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I Wish I Hadn't Said That: Over 3,000 Famous Foot-in-Mouth Moments
by Geoff TibballsEver since Mrs Malaprop first took to the stage in 1775 and described a gentleman as 'the very pineapple of politeness', some famous figures have become better known for their slips of the tongue than for anything they said intentionally. In particular, the careers of a number of broadcasters, sporting figures and politicians have become defined by their verbal blunders. Former US Vice-President Dan Quayle is remembered solely for making unfortunate remarks such as 'Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.' Welsh naturalist Iolo Williams sent Twitter into meltdown when, discussing diving sea birds on Springwatch 2016, he asked a female conservationist: 'Is that the deepest shag you've ever had?' Even respected sports broadcaster Harry Carpenter was probably haunted forever by his seemingly innocent comment at the end of the 1977 Boat Race: 'Ah, isn't that nice? The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew.'I Wish I Hadn't Said That is a collection of over 3,000 spoken and written blunders - including unintentional double entendres, spoonerisms, mixed metaphors, malapropisms, jaw-dropping remarks, misguided quiz show answers, embarrassing newspaper misprints, and foreign signs and notices that have sadly become lost in translation.
I Wish I Had a Wookiee: And Other Poems for Our Galaxy
by Ian DoescherInspired by the beloved world of Star Wars, this collection of over 75 whimsical and original poems is a celebration of childhood, creativity, imagination, and the early years of Star Wars fandom. In &“My Pet AT-AT,&” a ten-year-old dreams of playing hide and seek and fetch with an AT-AT. In &“Dad&’s Luke Skywalker Figurine,&” a child opens their dad&’s untouched action figure but, instead of getting into trouble, helps their dad re-discover his own sense of play. In &“T-16 Dreams,&” a little girl imagines herself flying through the galaxy, the Empire hot on her trail, to help with her real-world fear of flying. Set in the hearts and minds of young children who love Star Wars, and filled with the characters you know and love, I Wish I Had a Wookiee is the perfect gift for the young Star Wars fan—and the young at heart.
I Will Survive: A Children's Picture Book (LyricPop #0)
by Frederick J. Perren Dino FekarisDino Fekaris and Frederick J. Perren's disco hit sensation "I Will Survive"--popularized by Gloria Gaynor--comes to life as an empowering picture book featuring an alien princess living life on her own terms. "I will survive Oh,
I Was Interrupted: Nicholas Ray on Making Movies
by Nicholas RayOne of the most original, rebellious, and idiosyncratic directors in the American cinema, Nicholas Ray lived and worked with an intensity equal to that of his films. Best known for his direction of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), he is also well regarded for his cult western Johnny Guitar (1954), and such prestigious noir classics as On Dangerous Ground (1951). I Was Interrupted offers a provocative selection of the filmmaker's writings, lectures, interviews, and more.
I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir
by Harvey FiersteinA poignant and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award–winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled careerHarvey Fierstein&’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He&’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales—of personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, of his fabled career—revealed in these wildly entertaining pages. I Was Better Last Night bares the inner life of this eccentric nonconforming child from his roots in 1952 Brooklyn, to the experimental worlds of Andy Warhol and the Theatre of the Ridiculous, to the gay rights movements of the seventies and the tumultuous AIDS crisis of the eighties, through decades of addiction, despair, and ultimate triumph. Mr. Fierstein&’s candid recollections provide a rich window into downtown New York City life, gay culture, and the evolution of theater (of which he has been a defining figure), as well as a moving account of his family&’s journey of acceptance. I Was Better Last Night is filled with wisdom gained, mistakes made, and stories that come together to describe an astonishingly colorful and meaningful life. Lucky for us all, his unique and recognizable voice is as engaging, outrageously funny, and vulnerable on the page.
