RaveLibrary JournalPerceptive and beautiful ... Filled with tidbits such as the origin of the famous golf swing and humanizing stories of regret over losing his first wife to divorce and his son to a car accident, Zehme expertly fully captures a full portrait of Carson.
Carrie Courogen
RaveLibrary JournalThe writing in this book is whip-smart and funny. It produces a fully realized portrait of a mysterious film genius.
Gary Gulman
RaveLibrary Journal[A] gem of a book ... The characters of Gulman’s youth... come alive with such exactitude that they leap from the pages and inspire emotional reactions.
Andrew McCarthy
PositiveLibrary JournalMcCarthy shares exquisite details of their surroundings, providing historical context ... The process of the two connecting over time is heartwarming and relatable ... A sweet gem of a tale that will appeal to McCarthy fans and those who appreciate a challenging journey.
Pamela Anderson
PositiveLibrary JournalAnderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism.
Lauren Graham
RaveLibrary JournalA charming glimpse into the life of a relatable and extremely likable actress ... Humorous storytelling .... Her essays on filmmaking provide sage advice, and her tribute to New York is a beautiful love story. Woven through the tapestry of her stories is a thread of sadness ... Graham’s down-to-earth stories are funny and touching; a surefire fourth best-seller.
Constance Wu
PositiveLibrary JournalWu is refreshingly honest in this look back at the most formative moments of her life, with each chapter acting as a stand-alone, deeply personal essay ... Wu takes full responsibility for the more complicated times and relationships in her life ... Wu’s writing shines when she explores the seemingly simple yet meaningful loves of her life—her pet rabbit, her first car, her childhood neighbors, and her first job in a bakery ... Wu’s mea culpa is a moving study in self-acceptance that will win her more fans.
Edafe Okporo
PositiveLibrary JournalMoving and thought-provoking ... Okporo’s personal journey is touching, and his skillful explanation of the corrupt immigration processes and policies that continue to reject and exclude the very people they are meant to aid is a timely plea for reform and empathy.
Justin Tinsley
PositiveLibrary JournalMeticulously researched ... Hip-hop and Biggie fans will appreciate the book’s context of his rise to fame and the reminiscences of those closest to him.
Danyel Smith
RaveLibrary JournalSmith interweaves heartfelt stories of her own life as she provides evidence of the continual erasure of Black women’s contributions to the evolving music industry, even as they upended all cultural norms and created unprecedented sounds ... In this fascinating tribute, Smith ensures that the achievements of these Black women musicians will not be forgotten.
Toni Bentley
PositiveLibrary JournalBentley writes as she once danced, with grace and elegance, as she captures the haunting beauty of an art form that exists to be seen and experienced ... A touching tribute to a master, this work will delight balletomanes.
Shawn Levy
PositiveLibrary JournalThe book is insightful, moving, and well researched, with humorous anecdotes and fond memories of a group of women Levy clearly admires ... Levy gives these trailblazers their due, and fans of comedy will adore the snippets of classic banter and long-lost one-liners.
Stephen Galloway
PositiveLibrary JournalGalloway’s extensive research reveals the many hurdles the couple faced...and offers behind-the-scenes accounts from both their greatest successes ... While the focus is on Olivier and Leigh’s relationship, Galloway also offers a riveting depiction of the First and Second World Wars and show business in the U.S. and the UK ... Will greatly appeal to cinema buffs, theater aficionados, and fans of the doomed lovebirds.
Paul Cantor
PositiveLibrary JournalLiterary and media critic Cantor wrote this first biography of rap legend Mac Miller (1992–2018) without the participation of Miller’s family and estate but manages to provide a respectful and moving account of Miller’s career and complicated life ... While Cantor relies heavily on previously published interviews, he does provide fresh insights from Miller’s professional acquaintances, and the result is an honest, cautionary tale about a troubled musician gone too soon.
Scott Meslow
PositiveLibrary JournalA delightful and humorous love letter to the romantic comedy flick ... Meslow also provides tantalizing tales of script overhauls...casting controversies...and tensions between costars ... Fans of the popular but often under-appreciated genre of romantic comedy will appreciate Meslow’s book, which offers insight on the development of landmark films and how some of Hollywood’s biggest names launched their careers.
