Performance & Film

Ceremony, reverence, recollection, an ode to Blackness in motion, all in a brief but expansive 160 pages. Ntozake Shange, best known for her choreopoem For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf, illuminates her own intimacy with dance through testimony, interviews with oft-overlooked Black icons of movement, and deeply gorgeous photo inserts. Shange communicates the intergenerational inheritance of Black dance and movement with prose true to her prior writing. A love letter and veneration of the Black diaspora, especially Black women. — Citlalli

Like many of us, Lindy West loves pointing out plot holes and picking movies apart almost as much as she loves watching them. Unlike many of us, West used to be a professional film critic, lending merit to her commentary. Each chapter focuses on a different classic and often beloved film, summarizing the plot while also pointing out everything that’s wrong with it. This might sound like a bit of a negative premise, but it’s all in good fun and West makes some truly hilarious observations. The book isn’t groundbreaking but it will make you laugh A LOT. — Jade
 

Acho has given us quite a gift, both in the form of his viral hit video series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man and his new book of the same name, a companion to or a continuation of these vital conversations. Each chapter addresses a key question about race relations, racial injustices, and systemic racism. Acho gives frank, thoughtful answers, provides historical context, encourages further self-examination, and offers steps for moving forward. It is an important, hopeful, necessary antiracist resource. — Melinda

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. 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.