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The Bluegrass Reader
by Thomas GoldsmithLike rock 'n' roll, bluegrass exploded out of a post-World War II atmosphere in which more Americans opened their ears to more different kinds of music than ever before. All around the country musicians were searching for new sounds and approaches: country blues went fully electric in Chicago, bebop boiled over as jazz hit the hippest notes yet, and country music followed Hank Williams into new, sexier, harder-hitting territory. The developments in bluegrass proved every bit as galvanic. In The Bluegrass Reader, Thomas Goldsmith joins his insights as a journalist with a lifetime of experience in bluegrass to capture the full story of this dynamic and beloved music. Inspired by the question, what articles about bluegrass would you want to have with you on a desert island? he has assembled a captivating, fun-to-read collection that brings together a wide range of the very best in bluegrass writing.
To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in her Own Words
by Lorraine HansberryAn informal autobiography by the author of "Raisin in the Sun", with an introduction by James Baldwin.
Gump and Co.
by Winston GroomFrom the book Jacket: "That latter-day Huck Finn is now in his forties and back. ten years after we last caught up with him...more adventurous twists and turns." -George Christy, Hollywood Reporter Forrest Gump captured our hearts in the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Forrest Gump, and in the blockbuster film, winner of six Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Actor. Now he returns in the long-awaited sequel to the book hailed by Larry King as "the funniest novel I have ever read." A little older, and wiser in his unique way, Forrest is still running-this time straight into the age of greed and instant gratificatior known as the 1980s. Whenever I really get stumped, I go visit Jenny's grave. She tells me she's always rooting for me. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has gone bust and now Forrest is flat broke, sweeping floors in a New Orleans strip joint, when a fresh opportunity to play championship football puts him back in the limelight-and in the money. But fate turns fickle again, and he's soon ou on the road selling phony encyclopedias and trying to raise his son, littk Forrest, who needs his father more than ever. Forrest's remarkable touching, and utterly comic odyssey has just begun: in store for him is an explosive attempt at hog farming; his own dubious recipe for adding life to New Coke; an encounter with Oliver North of the Iran-Contra affair; and a chance yet again to unwittingly twist the nose of history. "As comic voices go, Forrest Gump is a classic." -Robert Plunket, The New York Times Book Review "GUMP & CO. is a delight."-Patricia Holt, San Froncisco Chronicle "Forrest has mellowed a bit, but this is a well-told tale with a keen satirical edge Is GUMP & CO. a worthy follow-up to the original adventures of Alabama's newest folk hero? Sure enough, and it's also got enough surprises along the way that you'll zip through its pages trying to figure out where Forrest will finally land. . . . Groom's ... satire now has a Kurt Vonnegut-like quality. ... Will GUMP & CO. be another Oscar-generating machine would it be turned into a film? Could be, but in the South we've always felt it was enough just to be good storytellers. And in that we are correct." -Dave Helms, Mobile Register
5600 Jokes for All Occasions
by Mildred Meiers Jack KnapFrom the Book jacket: What's better than Dial-A-Joke? File-A-Joke. This is the book you've been looking for. The one that takes the worry out of wisecracks, the book that proves there is such a thing as easy humor (providing somebody else does the work!) This book does all the work. Now all you have to do is leaf through and enjoy. Or, better yet, pick a victim and look him up in the index. Your unsuspecting mailman, for instance: "Say, Charlie, why is this letter wet?" (Your postman gives a puzzled look.) "Must be postage dew." (Then duck, quickly.) And there's no need to stop there. Is your postman rather hefty? Then just flip to the back of the book and look under "Fat People" (no beating around the bush with this book). You'll find high-level intelligence quotients under "Smartness," conceit under "Stuck Up," and unmarried ladies under "Old Maids." Want a crazy excuse for being late for work? Try #3212. Or for never having learned to spell? #4923. And #4378 is great to try on ex-cons and football lovers. If you want to impress a literary snob who asks you if you know Shakespeare, quote #4595 and say, "Sure, I read his stuff as soon as it comes out." Search these pages to find out why Ireland is the richest country in the world (#5480), how we know Washington had a great memory (#4007), and who went two thousand miles on a galleon [sic] (#5025). In its unusual Introduction, 5600 Jokes for All Occasions supplies us with a valuable guide to making the most of the material. The Introduction gives hints on How to Select Material, Write and Tell Jokes, Adapt Jokes, and Write Sketches and Continuities. The humorous situations are broadly classified into Individuals and Institutions, and these are neatly subdivided so that every subject is related to the subjects before and after it. The most comprehensive collection of humor on the market today, 5600 Jokes is a laugh-makers dream.
