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Popular Culture September 2020
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Finding freedom : Harry and Meghan and the making of a modern royal family
by Omid Scobie
What it is: an honest, up-close and disarming portrait of a confident, influential and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, and determined to create a new path away from the spotlight.
Read it for: a new perspective. Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have witnessed the young couple’s lives as few outsiders can as members of the select group of reporters that cover the British Royal Family and their engagements.
Reviewers say: "This is the juicy stuff we've been waiting for." --New York Magazine
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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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Hoax : Donald Trump, Fox News, and the dangerous distortion of the truth
by Brian Stelter
What it is: an examination of the 45th President's complicated relationship with the media and his controversial relationship with the Fox News network.
About the author: Brian Stelter is the chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide and anchor of Reliable Sources, which examines the world’s top media stories every Sunday. Prior to joining CNN in 2013, Stelter was a media reporter at The New York Times.
How big of a deal is it? Huge.
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Veritas : a Harvard professor, a con man, and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife
by Ariel Sabar
What it's about: the gripping true story of a sensational religious forgery and the scandal that shook Harvard.
Read it for: fierce intellectual rivalries at the highest levels of academia.
Reviewers say: "[A] madcap, unforgettable book...for enthusiasts of ancient Christianity...and readers of idea-driven capers, whether by Daniel Silva or Janet Malcolm. -- New York Times Book Review
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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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| 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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TV (the book) : two experts pick the greatest American shows of all time
by Alan Sepinwall
What it is: The TV critic for New York Magazine and editor-in-chief of RogerEbert.com and the TV critic for HitFix.com team up to identify and rank the 100 greatest scripted shows in American TV history, each of which are accompanied by essays.
Also: a section titled "Works in Progress," highlights some of their favorite current shows, as well as a section honoring shows that were not good enough to make it into the rankings titled "A Certain Regard."
Wait, there's more: included are also several essays noting TV's best miniseries, movies, and televised plays.
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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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Forsyth County Public Library 660 W 5th Street Winston Salem, North Carolina 27101 336-703-3030www.forsythlibrary.org |
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