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Popular Culture September 2020
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Solutions and Other Problems by Allie BroshWhat it is: The creator of the award-winning Hyperbole and a Half presents a new collection of comedic, autobiographical and deceptively illustrated essays on topics ranging from childhood and very bad pets to grief, loneliness and powerlessness in modern life. Why you might like it: Similar to her blog and previous book, Brosh is relatable and often humorous, whether discussing loneliness; navigating health issues; or trying too hard to either interact with or avoid neighbors, depending on the day. Reviewers say: "Will make you laugh until you sob, even when Brosh describes her struggle with depression." --Entertainment Weekly
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| The Lost Memoir by Lou Gehrig with a biographical essay by Alan D. GaffWhat it is: a recently rediscovered memoir from New York Yankees baseball legend Lou Gehrig that was originally written as a series of columns for the Oakland Tribune in 1927.
Why you might like it: This humble, homespun narrative features a richly detailed essay from scholar Alan D. Gaff that chronicles the Hall of Famer's achievements (including his lifetime stats) and legacy.
Want a taste? "I'm proud of the game and all who play it. And as long as I wear a big-league uniform, I will give all I can to the game." |
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A very punchable face : a memoir by Colin JostWhat it is: In a collection of humorous essays, the Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor tells the story of his life so far. What's in it: You'll go behind the scenes at SNL (where he's written some of the most iconic sketches and characters of the past fifteen years) and Weekend Update. You'll experience the life of a touring stand-up comedian-from performing in rural cafeterias at noon to opening for Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall. Why you might like it: "A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy-with a face you can't help but want to punch".-provided by publisher
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| You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success by Al RokerWhat it's about: the life lessons beloved Today co-host Al Roker has learned throughout his four-decade career in TV.
Read it for: a heartwarming and conversational blend of memoir and self-help.
Want a taste? "It doesn't matter that you're not the star; it matters that you're part of the constellation." |
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What's in it: Includes coverage of his complicated New York childhood, service in Vietnam, cocaine addiction and creative struggles and triumphs in 1970s and 1980s Hollywood. Reviewers say: The Oliver Stone depicted in these pages — vulnerable, introspective, stubbornly tenacious and frequently heartbroken — may just be the most sympathetic character he’s ever written… neatly sets the stage for the possibility of that rarest of Stone productions: a sequel.” —New York Times Book Review
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| You Play the Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Trainwrecks, & Other Mixed... by Carina ChocanoWhat it is: a witty and incisive collection exploring the limitations of pop culture portrayals of women characters.
What's inside: essays on Bewitched, the Real Housewives franchise, Sex and the City, Pretty Woman, Frozen, and many more.
Awards buzz: You Play the Girl won the 2017 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. |
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| Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st... by Chuck KlostermanWhat it is: the 10th irreverent book by cultural critic Chuck Klosterman.
Who it's for: Fans and newcomers alike will appreciate Klosterman's entertaining collection of previously published pieces from 2007-2017, which include updated introductions and footnotes.
Featuring: illuminating profiles of Taylor Swift and Kobe Bryant; a thoughtful essay on empathizing with Peanuts' Charlie Brown. |
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| I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution by Emily NussbaumWhat it is: a collection of new and previously published pieces from Pulitzer Prize-winning former New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum.
Read it for: a thought-provoking exploration of TV as art form that gives equal critical consideration to low-brow and high-brow series.
Topics include: the relationship between #MeToo and criticism; TV in the time of Trump; toxic fandom; how Buffy the Vampire Slayer inspired Nussbaum to become a critic. |
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| Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia TolentinoWhat it's about: the complexities and contradictions of American culture and identity.
Is it for you? Balancing wry humor with bleak insights, this 2019 New York Times Notable Book offers a well-researched collection of pieces that will resonate with New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino's fellow millennials.
Don't miss: "Reality TV Me," in which Tolentino reflects on her time as a contestant on a teen reality show competition. |
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| What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays by Damon YoungWhat it is: a candid collection of humorous and bittersweet musings on contemporary Black manhood.
Topics include: gentrification's impact on author Damon Young's Pittsburgh neighborhood; the relationships forged in barbershops and on basketball courts; the use (and misuse) of racial epithets.
Author alert: Debut author Young is the co-founder of the website Very Smart Brothas and a senior editor at The Root. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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