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Popular Culture March 2021
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Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix
by Philip Norman
What it is: a descriptive and engaging biography of legendary rock musician Jimi Hendrix.
Read it for: fresh insights from Hendrix's family and associates, including his brother Leon Hendrix and British model Linda Keith, who helped discover him.
Book buzz: Published to mark the 50th anniversary of Hendrix's death, this evocative latest from acclaimed rock biographer Philip Norman is an "entertaining, psychedelically tinged portrait" (Publishers Weekly).
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Black Boy Out of Time : A Memoir
by Hari Ziyad
A cultural critic, screenwriter, and editor in chief of RaceBaitr and discusses gender, race and the challenges of growing up Black and queer as one of nineteen children in a blended family in Cleveland, Ohio.
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| True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham RiesmanWhat it is: a well-researched biography of Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee.
What sets it apart: Abraham Riesman's illuminating portrait offers fresh insights on Lee's troubled family relationships, failed business dealings, and authorship disputes with artists Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby.
Reviewers say: "This detailed, clear-eyed examination pulls back the curtain on one of America's great storytellers and is sure to reignite debates over Lee's legacy" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar Starring: NYC-based comedian and Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Amber Ruffin; and her sister Lacey Lamar, who lives in Omaha, NE.
What's inside: Lacey's firsthand accounts of the racist treatment she's received living in the Midwest, paired with the sisters' funny yet frank commentary on each incident and illustrative photographs.
Who it's for: With its conversational tone, this “must-read” (Library Journal) will appeal to Black women who can relate to the authors' experiences and to readers looking for eye-opening insights on racism. |
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| Just As I Am by Cicely TysonWhat it is: an engaging memoir by iconic Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson, published just two days before her death in January at age 96.
Topics include: how Tyson broke barriers and combatted stereotypes in the entertainment industry, including being the first Black actress to wear her natural hair on TV and earning an Oscar nomination for 1972's Sounder, her first lead film role; her volatile relationship with Miles Davis, to whom she was married for eight years. |
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Is everyone hanging out without me? (and other concerns)
by Mindy Kaling
The Emmy-nominated writer and actress best known as Kelly Kapoor on The Office shares her observations on a wide range of topics from favorite male archetypes and her hatred of dieting to her loving relationship with her mother and the haphazard creative process in the Office writers' room.
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| The Princess Diarist by Carrie FisherWhat it is: actress Carrie Fisher's self-deprecating behind-the-scenes account of making the first Star Wars movie at age 19.
Featuring: Fisher's earnest diary entries and poems written during the film's production, which reveal her crush on (and eventual affair with) co-star Harrison Ford; her present-day recollections on the relationship.
Want a taste? “If Harrison was unable to see that I had feelings for him (at least five, but sometimes as many as seven) then he wasn't as smart as I thought he was -- as I knew he was." |
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You can't touch my hair : and other things I still have to explain
by Phoebe Robinson
The stand-up comedian and WNYC podcaster offers humorous, poignant essays describing her experience as a black woman in modern America on topics such as how she¡s been questioned on her love of Billy Joel and U2 and why you can¡t touch her hair.
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| Rabbit by Patricia WilliamsWhat it's about: comedian Patricia Williams' (aka "Ms. Pat") impoverished upbringing in 1980s Atlanta and her determination to find a better life for her own children.
For fans of: inspiring accounts of overcoming adversity that pull no punches, like Tiffany Haddish's The Last Black Unicorn.
Don't miss: Williams' caseworker offhandedly suggesting she turn to comedy when her criminal record made it difficult to find a job. |
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| Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali WongWhat is: an upbeat and unfiltered collection of letters addressed to comedian Ali Wong's toddler-age daughters, offering hard-won advice from her life on and off the stage.
Topics include: Wong's Vietnamese Chinese upbringing; early career failings; marriage and motherhood; hobnobbing with celebrities.
Reviewers say: "A down-to-earth collection that is raw but not irreverent" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Newmarket Public Library 438 Park Ave. Newmarket, Ontario L3Y1W1 905-953-5110www.newmarketpl.ca |
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