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My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act
by Anna KlootsDespite what appeared to be a glamorous existence full of globetrotting adventures, behind the scenes, Anna Kloots felt invisible in her own life. Consumed by a marriage that left no space for her own desires, she chose to reframe the failure of her marriage as an opportunity to begin again. Now, for every woman searching for her voice, Anna shares her story of starting over by trusting the magic that was always within.It was Anna Kloots&’s innate sense of adventure and love for the unknown that led her to move abroad, travel to eighty countries around the world, start a business, and marry a magician, all before her midtwenties. From the outside, her jet-setting lifestyle alongside her husband looked perfect. But as she explored deeper, and let each destination challenge, change, and shape her, Anna began to realize that perfection was just another illusion.Though she appeared to have all the freedom in the world, in reality, she was trapped inside a box, slowly disappearing. When her marriage ended, Anna decided to use her unhappy ending as a chance for a new beginning.Following Anna&’s extensive travels from the bustling streets of Jaipur to the canals of Venice to the desert of Dubai, My Own Magic is a true, coming-of-age story about a woman rediscovering the magic that was always inside her. Anna&’s memoir is proof that travel can transform you, inspire you, and even save you.
My Penguin Year: Living with the Emperors - A Journey of Discovery
by Lindsay McCrae'Twelve men have walked on the moon. But how many have spent an entire season with the Emperors in Antarctica? Maybe more, likely less. Lindsay McCrae has - and this is his wonderful and frank story.' - Chris PackhamWhen the BBC asked BAFTA-winning cameraman Lindsay McCrae to go to Antarctica to film emperor penguins he was thrilled. After discussing it with his wife Becky they agreed that, although it would mean him being away for 11 months, he should do it. But then she became pregnant and it seemed like the worst idea in the world - not just to miss the birth of his first child, but the first 7 months of his life. Weeks of anguished discussions followed before they decided he should go because it was his dream project and the chance might never come again.My Penguin Year recounts Lindsay's adventure to the end of the Earth, filming the most resilient creatures in nature, while coping with being over 15,000km away from Becky and all the comforts of home - something which almost proved too much. Out of that experience he has written an unprecedented portrait of Antarctica's most extraordinary residents, the emperor penguins. They march up to 100 miles over solid ice to reach their breeding grounds. They choose to breed in the depths of the worst winter on the planet; and in an unusual role reversal, the males incubate the eggs, fasting for over 100 days to ensure they introduce their chicks safely into their new frozen world. And they are uniquely vulnerable to the unprecedented melting of the polar ice cap.In weaving their story with his epic journey, Lindsay has created a masterpiece of natural observation - and a deeply moving tale of human endeavour in the harshest environment on the planet.
My Penguin Year: Living with the Emperors - A Journey of Discovery
by Lindsay McCraeEmperor penguins have the most extraordinary lifecycle. They march up to 100 miles over solid ice to reach their breeding grounds. They choose to breed in the depths of the worst winter on the planet; and in an unusual role reversal, the males incubate the eggs, fasting for over 100 days to ensure they introduce their chicks safely into their new frozen world.My Penguin Year recounts author Lindsay McCrae's adventure to the end of the Earth, spending a year living alongside the most resilient creatures in nature. He experienced every aspect of a breeding emperor's life, facing the inevitable sacrifices that came with living his childhood dream, and facing down the personal obstacles that, being over 15,000km away from the comforts of home, almost proved too much.(P) 2019 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
My Private Diary
by Rudolph ValentinoOriginally published in 1929, this book details the famous silent actor and sex symbol Rudolph Valentino and his lover Natacha Rambova's travels back to Europe in 1923. Valentino kept a diary at this time, into which he faithfully recorded his thoughts whilst living the American dream, proving his naysayers back home in Italy wrong: "My Dream is coming true! From day to day, night to night, here and there, I am going to write down my impressions. I am going to put down on paper the things I think, the things I do, the people I meet, all of the sensations, pleasurable and profitable that are mine. I shall never go home, I said to myself, until I can go home somebody..."
