Individual actors Books
Fantom Films Limited Too Happy a Face: The Authorised Biography of
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£14.60
Fantom Films Limited A Part Worth Playing
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Fantom Films Limited A Future in Five Minutes: The biography of
Book Synopsis
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers Dying of Politeness
Book SynopsisI adored this book. It's so Geena and so inspiring and such a wonderful read' Emma Thompson A Times Film and Theatre Book of the Year 2022From two-time Academy Award winner and screen icon Geena Davis, Dying of Politeness is the candid, surprising tale of her journey from her epically polite childhood to the roles that put her in the spotlight and gave her the strength to become a powerhouse in Hollywood.At three years old, Geena announced she was going to be in movies. Now, with a slew of iconic roles and awards under her belt, she has surpassed her childhood dream, but her journey has been one of fits and starts, with a pothole or two along the way.In this hilarious memoir, Geena regales us with tales of a career playing everything from an amnesiac assassin to the parent of a rodent in Stuart Little; a soap star in her underwear to a housewife turned road warrior in Thelma & Louise; a baseball phenomenon in A League of Their Own to the first female President of the United States in CTrade Review Praise for Dying of Politeness: ‘Candid, self-deprecating and vastly entertaining…. Davis’s frank appraisal of her psychological and physical merits, and demerits, is not only disarming, but likely to strike a chord with many of her readers’ The Times, Peter Sheridan ‘Her combination of humour and self-deprecation is immediately appealing’ The Observer, BOOK OF THE DAY ‘A marvellous memoir… an endearing and inspiring account of one “offbeat” woman finding her own voice… I’m often bored by the second half of celebrity memoirs, but Davis’s just keeps building momentum. It’s a real-life feel-good movie, in which the downtrodden heroine finds her power. She guards her privacy without ever getting pompous or dull. If you want to know about the pimples on Brad Pitt’s bum, then she’ll spill. If you want to know how she conceived her kids at 47? Back off, that’s her business… I closed her book with the firm conviction that she’s the celebrity I’d most like to hang out with’ Daily Telegraph ‘Entertaining… After decades of silently seething, Thelma & Louise star Geena Davis lifts the lid on Hollywood sexism’ Daily Express ‘The book’s a blast… it really is a supremely jolly read’ The Times, Polly Vernon 'Brilliant… read it cover to cover. Absolutely awesome'Chris Evans ‘Davis is truly inspiring, and her book is warm and relatable’ Woman’s Weekly
£20.00
HarperCollins Publishers T.V.
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *The long-awaited return of the comedy national treasure*
£23.75
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Find Your Path
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£20.00
Faber & Faber How to Be a Movie Star Elizabeth Taylor in
Book SynopsisI don''t pretend to be an ordinary housewife. So said Elizabeth Taylor, and therein lay her secret.From her days as a youthful minx at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to her post-studio reign as America''s lustiest middle-aged movie queen, Taylor has defined the very essence of Hollywood stardom. Marching through the decades swathed in mink, discarding husbands nearly as frequently as she changed her diamond necklaces, Taylor dominated the headlines as no other star before or since. From America''s sweetheart to America''s homewrecker and then back again, she uncannily reflected (and at times predicted) the always shifting cultural zeitgeist. How to Be a Movie Star is a different kind of book about Elizabeth Taylor: an intimate look at a girl who grew up with fame, who learned early - and well - how to be famous.
£11.24
Random House, India Ebrahim Alkazi
Book SynopsisStaging the cultural history of India between the 1940s and 2000s, and featuring a galaxy of artists and actors as the dramatis personaeâ including M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, Akbar Padamsee, Gieve Patel, Nissim Ezekiel, Alyque Padamsee, Girish Karnad, Manohar Singh, Vijaya Mehta, Kusum Haidar and Gerson da Cunha.
