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Popular Culture January 2020
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The bold world : a memoir of family and transformation
by Jodie Patterson
What it's about: A respected activist, entrepreneur and writer draws on inspiration from her 10-year-old transgender child in an exploration of identity, gender, authenticity and race as they have shaped generations of her African-American family.
Reviewers say: “Patterson leaves no emotional stone unturned in her powerful chronicle. . . . [This] raw tour de force illustrates the strength of a loving and determined mother” (Publishers Weekly).
People also read: The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias, Dolly Chugh; So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo; What We Will Become: A Mother, a Son, and a Journey of Transformation, Mimi Lemay.
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| Jay-Z: Made in America by Michael Eric Dyson; foreword by PharrellWhat it's about: Written to coincide with rapper Jay-Z's 50th birthday, this concise primer celebrates his artistry and cultural impact.
Is it for you? Longtime Jay-Z fans may not find much new info here, though curious newbies and lovers of cultural critique will appreciate Michael Eric Dyson's incisive study.
Try this next: Fans of Jay-Z's equally famous wife will want to pick up Queen Bey, a thought-provoking study of Beyoncé's artistry and activism, edited by Veronica Chambers. |
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Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem
by Daniel R. Day
What it is: a moving memoir by groundbreaking fashion designer Daniel Day, who parlayed the hustling skills he acquired as an impoverished Harlem youth into a successful career designing street wear.
Why it matters: Day's designs, popularized by hip-hop artists and athletes, have left an indelible mark on black culture since the 1980s.
Want a taste? "Fashion for me wasn't about expression. Fashion was about power."
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Invisible women : data bias in a world designed for men
by Caroline Criado-Perez.
What it is: A groundbreaking, unforgettable exposé, by a leading feminist activist examines how a gender gap in data perpetuates bias and disadvantages women by diving into women’s lives at home, the workplace, the public square, the doctor’s office and more.
About the Author: Caroline Criado Perez is a writer, broadcaster, and feminist activist, named Liberty Human Rights Campaigner of the Year. She has a degree in English language and literature from the University of Oxford, and she studied behavioral and feminist economics at the London School of Economics.
Further reading: Do It Like a Woman: ... and Change the World, Caroline Criado-Perez.
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| Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation by Michael PowellWelcome to... the Navajo reservation's Chinle High School, home of the scrappy Wildcats who've set their sights on a basketball championship despite the odds stacked against them.
Read it for: a clear-eyed portrait of reservation life and culture.
For fans of: Friday Night Lights and underdog sports stories. |
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| All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire by Jonathan AbramsWhat it is: a reflective look back at the groundbreaking HBO crime series The Wire.
What's inside: revealing interviews with the show's cast and crew, including Dominic West, Idris Elba, and Michael B. Jordan.
Further reading: Rafael Alvarez's The Wire: Truth Be Told offers a richly detailed companion to the series. |
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| The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America by Isaac Butler and Dan KoisWhat it is: a moving oral history of Angels in America, published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play's Broadway premiere.
Read it for: humorous anecdotes about the play's inauspicious early days of production; insights from actors like Meryl Streep, who remarks that Angels in America was "the Hamilton of its time."
Book buzz: The World Only Spins Forward was an NPR Best Book of 2018. |
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| As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden; foreword by Rob ReinerWhat it's about: actor Cary Elwes' experiences filming the 1987 adaptation of William Goldman's The Princess Bride.
Have fun storming the castle: Featuring never-before-told stories and reminiscences from cast, crew, and Goldman himself, this nostalgic and heartfelt read is perfect for fans of the highly quotable cult classic.
Inconceivable! François Truffaut was once attached to direct the film. |
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| Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop by Marc MyersWhat it is: a toe-tapping, genre-spanning, five-decade retrospective of 45 popular songs, full of insights from the artists who created them.
Featuring: "Please Mr. Postman;" "Stand by Your Man;" "Walk This Way;" "Heart of Glass;" "London Calling."
Don't miss: Mick Jagger setting the record straight about the drug-laden subtext of "Moonlight Mile." |
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| Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for... by Mike Reiss with Mathew Klickstein; foreword by Judd ApatowWhat it is: an engaging behind-the-scenes look at The Simpsons by Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Mike Reiss, who's been involved with the series since its 1989 inception.
What's inside: juicy tidbits on the show's production and famous guest stars; answers to fans' burning questions; an honest assessment of the show's controversial depiction of Indian character Apu.
Reviewers say: "A charming look at a cherished American show" (Kirkus); "laugh-out-loud hilarious" (Booklist). |
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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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