Arts & Culture :: Books
Lesbian author Dorothy Allison dies
Dorothy Allison, a lesbian and author who rose to fame with the publication of her critically acclaimed 1992 novel "Bastard Out of Carolina," died November 6 at her home in Guerneville.
'1001 Movie Posters' - New book celebrates the art of marketing movies
"1001 Movie Posters: Designs of the Times" is a big book, clocking in at 638 pages. It's a hardcover book and quite heavy. There are literally 1001 poster images between its covers, beginning from 1895, when the very first short films were shown.
James Magruder - Author's 'The Play's the Thing' documents Yale's theater history
James Magruder is the funniest person alive, and he's not even a stand-up comic. You'll get a sense of it when as he discusses his new book "The Play's The Thing: Fifty Years of Yale Repertory Theatre (1966-2016)."
Yuval Sharon's 'A New Philosophy of Opera' - New insights on the venerable art form
Ideas tumble out and collide in Yuval Sharon's "A New Philosophy of Opera" (Liveright). The out American director, deemed a maverick by many, steps off stage to deliver his manifesto about keeping putatively imperiled opera alive.
'The Book of Awesome Queer Heroes' - Pride across the ages and pages
"The Book of Awesome Queer Heroes: How the LGBTQ+ Community Changed the World for the Better" will make a wonderful addition to any bookshelf, especially one that may be missing a breadth of inspirational queer virtuosos from across the ages.
Geoffrey Mak: Gay author takes on the 'Mean Boys'
Queer Chinese American writer Geoffrey Mak takes the personal essay to new, and sometimes unsettling, heights, in his book "Mean Boys: A Personal History," described as a "memoir-in-essays."
Chad Beguelin's 'Showmance' - Broadway lyricist publishes a gay romance novel
A Broadway lyricist and book writer whose collaborations include "The Wedding Singer," "Elf: The Musical," and Disney's "Aladdin," Beguelin writes what he knows in his literary debut, "Showmance," a romantic comedy about a gay Broadway theater artist.
Words: 'Trans Anthology Project,' a new collection of stories written for and by gender-diverse teens and their parents
It all started with a single story; a one-off essay written by a mom trying to make sense of her experience parenting her trans son. Two years later, "Trans Anthology Project" is a 310-page collection of stories and educational content.
'Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.' - Exhibit book's deep dive into occult and science fiction LGBT SoCal communities
The intersection of early LGBT rights activism, science fiction, and the occult are beautifully recounted in the new book, "Sci-Fi, Magick, Queer L.A.: Sexual Science and the Imagination."
Dagoberto Gilb's 'New Testaments: Stories'
Dagoberto Gilb's impressive new collection, "New Testaments: Stories," documents the lives of ordinary Mexican Americans living along our Border, an important but overlooked part of American history.
'Halloween: A Fantasy in Three Acts' - photo book recalls Halloween celebrations of long ago
In 1981, photographer Ken Werner published a book of photos, titled simply, "Halloween: A Fantasy in Three Acts," that featured some of his photos from those wild street parties of long ago. The book has just been reissued in a new edition.
'There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network'
While a slim volume, 'There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network: A Celebration of 20 Years,' is chock-full of powerful testimonies from the full spectrum of Final Exit Network clients and volunteers.
Dianne Dugaw's 'California Medieval: Nearly a Nun in 1960s San Francisco'
Dianne Dugaw, an accomplished classical pianist and singer-musician, has created an intriguing hybrid memoir interweaving poetry, song, and rhapsodic vignettes about the three years in the 1960s spent as an aspiring nun in San Jose.
Cher shares her new memoir: Singer-actress discusses her life at the Golden Gate Theatre
Oscar-winning actress and award-winning singer Cher will be at the Golden Gate Theatre on December 4, 7:30pm to discuss her new memoir. Her life is so fabulous, this is only part one of two memoirs.