£43.22
The History Press Ltd John Gielgud An Actors Life Centenary Edition
Book SynopsisJohn GielgudTrade Review‘A testimony to Gyles Brandreth’s talent … Avoiding the usual tedious cradle-to-grave narrative, Brandreth braids Gielgud’s own reminiscences with those from friends and colleagues. What sets this apart from the usual kind of puff is Brandreth’s own voice, directing our responses to Gielgud’s art.’ – Kathryn Hughes, Daily Telegraph‘Full of personal detail … a treasure trove of anecdote but also clear and informative … Brandreth’s immaculate, charming and deceptively modest book … fascinating.’ – Carole Woddis, Glasgow Herald‘Cometh the hour, cometh the biography.’ – Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
£6.39
Headline Publishing Group Cant Stand Up For Sitting Down
Book SynopsisThe Stand-Up while Sitting Down Years...Jo Brand tells the story of how she crawled to fame and fortune, managed to persuade someone to marry her and had some children at an age when she should have been in a bath chair on the seafront. In this second volume of her memoirs, Jo recounts wild times on the comedy circuit, the attempts to tart her up for the TV screen, running the marathon, rally driving, her numerous, occasionally extremely inebriated, Edinburgh festival appearances, her ''acting'' career, and much, much more.Jo Brand is one of our best-loved comedians, according to a quote she made up. This memoir is full of hard-won wisdom, hilarity and her views on life, laughs, friendships and all the good and bad things in the world. If she was Prime Minister, the country would be in even more of a mess than it is.
£10.99
McFarland & Co Inc The Art of Charlie Chaplin
Book Synopsis This thorough critical study of Chaplin''s films traces his acting career chronologically, from his initial appearance in 1914''s Making a Living to his final starring role in 1957''s A King in New York. Emphasizing Chaplin''s technique and the steady evolution of his Tramp character, the author frames the biographical details of Chaplin''s life within the context of his acting and filmmaking career, giving special attention to the films Chaplin directed/produced.
£27.54
Beacon Press All the Rage
Book SynopsisA moving and surprisingly funny memoir about finding the right balance between anger and compassion“Why aren’t you angry?” people often asked Martin Moran after he told his story of how he came to forgive the man who sexually abused him as a boy. At first, the question pissed him off. Then, it began to haunt him. Why didn’t he have more anger? Why had he never sought redress for the crime committed against him? Was his fury hidden, buried? Was he not man enough? Here he was, an adult in mid-life, with an established acting career, a husband. A life. And yet the question of rage began to obsess him.As the narrative jumps from dream to memory to theory, from Colorado to New York to Johannesburg, Moran takes us along on his quest to understand the role of rage in our lives. Translating for an asylum seeker and survivor of torture, he wonders how the man is not consumed with the wrong done him, only to shortly thereafter find himself in a wild
£21.85
Splendid Books Limited An East End Life My Story
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£17.09
Dynasty Press Ltd PomPoms Up From Puberty to Pythons and Beyond
Book SynopsisIn 'Pom-Poms Up!, From Puberty to the Pythons and beyond, the British born, American raised and RADA trained actress reveals her life, loves and laughs as the 'Glamorous PYTHON GIRL' who famously kept her cool and a straight face in the heat of the humour generated by Cleese, Palin, Jones, Gilliam and the late Chapman, The 'MONTY' Pythons.Trade Review"Fascinating insights into a fascinating woman." TERRY JONES "Good stuff! Carol's remembered much more than I have and it's a jolly nice read...it's really her voice." TERRY GILLIAM "This is a wonderful roller coaster ride through the world of television and films. Carol is a good storyteller with a great story to tell." MICHAEL PALIN 'Seventh Python' reveals all Monty Python's 'seventh member', Carol Cleveland, is to write her memoirs, entitled Pom Poms Up!, to coincide with the comedy troupe's sell-out comeback gigs this summer. Still glamorous at 72, Carol was the only permanently featured female performer with the line-up, appearing in 30 of the 45 Flying Circus television episodes and all four films. As well as her Python work, Cleveland appeared in more than 30 other films, 55 TV shows and 85 theatre roles, as well as a variety of BBC radio shows - all of which she promises to cover in her book. She was also directed by Charlie Chaplin in the 1967 film comedy The Countess From Hong Kong starring Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren. Carol says: 'As much as Python has been wonderful for me, in another respect it has been a bit of a ball and chain simply because I'm known for that.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2550729/RICHARD-KAY-Designer-does-bunk-Sir-Brucies-wifes-cash.html#ixzz2sLonBDzo Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
£10.44
Massey University Press One Minute Crying Time
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£27.89
Headline Publishing Group A Life Worth Living
Book Synopsis''I can''t recommend it highly enough'' STEPHEN FRY ''Everyone needs to hear his voice'' MARK HADDONI''m a man on a mission to show that life with Down syndrome can be exciting and is worth living, so that other people understand and give us the chance to live life to the full and to be fulfilled.Tommy Jessop''s acting career spans Line of Duty, multi-award winning roles in short films, various roles on television and the stage. From his emotional role in the hit BBC series, to playing Hamlet on stage, and through his campaigning, Tommy has created real change. He has been at the vanguard of bringing awareness of the need for opportunities and the real potential of people living with Down syndrome to the media, the general public and to government.A Life Worth Living is Tommy''s story and Tommy''s philosophy in his own words. This uplifting read will resonate with anyone who is facing a challenge and has been especially highly praised by families and friends of people living with Down syndrome who find it immensely encouraging.
