Entertainment Books

Book Synopsis Since her late-1990s debut as a member of the R&B trio Destiny''s Child, Beyonce Knowles has garnered both praise and criticism. While some consider her an icon of female empowerment, others see her as detrimental to feminism and representing a negative image of women of color. Her music has a decidedly pop aesthetic, yet her power-house vocals and lyrics focused on issues like feminine independence, healthy sexuality and post-partum depression give her songs dimension and substance beyond typical pop fare. This collection of new essays presents a detailed study of the music and persona of Beyonce--arguably the world''s biggest pop star. Topics include the body politics of respectability; feminism, empowerment and gender in Beyonce''s lyrics; black female pleasure; and the changing face of celebrity motherhood. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an

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Book SynopsisMeir Zarchi’s I Spit On Your Grave (1978) is of the most controversial films ever made—both condemned as misogynistic and praised for raising uncomfortable issues about sexual violence. David Maguire investigates the historical, social, and political landscape of the film's release and how it has become ground zero for the rape-revenge genre.Trade ReviewA retrospective book. -- John Squires * Bloody Disgusting *It's a fascinating read . . . it's concise and clear in its purpose. * Cinepunx *Maguire comes across as bright and personable, clever and focused without ever wallowing in jargon, and perhaps most importantly of all, aware that ISOYG is not a perfect film whilst still eminently worth of a closer look. A well-written piece of work, the book could easily reward fans as much as students and it’s well worth a place on the shelf. -- Keri O'Shea * Warped Perspective *ISOYG’s careful research and analysis makes for an insightful and enjoyable read throughout, and Maguire’s clear-sightedness enables him to pull off the difficult feat of treating the subject matter seriously (as one would expect) without the book ever becoming dry and humourless. -- Jon Towlson * Starburst Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction1. History and Herstory in the 1970s and 1980s2. ‘Only Women Bleed’: Filth or Feminist?3. I Spit on Your Grave and its LegacyNotesFilmographyBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis''Love me or hate me. It''s a great read' - Billy Bragg He was a punk. He was a soldier. He was a flag-waver for the Labour Party and the miners. He is Billy Bragg, passionate protest folk singer and tireless promoter of political and humanitarian causes around the world. His life encapsulates so much about his generation: born in the late '50s, passions forged by punk, politics shaped by Thatcherism, career inspired by engagement, hope provided by the end of the Cold War and ideology galvanised by what he sees as a post-ideological' twenty-first century. He adapts to survive: serious about compassion and accountability, he likes a laugh too, and has never forgotten where he comes from.Still Suitable for Miners is the official Billy Bragg story, tracing his life, family and career at close range from Barking to the present day. This 20th anniversary edition has been updated to include the rise of Corbyn, the unfolding of Brexit, BTrade ReviewLove me or hate me. It's a great read. * Billy Bragg *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA fascinating and hilarious glimpse into Paul''s life at home in the country with his animalsPaul O''Grady''s Country Life for the first time gives a glimpse into the home life of one of Britain's best loved stars, alongside the animals he adores. Sometimes rural idyll, sometimes hell on earth, Paul's life in rural Kent has been shared over the years with some very vocal pigs, a mad cow, various rescued barn owls, the world's most sadistic geese and Christine the psychotic sheep among many other animal waifs and strays. And of course Paul tells the stories of the dogs in his life including the tiny chihuahua/Jack Russell cross with Napoleonic ambitions, Eddie, Miss Olga, Bullseye, Louis, Boycie and, of course, Buster, the greatest canine star since Lassie. In addition, Paul shares some of his favourite recipes, explores country lore and superstitions, and extols the benefits of growing your own vegetables, herbs aTrade ReviewFor the past decade, O'Grady has lived a quiet life in Kent... and he details the change of pace with typical wit and frankness. * Radio Times *

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Book SynopsisAlan Bennett''s beloved, best-known play, with a beautiful typographic cover. The best moments in reading are when you come across something a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things that you'd thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you've never met, maybe even someone long dead.As an unruly bunch of bright, funny sixth-form boys pursue sex, sport and a place at university, adolescent anarchy and staffroom rivalry provoke insistent questions about history and education.The History Boys premiered at the National Theatre, London, 2004, winning Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, Olivier and South Bank Awards. On Broadway, it received numerous awards, including six Tonys.

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Book SynopsisIt's never too late to play piano is perfect for those who wished they'd learnt to play the piano when they were younger, or those who wish they hadn't given up. At last a truly grown-up approach to learning the piano!

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Book SynopsisAdapted for the screen by the author from his celebrated memoir, Alan Bennett''s The Lady in the Van, is directed by long-standing collaborator Nicholas Hytner.The film tells the true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ''temporarily'' parked her van in Bennett''s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Their unique story is funny, poignant and life-affirming.The Complete Lady in the Van contains a Foreword by Nicholas Hytner, a substantial Introduction with diary entries by Alan Bennett, the original memoir and the screenplay. The book includes numerous illustrations by David Gentleman, who sketched on set throughout filming, and a colour plate-section including behind-the-scenes photographs and stills from the film

