Performance & Film

You know that friend who will endlessly debate Marvel plot points or keep trying to get you to watch that one movie that you’ve hardly heard of? Oh wait—you are that friend? Buddy, do I have a book for you. Shea Serrano is passionate, nerdy, and funny, and with the help of Arturo Torres’s pop culture–perfect illustrations, has rants and debates you have never even thought of. You will devour each point, paragraph, and ridiculously meaningless/ful idea that fills these pages. - Jocelyn

As both a Shakespeare and folklore nerd, this book was an absolute delight to me. Seeing the multicultural folktales that more than likely inspired the Bard to create his now universally known masterpieces is a unique experience. We can read the stories he heard and find the elements so familiar to us in ancient stories. This is perfect for the Santa Cruz Shakespeare member and budding thespian alike. - J Gallo

Celebrated choreographer Mark Morris looks back on his dance career in this candid and often humorous memoir. “Out Loud is the story of a brilliant, complex artist, a keen observer and interpreter of the world around him, guided by one constant purpose: to create dance. This hard-to-put-down book illuminates the mind of an irreducible visionary and the art form that shaped him.” —Yo-Yo Ma

In Carson's unique translation the language is as lively and resonantly human as Euripides' plays should be. Included is “Hekabe,” one of the most powerful dramatic tragedies of all time with all its timely reckoning with civilization and its collapse. Carson’s opening essay about tragedy and catharsis speaks to my soul. Myth, rage, beauty, and grief in equal parts. - Clara

Eve Babitz was the bold, wild and unapologetic party girl of the '60's and '70's L.A. scene. Her involvement with a stream of famous actors and musicians set the stage for her work as an artist and writer. This enthusiastic biography is a fun informative read for fans of Eve and those new to her. - Trey

The Princess Bride is a very nearly perfect movie, As You Wish will make your millionth viewing even better. Elwes gives us a look at the great churning machine that is movie making. There's a bit about the filming of the Miracle Max scene that had me snorting my drink out my nose, I was laughing so hard. The entire book is worth that chapter. - J

I read this immediately after Barry Jenkins, director of Moonlight, recommended it in an interview. Murch's cinema theory focuses on the criteria of a good cut and emotional editing. Along with editing advice, Murch recounts the challenges faced when editing films for Francis Ford Coppola. This is the quintessential book for any editor or filmmaker! - Natalie O.

It is impossible to overstate the impact Star Wars and the women in the galaxy far, far away had on my life. When Princess Leia raised her face in defiance of Darth Vader, my little girl heart swelled. A woman could be a princess and a badass; there was no need to choose. Since then the Star Wars universe has expanded to include many more powerful women. I can’t wait to dig into this beautiful homage to women’s strength. - Ivy

Unlike some celebrity memoirs that focus on art and fame, actress Sally Field’s memoir is much more personal, and includes her life before she was famous. She reveals that as a child, she was sexually abused by her stepfather and talks about how that shaped her decisions regarding her partnerships, which roles she took, and even how she mothered. As an artist, she was drawn to the roles that “spoke of outrage,” but in writing her memoir, you can feel the connection that Field has found with herself. - S.M.C.

Whether through his hit TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race or his books, RuPaul’s positivity and messages of empowerment are absolutely infectious. GuRu gathers all of that wonderfulness into a visually dazzling collection of phrases (“You’re born naked and the rest is drag”) and quotes (“Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out”) that will inspire readers and help them own their greatness. “Everybody say love!” - S.B.