My Reality
by Melissa RycroftThe star of The Bachelor, Dancing With The Stars, and special correspondent for Good Morning America shares her story with warmth, enthusiasm, and humor.Best known as the girl who was proposed to by The Bachelor star Jason Mesnick and then dumped on national TV six weeks later, Melissa Rycroft immediately turned her life around. Now married to her original love, Tye Strickland, and expecting her first child, Melissa shares her "Cinderella" story of overcoming heartbreak and finding happiness. Melissa Rycroft got her start on the CMT reality TV series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team and was selected for the 2006-2007 NFL Season. That's when her personal life first fell apart, and the man that she was in love with broke up with her. To help her get over her heartbreak and overcome depression, her friends nominated her to participate as a contestant on The Bachelor. When Mesnick revealed that he was breaking his engagement off with her because he chose the wrong girl, she garnered a lot of respect for handling the shock with such grace and decorum even though she was angry and heartbroken. Two days later, Melissa clinched a spot on Dancing With The Stars, placing third in the competition, and reconciled with her true love. In a "girlfriend to girlfriend" voice readers love, Melissa shares entertaining stories and valuable survival tips from a woman who has "been there and back!" come true when you're willing to be your own fairy godmother. In this endearing and inspirational memoir, Melissa shares her upbeat and unconventional Cinderella story, how she went from being the girl who was always unlucky in love to finding the love of her life. She takes fans on the set of The Bachelor and writes candidly about what she was really thinking when she was living in the "Bachelor Bubble" and when Jason told her he was in love with another woman. Finally, she offers a glimpse of life after the show--what it was like to become famous overnight, endure the grueling but fun Dancing with the Stars schedule, land her dream job as an entertainment reporter . . . and uncover all the surprises that awaited her when she finally got back to reality.
My Remarkable Journey (Playaway Adult Nonfiction Ser.)
by Larry KingThe definitive autobiography of one of the most legendary and beloved personalities in television history
My Rendezvous with Life
by Mary PickfordFirst published in 1935, this book by famous film actress Mary Pickford is an essay on death and her belief in an afterlife and the undying human spirit.“When we stop to consider that all of life, as we understand it, springs from a little seed, then a progression of life beyond this present experience should not seem such a miraculous thing.“The development of a Sequoia tree growing two hundred and fifty feet into the air and living five thousand years is, to me, more amazing than the transition we call death.“And so why do we humans in this world think of our progression out of it as such a great mystery when the wise ones through the ages have assured us that the only part of us that really can be destroyed is our false and limited conception of life?”—Mary Pickford
My Saber is Bent
by Alexander King Jack Paar John ReddyJack Paar, America’s midnight maverick, has become the most talked-about, most controversial personality in television by speaking out frankly and frequently—and letting the ratings fall where they may. As a result he has been denounced in Washington, attacked in the press, investigated by the Harris committee and sued by Jimmy Hoffa. Yet, withal, he has hobnobbed with presidents and premiers, corralled sponsors and honors galore, discovered more fine new talent than anyone in television history and written a best seller.Much blood has gone over the dam since Mr. Paar’s best-selling I KID YOU NOT. Since then he has found his fun, feuds and frustrations in far-flung corners of the globe. He fought a bull in Spain, outraged Hawaii and created an international furor in Berlin. All this he ascribes to the inscrutable working of Paar’s Law, which formulates the hypothesis that when Paar comes, can trouble be far behind?Here he gives a colorful account of his travels and travails, including his experiences with President Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Willy Brandt and assorted other famous friends and enemies.We give you then the victim of Paar’s Law; a man who seems to possess two left feet; the electronic Jack the Giant Killer who—after years of tilting with windmills and windbags—stands with saber bent but head unbowed.