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Book SynopsisRob Young''s Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain''s Visionary Music is a seminal book on British music and cultural heritage, that spans the visionary classical and folk tradition from the nineteenth-century to the present day. ''A thoroughly enjoyable read and likely to remain the best-written overview for a long time.''GUARDIAN''A perfectly timed, perfectly pitched alternative history of English folk music . . . wide-ranging, insightful, authoritative, thoroughly entertaining.''NEW STATESMAN''A stunning achievement.''SIMON REYNOLDS''A masterpiece.'' CAUGHT BY THE RIVER''Excellent . . . blissfully quotable.'' NEW YORK TIMES''An authoritative account.'' THE TIMES''Consistently absorbing.'' INDEPENDENT''An impassioned and infectious rallying cry of a book.'' SUNDAY TIMESIn this groundbreaking survey of more than a century of music making in the British Isles, Rob Young investigates how the idea of folk has been handed down and transformed by successive generations - song collectors, composers, Marxist revivalists, folk-rockers, psychedelic voyagers, free festival-goers, experimental pop stars and electronic innovators.In a sweeping panorama of Albion''s soundscape that takes in the pioneer spirit of Cecil Sharp; the pastoral classicism of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Peter Warlock; the industrial folk revival of Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd; the folk-rock of Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Shirley Collins, John Martyn and Pentangle; the bucolic psychedelia of The Incredible String Band, The Beatles and Pink Floyd; the acid folk of Comus, Forest, Mr Fox and Trees; The Wicker Man and occult folklore; the early Glastonbury and Stonehenge festivals; and the visionary pop of Kate Bush, Julian Cope and Talk Talk, Electric Eden maps out a native British musical voice that reflects the complex relationships between town and country, progress and nostalgia, radicalism and conservatism.An attempt to isolate the ''Britishness'' of British music - a wild combination of pagan echoes, spiritual quest, imaginative time-travel, pastoral innocence and electrified creativity - Electric Eden will be treasured by anyone interested in the tangled story of Britain''s folk music and Arcadian dreams.''A treat.'' TIME OUT''Young is a fine writer.'' MOJO''Young''s immense narrative is both educative and gripping.'' UNCUT''A multitudinous, fascinating and beautifully written account.'' TLS

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Book SynopsisOctober 1982: ABC, Culture Club, Shalamar and Survivor dominate the top twenty when the Pogues barrel out from the backstreets of King''s Cross, a furious, pioneering mix of punk energy, traditional melodies and the powerfully poetic songwriting of Shane MacGowan. Reviled by traditionalists for their frequently fast, often riotous interpretations of Irish folk songs, the Pogues rose from the sweaty chaos of backroom gigs in Camden pubs to world tours with the likes of Elvis Costello, U2 and Bob Dylan, and had huge commercial success with everyone''s favourite Christmas song, ''Fairytale of New York''. Yet, the exuberance of their live performances coupled with relentless touring spiralled into years of hard drinking and excess which eventually took their toll - most famously on Shane, but also on the rest of the band - causing them to part ways seven years later. Here, their story is told with beauty, lyricism and great candour by James Fearnley, founding member and accordion player. He brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the amazing gigs, the terrible gigs, the fantastic highs and the dramatic lows in a hugely compelling, humorous, moving and honest account of life in one of our most treasured and original bands.

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Book SynopsisNo musical entity has been more closely associated with ÊGuitar WorldÊ magazine over the years than Edward Van Halen ä the man who in the late seventies and early eighties changed the course of guitar history. This collection of classic and new interviews with the great Edward tells the real story behind his earth-shaking technique brilliant songwriting and relationship with both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. This is the authoritative book ä revised and updated with new exclusive interviews and information on one of the greatest rock bands of all time and the guitar god at the center of it all.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on his lifetime career in front of the camera (and sometimes behind it), Denis Lawson offers a wonderfully accessible introduction to acting for film and TV. For the young actor hoping to break into the industry – whether in a drama series, soap or sitcom – this book is the ultimate insider’s guide. In The Actor and the Camera, Denis Lawson takes us on a guided tour of the film or TV set from day one. We meet the various members of the crew, from the director of photography to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ADs, and learn what each of them does – and how to get the most from them in your work as an actor. Then comes the actual business of shooting the scenes, beginning with readthroughs and rehearsals (if there are any), on to hitting your mark and getting your eye-line right, finishing with the actor’s involvement in post-production. Throughout, Lawson takes the actor’s point of view, offering encouragement and enlightenment, as well as being refreshingly candid about some of the more inane procedures. Above all, he offers a magnificent array of tips and inside knowledge for coping with what can be a daunting experience for a hopeful young actor. ‘Denis is a great actor and he’s always been my inspiration, since I was a child… He’s the only person really in the world who I discuss acting with if I feel that I’m stuck. I love watching him still.’ Ewan McGregorTrade Review'Insightful, witty and valuable' * Drama Magazine *'A must have for any young actor entering the profession... just about everything you will ever need to know or come across in a screen acting career is here… you will learn a huge amount from this book' * Actor Hub *'I seriously love this book... It really is like a conversation, peppered with expletives, technical advice and anecdotes... I don’t think anyone, or anything, you will regularly come across in television or film production has been missed.' * Northern Editorial *'One of the most important 'camera acting' books on the market... incredibly useful' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book Synopsis''In life, I want students to be alive and on stage I want them to be artists'' Jacques LecoqJacques Lecoq was one of the most inspirational theatre teachers of our age. In The Moving Body, he shares with us first-hand his unique philosophy of performance, improvisation, masks, movement and gesture, which together form one of the greatest influences on contemporary theatre.Neutral mask, character mask and counter masks, bouffons, acrobatics, commedia, clowns and complicity: all the famous Lecoq techniques are covered in this book - techniques that have made their way into the work of former collaborators and students including Dario Fo, Ariane Mnouchkine, Yasmina Reza and Theatre de Complicite. The book contains a foreword by Simon McBurney, a critical introduction by Mark Evans and an afterword by Fay Lecoq, Director of the International Theatre School in Paris.Trade ReviewHe taught us how to be artists * Steven Berkoff, on Jacques Lecoq *In a very accessible language and with clear exemplifications and illustrative drawings, Lecoq sheds light on a vision of mime considered as training for theatre and for life … Both for the actor, and for the researcher interested in Lecoq’s theatre, this book is an essential read; for the theatre historian it is also a theoretical source on “dramatic mime” and on the expressive body that transversally influenced dance and theatre in the twentieth century. * Skenè: Journal of Theatre and Drama Studies *Table of ContentsForeword by Simon McBurney 1. Personal Journey 2. The World and Its Movements 3. The Roads to Creativity 4. New Beginnings