The T. V. Kid
by Betsy ByarsFor Lennie too much Television is not enough. Lennie loves television. He's addicted to it. Even reruns are more exciting than real life And Lennie likes to pretend he's the one winning money on game shows, meeting fascinating people and having adventures. But Lennie's daydreams lead him into a real situation that could cost him his life. And suddenly he's in trouble, more terrifying and dangerous than he's ever seen on T V
The Toothless Vampire and 99 Other Howl-Oween Riddles
by Ferida Wolff Dolores KozielskiAre you afraid of ghosts? Do skeletons send you scurrying into the closet to hide? Do you have a coffin fit every time you think of vampires? When you read this collection of frightfully funny riddles, you'll have a howling good time. Find out what mother ghosts read to baby ghosts, what werewolves sing at railroad stations, and much more. Halloween comes once a year, but these riddles will keep you laughing all year long!
How to Ruin Your Life
by Ben SteinAuthor Ben Stein offers a witty, humorous account of 35 "simple steps" on how you can quickly, easily, and effectively ruin your life.
Without a Doubt
by Marcia Clark Teresa CarpenterAs the prosecutor in the OJ Simpson trial, this book is about how Marcia Clark orchestrated the most controversial case of her career.
Andrea Bocelli: A Celebration
by Antonia FelixThe author presents text and pictures from Andrea Bocelli's life. Information concerning how different conductors worked with Andrea as he made his entrance in the opera are included.
Playing with Boys
by Alisa Valdes-RodriguezEach a Latina in her late 20's -take Los Angeles by storm Marcella, Olivia and Alexis have bonded not only over the trouble with men but about how tough it is to make life work in L.A. no matter what you do. Marcella is a hot young television actress, hardly able to enjoy the life she's bought for herself and certainly not enjoying her body, which is never quite perfect enough. Olivia's boy is her toddler son-and she's tethered to him and to her suburban mommy track so tightly the other girls sometimes cringe. Alexis has a smart mouth and an ample body; she's a beautiful musicians' manager with loads of style but about enough self-esteem to fill a Prada card case. Her complicated love affair with the casually sexy Cuban rapper Goyo is a deeply satisfying romance that will delight readers almost as much as the emotional richness and girly fun of the heroines' friendship.
Mirette On the High Wire
by Emily MccullyWinner of the 1993 Caldecott Medal. One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at the boardinghouse of the widow Gâteau-a sad-faced stranger, who keeps to himself. When the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it. But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris, and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.
Climbing Higher
by Montel Williams Lawrence GrobelIn 1999, after almost twenty years of mysterious symptoms that he tried to ignore, Montel Williams, a decorated former naval intelligence officer and Emmy Award-winning talk show host, was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Like others suffering from the devastating and often disabling disease, which attacks the central nervous system, Montel was struck with denial, fear, depression, and anger. Yet somehow he emerged with a fierce determination not to be beaten down by MS, and to live the most vital and productive life possible while becoming a dedicated spokesperson and fundraiser for the disease. Montel Williams's Climbing Higher is a penetrating and insightful look at a remarkable man, his extraordinary career, and the tumultuous life that graced him with hard-won courage and wisdom. Now he shares that wisdom in this powerful, searing book on the divergent roads a life can take and recounts how he rose to meet the painful challenges he has faced. In addition, with the help of a team of leading doctors, Montel offers up-to-the-minute information on new MS research and invaluable guidance for managing MS. Deeply personal and sure to be controversial, Climbing Higher is as honest, inspiring, and motivating as its author.
Midnight Justice (Spider-Man Super Thriller #1)
by Martin DelrioFIRST IN AN ALL-NEW SERIES! VENOM'S REVENGE! Spider-Man faces the fight of his life when the nightmare creature known as Venom targets both the web-slinger and his alter-ego, Peter Parker, for destruction! The deadly alien symbiote and its human host, Eddie Brock, collectively known as Venom, harbor a growing hatred for Spider-Man that violently explodes when Parker and Spider-Man are credited with helping clean up crime in the subways. But these tunnels are the domain of Venom, and the cleanup is his doing. The credit should rightly go to him! Venom challenges Spider-Man to a deadly midnightshowdown, at Manhattan's criminal-court building, in the middle of the worst snowstorm of the century. It's a brutal no-holds-barred contest, in which all the advantages seem to lie with Venom. Spider-Man must bag the crazed villain, or go down in the attempt!
