Other books that might interest you

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  The Time of My Life - Dirty Dancing

  Andrea Warner

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  An engaging exploration into the enduring popularity of Dirty Dancing and its lasting themes of feminism, activism, and reproductive rights
  		 
  When Dirty Dancing was released in 1987, it had already been rejected by producers and distributors several times over, and expectations for the summer romance were low. But then the film, written by former dancer Eleanor Bergstein and starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze as a couple from two different worlds, exploded. Since then, Dirty Dancing’s popularity has never waned. The truth has always been that Dirty Dancing was never just a teen romance or a dance movie — it also explored abortion rights, class, and political activism, with a smattering of light crime-solving.
  		 
  In The Time of My Life, celebrated music journalist Andrea Warner excavates the layers of Dirty Dancing, from its anachronistic, chart-topping soundtrack, to Baby and Johnny’s chemistry, to Bergstein’s political intentions, to the abortion subplot that is more relevant today than ever. The film’s remarkable longevity would never have been possible if it was just a throwaway summer fling story. It is precisely because of its themes — deeply feminist, sensitively written — that we, over 30 years later, are still holding our breath during that last, exhilarating lift.
  		 
  About the Pop Classics Series
  		 
  Short books that pack a big punch, Pop Classics offer intelligent, fun, and accessible arguments about why a particular pop phenomenon matters.

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  KEYBOARD LESSONS - Advanced...

  Green Light Studios

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  Have you ever wondered why learning the basics of playing a keyboard is not enough? Why do we need to take advanced lessons and hone our skills even further? How can advanced keyboard lessons push your hobby into something more serious, possibly as far as a career in music? This book will explore why advancing your keyboard learning journey is so important and how it can help you reach greater heights in the music industry. 
  First off, what exactly do advanced keyboard lessons entail? Many keyboard books provide basic tutorials on playing chords, scales, and other simple sounds, but these are too rudimentary for those who wish to take their music to the next level. Advanced keyboard lessons delve into more complex topics such as trills, textures, leaps, and even jazz and blues music. Through chapters 1-2, readers will learn about advanced chords to play on the piano. Chapter 3 explores melodic and harmonic scales, while chapter 4 delves into trills, textures, and leaps. It’s important to practice what you have learned and find ways to apply it within various musical genres and settings. In Chapters 5 and 6, we look at jazz and blues music as well as honing techniques to become a better player. We will look at how classical music can benefit from keyboard-playing techniques and explore jazz, pop, rock, and blues styles. With this knowledge under your belt, you will be in a position to bring creative energy into any performance.

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  Cheryl Fergison: Behind the Scenes

  Cheryl Fergison

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  Beloved Eastenders actress Cheryl Fergison brings her life to paper for the first time, 
  detailing the highs and lows of her career from her iconic portrayal of Heather Trott to 
  appearing on numerous panels and reality TV shows from Loose Women to Celebrity 
  Big Brother. But it's her life off screen which is truly extraordinary.

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  Empire of Ife - The Cradle of...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The origins of Ife are deeply rooted in mythology, oral traditions, and historical accounts, making it one of the most revered ancient cities in West Africa. Ife is often referred to as the cradle of the Yoruba civilization, a place where culture, religion, and governance took form. The story of its beginning is intertwined with Yoruba cosmology, particularly the legend of Oduduwa, who is considered the progenitor of the Yoruba people. 
  According to Yoruba mythology, Olodumare, the Supreme Being, entrusted Oduduwa with the sacred task of creating the earth. He descended from the heavens with a chain, a handful of earth, and a rooster. Upon reaching the watery expanse that covered the world, he spread the earth on the surface, and the rooster scattered it, forming the first landmass. This sacred land became known as Ile-Ife, meaning “The Land of Expansion.” Over time, Oduduwa and his followers established a kingdom that became the center of Yoruba civilization, laying the foundation for its political, spiritual, and artistic traditions. 
  Beyond mythology, historical and archaeological evidence suggests that Ife was already a flourishing city-state by the 9th century, possibly earlier. It grew as a hub of trade, attracting merchants and artisans from different parts of West Africa. Its strategic location allowed for the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices, contributing to the city’s rapid development. The city’s early rulers, often referred to as the Oonis, played a crucial role in consolidating power and maintaining the harmony between religious and political institutions. The Ooni of Ife, regarded as both a king and a divine figure, acted as the intermediary between the people and the gods, reinforcing Ife’s status as a sacred city.

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  Beyond Blue and White - The...

  Genevieve Wheeler Brown

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  An engaging work of cultural history that reveals the stories behind one of the world's most coveted and beloved ceramic. 
   
  When over seventy-five pieces of rare and intriguing seventeenth and eighteenth century Delftware are rediscovered in an historic Manhattan townhouse, decorative art advisor and writer Genevieve Wheeler Brown quickly recognizes that, together, these pieces tell an amazing story. What begins as a curatorial exercise quickly evolves not only into an exploration of this colorful, expressive, and sometimes even humorous decorative art, coveted for hundreds of years, but also an unexpected uncovering of forceful female lives yet untold.Connecting the accounts of women across centuries, Beyond Blue and White allows us to craft a more complete picture of female experience through the lens of material culture. Beyond Blue and White is a colorful celebration of an iconic decorative art and dynamic women living in extraordinary times. Wheeler-Brown's rich narrative encourages us to see beyond the dazzling cobalt glaze of Delftware to consider that these vessels are also our connection to a history with a fascinating group of women at its center.

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  The Lady and The Unicorn

  Sutherland Lyall

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  The legendary medieval tapestry The Lady and the Unicorn is Sutherland Lyall’s starting point for this journey into the world of mythology and mystery which has been woven around the myth of the unicorn and the lady. We learn that the unicorn is the symbol for power and the lady may be mother, mistress or virgin. With an abundant collection of documents form a number of international museums, Lyall’s writing is an exciting exploration, a lively new examination, of old subjects. Who knows - perhaps he has finally sloved the mystery of The Lady and the Unicorn!

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