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Book SynopsisMichael Jackson was born in 1958. He made his musical debut aged 11 with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5, his solo career began in 1971 and he was soon dubbed the 'King of Pop'. His albums, Thriller, Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory are among the top selling albums in the world. During his remarkable career, Jackson won thirteen Grammy Awards and the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award. He released thirteen number one solo singles and enjoyed sales of an estimated 750 million records worldwide. His unique sound and style has influenced recording artists from all genres for generations and will continue to do so for many more years to come. Michael Jackson died, aged 50, on 25 June 2009.Trade ReviewWe have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music -- Justin TimberlakeThe incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be -- BeyonceJust as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be anyone comparable to Michael Jackson. His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend -- Steven SpielbergHe has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I'm devasted he's gone -- Britney SpearsLet us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world, and the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world -- Mariah Carey

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Book SynopsisIn her bestselling autobiography Bedsit Disco Queen, Tracey Thorn recalled the highs and lows of a thirty-year career in pop music. But with the touring, recording and extraordinary anecdotes, there wasn''t time for an in-depth look at what she actually did for all those years: sing. She sang with warmth and emotional honesty, sometimes while battling acute stage-fright.Part memoir, part wide-ranging exploration of the art, mechanics and spellbinding power of singing, NAKED AT THE ALBERT HALL takes in Dusty Springfield, Dennis Potter and George Eliot; Auto-tune, the microphone and stage presence; The Streets and The X Factor. Including interviews with fellow artists such as Alison Moyet, Romy Madley-Croft and Green Gartside of Scritti Politti, and portraits of singers in fiction as well as Tracey''s real-life experiences, it offers a unique, witty and sharply observed insider''s perspective on the exhilarating joy and occasional heartache of singing.Trade ReviewSmart, chatty . . . [Thorn is] a sufficiently deft writer to negotiate the populist and the high-brow . . . a thought-provoking and enjoyable read * Mail on Sunday *Honest and compassionate * Sunday Telegraph *If you care at all about pop music you should read both [Naked at the Albert Hall and Bedsit Disco Queen] * Sunday Herald *Revelatory, always entertaining . . . a genuine insider's perspective . . . Thirty years of consideration went into this quietly impressive volume, and it shows * Independent *A writer in fine voice . . . [a] cracker of a book * Scotsman *Thorn is the perfect analyst of our reverence for and terror of singing . . .Thorn's practical, warm tone gives her a Miss Marple-like ability to appear kindly while holding mistruths up to account . . . She is best, though, as a sympathetic guide to the singers she loves * Daily Telegraph *Tracey's characterful phrasing is as persuasive on page as it is on record * Grazia *Gem-like confessions that make it feel like a proper discussion. I loved it -- Nina Stibbe * Telegraph *A thoughtful and sensitive study of singing and her very English struggle with the embarrassment * Telegraph *A subtle, suggestive book about performance -- Keith Miller * Times Literary Supplement *Thorn eloquently strikes upon some profound truths about human communication as she tests the powers and limits of the human voice * Observer *As distinctive and lovely as its author's singing voice . . . a wry and wise memoir of a unique careerThe Alan Bennett of pop memoirists. I loved her book so much I wanted to form a band tooAn intensely readable account of thirty years of being in love with music. Warm, assertive, sweetly funny and most of all honest * Daily Telegraph, praise for Bedsit Disco Queen *As a witty and wise chronicle of a life spent dipping in and out of the limelight, this is second to none * Independent on Sunday, praise for Bedsit Disco Queen *She can pick at the scab of a subject and release some of the unsavoury contents which have been festering under the surface. * Dubbo Weekender *