Harold's Circus
by Crockett Johnson"One moonlit evening, mainly to prove to himself he could do it, Harold went for a walk on a tightrope. He made sure the rope was drawn tight and straight, so it wouldn't sway. He skipped lightly across it, finding it fun to be a tightrope walker, high up over the rest of the circus. He stayed up on the rope with the greatest of ease, until he lost his balance. It also is easy to fall off a tightrope. Harold fell, twisting and turning, with his purple crayon tight in his hand. By a stroke of luck, a comfortable-looking curve appeared beneath him. And he landed on ..." "An Astounding Colossal, Purple Crayon Event!" Charming and fun.
Roseanne: My Life As A Woman
by Roseanne BarrShe was the creator and star of America's #1 TV show-55 million Americans watched her every week. But none of you know the real Roseanne Barr-none of you know, unless you've read Roseanne: My Life as a Woman. From her childhood as a Jewish outcast in the strict Mormon society of Salt Lake City, Utah, to the pinnacle of success as television's newest and funniest star, Roseanne Barr's life story has been one of tremendous drama. Yet, through it all, her indomitable spirit and sharp wit have shone through. With this, her autobiography, she proves herself to be not only a terrific comedian but a wonderful writer and storyteller as well. Vogue said "she flings truth on the table like a TV dinner," and, after reading a few pages of Roseanne, you'll know: The truth will be flung tonight. Here you'll learn the truth about her horrifying, near-death experience as a teenager; her stay in a mental institution; and her escape from Utah. Here's the truth about her early years as a mother, a member of the working poor, struggling to raise a family in a trailer park. You'll read of the great people in her life who gave her the courage to follow her feelings and be true to herself; you'll learn what a beginner in show business has to do to get ahead; you'll read about her Woody Allen and Mel Gibson fantasies, and the drive it takes to keep going in the hard and tough world of Hollywood. Roseanne's life is the story of a woman who started with nothing, overcame great adversity, and with the strength of her convictions - and a brilliant wit triumphs. But most important, here, for the first time, is the real Roseanne; the woman whose spirit and love for life, whose honesty and passion are on every page of this startling, funny, and remarkable autobiography.
Night at the Vulcan (Roderick Alleyn #16)
by Ngaio MarshIn the make-believe world of the theater, Inspector Alleyn deals with the stark reality of murder and recasts the players in a deadly drama.
True Adventures With the King of Bluegrass
by Tom PiazzaPiazza found himself pitched headlong into a world he couldn't have anticipated. Martins mercurial personality drew the writer into a series of escalating encounters (with mean dogs, broken-down cars, and near electrocution), culminating in a harrowing and unforgettable expedition, with Martin, to the Grand Ole Opry. Piazza captured his visit with Martin in supple, electric prose, and the result, when it appeared in The Oxford American, quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation among musicians and fans alike. Some explicit language.
Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister
by Evelyn KeyesThis story of a movie star by the star herself is vulgar, very real, very innocent by turns, with her views on Fredric March, Artie Shaw, John Huston, Kirk Douglas, Mike Todd and many more.
The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like a Pig
by P. J. O'Rourke"I always wanted to be a bachelor when I grew up. My friends may have had fantasies about raking the yard, seeing their loved ones in pin curlers and cleaning the garage on Sundays, but not me. I saw myself at thirty-eight lounging around a penthouse in a brocade smoking jacket. Vivaldi would be playing on the stereo. I'd sip brandy from a snifter the size of a fish tank and leaf through an address book full of R-rated phone numbers. ..." Always with tongue firmly in cheek, the author points out the trouble, for bachelors, with laundromats, cooking, shopping and everything else that goes along with managing a house. "Bachelor cooking is a matter of attitude. If you think of it as setting fire to things and making a mess, it's fun. It's not so much fun if you think of it as dinner. Fortunately, baloney, cheeseburgers, beer, and potato-chip dip provide all the daily nutrients bachelors are known to require. I mean, I hope they do."
Law and Business of the Entertainment Industries: Fourth Edition
by Donald E. Biederman Martin E. Silfen Robert C. Berry Edward P. Pierson Jeanne A. GlasserThis edition is divided into two parts--one dealing with general principles and the other dealing with specific entertainment and related industries.
Beverly: An Autobiography
by Beverly Sills Lawrence LindermanBeverly Sills unleashes the full power of her personality and unlocks the key to her phenomenal success as a singer, mother, wife, impresario and goodwill ambassador.
Sex, Death and Money
by Gore Vidal26 articles by Vidal on a wide range of subjects - pornography, television, several fellow writers...