£18.00
Penguin Books Ltd More Fool Me
Book SynopsisIn his early thirties, Stephen Fry - writer, comedian, star of stage and screen - had, as they say, ''made it''.What could possibly go wrong?As the 80s drew to a close, he discovered a most enjoyable way to burn the candle at both ends, and took to excess like a duck to breadcrumbs. Writing and recording by day, and haunting a never ending series of celebrity parties, drinking dens, and poker games by night, he fooled all those except the very closest to him.He was - to all intents and purposes - a high functioning addict - he was so busy, so distracted by the high life, that he could hardly see the inevitable, headlong tumble that must surely follow . . .Containing raw, electric extracts from his diaries of the time, More Fool Me is a brilliant, eloquent account by a man driven to create and to entertain - revealing a side to him he has long kept hidden.
£999.99
Abrams FAMEISH My Life at the Edge of Stardom
Book SynopsisStand-up comedian and Chloe of the television series 24, Mary Lynn Rajskub shares her debut collection of hilarious essays and endearing missteps on the road to becoming FAME-ISH. It’s not easy being kind of famous. Fortune. Younger men. Exclusive invites. Being mistaken for different actresses who are slightly prettier and more famous than you. It’s all part of the gig, and Mary Lynn Rajskub is a pro. Hilarious and self-deprecating, FAME-ISH is Mary Lynn Rajskub’s debut collection of riotously funny essays. Smart, satirical, and relatable, this book gives new meaning to the word icon as Rajskub navigates the entertainment world against the backdrop of her own quirky idiosyncrasies. She describes what it’s like to make out with Tom Cruise, be a waitress at Denny’s, and find your life’s purpose in 300 indecipherable, not-easy steps—all in a day’s work. Rajskub is honest abou
£16.14
Hodder & Stoughton eYE Marty
Book SynopsisCompleted before he died, thirty years ago, this is the newly discovered autobiography of one of the most influential comedians of recent times, Marty Feldman. Marty Feldman was one of the most essential creative forces in British comedy embodied also by his close friends and creative partners from Beyond the Fringe (especially Peter Cook and Dudley Moore) and Monty Python (especially John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Eric Idle).Marty played the fool, often very happily and with tremendous talent and volcanic, anarchic energy, for his entire life. Marty finished, and set aside eYE Marty soon before travelling to Mexico to shoot his final film. He did not know that he would die there, although he certainly felt he might die soon, and was haunted by the notion. The book is exactly as Feldman wrote it, with even the photos inserted where Feldman had noted they should go. Hilarious, deeply charming, aphoristic, ironic, charged throughout with lust forTrade ReviewHe was a pioneer of comedy who inspired pioneers of comedy, a hero to my comedy heroes. * Sarah Silverman *No one has ever made me laugh as hard as Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein, he was pure comic perfection. * Judd Apatow *He was totally unique. Like something out of mythology. But funny. * Martin Sheen *A fascinating insight into the mind of Feldman for weirdos everywhere. Long live this comic genius. * John C. Reilly *The only thing more wonderful than this book is actually watching Marty Feldman perform. Both thrill me. * Jeff Garlin *This is a warm and engaging memorial. * The Sunday Times *Feldman's life...is extraordinary...Another early Feldman sketch finds Cleese in a railway compartment irritated unto violence by the inane interruptions of his fellow passenger, a wing-collared Marty. In the end, Feldman simply disappears, but his voice persists. This too is a prophetic metaphor for Feldman - his early death, his lingering influence and, yes, his genius. * The Times *
£16.67
Headline Publishing Group Love Pamela
Book SynopsisThe actress, activist, and once infamous Playboy Playmate reclaims the narrative of her life in a memoir that defies expectation in both content and approach, blending searing prose with snippets of original poetry.Trade ReviewA revelatory and fascinating dive beyond the usual bimbo clichés -- Alexander Larman * The Spectator *Pamela Anderson tackles her journey from small-town girl to one of the icons of the 90s, terrorised by the LA paparazzi who were obsessed with her personal life . . . this is a chance for her to tell her story in her own way. * Stylist *Reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *A page-turner . . . throughout her account of this kooky, messed-up, enviable, and often thrilling life, her humility . . . never fails her. * Kirkus *This pensive and free-spirited narrative reflects both Anderson's naivete and her wild spirit. * Publishers Weekly *The most disappointing thing about Love, Pamela is that it doesn't come in a form that can be injected directly into your viens . . . Dazzling. * The New York Times *The iconic Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to present an impressionistic view of a fascinating life . . . the book paints a picture of a wild spirit, a proud mother, and a seeker that will draw in fans and those who have misunderstood this complicated woman. * Booklist, starred review *Anderson reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *
£15.00
Ebury Publishing What Would The Rock Do?