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Book Synopsis(Applause Books). This magnificent companion to The Art of Horror , from the same creative team behind that award-winning illustrated volume, looks at the entire history of the horror film, from the silent era right up to the latest releases and trends. Through a series of informative chapters and fascinating sidebars chronologically charting the evolution of horror movies for more than a century, profusely illustrated throughout with over 600 rare and unique images including posters, lobby cards, advertising, promotional items, tie-in books and magazines, and original artwork inspired by classic movies, this handsomely designed hardcover traces the development of the horror film from its inception, and celebrates the actors, filmmakers, and artists who were responsible for scaring the pants off successive generations of moviegoers! Edited by multiple award-winning writer and editor Stephen Jones, and boasting a foreword by director and screenwriter John Landis ( An American Werewolf in London ), this volume brings together fascinating and incisive commentary from some of the genre''s most highly respected experts. With eye-popping images from all over the world, The Art of Horror Movies is the definitive guide for anyone who loves horror films and movie fans of all ages.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Swindles, a seventeenth-century story collection, offers a panoramic guide to the art of deception. Ostensibly a manual for self-protection, it presents a tableau of criminal ingenuity in late Ming China. Each story comes with commentary by the author, who expounds a moral lesson while also speaking as a connoisseur of the swindle.Trade ReviewOverall, the collection deserves the highest praise one can give a publication of popular stories: it’s a lot of fun. The scams are wide-ranging in type, the plot devices ingenious, and the translation is carried off with great sensitivity both to the original text and to the audience reading it today. -- Rob Moore * Los Angeles Review of Books China Channel *The Book of Swindles is at once an entertaining and readable introduction to late Ming society, a good resource for further research, and a timely reminder of some of the less savoury connections between the past and our own time. -- Ewan Macdonald * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *In The Book of Swindles, Rea and Rusk give us hilarious and sobering proof that swindling isn't just a contemporary concern but has been around for centuries. We are treated to stories of porters cheating officials who cheat porters, of conniving Taoists and gullible officials, of lusty widows who provoke their husbands' death, and of debauched gentry who prey on poor locals. Yet many of these tales sound eerily familiar to today's world, and especially today's China. We are confronted with a widespread, ambient feeling of social mistrust in which people across the land feel that they are constantly being cheated. Besides giving insight into deep societal concerns, The Book of Swindles is a great read. -- Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After MaoIt has been said that the study of China is the study of humanity. In these elegantly translated stories of folly and foibles, we are offered a unique guide to early modern China, as well as insights into the human condition itself. -- Geremie R. Barmé, editor of An Educated Man is Not a Pot: On the UniversityWhat’s the oldest scam in the book? Nobody knows, but at least we have the oldest book about scams in China. It’s calledThe Book of Swindles, and finally, after four hundred years, Rea and Rusk have presented us with a vivid and entertaining new translation of this classic. Even the chapter titles—‘Eating Human Fetuses to Fake Fasting’; ‘Swindling the Salt Commissioner While Disguised as Daoists’—are as priceless as anything else produced during the Ming dynasty. -- Peter Hessler, author of Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West[These] individual stories [provide] useful color to Chinese history classes [and provide] good source material for secondary students to act out. -- Peter Gordon * Asian Review of Books *The Book of Swindles deserves a wide reading: its simple stories reveal with stunning accuracy what makes late imperial China so different from today and yet so familiar as well. It may not be the greatest literary work of its time, but it is a social document that is both entertaining and informative. This slim volume will be of tremendous value for teachers and readers for decades to come. -- Robert E. Hegel, Washington University, St. Louis * Ming Studies *This makes the translation a pleasure to read—perhaps even more pleasurable than reading the often workman-likeclassical prose of the original. The translation also includes an array of helpful reference materials...could easily be incorporated into a range of undergraduate history and literature classes. -- Ariel Fox * Journal of Asian Studies *The forty-four stories, elegantly translated by Christopher Rea and Bruce Rusk, offer a valuable source for specialists of late imperial China, as well as a good read for anyone looking for entertainment. . . . The Book of Swindles has just started to attract scholarly attention in the English-speaking world. I expect it to serve as a significant resource for future studies of late imperial Chinese literature, culture, history, law, and society. -- Yinghui Wu * Modern Chinese Literature and Culture *Social historians will find the rich panoply of ordinary life. From whatever academic angle one may read Book of Swindles, the reader will find much of interest—and fun! -- James Grayson, Professor Emeritus, Sheffield University, UK * Folklore *Table of ContentsMapsTranslators’ IntroductionType 1: Misdirection and TheftStealing Silk with a Decoy HorseHanding Over Silver Before Running Off with ItA Clever Trick on a Pig SellerPilfering Green Cloth by Pretending to Steal a GooseType 2: The Bag DropDropping a Bag by the Roadside to Set Up a SwitcherooType 3: Money ChangingA Daoist in a Boat Exchanges Some GoldType 4: MisrepresentationForged Letters from the Education Intendant Report Auspicious DreamsUsing Broom Handles to Play a Joke on Sedan BearersType 5: False RelationsInciting a Friend to Commit Adultery and Swindling Away His LandType 6: BrokersA Conniving Broker Takes Paper and Ends Up Paying with His DaughterA Destitute Broker Takes Some Wax to Pay Off Old DebtsType 7: Enticement to GamblingA Stern Warning to a Gambler Provokes Others to Entice Him to RelapseType 8: Showing Off WealthImpersonating the Son of an Official to Steal a Merchant’s SilverFlashy Clothing Incites LarcenyType 9: Scheming for WealthStealing a Business Partner’s Riches Only to Lose One’s OwnHaughtiness Leads to a Lawsuit That Harms Wealth and HealthType 10: RobberyRobbing a Pawnshop by Pretending to Leave Goods ThereType 11: ViolenceSticking a Plaster in the Eyes to Steal a Silver IngotType 12: On BoatsBringing Mirrors Aboard a Boat Invites a Nefarious PlotPorters Run Off with Cargo from a BoatType 13: PoetrySwindling the Salt Commissioner While Disguised as DaoistsChen Quan Scams His Way Into the Arms of a Famous CourtesanType 14: Fake SilverPlanting a Fake Ingot to Swindle a FarmerType 15: Government UnderlingsSwindled on the Way Out of a Court HearingAn Officer Reprimands a Captured Criminal in Order to Halve His FloggingType 16: MarriageMarrying a Street Cleaner and Provoking His DeathTaking a Concubine from Another Province Leads to a Disastrous LawsuitType 17: Illicit PassionA Geomancer Uses His Wife to Steal a Good SeedType 18: WomenCoaxing a Sister-in-Law Into Adultery to Scam Oil and MeatThree Women Ride Off on Three HorsesA Buddhist Nun Scatters Prayer Beads to Lure a Woman Into AdulteryType 19: KidnappingA Eunuch Cooks Boys to Make a Tonic of Male EssenceType 20: Corruption in EducationPretending to Present Silver to an Education CommissionerAffixing Seals in a Functionary’s ChambersSilver with Sham Seals Is Switched for BricksRobbed by a Gang While Sealing Silver in an Unoccupied RoomA Fake Freeloader Takes Over a ConMoney Stashed with an Innkeeper Is BurgledType 21: Monks and PriestsA Buddhist Monk Identifies a Cow as His MotherEating Human Fetuses to Fake FastingType 22: AlchemyTrusting in Alchemy Harms an Entire FamilyA Foiled Alchemy Scam Leads to a PoisoningType 23: SorceryUsing Dream Sorcery to Rob a FamilyType 24: PanderingA Father Searching for His Wastrel Son Himself Falls Into WhoringAppendix 1: Preface to A New Book for Foiling Swindlers: Strange Tales from the Rivers and Lakes (1617), by Xiong ZhenjiAppendix 2: Story Finding ListBibliography

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Book SynopsisA fascinating study in sexual psychology and sexual politics, the novel focuses on Hélène Grandjean, a widow, and her shifting emotional states. This is the eighth novel in Zola's Rougon-Macquart series, and the first modern translation for more than fifty years.Trade ReviewA Love Story was such a joy to read... This is the type of book I would like to leisurely read while sitting in a Paris café, maybe that is how I will re-read A Love Story. * Michael Kitto, Knowledge Lost *There's so much to love and admire about this novel, which has rarely appeared in an English translation. * Harriet Devine, Shiny New Books *

