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Popular Culture September 2020
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| Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina by Chris FrantzWhat it is: a vivid and upbeat memoir from Talking Heads drummer and co-founder Chris Frantz.
Topics include: Frantz's marriage to bandmate Tina Weymouth, with whom he co-created the new wave band Tom Tom Club in 1981; touring with the Ramones in 1977; Talking Heads' breakup in 1991.
Don't miss: juicy dish on former bandmate David Byrne, whom Frantz paints as an egotistical jerk. |
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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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Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure
by Amy Kaufman
What it's about: In this dishy exposé, Amy Kaufman peeks behind the curtain of long-running reality show The Bachelor, interviewing former contestants and profiling the show's manipulative producers. Commentary from celebrity fans like Amy Schumer and Donnie Wahlberg is interspersed throughout.
About the author: Los Angeles Times entertainment reporter Kaufman is a longtime fan of the show who has hosted viewing parties and written weekly recaps, though ABC banned her from press calls for coverage deemed too negative.
Is it for you? Fans of the show -- whether conflicted or unabashed in their admiration for it -- will appreciate Kaufman's fun, fascinating perspective.
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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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| 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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Era of Ignition: Coming of Age In a Time of Rage and Revolution
by Amber Tamblyn
What it's about: actor-author Amber Tamblyn's journey towards feminist activism and her involvement in the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.
Don't miss: welcome insights from poet Airea D. Matthews and journalist Meredith Talusan, whose discussions of race and gender identity elevate marginalized perspectives.
Reviewers say: "required reading for the resistance, and nothing short of sensational" (Booklist).
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Naturally Tan
by Tan France
What it is: a charming coming-of-age memoir from Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France.
Why you might like it: With wit and candor, France tackles topics both affecting (the racist bullying he endured as a Pakistani Muslim teen in England) and amusing (his penchant for no-nonsense sartorial advice).
For fans of: fellow Fab Five personality Karamo Brown's Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope.
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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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Daviess County Public Library 2020 Frederica Street Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 (270) 684-0211
www.dcplibrary.org
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