Book Synopsis'Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?!' He has yet to encounter an obstacle he couldn't overcome. He's the WWE legend as eight-time champion, he's outlasted being buried up to his neck in a desert (The Scorpion King), battled the giant Tamatoa (Moana), ruthless mercenaries (Jumanji), and murderous racers (the Fast and Furious series) all thanks to his motivation and drive.Do you want to learn how to do the same? Then get inspired with this uplifting collection of quotes from the man himself on success, wrestling, fitness, family and more.What else can we say, except, you're welcome?!
£8.23
Quercus Publishing The Young Pretender
Book Synopsis'An engrossing, enthralling and utterly captivating read, The Young Pretender tells a simply remarkable story with bounce, energy, wit, and lively authenticity . . . Michael Arditti's brilliant imaginative achievement offers high comedy, dark tragedy and everything between' STEPHEN FRYMobbed by the masses, lionised by the aristocracy, courted by royalty and lusted after by patrons of both sexes, the child actor William Henry West Betty was one of the most famous people in Georgian Britain.At the age of thirteen, he played leading roles, including Romeo, Macbeth and Richard III, in theatres across the country. Prime Minister William Pitt adjourned the House of Commons so that its members could attend his debut as Hamlet at Covent Garden. Then, as rivals turned on him and scandal engulfed him, he suffered a fall as merciless as his rise had been meteoric.The Young Pretender takes place during Betty's attempted comeback at the age of twenty-one. As he seeks to relaunch his career, he is forced to confront the painful truths behind his boyhood triumphs. Michael Arditti's revelatory new novel puts this long forgotten figure back in the limelight. In addition to its rich and poignant portrait of Betty himself, it offers an engrossing insight into both the theatre and society of the age. The nature of celebrity, the power of publicity and the cult of youth are laid bare in a story that is more pertinent now than ever.'Michael Arditti is a writer who takes risks. His material is always compelling and provocative, his techniques sophisticated and oblique' PATRICIA DUNCKER, Independent on Sunday 'Arditti is a master storyteller' PETER STANFORD, Observer Trade ReviewThe Young Pretender is an absolute joy - charming and funny, with the lightest hint of melancholy, and a wonderfully imaginative recreation of the Georgian theatre scene -- Kate SaundersMichael Arditti tells a story of a Regency child star with great panache and compassion, bringing a forgotten celebrity back to life for the modern age. A compelling read I was sad to finish. -- Linda GrantAn engrossing, enthralling and utterly captivating read, The Young Pretender tells a simply remarkable story with bounce, energy, wit, and lively authenticity . . . Michael Arditti's brilliant imaginative achievement offers high comedy, dark tragedy and everything between * Stephen Fry *The Young Pretender is just wonderful: so delicate and precise about performance, pretence and youth, with such a feeling for Georgian London. It's so well-written, I found myself admiring it from end to end. * Andrew O'Hagan *Entrancing and disturbing . . . A moving story and Michael Arditti tells it with understanding and engaging sympathy . . . A rich social picture -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *The Young Pretender is a scintillating departure [from Arditti's previous work], bringing to life the vanished world of the Georgian theatre with great skill. -- Suzy Feay * Financial Times *Arditti's voice as Betty is impeccable. He is touchy, sometimes myopic, sincere in his ambitions. His attempts to reclaim lost glory are run through with an affecting melancholy. -- Antonia Senior * The Times (Best New Historical Fiction) *The Young Pretender is an absolute joy - charming and funny, with the lightest hint of melancholy, and a wonderfully imaginative recreation of the Georgian theatre sceneMichael Arditti tells a story of a Regency child star with great panache and compassion, bringing a forgotten celebrity back to life for the modern age. A compelling read I was sad to finish.The Young Pretender is a scintillating departure [from Arditti's previous work], bringing to