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Book SynopsisOver the years, Mondo has received global recognition for its incredible art posters that bring to life classic films, TV shows, and comics in a refreshing and utterly striking new way, offering a unique perspective on everything from Star Wars to Robocop, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Game of Thrones, Godzilla, Kill Bill, and many, many more. For the first time, The Art of Mondo will bring together this much sought-after art in one deluxe volume that showcases the incredible ingenuity of the studio's diverse stable of artists whose vastly different styles are united by one guiding principle: limitless passion for their subject matter. This richly imaginative work is fueled by a love of pop culture that fans recognize and identify with, giving Mondo's output a rare and valuable synergy with its audience. While these posters are normally produced in a limited quantity and sell out in minutes, The Art of Mondo will allow fans to explore the studio's remarkable back catalog, including Olly Moss's iconic Star Wars trilogy work, Laurent Durieux's brilliantly subtle Jaws poster, and Tyler Stout's Guardians of the Galaxy art. Other key Mondo artists such as Jock, Martin Asin, and Aaron Horkey will also feature. Definitive, visually stunning, and filled with art that celebrates some of the biggest and best-loved properties in pop culture, The Art of Mondo will be the ultimate book for cult art fans everywhere.

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES, ROUGH TRADE, ROLLING STONE, MOJO AND UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK PRIZENew York, 2001. 9/11 plunges the US into a state of war and political volatilityand heralds the rebirth of the city's rock scene. As the old-guard music industry crumbles, a group of iconoclastic bands suddenly become the voice of a generation desperately in need of an anthem.In this fascinating and vibrant oral history, acclaimed journalist Lizzy Goodman charts New York's explosive musical transformation in the early 2000s. Drawing on over 200 original interviews, Goodman follows the meteoric rise of the artists that revolutionised the cultural landscape and made Brooklyn the hipster capital of coolincluding The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, and Vampire Weekend.Joining the ranks of classics like Please Kill Me, Our Band Could Be Your Life, and Can't St

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Book SynopsisRobert Klenner has been an actor, director, producer, university lecturer, and directing consultant based in Australia. He was born and raised in Poland, where he studied film performance under Krzysztof Kieslowski. His career spans over two decades and three continents. He's directed over one hundred hours of screen drama and has taught directing in the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Ethiopia. Klenner is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Directors Guild of Australia.Trade ReviewRobert Klenner is an internationally celebrated screen director with a wonderful reputation as a teacher. This intelligent and inspiring book will help any director to overcome the fear of working with actors. Each chapter contains a list of practical strategies designed to help the director embrace and enjoy the collaborative process of creating great performances for the screen. * Paul Thompson, Head of Acting and Directing, Undergrad Film and Television, New York University, USA *Klenner’s book is a goldmine of savvy advice; for the actor it represents an opportunity to truly understand what the collaborative relationship with the director could be. It is full of great tips and exercises to help unlock the potential of any scene and thereby create richly detailed and nuanced performances. * John Bashford, Director Acting, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia *Table of Contents1. The Director The Concept of Genius Director as Storyteller Director as Facilitator & Collaborator Director as Communicator 2. The Actor Being in the Moment Acting Defined Acting for the Camera versus Acting on Stage Stanislavsky Eintopf 3. Pre-Production Script Analysis Pre-visualization Casting Rehearsal 4. Production Director’s Role Shooting Procedure Wild Lines Visual Style Working with Children and Non-Actors 5. Post-Production Shoot for the Edit Sculpting in Time Montage Character’s Journey in a Scene Emotional Engagement ADR Sound and Music Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOffers documented accounts of Disney's childhood and young adulthood in rural Missouri and Kansas City. This book sheds light on such episodes in Disney's life as the devastating 1941 strike at his studio, when his ambitions as artist and entrepreneur first came into serious conflict.Table of ContentsPlates Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: "It's All Me" 1 "The Pet in the Family" On the Farm and in the City, 1901--1923 2 "A Cute Idea" The Self-Taught Filmmaker, 1923--1928 3 "You've Got to Really Be Minnie" Building a Better Mouse, 1928--193 4 "This Character Was a Live Person" The Leap to Feature Films, 1934--1938 5 "A Drawing Factory" Ambition's Price, 1938--1941 6 "A Queer, Quick, Delightful Gink" On a Treadmill, 1941--1947 7 "Caprices and Spurts of Childishness" Escaping from Animation, 1947--1953 8 "He Was Interested in Something Else" Escaping from Film, 1953--1959 9 "Where I Am Happy" Restless in the Magic Kingdom, 1959--1965 10 "He Drove Himself Right Up to the End" Dreaming of a Nightmare City, 1965--1966 Afterword: "Let's Never Not Be a Silly Company" Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Herbert effectively traces a genealogy of movies from the strip malls of yesteryear to today's rootless culture of moving-image consumption." -- Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa Film Comment "Videoland: Movie Culture at the American Video Store is an unusual and often unusually compelling study of the emergence and disappearance of American movie-rental stores." -- Clayton Dillard Slant "Videoland...offers an outstanding analysis of film as material object embedded within a specific cultural moment, and it is, I believe, a must-read for students of media history." -- Linnie Blake Times Higher Education "Daniel Herbert's fascinating new study, Videoland, recalls a time that seems impossibly remote, even though it barely ended a decade ago." -- Michael S. Gant SantaCruz.com "Herbert's attention to the interlopers and improbable pioneers who helped propel movie culture forward in the 1980s and 1990s is a welcome addition to other recent examinations of home video as well as the emerging field of media industries." -- Kevin McDonald Discourse "In juxtaposing media industry studies with a specific eye toward Americana and regionalism, Videoland offers a loving tribute to the video store as a significant space in media history." -- David Lerner Spectator "Written in a clear, clean, accessible style, this is a masterful study of a cultural moment whose time has come and gone." -- Wheeler Winston Dixon CHOICE "Through [his] interviews, he creates a richly textured sense of the culture that existed in many video stores, of the way the stores were woven into their local communities, and of the economic challenges the stores confronted in a shifting technological landscape." -- Brian L. Ott Journal of American History "Herbert's interdisciplinary methodology is one of the book's chief achievements. Comprised of excellent historical research and cultural analysis, Videoland also makes an important contribution to a range of subfields within film and media studies, including media distribution, media history, taste cultures, film criticism, and ethnographic audience research." -- Maureen Rogers Velvet Light Trap "An accessible history of the video rental store and its impact on media consumption." -- Kristopher Purzycki Film CriticismTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Video Rental and the "Shopping" of Media Part I. The History and Culture of Video Rental 1. A Long Tale 2. Practical Classifications Part II. Video Stores and the Localization of Movie Culture 3. Video Capitals 4. Video Rental in Small-Town America Part III. Circulations of Video Store Culture 5. Distributing Value 6. Mediating Choice: Criticism, Advice, Metadata Coda: The Value of the Tangible Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis‘Masks are empowering… They enable you to take risks. They provoke you into working with the reckless logic of a six-year-old or the enigmatic stillness of someone wiser than you’ll ever be. But above all, masks let you be you without your habitual limitations.’ In Playing the Mask, award-winning theatre-maker and teacher John Wright explores and demystifies mask-work: what masks do, how they do it, and, above all, what they can teach us about acting. This book is a wonderfully accessible introduction to a fresh and innovative acting technique for actors, theatre-makers and teachers to use in training and rehearsal. A mask releases the actor to be playful, and playfulness generates ideas, finds meaning, develops characterisation – and is infinitely more fun than traditional training. Rather than a dry guide to making masked theatre, it is about, for instance, playing Lady Macbeth in Red Nose, or Hamlet in the mask of The Victim, The Ogre or The Fool, or even Romeo and Juliet in grotesque half-masks… All in the name of liberating your creativity and, ultimately, improving your performance. Extensively illustrated with a rich variety of masks, this inventive and pragmatic book is full of invaluable games and exercises drawn from the author’s own workshops, his experience as co-founder of both Trestle and Told by an Idiot, and his pioneering mask and clown work in many professional productions. ‘Brilliant, entertaining and accessible’ Paul Hunter, from his ForewordTrade Review'Wright brings his teaching alive through an anarchic sense of humour and colourful storytelling, highlighting his wide experience and understanding of theatre… highly enjoyable as well as instructive' * Drama Resource *'Provocative and playful… the example exercises are invaluable references… [Wright's insights] feel fresh and welcome in both the rehearsal room and drama school training' * Drama Magazine *'For a teacher wishing to find inventive new levels for teaching the craft of acting, this could be the answer... offers an innovative set of techniques for rehearsal and generates many useful ideas' * Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama) *