My Seven Sons and How We Raised Each Other: (They Only Drive Me Crazy 30% of the Time)
by Don DiamontSoap star Don Diamont's most interesting storyline to date is being the real-life father and ringleader of his seven rambunctious boys.Called a "daytime deity" by Soap Opera Digest, Don Diamont is best known as the dashing publishing titan with steel abs, "Dollar Bill Spencer," on the most-watched daytime drama in the world, The Bold and the Beautiful. But all of that takes second place to his most important role to date: father to seven boys. By turns hilarious and poignant, MY SEVEN SONS AND HOW WE RAISED EACH OTHER is a family memoir for our time. Don writes with openness and courage about the ways his family came together: by marriage, divorce, the death of his sister, and marriage again. Today's blended families might look different from the households of even a few decades ago, but the first dates, first cars, busting curfew, talking back, grounding, broken hearts, laughs, tears, and the love are the same. From his childhood growing up in LA, to his Zoolander phase as a model in both Paris and Los Angeles, to the iconic place he now occupies in daytime television, Don also gives us a glimpse into a life that at times could have been scripted for a soap opera. And, with brutal honesty, he tells of the personal devastation he suffered after the deaths of his father, brother, and sister. MY SEVEN SONS is required reading for everyone who is a parent, and all those who have one.
My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights
by Brooks BenjaminFootball hero. Ninja freestyler. It's seventh grade. Anything is possible.All Dillon wants is to be a real dancer. And if he wins a summer scholarship at Dance-Splosion, he's on his way. The problem? His dad wants him to play football. And Dillon's freestyle crew, the Dizzee Freekz, says that dance studios are for sellouts. His friends want Dillon to kill it at the audition--so he can turn around and tell the studio just how wrong their rules and creativity-strangling ways are.At first, Dillon's willing to go along with his crew's plan, even convincing one of the snobbiest girls at school to work with him on his technique. But as Dillon's dancing improves, he wonders: what if studios aren't the enemy? And what if he actually has a shot at winning the scholarship? Dillon's life is about to get crazy . . . on and off the dance floor in this kid-friendly humorous debut by Brooks Benjamin.**"A rollicking, big-hearted breakdance of a book. It's a story about friendship that's got all the moves: humor both sly and slapstick, a diverse cast of characters, and a winning narrator who's trying to learn how to follow his heart, find the beat, and dance his pants right off." --Kate Hattemer, author of The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy"Equal parts jazz hands and karate chop, with a dash of football and a pirouette of pure heart. Dillon and the Dizzee Freekz are en pointe. This book will rock you! "--Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of The 13th SignFrom the Hardcover edition.
My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both
by Selenis Leyva Marizol LeyvaA powerful memoir by two sisters about transitioning, family, and the path to self-realization.When Orange Is the New Black and Diary of a Future President star Selenis Leyva was young, her hardworking parents brought a new foster child into their warm, loving family in the Bronx. Selenis was immediately smitten; she doted on the baby, who in turn looked up to Selenis and followed her everywhere. The little boy became part of the family. But later, the siblings realized that the child was struggling with their identity. As Marizol transitioned and fought to define herself, Selenis and the family wanted to help, but didn't always have the language to describe what Marizol was going through or the knowledge to help her thrive.In My Sister, Selenis and Marizol narrate, in alternating chapters, their shared journey, challenges, and triumphs. They write honestly about the issues of violence, abuse, and discrimination that transgender people and women of color--and especially trans women of color--experience daily. And they are open about the messiness and confusion of fully realizing oneself and being properly affirmed by others, even those who love you.Profoundly moving and instructive, My Sister offers insight into the lives of two siblings learning to be their authentic selves. Ultimately, theirs is a story of hope, one that will resonate with and affirm those in the process of transitioning, watching a loved one transition, and anyone taking control of their gender or sexual identities.
My So-Called Bollywood Life
by Nisha SharmaThe romance of Stephanie Perkins meets the quirk of Maureen Johnson, then gets a Bollywood twist in this fate-filled debut that takes the future into its own hands. <P><P>Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soul mate, but their love was written in the stars. <P><P>Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday, and Raj meets all the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked when she returns from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. <P><P>As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted. <P><P>Then there's Dev, a fellow film geek and one of the few people Winnie can count on. Dev is smart and charming, and he challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope and find someone she'd pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy and her chance to live happily ever after? <P><P>To find her perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star.
My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem: Setting the Record Straight on My Life as Eminem's Mother
by Debbie Nelson Annette WitheridgeDebbie Nelson is not a household name, but her son, Eminem, is one of the world' s most famous rappers. Unfortunately, her son' s defamatory references to her at one time labeled Debbie the most hated mother in America. In My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Nelson sets the record straight. Filled with details of the rapper' s early life and rare photos of both him and his mother, this memoir reveals a story that provides insights into who Marshall was and what motivated him to become the superstar that he is.
