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| A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif AbdurraqibWhat it is: Poet and critic Hanif Abdurraqib's collection of lyrical essays exploring the impact of Black art and performance in American culture.
Read it for: An intimate and wide-ranging blend of memoir and analysis that centers Black visibility in music, comedy, sports, magic, and more.
Don't miss: "I Would Like to Give Merry Clayton Her Roses," which celebrates the overlooked accomplishments of gospel singer and "Gimme Shelter" background vocalist Merry Clayton. |
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| Shooting Midnight Cowboy: Art, Sex, Loneliness, Liberation, and the Making of... by Glenn FrankelWhat it's about: The making of controversial classic Midnight Cowboy, the first (and only) X-rated film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Why you might like it: Featuring interviews with the film's stars and portraits of the creatives who helmed the production, this immersive and richly detailed account explores how Midnight Cowboy reflected the social turmoil and shifting mores of late-1960s America. |
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| The Marathon Don't Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle by Rob KennerWhat it is: The first biography of rapper, activist, and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle, who was tragically murdered in 2019 at age 33.
Why you should read it: This "rousing and powerful" (Library Journal) chronicle offers a nuanced portrait of an influential artist who left a lasting legacy in the music industry and the South Los Angeles community he helped rebuild.
About the author: Hip-hop journalist and Vibe magazine founding editor Rob Kenner followed Hussle's career for more than a decade. |
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| Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo by Jo KoyWhat it's about: Filipino American comedian Jo Koy's hard-won battle for success in the entertainment industry.
Topics include: How Koy's mixed-race and impoverished upbringing informed his comedy; his career influences and joke-writing process.
Featuring: Recipes for Koy's favorite Filipino dishes, including chicken adobo and lumpia; never-before-seen photographs. |
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| Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning by Leslie Odom, Jr. What it is: A witty blend of memoir and self-help written by Tony and Grammy Award-winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr.
Who it's for: Though it was written for teen audiences, anyone looking for inspiration to follow their dreams will be encouraged by Odom's candid advice.
Want a taste? "The path to moments of greatness in your life will be paved, in part, with your spectacular failures." |
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| Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution by Todd S. PurdumWhat it's about: The fruitful creative partnership between composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, whose collaborations ushered in the Golden Age of musical theater in the mid-20th century.
Why you might like it: This evocative, occasionally gossipy chronicle captures the pair's creative process, tracking career highs (Pulitzer Prize wins for Oklahoma! and South Pacific), lows (flops like 1947's Allegro), and frequent personality clashes. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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