life the vanished world of the Georgian theatre with great skill. * Financial Times *Persuasively told in the actor's voice, this short, compelling novel records the crumbling of Betty's dreams of renewed acclaim and his slow acknowledgment of uncomfortable truths about his childhood stardom. -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *The first-person narrative endears, as Arditti blends tragedy and comedy. There won't be a dry eye in the house. -- Rose Shepherd * Saga Magazine *A vivid, highly detailed portrait of life in rumbustious Regency London -- Anthony Gardner * Mail on Sunday *One of the best novels about the theatre I have ever read. Arditti brilliantly captures the feverish adulation of Master Betty, the financial exploitation of his fame and the sexual curiosity his presence aroused. This is also a novel about the transience of celebrity, the capricious bustle of Georgian London and the politics of theatre. I would recommend the novel not just to theatre addicts but to anyone intrigued by the whirligig of time. -- Michael Billington
£9.49
Linden Publishing Co Inc Twin Destinies: The True Story of the Pappas
Book SynopsisA nostalgic look back at the exciting teen music and dance craze of the 50s through the classic hits era of the60s, 70s, and 80s. Twin Destinies tells the story of Pete and Mike Pappas, the twin sons of Greek immigrants who defied predictions of failure and worked their way to the top of the broadcasting business in the exciting and glamorous classic hits era of 1950s radio and television. Pete and Mike pitched the idea for a show dedicated to teens, Pete and Mikes Dance Time, in their hometown of Modesto, California, and, due to their talent and charismatic personalities, quickly found themselves local celebrities. Soon the twins entered the burgeoning television industry with their own half-hour program, Pete and Mikes Variety Show, airing on KTVU in Stockton. Fame followed Pete and Mike even after they enlisted in the military. While in the service, bags of fan mail arrived weekly, and love letters from fans followed them wherever they were based. After returning from the service, Pete and Mikes strong, loving bond as identical twins found them pursuing broadcasting careers and living their lives together, overcoming obstacles in the business world and achieving the success their immigrant parents had dreamed would one day be theirs. Twin Destinies is a story of hard work, perseverance, and the love between twin brothers that was the foundation of their American success story.
£17.99
Brindle and Glass Publishing, Ltd The Edmonton Queen: The Final Voyage
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£18.89
Caitlin Press Chautauqua Serenade: Violinist Ruth Bowers on
Book SynopsisRuth Bowers had a dream of becoming a professional violinist. In 1910, when traditional careers for women included nursing or teaching, Ruth joined the chautauqua and lyceum tour circuit and hit the road. In the first part of the twentieth century, these popular tours brought music, education and entertainment to millions of people in rural North America. But chautauquas and lyceums also provided employment and fame for many female lecturers and performers. At a time when women did not even have the right to vote, musicians like Ruth Bowers were travelling, becoming financially independent and expanding ideas of what women could do-they were part of the first wave of the women''s liberation of the twentieth century. A remarkably talented violinist from Erie, Pennsylvania, Ruth Bowers performed at venues across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and from Texas to British Columbia. Ruth shared the bill with famous people like orator William Jennings Bryan, illusionist Eugene Laurant and impersonator Elma B. Smith. While on tour, Bowers collected photographs, postcards and memorabilia and sent letters home. Using this material from his family archives, along with newspaper articles from the 1900s and research files from the chautauqua collection at the University of Iowa, author-historian Jay Sherwood pieces together the unique life of his grandmother. With over 125 previously unpublished photographs and images, CHAUTAUQUA SERENADE offers readers a backstage pass to the iconic chautauqua tour through the eyes of a young woman with a big dream.