My Song: A Memoir
by Harry Belafonte Michael ShnayersonHarry Belafonte is not just one of the greatest entertainers of our time; he has led one of the great American lives of the last century. Now, this extraordinary icon tells us the story of that life, giving us its full breadth, letting us share in the struggles, the tragedies, and, most of all, the inspiring triumphs. Belafonte grew up, poverty-ridden, in Harlem and Jamaica. His mother was a complex woman--caring but withdrawn, eternally angry and rarely satisfied. His father was distant and physically abusive. It was not an easy life, but it instilled in young Harry the hard-nosed toughness of the city and the resilient spirit of the Caribbean lifestyle. It also gave him the drive to make good and channel his anger into actions that were positive and life-affirming. His journey led to the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he encountered an onslaught of racism but also fell in love with the woman he eventually married. After the war he moved back to Harlem, where he drifted between odd jobs until he saw his first stage play--and found the life he wanted to lead. Theater opened up a whole new world, one that was artistic and political and made him realize that not only did he have a need to express himself, he had a lot to express. He began as an actor--and has always thought of himself as such--but was quickly spotted in a musical, began a tentative nightclub career, and soon was on a meteoric rise to become one of the world's most popular singers. Belafonte was never content to simply be an entertainer, however. Even at enormous personal cost, he could not shy away from activism. At first it was a question of personal dignity: breaking down racial barriers that had never been broken before, achieving an enduring popularity with both white and black audiences. Then his activism broadened to a lifelong, passionate involvement at the heart of the civil rights movement and countless other political and social causes. The sections on the rise of the civil rights movement are perhaps the most moving in the book: his close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr.; his role as a conduit between Dr. King and the Kennedys; his up-close involvement with the demonstrations and awareness of the hatred and potential violence around him; his devastation at Dr. King's death and his continuing fight for what he believes is right. But My Song is far more than the history of a movement. It is a very personal look at the people in that movement and the world in which Belafonte has long moved. He has befriended many beloved and important figures in both entertainment and politics--Paul Robeson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sidney Poitier, John F. Kennedy, Marlon Brando, Robert Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Tony Bennett, Bill Clinton--and writes about them with the same exceptional candor with which he reveals himself on every page. This is a book that pulls no punches, and turns both a loving and critical eye on our country's cultural past. As both an artist and an activist, Belafonte has touched countless lives. With My Song, he has found yet another way to entertain and inspire us. It is an electrifying memoir from a remarkable man.From the Hardcover edition.
My Song
by Harry Belafonte Michael ShnayersonHarry Belafonte is not just one of the greatest entertainers of our time; he has led one of the great American lives of the last century. Now, this extraordinary icon tells us the story of that life, giving us its full breadth, letting us share in the struggles, the tragedies, and, most of all, the inspiring triumphs. Belafonte grew up, poverty-ridden, in Harlem and Jamaica. His mother was a complex woman--caring but withdrawn, eternally angry and rarely satisfied. His father was distant and physically abusive. It was not an easy life, but it instilled in young Harry the hard-nosed toughness of the city and the resilient spirit of the Caribbean lifestyle. It also gave him the drive to make good and channel his anger into actions that were positive and life-affirming. His journey led to the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he encountered an onslaught of racism but also fell in love with the woman he eventually married. After the war he moved back to Harlem, where he drifted between odd jobs until he saw his first stage play--and found the life he wanted to lead. Theater opened up a whole new world, one that was artistic and political and made him realize that not only did he have a need to express himself, he had a lot to express. He began as an actor--and has always thought of himself as such--but was quickly spotted in a musical, began a tentative nightclub career, and soon was on a meteoric rise to become one of the world's most popular singers. Belafonte was never content to simply be an entertainer, however. Even at enormous personal cost, he could not shy away from activism. At first it was a question of personal dignity: breaking down racial barriers that had never been broken before, achieving an enduring popularity with both white and black audiences. Then his activism broadened to a lifelong, passionate involvement at the heart of the civil rights movement and countless other political and social causes. The sections on the rise of the civil rights movement are perhaps the most moving in the book: his close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr.; his role as a conduit between Dr. King and the Kennedys; his up-close involvement with the demonstrations and awareness of the hatred and potential violence around him; his devastation at Dr. King's death and his continuing fight for what he believes is right. But My Song is far more than the history of a movement. It is a very personal look at the people in that movement and the world in which Belafonte has long moved. He has befriended many beloved and important figures in both entertainment and politics--Paul Robeson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sidney Poitier, John F. Kennedy, Marlon Brando, Robert Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Tony Bennett, Bill Clinton--and writes about them with the same exceptional candor with which he reveals himself on every page. This is a book that pulls no punches, and turns both a loving and critical eye on our country's cultural past. As both an artist and an activist, Belafonte has touched countless lives. With My Song, he has found yet another way to entertain and inspire us. It is an electrifying memoir from a remarkable man.From the Hardcover edition.