I Was a Dancer
by Jacques D'Amboise"Who am I? I'm a man; an American, a father, a teacher, but most of all, I am a person who knows how the arts can change lives, because they transformed mine. I was a dancer." In this rich, expansive, spirited memoir, Jacques d'Amboise, one of America's most celebrated classical dancers, and former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet for more than three decades, tells the extraordinary story of his life in dance, and of America's most renowned and admired dance companies. He writes of his classical studies beginning at the age of eight at The School of American Ballet. At twelve he was asked to perform with Ballet Society; three years later he joined the New York City Ballet and made his European debut at London's Covent Garden. As George Balanchine's protégé, d'Amboise had more works choreographed on him by "the supreme Ballet Master" than any other dancer, among them Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Episodes; A Midsummer's Night's Dream; Jewels; Raymonda Variations.He writes of his boyhood--born Joseph Ahearn--in Dedham, Massachusetts; his mother ("the Boss") moving the family to New York City's Washington Heights; dragging her son and daughter to ballet class (paying the teacher $7.50 from hats she made and sold on street corners, and with chickens she cooked stuffed with chestnuts); his mother changing the family name from Ahearn to her maiden name, d'Amboise ("It's aristocratic. It has the 'd' apostrophe. It sounds better for the ballet, and it's a better name"). We see him. a neighborhood tough, in Catholic schools being taught by the nuns; on the streets, fighting with neighborhood gangs, and taking ten classes a week at the School of American Ballet . . . being taught professional class by Balanchine and by other teachers of great legend: Anatole Oboukhoff, premier danseur of the Maryinsky; and Pierre Vladimiroff, Pavlova's partner. D'Amboise writes about Balanchine's succession of ballerina muses who inspired him to near-obsessive passion and led him to create extraordinary ballets, dancers with whom d'Amboise partnered--Maria Tallchief; Tanaquil LeClercq, a stick-skinny teenager who blossomed into an exquisite, witty, sophisticated "angel" with her "long limbs and dramatic, mysterious elegance . . ."; the iridescent Allegra Kent; Melissa Hayden; Suzanne Farrell, who Balanchine called his "alabaster princess," her every fiber, every movement imbued with passion and energy; Kay Mazzo; Kyra Nichols ("She's perfect," Balanchine said. "Uncomplicated--like fresh water"); and Karin von Aroldingen, to whom Balanchine left most of his ballets. D'Amboise writes about dancing with and courting one of the company's members, who became his wife for fifty-three years, and the four children they had . . . On going to Hollywood to make Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and being offered a long-term contract at MGM ("If you're not careful," Balanchine warned, "you will have sold your soul for seven years") . . . On Jerome Robbins ("Jerry could be charming and complimentary, and then, five minutes later, attack, and crush your spirit--all to see how it would influence the dance movements"). D'Amboise writes of the moment when he realizes his dancing career is over and he begins a new life and new dream teaching children all over the world about the arts through the magic of dance. A riveting, magical book, as transformative as dancing itself.
I Want to Live: The Story of Madhubala
by Katijia AkbarMadhubala – the very name conjures up vivid images of a love goddess possessing bewitching beauty, dazzling radiance, subtle sensuality, and, above all, a tantalizing screen presence. Her ‘reel life’ histrionic performances held (and continue to hold) audiences/viewers entranced. Her talent was phenomenal, and she could literally glide through a movie, whatever be the role. She could convey an impressive array of emotions with her eloquent eyes and facial expressions without resorting to melodramatic contortions. Tragedy, romance, comedy, drama, and what have you – she could take everything in her stride, exquisitely and flawlessly, as convincingly proved by superhits such as Mahal, Tarana, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and the magnum opus, Mughal-e-Azam. All this she achieved despite a major heart disease, which assumed serious proportions as her career soared. This volume presents a fascinating panorama not only of the ‘reel life’ Madhubala but also of the ‘real life’ Madhubala, who was an extremely compassionate and caring human being, but lived in the shadow of her dominant father. The author recounts her captivating saga, right from her first film – Basant (1942), as a child star, up to the magnificent Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and beyond. Enthralling cameos from her masterpieces such as Mahal, Mr & Mrs 55 and Amar, are depicted in graphic detail. Also, all the drama involved in her love affair with Dilip Kumar, which culminated in intense acrimony, has been poignantly portrayed. The last few years of her life were spent in virtual solitude in spite of her being married to Kishore Kumar, and death, in a way, came as a release for her.