£14.39
Primedia eLaunch LLC Paris Nights: My Year at the Moulin Rouge
Book Synopsis
£16.19
ibidem-Verlag, Jessica Haunschild u Christian Schon Alan Ayckbourn in Chekhov's Footsteps. A Study of
Book SynopsisMustafa Kirca explores the dark sides of Alan Ayckbourn's comedy by comparing the playwright's characters with those of Chekhov's drama and drawing a parallelism in the character portrayal of both artists. The significance of Ayckbourn's plays, following Chekhov's footsteps, particularly lies in his vivid portrayal of characters from everyday life with psychological depth. Kirca shows that the fine mix of comedy and tragedy in Ayckbourn's drama is conveyed through his realistic characterization contrary to the farcical style of his plays. This kind of character portrayal in Ayckbourn's plays brings him very close to Chekhov and establishes the known equilibrium between comedy and tragedy in his theatre. The study covers Ayckbourn's Absent Friends, Just Between Ourselves, Joking Apart, Season's Greetings, Woman in Mind, A Small Family Business, and Henceforward. From Chekhov's drama, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard are included to define the general Chekhovian character traits. The book is especially interesting for teachers, students, and for general readers who are interested in modern 'human comedies'.
£18.69
ibidem-Verlag, Jessica Haunschild u Christian Schon Beckett, Lacan and the Voice
Book SynopsisThe voice traverses Beckett's work in its entirety, defining its space and its structure. Emanating from an indeterminate source situated outside the narrators and characters, while permeating the very words they utter, it proves to be incessant. It can alternatively be violently intrusive, or embody a calming presence. Literary creation will be charged with transforming the mortification it inflicts into a vivifying relationship to language. In the exploration undertaken here, Lacanian psychoanalysis offers the means to approach the voice's multiple and fundamentally paradoxical facets with regards to language that founds the subject's vital relation to existence. Far from seeking to impose a rigid and purely abstract framework, this study aims to highlight the singularity and complexity of Beckett's work, and to outline a potentially vast field of investigation.
£26.39
HarperCollins Publishers McQueen The Biography
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Tommy Cooper Always Leave Them Laughing The Definitive Biography of a Comedy Legend
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz
Book SynopsisThe incredible, uncensored full story of the number one male porn star and legend, told in his own words.Trade ReviewBook of the Month in the April issue of Boys Toys ‘Explosive’Sunday World ‘It's fun to read… my opinion of the 'Hedgehog' was considerably raised.' Desire magazine
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Becoming Johnny Vegas
Book SynopsisMy name is Michael Pennington, and I am not a comic character. I'm often mistaken for one though. You might know him by another name. Johnny Vegas.'From BBC Dickens adaptations to Benidorm and Ideal to the PG Tips ads, Johnny Vegas has become one of Britain''s best-loved comic actors.But before he''d ever drunk tea with a knitted monkey or made himself the exception that proves the rule in terms of the predictability of TV panel game regulars, Johnny Vegas was perhaps the most fearlessly confessional stand-up comedian this country has ever produced.How did an eleven-year-old Catholic trainee priest from St Helens grow up to become the North West of England's answer to Lenny Bruce? That's just one of the many questions answered by this eye-poppingly frank memoir.Becoming Johnny Vegas establishes its author as the poet laureate of the Pimblett''s pie.Once you''ve finished this darkly hilarious tale of family, faith and the creative application of alcohol dependency, you''ll never look at a copy of the Catholic men''s society newsletter the same way again.Trade Review‘…book’s fabulous, buy it!’ Paul O’Grady ‘Extraordinary. A truly unusual showbiz memoir.’ Mark Lawson, Front Row, BBC Radio 4 ‘A compelling tale of self-loathing, bristling with anger and bitterness, it still manages to be very funny and hold out hope of redemption.’ Daily Telegraph 'It's funny and a bit horrifying – with, at its best in the early sections, an almost Alan Bennettish feel for bathos.' The Best Memoirs of 2013, The Guardian ‘A characteristically in-yer-face narrative of how Michael Pennington became Johnny Vegas.’ The Independent ‘Michael Pennington – his real name – proves there’s more to Mr Vegas than meets the eye in this frank memoir.’ 100 Best Books For Christmas, The Telegraph ‘Altogether unique… as elegantly constructed as the finest literary novel.’ Catholic Herald ‘Reads like a novel.’ The Guardian ‘Eloquent, witty and perceptive, a fascinating study of creative catharsis.’ Metro ‘Rare is the celebrity memoir that’s as honest, insightful, revelatory and compelling as Becoming Johnny Vegas.’ Chortle
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Then and Now
