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Popular Culture November 2020
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| Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix by Philip NormanWhat 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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| The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives by Nancy Pearl & Jeff SchwagerWhat it is: A lively collection of interviews with 22 authors on the books that have touched their lives and influenced their careers.
What's inside: Candid reflections from Michael Chabon, Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Louise Erdrich, T.C. Boyle, Susan Choi, and more.
Want a taste? "One of the best parts of talking about books with people...is discovering that you share a love of the same books." |
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| Is This Anything? by Jerry SeinfeldWhat it is: A decade-by-decade collection of memorable bits from Jerry Seinfeld's 45-year comedy career.
Featuring: Brief anecdotes on career highlights, including his first time going to a comedy club and his collaborations with Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
Reviewers say: "essential reading for comedy fans, from a master of the form" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah SmarshWhat it's about: Country superstar Dolly Parton's musical and cultural legacy.
What sets it apart: Heartland author Sarah Smarsh's thoughtful exploration of how Parton's music resonates with working-class women and folks from marginalized communities.
For fans of: NPR's Dolly Parton's America podcast, on which Smarsh appeared as an interviewee. |
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| The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism by Howard BryantWhat it is: A thought-provoking exploration of sports activism and the roles Black athletes play in publicizing social justice initiatives.
Featuring: Interviews with Colin Kaepernick, David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, and Chris Webber.
Further reading: Bob Schron's sweeping history Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand: African American Athletes and the Fight for Social Justice. |
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| Northern Lights: One Woman, Two Teams, and the Football Field That Changed Their Lives by Cathy Parker with David ThomasWhat it's about: In 2006, football mom Cathy Parker caught an ESPN broadcast about the Whalers, an Iñupiat high school football team in Barrow (now Utqiagvik), Alaska who played on a gravel field.
What happened next: Parker helped raise more than $500,000 to buy the Whalers a field, but shipping turf to the Arctic Circle proved to be a unique and humbling challenge.
Is it for you? Readers who like faith-based sports stories like The Blind Side will enjoy this inspiring read. |
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| Jim Brown: Last Man Standing by Dave ZirinWhat it's about: The life, career, and complicated legacy of fullback Jim Brown, who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957-1966.
Topics include: Brown's political activism and role in the Black Power movement of the 1960s; his post-retirement foray into Hollywood, where he hoped to become the "Black John Wayne;" his turbulent personal life, which includes multiple allegations of violence against women.
Reviewers say: "the definitive biography of Brown" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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