I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are
by Rachel BloomFrom the charming and wickedly funny co-creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a collection of hilarious personal essays, poems and even amusement park maps on the subjects of insecurity, fame, anxiety, and much more.Rachel Bloom has felt abnormal and out of place her whole life. In this exploration of what she thinks makes her "different," she's come to realize that a lot of people also feel this way; even people who she otherwise thought were "normal."In a collection of laugh-out-loud funny essays, all told in the unique voice (sometimes singing voice) that made her a star; Rachel writes about everything from her love of Disney, OCD and depression, weirdness, and Spanx to the story of how she didn't poop in the toilet until she was four years old; Rachel's pieces are hilarious, smart, and infinitely relatable (except for the pooping thing).
I Want to be Ready
by Danielle Goldman"This book will become the single most important reflection on the question of improvisation, a question which has become foundational to dance itself. The achievement ofI Want to Be Readylies not simply in its mastery of the relevant literature within dance, but in its capacity to engage dance in a deep and abiding dialogue with other expressive forms, to think improvisation through myriad sites and a rich vein of cultural diversity, and to join improvisation in dance with its manifestations in life so as to consider what constitutes dance's own politics. " ---Randy Martin, Tisch School of Arts at New York University I Want To Be Readydraws on original archival research, careful readings of individual performances, and a thorough knowledge of dance scholarship to offer an understanding of the "freedom" of improvisational dance. While scholars often celebrate the freedom of improvised performances, they are generally focusing onfreedom fromformal constraints. Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault and Houston Baker, among others, Danielle Goldman argues that this negative idea of freedom elides improvisation's greatest power. Far from representing an escape from the necessities of genre, gender, class, and race, the most skillful improvisations negotiate an ever shifting landscape of constraints. This work will appeal to those interested in dance history and criticism, and also interdisciplinary audiences in the fields of American and cultural studies. Danielle Goldman is Assistant Professor of Dance at The New School and a professional dancer in New York City, where she recently has danced for DD Dorvillier and Beth Gill.
I Want to Be a Ballerina: Read & Listen Edition
by Anna MembrinoWhen Mia tries to become a ballerina just like her big sister, she discovers that getting the right outfit is just the beginning. Despite great effort, there are lots of mishaps, and Mia doesn&’t quite become the prima ballerina she hoped to be. But she does finally earn her true reward: time with her sister.This Read & Listen edition contains audio narration.
I Want to be a Ballerina
by Anna Membrino Smiljana CohWhen Mia tries to become a ballerina just like her big sister, she discovers that getting the right outfit is just the beginning. Despite great effort, there are lots of mishaps, and Mia doesn't quite become the prima ballerina she hoped to be. But she does finally earn her true reward: time with her sister.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody: The Official Whitney Houston Film Companion
by Weldon OwenThe film I Wanna Dance with Somebody tells the joyous, emotional, and heartbreaking story of Whitney Houston's journey from obscurity to musical super stardom. This stunning accompanying volume tells the story of bringing Whitney's life to the big screen, with behind-the-scenes photography and interviews with key cast members including star Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Tamara Tunie (Flight, The Devil&’s Advocate), and Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), as well as key members of the production crew. Learn how the pivotal moments and places in Whitney's history, as well as her spectacular wardrobe and her look, were recreated for the film, with additional insight about the film from director Kasi Lemmons and about Whitney herself from producer Pat Houston. It is the ultimate book for the Whitney Houston fan. A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK: Rare production stills and behind-the-scenes photography show how a monumental movie like this is made. INTERVIEWS WITH STARS AND CREW give an intimate portrait of what it was like to portray people such as Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford, and what it took to re-create those characters with hair, makeup, and costume. OFFICIAL MOVIE TIE-IN with exclusive content including production and film stills, interviews, and script excerpts.
I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
by Stephanie KuehnertA raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell. The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones. Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?
I Wanna Be Where You Are
by Kristina ForestA debut young adult rom-com about an African American ballerina who finds love on the road to an audition."In a world where it's easy to lose faith in love, I Wanna Be Where You Are is a brilliant burst of light. A dazzling debut." — Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One OutWhen Chloe Pierce’s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she devises a secret plan to drive two hundred miles to the nearest audition. But Chloe hits her first speed bump when her annoying neighbor Eli insists upon hitching a ride, threatening to tell Chloe’s mom if she leaves him and his smelly dog, Geezer, behind. So now Chloe’s chasing her ballet dreams down the east coast—two unwanted (but kinda cute) passengers in her car, butterflies in her stomach, and a really dope playlist on repeat.Filled with roadside hijinks, heart-stirring romance, and a few broken rules, Kristina Forest's I Wanna Be Where You Are is a YA debut perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon.