Book SynopsisOne of the greatest American singers and actresses of her generation looks back on a magical and turbulent life spanning a half century of theatrical history from the golden age of the Broadway musical to the present day.A legend of the American theater, Barbara Cook burst upon the scene to become Broadway’s leading ingénue in roles such as Cunégonde in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, Amalia Balash in Jerry Bock’s She Loves Me, and her career-defining, Tony-winning role as the original Marian the librarian in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. But in the late 1960s, Barbara’s extraordinary talent onstage was threatened by debilitating depression and alcoholism that forced her to step away from the limelight and out of the public life. Emerging from the shadows in the early 1970s, Barbara reinvented herself as the country’s leading concert and cabaret artist, performing the songs of Stephen Sondheim and other
£999.99
HarperCollins Rebel
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.09
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Mother of Black Hollywood
Book Synopsis
£14.39
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Just Getting Started
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Fans of heralded crooner Bennett will revel in this inviting charming book...In these beguiling portraits, Bennett warmly remembers of the deep influences on his life." -- Publishers Weekly "[Just Getting Started] is as breezy and meaningful as one of his trademark songs as readers learn about the man by the company he kept and the heroes he worships. Bennett's ethereal still lifes and landscape paintings adorn this simple yet profound and gracious homage." -- Booklist "In Just Getting Started...the singer takes a look back on his long, successful career and rich life...What comes through in all 42 chapters is the singer's gratitude...Let's hope this new generation can learn a lesson from Mr. Bennett's unflagging class and graciousness. -- Wall Street Journal
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Hello Molly
Book SynopsisA New York Times bestseller A candid, compulsively readable, hilarious, and heartbreaking memoir of resilience and redemption by comedic genius Molly ShannonAt age four, Molly Shannon’s world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.From there, Molly ventured into the wider world of New York and Los Angeles show business, where she created her own opportunities and developed her daring and empathetic comedy. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Whitney Houston to Adam Sandler to Monica Lewinsky, many told for the first time here, Hello, Molly! spans Molly’s time on Saturday Night Live—where she starred alongside Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon, among many others. At the same time, it explores with humor and candor her struggle to come to terms with the legacy of her father, a man who both fostered her gifts and drive and was left with the impossible task of raising his kids alone after the loss of her mother.Witty, winning, and told with tremendous energy and heart, Hello, Molly!, written with Sean Wilsey, sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our most talented and free-spirited performers.
£15.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc How Yall Doing
Book Synopsis
£21.59
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Love Me as I Am
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Poignant . . . candid. . . . An inspirational memoir that fans of the Real Housewives franchise or The Real will enjoy And yes: she dishes about the other housewives and the celebrities she met on her road to success. — Library Journal “Dishy, warm, and entertaining.” — Kirkus Reviews
£999.99
£23.51
Yale University Press I Maya Plisetskaya
Trade Review“A compelling story about perseverance, hardship, craftiness and, ultimately, a kind of seething acceptance of the system that virtually imprisoned her, even as she found that she couldn’t live without it.”—Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post“Like the swans she danced so often—800 performances of ‘Swan Lake’ and unnumbered renderings of the Dying Swan—Maya Plisetskaya, one of the great ballerinas of the last century, mingled beauty and fierceness. . . . She has much to be angry about and, as the Bolshoi’s prima ballerina assoluta for decades and celebrated worldwide, quite a bit to be grateful for. . . . The Plisetskaya memoir is a moving success. Here is the woman, I proclaims, and we see her—not entirely polished but overwhelming—as if she were dancing.”—Richard Eder, New York Times“The fascinating story of how this artist of implacable will confronted and defied the Soviet regime—and eventually had her way. . . . I, Maya Plisetskaya has the virtues of candor and directness, and it has a real story to tell.”—Robert Gottlieb, Los Angeles Times Book Review“A riveting account of pursuing artistic excellence under Soviet oppression. . . . Plisetskaya doesn’t just tell an incredible story. She also lays bare the hard work and uncertainty involved in putting it all in a book. . . . Reading this memoir feels like listening to a wonderfully strong-willed friend.”—Boston Globe“Almost everything about Plisetskaya, now 76, seemed larger than life. And as her wonderfully intimate and detailed new autobiography reveals, that is the result of both her innately bold, born-to-be-a-diva personality, and of the often perilous Soviet political environment in which she forged her career. . . . This is a fascinating memoir, steeped in ambivalence.”—Chicago Sun-Times“I, Maya Plisetskaya isa memoir of the Terror, the Gulag and the very fertile Soviet arts, by the athletic prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet.”