Entertainment

Recommendation: The Pianist is a poignant reminder of the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. Through Szpilman's firsthand account, readers are taken on a gripping journey of survival and resilience in the face of unimaginable horrors. The book's power lies in its simplicity and rawness, with Szpilman's understated writing style allowing the events to speak for themselves. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history or personal memoirs.

The author of the New York Times bestseller Her Becoming Meryl Streep returns with a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama. America does not have royalty. It has the Academy Awards. For nine decades, perfectly coiffed starlets, debonair leading men, and producers with gold in their eyes have chased the elusive Oscar. What began as an industry banquet in 1929 has now exploded into a hallowed ceremony, complete with red carpets, envelopes, and little gold men. But don’t be fooled by the the Oscars, more than anything, are a battlefield, where the history of Hollywood—and of America itself—unfolds in dramas large and small. The road to the Oscars may be golden, but it’s paved in blood, sweat, and broken hearts. In Oscar Wars, Michael Schulman chronicles the remarkable, sprawling history of the Academy Awards and the personal dramas—some iconic, others never-before-revealed—that have played out on the stage and off camera. Unlike other books on the subject, each chapter takes a deep dive into a particular year, conflict, or even category that tells a larger story of cultural change, from Louis B. Mayer to Moonlight. Schulman examines how the red carpet runs through contested turf, and the victors aren't always as clear as the names drawn from envelopes. Caught in the crossfire are their thwarted ambitions, their artistic epiphanies, their messy collaborations, their dreams fulfilled or dashed. Featuring a star-studded cast of some of the most powerful Hollywood players of today and yesterday, as well as outsiders who stormed the palace gates, this captivating history is a collection of revelatory tales, each representing a turning point for the Academy, for the movies, or for the culture at large.

The powerful and bestselling memoir of a young Jewish pianist who survived the war in Warsaw against all odds. Made into a Bafta and Oscar-winning film.

Hip Hop Family Tree is an entertaining and encyclopedic history of the formative years of hip hop, documenting the battles, rivalries, technical innovations, triumphs, and failures behind the creation of this genre. It takes readers on a journey from the parks and rec rooms of the South Bronx to the night clubs, recording studios, and radio stations where the hip hop scene started to boom. Through Piskor's exuberant cartoons, readers can witness the rise of hip hop luminaries like Russell Simmons, Sylvia Robinson, Fab 5 Freddy, and then-punker Rick Rubin, as well as cameos by Debbie Harry, Keith Haring, The Clash, and other cultural icons. A must-read for anyone interested in the early days of hip hop and its influence on global culture.

This book would be a great fit for anyone with an interest in classical music and the lives of those who created it. The author provides a unique perspective by presenting these legendary composers as real people with relatable experiences. Its extensive coverage and rich detail would make it an excellent addition to any music lover's library.

This book could be a good read for students, educators, or literature enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the history of English poetry. The book provides a comprehensive and precise overview of the evolution of English poetic forms from the 12th century to present day. It is well-researched and presented in a clear, readable format, making it an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn more about this subject.

This book is the perfect read for music students and those interested in learning about the influence of faith on composers throughout history. With descriptions of 40 leading composers, readers will gain insight into the impact of faith on their music and the development of Western civilization. The indexed format makes it easy to navigate and find specific composers of interest.

If you have a penchant for classical music intertwined with a dash of humor, "Handel Who Knew What He Liked" will strike a chord. It's not just a recount of historical events—it's Handel's persistence and character leaping off pages that will invigorate any reader interested in the resilience and talent it takes to seduce kings and commoners alike with timeless music.

Based on twenty years of research and thousands of interviews, this authoritative biography of performer Josephine Baker (1906-1975) provides a candid look at her tempestuous life. Born into poverty in St. Louis, the uninhibited chorus girl became the sensation of Europe and the last century's first black sex symbol. A heroine of the French Resistance in World War II, she entranced figures as diverse as de Gaulle, Tito, Castro, Princess Grace, two popes, and Martin Luther King, Jr.Yet Josephine was also, as one critic put it, "a monster who made Joan Crawford look like the Virgin Mary." Jean-Claude Baker's book also reveals her outbursts that resulted in lasting feuds, her imperious treatment of family and entourage members, and her ambivalent attitudes concerning her ethnic background.Reconciling Josephine's many personas―Jazz-age icon, national hero of France, proponent of Civil Rights, mother of children from across the globe― Josephine: The Hungry Heart gives readers the inside story on a star unlike any other before or since.

On the thirtieth anniversary of the rise to popularity of punk rock, a collection of articles, interviews, and photography from the pages of MOJO magazine looks at the history of punk and the artists, music, and culture it spawned.