsey G“Lynsey G. is an intrepid explorer, boldly going where few reporters have gone with such a critical eye: deep inside the real world of commercial sex.” —Tina Horn, host of the Why Are People Into That?! podcast Lynsey G. never imagined that she would ever work in porn, but at twenty-four years old, with a degree in English literature and an empty bank account, she found herself reviewing the film East Coast ASSault for an adult magazine in New York City. One interview later and it was official: she was a porn journalist. The job was supposed to be temporary—just a paycheck until she could spark her legitimate writing career—but she loved it and spent nearly a decade describing the nuances of money shots and the effectiveness of sex toys. As both a porn consumer and a porn critic, she was not quite an insider, not quite an outsider, but came to know the industry intimately.She found it so fascinating that she co-founded WHACK! Magazine. Finally, she had a platform to voice her thoughts and observations of the adult film world, as well as educate the rest of us about what really goes on behind the scenes. Eventually, Lynsey was thrust back into the “real” world, but not before realizing that one of the most diverse and nebulous—and profitable—industries on the planet isn’t so quite as different from the rest of the world as she thought. Tantalizing, eye-opening, and witty, Watching Porn is a provocative book about an average girl’s foray into the porn industry and the people who make it what it is, both in front of and behind the camera.“Marvelous.” —The New York Times Book Review
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman
by Brooke ShieldsINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom generational icon Brooke Shields comes an intimate and empowering exploration of aging that flips the script on the idea of what it means for a woman to grow olderBrooke Shields has spent a lifetime in the public eye. Growing up as a child actor and model, her every feature was scrutinized, her every decision judged. Today Brooke faces a different kind of scrutiny: that of being a “woman of a certain age.”And yet, for Brooke, the passage of time has brought freedom. At fifty-nine, she feels more comfortable in her skin, more empowered and confident than she did decades ago in those famous Calvin Kleins. Now, in Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old, she’s changing the narrative about women and aging.This is an era, insists Brooke, when women are reclaiming agency and power, not receding into the shadows. These are the years when we get to decide how we want to live—when we get to write our own stories.With remarkable candor, Brooke bares all, painting a vibrant and optimistic picture of being a woman in the prime of her life, while dismantling the myths that have, for too long, dimmed that perception. Sharing her own life experiences with humor and humility, and weaving together research and reporting, Brooke takes aim at the systemic factors that contribute to age-related bias.By turns inspiring, moving, and galvanizing, Brooke’s honesty and vulnerability will resonate with women everywhere, and spark a new conversation about the power and promise of midlife.