I Walked the Line
by Vivan Cash Ann SharpsteenI Walked the Line is a chronicle of first love, long-kept secrets, betrayal, forgiveness, and the truth--told at last by Johnny Cash's first wife, the mother of his four daughters. It is a book that had the full support of Johnny Cash, who insisted it was time for their story to be told, despite any painful revelations that might come to light as a result. Many myths and contradictions regarding the life of Johnny and his family have been perpetuated for decades in film and literature. Vivian exposes previously untold stories involving Johnny's drug addiction, his fraught family life, and their divorce in 1968, as well as the truth behind the writing of two of Johnny's most famous songs, "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire. " Supplemented by a never-before-published archive of love letters and family photos, I Walked the Line offers a deeper look at one of the most sig- nificant artists in music history. Here, fans and readers can experience the extraordinary account of love and heartbreak between Johnny and Vivian, and come to understand Vivian's dignified silence over the years. Through this elegant, revealing, and powerful memoir, Vivian Cash's voice is finally heard.
I Used to Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey
by Stephen K AmosGrowing up in a large Nigerian family in South London, Stephen K. Amos learnt early on to find the humour in every situation. Raised by his parents and extended family of 'aunts' and 'uncles', I Used to Say My Mother was Shirley Bassey tells the story of Stephen's chaotic upbringing in the carnival atmosphere of the late seventies and early eighties. Stephen describes his awkward beginnings as the only black kid in his class, where he told everyone his mum was Shirley Bassey to break the ice. Then, as a middle child in a large family, Stephen learnt stage presence by vying for attention and performing at family parties. Now a world-renowned comedian and performer, regularly selling out venues like the Hammersmith Apollo, Stephen looks back at his earlier life and the incidents which shaped him and continue to inspire his performances.Poignant, funny, and with the narrative gift Stephen is famous for, I Used to SayMy Mother was Shirley Bassey is a memoir of a life fitting in, standing out, and (almost) always laughing.
I Used to Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey
by Stephen K AmosGrowing up in a large Nigerian family in South London, Stephen K. Amos learnt early on to find the humour in every situation. Raised by his parents and extended family of 'aunts' and 'uncles', I Used to Say My Mother was Shirley Bassey tells the story of Stephen's chaotic upbringing in the carnival atmosphere of the late seventies and early eighties. Stephen describes his awkward beginnings as the only black kid in his class, where he told everyone his mum was Shirley Bassey to break the ice. Then, as a middle child in a large family, Stephen learnt stage presence by vying for attention and performing at family parties. Now a world-renowned comedian and performer, regularly selling out venues like the Hammersmith Apollo, Stephen looks back at his earlier life and the incidents which shaped him and continue to inspire his performances.Poignant, funny, and with the narrative gift Stephen is famous for, I Used to Say My Mother was Shirley Bassey is a memoir of a life fitting in, standing out, and (almost) always laughing.