My Sporting Life: Memories, moments and declarations
by Michael Parkinson'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.
My Sporting Life: Memories, moments and declarations
by Michael Parkinson'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.
My Sporting Life: Memories, moments and declarations
by Michael ParkinsonMichael Parkinson recalls his sporting life in this amusing memoir full of personality, anecdotes and insight.'Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper'For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England.He rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
My Squirrel Days: Tales From The Star Of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt And The Office
by Ellie KemperComedian and star of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ellie Kemper delivers a hilarious and uplifting collection of essays about one pale woman’s journey from Midwestern naïf to Hollywood semi-celebrity to outrageously reasonable New Yorker.There comes a time in every sitcom actress’s life when she is faced with the prospect of writing a book. When Ellie Kemper’s number was up, she was ready. Contagiously cheerful, predictably wholesome, and mostly inspiring except for one essay about her husband’s feet, My Squirrel Days is a funny, free-wheeling tour of Ellie’s life—from growing up in suburban St. Louis with a vivid imagination and a crush on David Letterman to moving to Los Angeles and accidentally falling on Doris Kearns Goodwin. But those are not the only famous names dropped in this synopsis. Ellie will also share stories of inadvertently insulting Ricky Gervais at the Emmy Awards, telling Tina Fey that she has “great hair—really strong and thick,” and offering a maxi pad to Steve Carell. She will take you back to her childhood as a nature lover determined to commune with squirrels, to her college career as a benchwarming field hockey player with no assigned position, and to her young professional days writing radio commercials for McDonald’s but never getting paid. Ellie will guide you along her journey through adulthood, from unorganized bride to impatient wife to anxious mother who—as recently observed by a sassy hairstylist—“dresses like a mom.” Well, sassy hairstylist, Ellie Kemper is a mom. And she has been dressing like it since she was four. Ellie has written for GQ, Esquire, The New York Times, McSweeney’s, and The Onion. Her voice is the perfect antidote to the chaos of modern life. In short, she will tell you nothing you need to know about making it in show business, and everything you need to know about discreetly changing a diaper at a Cibo Express.
My Story
by Marilyn Monroe Ben HechtWritten at the height of her fame but not published until over a decade after her death, this autobiography of actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) poignantly recounts her childhood as an unwanted orphan, her early adolescence, her rise in the film industry from bit player to celebrity, and her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. In this intimate account of a very public life, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual experience, her romance with the Yankee Clipper, and her prescient vision of herself as "the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand." The Marilyn in these pages is a revelation: a gifted, intelligent, vulnerable woman who was far more complex than the unwitting sex siren she portrayed on screen.
My Teenage Diary: Adolescent Musings from the Hit BBC Radio 4 Series
by Harriet JaineEver wanted to pick the lock of a celebrity’s teenage diary?My Teenage Diary is a Radio 4 comedy show hosted by Rufus Hound featuring celebrities reading and discussing extracts from their teenage diaries. Collected together for the first time, these tear-stained, lipstick-smudged, adolescent ramblings form the backbone of this book, edited by series producer, Harriet Jaine. Featuring diary extracts from Terry Wogan, Alex Horne, Robert Peston, Rachel Johnson, Meera Syal, Sheila Hancock, Robert Webb and many more, these diaries give us a wealth of brilliant material - from the funny and ridiculous, via the poignant, pretentious and philosophical, down to the extremely embarrassing.