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Book SynopsisClear diagrams and step-by-step instructions for performing 18 simple feats of prestidigitation: Strength Test, Untangled, Elastic Lock, Mystic Spinner, Rollaway, Heavyset, The Great Escape and many more, using such ordinary objects as coins, rubber bands and string.

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Book Synopsis1977 saw the release of a space fantasy like no other: Star Wars. With this Celebration Special, go behind the scenes to discover how this timeless classic was created. See the original version of the story that never made it to film; learn how George Lucas created the settings, spaceships and props; and where Tatooine really is. Including on-set anecdotes, fun facts, and revealing secrets from a galaxy far, far away!

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Book SynopsisIn Inside Studio 54, the former owner takes you behind the scenes of the most famous nightclub in the world, through the crowd, to a place where celebrities, friends, and the beautiful people sip champagne and share lines of cocaine using rolled-up hundred-dollar bills. In the early eighties, Mark Fleischman reopened Studio 54, the world's most glamorous and notorious nightclub, after it was closed down by the State of New York. Ten thousand people showed up that night, ready to restart the party that abruptly ended after the raid in 1978 landed its former owners in jail.Inside Studio 54 invites you to revisit the happening scenes of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, the post-Pill, pre-AIDS era of free love, consequence-free sex, and seemingly endless partying. Following Fleischman as he built connections as a hotel, restaurant, and club owner that lead him to Studio 54. Inside Studio 54 takes the reader from Brazil to the heights of debauchery in the Virgin Islands and finally to New York City. A star-studded thrill ride through decadent and drug-fueled parties at the legendary Studio 54.Trade Review"This unfettered tell-all will prove nostalgic for those who manage to remember being there and engrossing for readers wishing they were."—Kirkus Reviews"Once upon a time in New York City, when the city finally went to sleep, a magical place opened it's doors and invited people in to have the time of their lives. Studio 54 was a magical place that made you forget all about your troubles, trials and tribulations. It was Heaven on Earth."—Gene Simmons, Bass player for KISS"In Inside Studio 54, the former owner takes you behind the scenes of the most famous nightclub in the world, through the crowd to a place where celebrities, friends, and the beautiful people sip champagne and share lines of cocaine using rolled up hundred dollar bills. Mark Fleischman reopened Studio 54 in 1981, after it was closed down by the State of New York. Ten thousand people showed up that night, ready to restart the party that abruptly ended after the raid in 1978, landing Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the former owners, in jail. Mark takes you on a star studded thrill ride through the decadent and drug fueled parties at the legendary Studio 54."—Robin Leach, Las Vegas Review Journal, former host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"Inside Studio 54 takes you to all my favorite spots inside. I spent so much time snorting cocaine in the women's toilet's of Studio 54 that they became known as my office."—Nile Rodgers, Legendary record producer, songwriter, and guitarist for Chic"This is a great bathroom read lots of good shit."—Tom Moulton, record producer of Gloria Gaynor, Grace Jones, and many more"As the original cowboy in Village People, I performed at Studio 54 often and when we would do YMCA, the crowd always went wild. This book truly captures the unique spirit and amazing, sensual energy that was Studio 54."—Randy Jones, original Cowboy in the Village People"An amazing story of all the free-spirited excess of my generation, which also launched joyous Freestyle Skiing, the Olympic Reform and Title IX, thanks to Mark Fleischman believing in women like me."—"Suzy Chapstick" Chaffee, Olympian and Captain of the U.S. Olympic Ski Team"Mark Fleischman has compelling tales to tell and doesn't hold back. This book will introduce you to the strong characters who peopled Nightworld and looks unflinchingly at the drug culture it engendered."—Anthony Haden-Guest, author of The Last Party: Studio 54, Disco and the Culture of the Night, as well as articles in New York, London Sunday Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, and many other venues

