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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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Jacinda Ardern : The Story Behind an Extraordinary Leader
by Michelle Duff
What it is: "an engrossing and powerful exploration of one of the most intriguing political stories of our time - telling us as much about one young woman's ascendancy as it does about the country that elected her." (from book cover)
Why you might like it: as New Zeland's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern is one of the most influential people in the world. Take a look at her journey to this position.
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The three mothers : how the mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin shaped a nation
by Anna Malaika Tubbs
What it is: A Gates Cambridge Scholar presents a tribute to the mothers of Malcolm X, James Baldwin and Martin Luther King, Jr., to share insights into the prejudices they endured, their commitment to education and their anti-racism advocacy.
Reviewers say: "Tubbs skillfully draws parallels between each woman’s story, and vividly captures the early years of the civil rights movement. This immersive history gives credit where it’s long overdue" (Publisher's Weekly).
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| When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who... by Jennifer Keishin ArmstrongWhat it is: a fast-paced and engaging history of television's early days and four women who pioneered the medium.
Starring: Hazel Scott, the first African American to host a primetime show; Gertrude Berg, who created The Goldbergs, TV's first depiction of a Jewish American family; Irna Phillips, creator of Guiding Light and other soap operas; and Betty White, who developed her own talk show.
Try this next: J.E. Smyth's Nobody's Girl Friday: The Women Who Ran Hollywood. |
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Dare to Make History : Chasing a Dream and Fighting for Equity
by Jocelyne Lamoureux-davidson
What it's about: The Olympic gold medalists on the historic 2018 US women’s ice hockey team – and identical twins – tell their story of grit and determination in a world dominated by men as they fought for gender equality in hockey, sports and beyond.
Reviewers say: "...the story of a remarkable friendship in which two sisters challenged and motivated each other to reach the top of their field" (Kirkus).
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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.
Reviewers say: "An exuberant celebration of musical genius" (Kirkus). |
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Mike Nichols : a life
by Mark Harris
What it is: The author of Pictures at a Revolution draws on interviews with such notables as Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks to document the remarkable creative achievements and private struggles of entertainment wunderkind, Mike Nichols.
Reviewers say: "a joyously readable and balanced account of a complex man" (Publisher's Weekly).
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| Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America's First... by Tana WojczukStarring: charismatic American stage actress Charlotte Cushman, who eschewed rigid 19th-century gender norms to become beloved by audiences worldwide.
Read it for: a lively tribute to an unabashedly queer woman who forged a radical path both on and off stage.
Did you know? The character of Miss Cameron in Louisa May Alcott's novel Jo's Boys is based on Cushman. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Twin Falls Public Library201 4th Ave. ETwin Falls, Idaho 83301208-733-2964
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