My Ten Years in a Quandary and How They Grew
by Robert BenchleyWhen Robert Benchley died in 1945, his obituaries read like love-letters from the world. Here is a collection of his short, whimsical, hilarious articles which show why.With befuddled and heroic bewilderment Benchley faces his problems. Among others are the mislaid locomotive, a dachshund who sued for libel, and a songbird who was "out to get" Benchley.It ends with five sizzling chapters of his "Untold Story," starting when, as an innocent young man from the country (Boston), he arrived in the city (New York) looking for pitfalls. (It was a holiday and they were all closed.)"...it is a saga of the gaga, and probably not far from his masterpiece."--New York TimesA rare gem of a book!Illustrated by Gluyas Williams
My Time is Your Time: The Story of Rudy Vallee
by Rudy Vallee Gil McKeanDo you remember the Maine-Stein Song, that is? And did you ever own a racoon coat or wish you did? Or ride in a rumble seat, or date Betty Co-ed, or listen to a tenor saxophone tell you sweetly and tinnily on an old record that MY TIME IS YOUR TIME?If you remember—and who doesn’t—then you remember Rude Vallee. And if you know what’s new and big on Broadway this season, then you know that Rudy Vallee is still a hit. Vallee tells all in this charming warm-hearted and nostalgic memoir of his long and happy life. Born in a small town in Vermont, he travelled far and is one of the men who truly made a substantial contribution to cultural history of his own era.That era is not ended. The beloved idol of the 20’s is still very much in the limelight, still winning hearts with his music.MY TIME IS YOUR TIME tells of good and bad times; the hazards and heartbreaks of being a popular band leader; and of the hard road at the top.This is personal experience that we all shared, made intimate and valuable by the recreation of the past we had together, the present we’re enjoying, and the future we hope for. Rudy Vallee’s story of his life is courageous, humorous, and often surprising in its insights into the times that were ours.
My Trip Down the Pink Carpet
by Leslie JordanA hilarious romp from small-town USA to the pink carpet of Hollywood with the beloved Emmy-winning actor, playwright, and gay icon Leslie Jordan is a small man with a giant propensity for scene stealing. Best known for his bravura recurring role as Karen's nemesis, Beverley Leslie, on Will & Grace (for which he won a Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy in 2006), he has also made memorable appearances on Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Monk, and Murphy Brown. Raised in a conservative family in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Leslie -- who describes himself as "the gayest man I know" -- boarded a Greyhound bus bound for LA with $1,200 sewn into his underpants and never looked back. His pocket-sized physique and inescapable talent for high camp paved the way to a lucrative and varied career in commercials and on television. Along the way he immersed himself in writing for the stage, and his one-man testimonials have become cult off-Broadway hits. But with success came dangerous temptations: a self-proclaimed former substance abuser and sexaholic, Leslie has spent time in jail and struggled to overcome his addictions and self-loathing. My Trip Down the Pink Carpet is a rollicking, fast-paced collection of stories, served up with wit, panache, and plenty of biting asides. Filled with comically overwrought childhood agonies, offbeat observations, and revealing celebrity encounters -- from Boy George to George Clooney -- it delivers a fresh, laugh-out-loud take on Hollywood, fame, addiction, gay culture, and learning to love oneself.
My Turn: An Autobiography
by Norman WisdomNorman Wisdom's early years could easily have come straight from the pages of a Dickens novel. Left by their frightened mother, ill-treated by a brutal father, Norman and his brother were forced to fend for themselves, sleeping rough in London and stealing food to survive. This is a rags to riches tale of the man Charlie Chaplin said would take his mantle and who went on to make millions laugh around the world for over five decades. Here are the hardships, tragedies and triumphs that gave him his inspiration. From the days working the seasons at Scarborough, to the unforgettable and endearing character Norman Pitkin - the little man in a tight fitting suit, read of his rapid climb up the showbiz ladder.