—Washington Post Book World“[A]n autobiography that is also a searing indictment of Soviet Russia, of communism and of the blind naiveté with which the Isadoras of this world have often approached her country. . . . Plisetskaya’s memoirs invariably describe a life in dance. But the book’s biggest value lies in being much more than that. I, Maya is social history written by a dancer who transcends the mute language of her art to tell a universal story of suffering and endurance. The thud of irony continually disrupts the mellifluous strains of Tchaikovsky that sounds in the background of a career that spanned 50 years. . . . [A] deliciously subversive book.”—Deirdre Kelly, Toronto Globe & MailSelected as one of the Best Nonfiction Books of 2001 by the Los Angeles Times Book Review
£44.90
The Perseus Books Group I Never Met a Story I Didnt Like Mostly True Tall
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Hachette Books Confess
Book Synopsis
£16.99
Da Capo Press How to American
Book SynopsisStandup comic, actor and fan favorite from HBO''s Silicon Valley and the film Crazy Rich Asians shares his memoir of growing up as a Chinese immigrant in California and making it in Hollywood. I turned down a job in finance to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. My dad thought I was crazy. But I figured it was better to disappoint my parents for a few years than to disappoint myself for the rest of my life. I had to disappoint them in order to pursue what I loved. That was the only way to have my Chinese turnip cake and eat an American apple pie too. Jimmy O. Yang is a standup comedian, film and TV actor and fan favorite as the character Jian Yang from the popular HBO series Silicon Valley. In How to American, he shares his story of growing up as a Chinese immigrant who pursued a Hollywood career against the wishes of his parents: Yang arrived in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at age 13, learned English by watching BET RapCity for three hours a day, and worked as a strip club DJ while pursuing his comedy career. He chronicles a near deportation episode during a college trip Tijuana to finally becoming a proud US citizen ten years later. Featuring those and many other hilarious stories, while sharing some hard-earned lessons, How to American mocks stereotypes while offering tongue in cheek advice on pursuing the American dreams of fame, fortune, and strippers.
£14.39
Hachette Books Not Afraid
Book SynopsisTHE SEQUEL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WHATEVER YOU SAY I AM, CHRONICLING THE PAST TWENTY YEARS OF RAPPER EMINEM''S LIFE, BASED ON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH THE ARTIST, HIS FRIENDS, AND ASSOCIATESA passionate look at the Detroit rapper''s music . . . an expert and thoughtful assessment. - Booklist In 1999, a former dishwasher from Detroit named Marshall Bruce Mathers III became the most controversial and polarizing musical artist in the world. He was an outlier, a white artist creating viable art in a black medium, telling stories with such verbal dexterity, nimble wit, and shocking honesty that his music and persona resonated universally. In short, Eminem changed the landscape of pop culture as we knew it. In 2006, at the height of his fame and one of the biggest-selling artists in music history, Eminem all but disappeared. Beset by nonstop controversy, bewildering international fame, a debilitating drug problem, and personal tragedy, he became reclusive, withdrawing to his Detroit-area compound. He struggled with weight gain and an addiction to prescription pills that nearly took his life. Over the next five years, Eminem got sober, relapsed, then finally got and stayed clean with the help of his unlikely friend and supporter, Elton John. He then triumphantly returned to a very different landscape, yet continued his streak of number one albums and multiplatinum singles.Not Afraid picks up where rock journalist Anthony Bozza''s bestselling Whatever You Say I Am left off. Capturing Eminem''s toughest years in his own words, as well the insights of his closest friends and creative collaborators, this book chronicles the musical, personal, and spiritual growth of one of hip-hop''s most enduring and enigmatic figures.
£16.19
Crown De Niro
£17.99
Back Bay Books Lou Reed
Book Synopsis
£17.99
Little, Brown & Company Miss D and Me
Book SynopsisFor ten years Kathryn Sermak was at Bette Davis''s side--first as an employee, and then as her closest friend--and in Miss D and Me she tells the story of the great star''s harrowing but inspiring final years, a story fans have been waiting decades to hear.Miss D and Me is a story of two powerful women, one at the end of her life and the other at the beginning. As Bette Davis aged she was looking for an assistant, but she found something more than that in Kathryn: a loyal and loving buddy, a co-conspirator in her jokes and schemes, and a competent assistant whom she trained never to miss a detail. But Miss D had strict rules for Kathryn about everything from how to eat a salad to how to wear her hair...even the spelling of Kathryn''s name was changed (adding the y) per Miss D''s request. Throughout their time together, the two grew incredibly close, and Kathryn had a front-row seat to the larger-than-life Davis''s career renaissance in her later years, as well
£19.92