Bob Odenkirk
RaveLibrary JournalOdenkirk recounts fascinating and humorous behind-the-scenes stories from the many sets he\'s worked on, plus insights about big names in entertainment, including Chris Farley, Garry Shandling, and Janeane Garofalo, whom he credits as the founder of alternative comedy ... Odenkirk\'s account of triumph, struggle, and his firm belief that comedy is a unifying source of connection will inspire his fans and motivate aspiring entertainers.
Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, with Philip Lerman
RaveLibrary JournalIn this surprising, humorous, and heartfelt trip down memory lane, HBO\'s groundbreaking series The Sopranos is fondly remembered by those most involved in its creation and phenomenal success ... This nostalgia-inducing, funny, and thought-provoking tribute rises to the top of works about The Sopranos.
Hayley Mills
PositiveLibrary JournalChild star Mills’s charming and eloquent walk down memory lane is a fascinating study of moviemaking in 1960s Britain and the United States ... Movie buffs will be riveted by Mills’s behind-the-scenes tales.
Andrew McCarthy
PositiveLibrary JournalMcCarthy is a talented and intelligent writer who tactfully refrains from making this a kiss-and-tell history of the Brat Pack. Instead, he focuses on his own experiences—including his bouts of alcoholism and armor of aloofness—and recounts his dawning recognition that he would prefer to work behind the camera instead of in front of it ... Students of acting will appreciate learning about McCarthy’s versions of method acting and his struggles with performing for a camera. Fans of ’80s cinema will love the chance to reminisce.
David Thomson
PositiveLibrary JournalThomson identifies as a curmudgeon, and his conversational tone is both authoritative and perplexing ... He asserts that filmmakers direct for “access” to women, and his single chapter on female directors suggests that the successful women are those who make \'male films.\' His lone chapter on minority directors focuses on Spike Lee, who he describes as challenging and admits to not particularly liking. Thomson’s questionable opinions include the assertion that Woody Allen is a treasure who will eventually be recognized as such once again and his branding of Roman Polanski as a \'ruffler of feathers\' ... Thomson’s own genius is his ability to remain one of the leading authorities on cinematic history, without shying away from the controversial. Cinephiles seeking provocative arguments will appreciate his work.
Ronald Brownstein
MixedLibrary JournalWhile the music of the ’70s was rife with talent and broken barriers, Brownstein focuses only on Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and the Eagles as examples that transcended genres, and his coverage of politics is limited to Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda and the gubernatorial candidacy of Jerry Brown ... Brownstein spends much more time on the years before 1974 than actual events occurring that year, and much of the content is repetitive, but there are interesting backstories that fans of television history will enjoy.
Hanif Abdurraqib
RaveLibrary JournalAbdurraqib pens respectful, heartwarming essays that reflect on other giants in music, television, cinema, and even magic. From intense dance marathons to afternoon sock hops, from the funerals of Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin to games of spades to barroom brawls, he examines the feeling of invisibility that haunts so many Black Americans ... The author also calls out the use of blackface and the sanitization of race relations in today’s films and laments the exploitation of violence against and by African Americans ... Told with humor and grace, Abdurraqib’s stories will inspire and provoke thoughtful meditations on how Black lives matter in all areas of life and art.
Gabriel Byrne
RaveLibrary Journal[Byrne] writes lyrically about Catholic rituals, his first love, and even his ominous taste for alcohol, and describes tales of celebrity interactions (he went horseback riding with a woman he later learned was Ava Gardner and went drinking with Richard Burton) with humor and self-deprecation. Particularly heartbreaking is his account (both witnessed and imagined) of his beloved sister’s mental illness ... Byrne has the soul of a poet; his use of language is exquisite. His stories will touch not just his fans but anyone who has experienced the pain of being on the outside looking in.
Michael J. Fox
PositiveLibrary JournalFox writes beautifully, with humor and the self-deprecation that defined his on-screen persona ... Infused with intelligence, honesty, and the perfect dose of optimism, Fox’s story will resonate with his fans, including those living with Parkinson’s.
Mariah Carey, with Michaela Angela Davis
PositiveLibrary Journal... heartbreaking but down-to-earth and often humorous ... Carey’s ability to overcome inspires. The stories behind her lyrics will undoubtedly create a new appreciation for her work, and readers will enjoy glimpses into the music industry that few have experienced firsthand ... A must-read for Carey’s fans, though music lovers of all genres will also delight in this personal story.