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Book SynopsisSo convinced is Francis Ford Coppola that "live cinema" will become a powerful medium within the larger film industry that he has crafted this instructional book, filled with lively anecdotes and invaluable lessons—a boon for cinema addicts, film students and teachers alike. As digital film-making can now be performed by one director or by a collaborative team working across the Internet, it is a matter of time before cinema auteurs will create "live" films of the highest creative quality that will be sent instantly to be viewed in faraway theatres. Whether recounting his boyhood obsession with film, tracing the origins of "live cinema" through a history of early film and 1950s television or presenting state-of-the-art techniques on everything from rehearsals to equipment, Coppola demonstrates that the spontaneity of "live cinema" will transport film-making into a new era of creativity previously unimaginable.Trade Review"Live Cinema is packed with detailed diaried notes as well as other, directorial, observation, as Coppola outlines the concept-to-reality. Worth a skim through, whatever your present industry role." -- Screentrade"Part technical manifesto, part riveting history of live movies and TV, and part freewheeling artistic reflection, Live Cinema compactly presents Coppola's innovative ideas, depth of knowledge, and enduring passions in the live cinema space." -- Entertainment Weekly"... the ideas conjured in this brief, filmy volume will interest any movie nut." -- Jonathan Dean, Stage & Screen Books of the Year 2017 - The Sunday Times"Live Cinema and its Techniques is a short, accessible, vividly personal, defiantly oddball and fascinating book." -- Viewfinder"Part manifesto, part instruction manual, Live Cinema is a melange of film theory, professional advice, personal history, television history, work notes and Coppola’s assorted thoughts on live film production." -- Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisThis close-up look at the life and music of Robert Johnson and his contributions to the evolution of blues music describes his obscurity during his own life, his innovative influence on American popular music, and how the history of blues music was shaped and transformed by white fans with different tastes and standards.Trade Review"If you read only one book about blues...read this one." -- Starred Booklist on Escaping the Delta