I Used to Be Persian: A Comedic Memoir
by Justin DaneFeatured on MTV's "True Life: I Might Disappoint My Parents," comedian Justin Dane tested the patience of his conservative Persian-Jewish parents. In I Used to be Persian, "a, um, slightly exaggerated memoir" that his parents developed an anti-coalition towards, Dane offers contentious commentary on his family's--well, to state it nicely--bizarre antics. Oh, and Dane also offers a "brilliant lampoon of traditional Persian society with a flare only reminiscent of satirist Jonathon Swift's," according to the humble writer himself. (Yeah, Dane urged me present him as an "intellectual bea$t" in this blurb, but, alas, my passive-aggressive sarcasm leaks through). Readers should note that Dane's portrayal of Persians isn't an "accurate reflection of all Persians just as semi-schizophrenic, lesbian-lovin' hypochondriacs in Black Swan aren't manifestations of all ballerinas... duh. Or how a psychotic pageant mama's desire to inject Botox into her baby isn't an indication of all pageant mamas desires... hopefully." Perhaps the Persian population would appreciate Dane's disclaimer. After all, his particular Persian family is pretty eccentric. "Deez eez ze real reason Michael Jackson died!" screams Dane's Persian mama, perceiving Advil pills as ecstasy tablets. Dane then portrays his parents' melodramatic "Persian-styled interventions." And the laughs just continue. As if in a flea market in Tehran, Iran, Dane's mother attempts to negotiate prices in Best Buy. Oh, did I mention she shoves food down Dane's throat whenever his friends are around? (Embarrassing). Or that she nearly disowned him for marrying a girlfriend in Vegas? But beyond detailing the anecdotes within his "Persian cave," as well as the Beverly Hills Persian population, Dane exhibits an estrangement between traditional Persians and contemporary American society... I guess. (Hey, every good memoir needs some intelligent underlying theme, too). Dane also strikes an emotional chord within his readers. Yup, Dane elaborates on his parents' "brain washing quest to bring his hairy ass into the Dark Doctor Dynasty" amidst his aspiration to become an entertainment extraordinaire (i.e., Breetney Spears vanabee" cerca bald-hobo-attacking-car era, according to Dane's Persian parents). In fact, Dane's mother calls his school to change his major to "Medical Relations, a nonexistent curriculum" in one chapter. Needless to say, through his wild wit and disobedient disposition, Dane shatters his Persian parents' idea of perfection; he's "the insane tribal divergent" of his Persian family. And readers are there laughin' (and cringin') during every hairy situation. Pun intended.
I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To: True Life Lessons
by Loni LoveAn inspiring, hilarious memoir about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws, and unlock your true potential.Now cohost of Fox's The Real and SiriusXM's Café Mocha, Loni Love hasn't taken the typical path to becoming America's favorite straight-talking girlfriend and comedian. She was not the child of Hollywood legends and she never wore a size 00. Rather, she grew up in housing projects in Detroit, more worried about affording her next meal than going on a diet. When she moved to Hollywood after graduating college with an engineering degree, seeking to break out in the entertainment world, there was nothing that would convince her to eat the kale salads and quinoa bowls that her colleagues introduced her to, which looked to Love like "weeds my grandma used to pay me a dollar to pull from her yard."Still, despite the differences that set her apart in the status-driven world of entertainment where being thin, young, blond, and bubbly is sometimes considered a talent, Love spent years trying to fit in -- trying to style her hair just so, dieting, dating the men she thought she was supposed to be with. In this book, she tells the uproariously funny story of how she overcame the trap of self-improvement and instead learned to embrace who she was. As Love writes, "There's a saying a lot of people live by: 'Fake it till you make it.' For me, it's always been 'fake it, and then have the whole thing blow up in your face.'" I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To explores all of the embarrassing mistakes, terrifying challenges, and unexpected breakthroughs that taught her how, by committing ourselves to our own path, we can take control of our destiny.
I Think I'm Outta Here-A Memoir of All My Families
by Carroll O'ConnorZtime, O'Connor writes eloquently and iterrible tragedies-and a career that has been immortalized in television history. Growing up in Depression-era New York, Carroll O'Connor made his way armed with the quick wit, mischievous bent of mind, and engaging Irish charm that flow through these pages. From his rough-and-tumble days in the merchant marine during World War II-marked by big dreams, bar brawls, and bloody noses-he moved on to salad days in Dublin. There he received an education in literature and in life, found his true calling in the theatre, and married his wife, Nancy...a fifty-year success story that's still going strong. O'Connor was soon invited to Hollywood, the scene of his greatest achievements. His unique perspective on the creation of All in the Family- and his certainty at the start that it was destined for ratings disaster-reveals television history in the making. And O'Connor vividly recalls scores of classic; moments with Norman Lear, Rob Reiner and Jean Stapleton, as well as numerous other colleagues, including Howard Rollins (In the Heat of the Night), Clint Eastwood (Kelly's Heroes), and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra). But Hollywood was also the source of O'Connor's most painful memory: the cocaine addiction and suicide of his son, Hugh. As a grieving father, O'Connor was forced to assume the most poignant and powerful role of his life, and he speaks honestly here about both his loss and his efforts to educate others about the horror of drug abuse. Candid and insightful, spirited and funny, this is the story of all the families Carroll O'Connor has been able to call his own. And in a career graced with landmark achievements, I THINK I'M OUTTA HERE stands as one of the most moving and memorable of all. CARROLL O'CONNOR is a fifty-year veteran of stage, screen, and television. He created the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family in 197 I and went on to produce and star in two more successful television series, Archie Hunkers Place and hi the Heat of the Night. We has appeared in twenty-five feature films, and has been awarded live Emmy Awards', the Peabody Award , two NAACP Image Awards , and two Golden Globes . He is also in the Television Hall of Fame.
I Think I Love You (Underlined Paperbacks)
by Auriane DesombreA YA contemporary rom com about two girls who start as rivals but after a twist of events, end up falling for one another--at least they think so. A pitch perfect queer romance--and it's a paperback original!Arch-nemeses Emma, a die-hard romantic, and more-practical minded Sophia find themselves competing against one another for a coveted first-prize trip to a film festival in Los Angeles . . . what happens if their rivalry turns into a romance? For fans of Becky Albertalli's Leah on the Offbeat, full of laugh-out-loud humor and make-your-heart-melt moments.Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.
I Stooged to Conquer: The Autobiography of the Leader of the Three Stooges
by Moe HowardTelling the full story of the head Stooge, this work reveals the life-long career of a legendary funnyman. Born into a working-class family in Brooklyn, Moe Howard transformed his real-life experiences of getting into mischief with his brother Shemp into the plots that would have millions rolling in the aisles. From childhood, Moe's ambition was to perform--whether it was plucking a ukulele on the beach, or playing a halfwit on a Mississippi showboat. But he only found success when he joined with Shemp and Larry Fine to play, as the New York Times put it, "three of the frowziest numskulls ever assembled." As the brains behind the Three Stooges, he went on to act in hundreds of their movies, introducing his little brother Curly into the act when Shemp departed, and, after Curly's death, partnering with Joe Besser and finally Joe de Rita. This is Moe Howard's self-penned, no-holds-barred story of the ups and downs of his life, ranging from personal family tragedies to tidbits about career mishaps and triumphs. It overflows with the easygoing charm, generosity, and inspired lunacy of the "wise guy" behind America's most successful comedy trio.
I Spit on Your Grave (Cultographies)
by David MaguireThere is no denying that Meir Zarchi’s I Spit on Your Grave (1978) deserves its title as one of the most controversial films ever made. While many condemn it as misogynistic, others praise it for raising uncomfortable issues about sexual violence. While its reputation as a cult film has undoubtedly been cemented by its unique position in the 1970s/80s exploitation era and the "video nasties" scandal, it has also become mythologized by its own official and unofficial franchises.David Maguire examines why the film still continues to provoke fierce debate forty years on, not only investigating the historical, social, and political landscape into which the film was first released—and condemned—but also examining how it is has inadvertently become ground zero for the rape-revenge genre because of its countless imitators. The book explores how academic study has reevaluated the film’s importance as a cultural statement on gender, the conflicting readings that it throws up, the timeless appeal of its story as examined through folklore and mythology, and its updating to reflect contemporary issues in a post-9/11 world of vengeance and retaliation.
I Slept with Joey Ramone
by Mickey Leigh Legs McneilWhen the Ramones recorded their debut album in 1976, it heralded the true birth of punk rock. Unforgettable front man Joey Ramone gave voice to the disaffected youth of the seventies and eighties, and the band influenced the counterculture for decades to come. With honesty, humor, and grace, Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh, shares a fascinating, intimate look at the turbulent life of one of America's greatest--and unlikeliest--music icons. While the music lives on for new generations to discover, I Slept with Joey Ramone is the enduring portrait of a man who struggled to find his voice and of the brother who loved him.
I Shudder: And Other Reactions to Life, Death, and New Jersey
by Paul RudnickI Shudder is a side-splittingly funny collection of essays from Paul Rudnick, one of America’s preeminent humorists. Rudnick, who writes for The New Yorker and has written the screenplays for the films In and Out, Sister Act, and Addams Family Values, shares his hilarious observations on life in New York City and New Jersey, the perils of show business, and dealing with one’s family, however crazy they may be. As David Sedaris says, “There’s no book wiser or half as funny as I Shudder.”