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Book SynopsisIn the span of four months in 2012, Tig Notaro was hospitalized for a debilitating intestinal disease called C. diff, her mother unexpectedly died, she went through a breakup, and then she was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. Hit with this devastating barrage, Tig took her grief onstage. Days after receiving her cancer diagnosis, she broke new comedic ground, opening an unvarnished set with the words: 'Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. How are you? Hi, how are you? Is everybody having a good time? I have cancer.' The set instantly went viral, and was ultimately released as Tig's sophomore album, Live, which sold one hundred thousand units in just six weeks and was later nominated for a Grammy.Now, the wildly popular star takes stock of that no good, very bad year - a difficult yet astonishing period in which tragedy turned into absurdity and despair transformed into joy. An inspired combination of the deadpan silliness of her comedy and the open-hearted vulnerability that has emerged in the wake of that dire time, I'm Just a Person is a moving and often hilarious look at this very brave, very funny woman's journey into the darkness and her thrilling return from it.Trade ReviewThe book is heartbreaking, and brilliant, and funny. . . it’s fantastic. * Ellen Degeneres *Notaro's thrilling, candid, and hilarious memoir is a provocative and convincing rallying cry to seize the day * Booklist *I’m Just a Person will make you laugh, or cry, or both. * Marie Claire *Notaro’s story is funny not because it’s true (although it is), but because it’s told by the world-class stand-up with wit and vulnerability. * O Magazine *Anyone who can write a sharply funny-and bravely optimistic-story about losing her mother, going through a break up, and being diagnosed with breast cancer all in the span of four months is an absolute heroine in our book. All hail, Tig Notaro! -- GlamourComedian Tig Notaro takes pain and successfully converts it into laughs in I’m Just a Person… It’s an intriguing and inspiring look at one woman’s way of pressing on * Bustle *I'm Just a Person is Tig's journey in her own words, taking us through the repeated and unexpected heartaches of loss, the awkwardness and humiliation that comes with being ill, and all the social and personal struggles that come with either of those taxing situations. And yet, she has penned a very funny, deeply moving narrative. This isn't emotional torture porn or blandly uplifting treacle; this is hardcore honesty and sincerity told through a hilarious, sardonic lens.Not only is it a terrific, meaningful read, but it was a wonderful guidebook that helped me be there for a friend who endured a similar loss. Knowing what to say and what not to say is just one worthwhile lesson Tig provided amongst all those laughs and poignant words. * Glen Dallas, Manhattan Book Review *A tragedy turned into a thing of beauty * Elle UK *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A tour de force that is the print equivalent of a long, bravura jazz performance... Crouch has given us a bone-deep understanding of Parker's music and the world that produced it. In his pages, Bird still lives." -- Washington Post "It is from Mr. Crouch, a novelist as well as a critic and essayist, that we come to see Charlie Parker in the context of his time and place in America... One comes away from Mr. Crouch's book wanting more." -- Wall Street Journal "Kansas City Lightning succeeds as few biographies of jazz musicians have... This book is a magnificent achievement; I could hardly put it down." -- Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "This is a memorable book... Stanley Crouch takes us deep into places most of us can only imagine-including into the heart of the mysterious split-second alchemy that takes place nightly on the bandstand." -- Geoffrey C. Ward "A book about a jazz hero written in a heroic style... a bebop Beowulf." -- New York Times "[Crouch] crafts lush scenes and crackling music writing... Jazz fans will want to read this book... This is a thorough and entertaining account of one of the greatest rises-and the prelude to one of the greatest falls-in jazz history." -- NPR.org "It takes a lifetime of passionate engagement to write with the intensity and depth of Stanley Crouch... The results are insightful, profound, and wholly original... This a must read, not just for jazz fans, but for anyone interested in American possibilities." -- Wynton Marsalis "A jazz biography that ranks with the very best." -- Booklist, starred review "Crouch... is uniquely qualified to guide readers on this tour... A story rich in musical history and poignant with dramatic irony." -- Kirkus Reviews "[A] riveting, long-awaited book ... Here is Bird making his watershed discoveries before he fired his own lightning bolts." -- Gary Giddins "A portrait of the young Charlie Parker with a degree of vivid detail never before approached... [Kansas City Lightning is] a deft, virtuosic panorama of early jazz... This is a mind-opening, and mind-filling, book." -- Tom Piazza "Stanley Crouch's work is perhaps the most important writing on jazz today... This outstanding book is food for the soul for any serious listener of jazz music." -- Madhav Chari, jazz pianist With the straight-ahead timing and the ethereal blowing of a great jazzman, Crouch delivers a scorching set... Crouch brings to life the swinging backdrop against which Parker honed his craft." -- Publishers Weekly "This first volume in the epic biography of Charlie Parker showcases Stanley Crouch's encyclopedic knowledge of jazz history and effusive prose." -- Shelf Awareness "Kansas City Lightning paints a profound portrait of a great American musician, but also features Crouch operating at the top of his game." -- Eugene Holley, Publishers Weekly "Stanley Crouch has a store of fresh information for you in his new book about Charlie Parker (1920-55), the genius of American music universally known as Bird, and invaluable insights to offer into the meaning of Parker's achievement. It is imperative that you come into possession of this material..." -- Daily Beast "Award-winning Crouch takes a deep look at [Parker's] rich life." -- Denver Post "Social and cultural critic, columnist and MacArthur Genius Crouch offers a mix of impressionist strokes, historical facts and context in his masterful Charlie Parker bio." -- New York Post "Meticulous and steeped in local lore... Feel[s] as urgent as a blast from Parker's saxophone." -- Kansas City Star "The soul of Stanley Crouch joins the soul of the legendary jazz legend... Crouch recreates 'the Bird' with his writer's talents at their peak and the result is magical." -- Huffington Post "Fans of Mr. Crouch have been waiting so long for him to complete this volume, which is the first installment in a two-part series, that it has taken on a kind of mythic status. It lives up to its aura." -- New York Observer "He tells Parker's story in vivid detail, with a historian's eye and Crouch's unwavering love of the art. All of these elements coalesce into one engrossing account of an American legend that is a must-read for music fans." -- Flavorwire "The rich details make Parker's story come alive." -- Jazz History Online "[Crouch's] great, indeed historic, glory is original research, its interviews with Parker friends from boyhood on about the first half of his life in Kansas City." -- Buffalo News "'Bird Lives!' his followers proclaimed, as if a man as brilliant as Parker could not possibly be mortal. But Charlie Parker was a man, and Stanley Crouch's enchanting biography returns him to the soil that nourished him before he took flight." -- New York Review of Books "Crouch... meticulously examines the musical mechanisms of Parker's genius and, in prose that veers toward lyrical rapture, conjures the inner life of the improvising artist... The book also unfolds, with remarkable personal nuances, a social history of black America in the Jim Crow era." -- The New Yorker "Stanley Crouch's Kansas City Lightning shoots out of the gate with the gale force of a Charlie Parker solo... [An] immersive chronicle, more than 30 years in the making." -- Dallas Morning News "Stanley Crouch's soulful, poetic and often graphic Kansas City Lightning... reads like the jazz version of Batman Begins, with Crouch detailing the raw materials of culture, class, and race that forged Parker's musical identity." -- Los Angeles Magazine "Reads like a jazz record... Cradling Parker's past in the long and incredibly fruitful history of music in America, Crouch brings the alto saxophonist to life, his biography an amalgamation of the people who knew him, loved him, and, of course, played alongside him." -- barnesandnoble.com "Will send you searching for recordings. And really, there's no more important litmus test for a music biography. Reading these books makes you want to listen." -- Boston Globe "Charlie Parker's story can't help but fascinate anyone interested in the most American music of the past century... I am eagerly awaiting [the] sequel." -- Chicago Tribune "A riveting read... Crouch, through years of research, has done an exemplary job." -- Jazz Times "Strikes with enlivening insight, and will leave jazz fans hoping Crouch is as good as his word when he says Volume 2 will be out in the next two years." -- Philadelphia Inquirer "Crouch writes in a heroic style... This 30-years-in-the-making biography of the saxophonist evokes Parker's life and times with visceral power, as well as real finesse." -- San Jose Mercury News "From bravura sentence to serpentine paragraph, the book is a virtuoso performance of musical-literary mimesis... Kansas City Lightning provides more ideas and better writing in its 365 pages than any other book about Parker." -- David Hajdu, New York Times Book Review "Crouch's prose is, as usual, perfect-it takes a genius to write about one, perhaps-and Kansas City Lightning is a thoughtful, generous look at one of the country's most important artists." -- NPR, Named One of the Best Books of the Year "Capture[s] the excitement of a Charlie Parker performance, his incandescent swing, the way he took notes to places they'd never been before... Takes us as close as we are likely to get to the early years of a genius-in-waiting." -- Toronto Globe and Mail "[A] meticulous biography of Parker... In Crouch's passages, he very nearly invents a new language for discussing jazz." -- Popmatters.com "In Crouch's hands, the phrase that used to be ubiquitous around New York rings true: Bird lives. I hope I'm not the only one out there who is waiting with bated breath for Crouch's next volume to see this Bird take flight." -- The Millions "An instant classic... With a novelist's sensibility ... Crouch portrays Parker's world more vividly than anything I have ever read previously... Parker 'lives' in Crouch's telling." -- Jeff Sultanof, the Journal of Jazz Studies

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