Valerie Estelle Frankel
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Discover the hidden meanings in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Discover how it's a giant metaphor for the philosophies of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Find every easter egg, and discover how tightly Coriolanus Snow and Katniss are symbolically entwined. Who is Shakespeare's Coriolanus and how does he relate? How about the ballads? What modern issue is Collins protesting this time? Professor Valerie Estelle...
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Heroines have existed since the earliest prehistoric myths, questing to become the all-powerful mother goddess in an epic that has them descend to hell and pit themselves against tyrants and vicious matriarchs. Nonetheless, the nineties TV show Xena: Warrior Princess was one of the first to face this journey onscreen. In it, heroic Xena and her companion Gabrielle battle their dark sides over and over, growing into legends through their struggle....
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Hamilton, the hip-hop rap musical, has revolutionized theater. It's the story of an immigrant, "young, scrappy, and hungry," who kicked off the Revolutionary War and built the central government of today. Within this book appears the musical's backstory with many deeper insights. How do the Schuyler Sisters' signature colors reveal their personalities? Which stage equipment best amplifies the themes? What of the words like "Satisfied" and "My Shot,"...
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With dogs, wolves, ravens, blood flies, and so many more, animal symbolism is endlessly significant in Game of Thrones. Why does Daenerys receive magical eggs in particular? What does a hand symbolize or a horn? There are meaningful towers and water gardens, stretching from the pyramids of Meereen to the infamous Iron Throne. Meanwhile, George R.R. Martin's characters chomp on bloody beef, blood oranges, red wine, beets, and pomegranates between the...
25) Katniss the Cattail: An Unauthorized Guide to Names and Symbols in Suzanne Collins' the Hunger Games
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Who was Cinna? What do the hawthorn and primrose symbolize? Or President Snow's roses and Peeta's bread? What about Katniss's last name? Bringing details from myths, herbal guides, military histories, and the classics, English professor and award-winning pop culture author Valerie Estelle Frankel sheds light on the deeper meanings behind Panem's heroes and villains in this hottest of YA trilogies. In her series, Collins not only weaves a heroic tale...
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Wonder Woman is an icon…but an icon of what? To some, she's Lynda Carter, spinning into star-studded shorts to save the day. To others, she's a racy Halloween costume or inspiring feminist role model. Which is true? This book analyzes each era of Wonder Woman, from the Golden Age to George Pérez and Gail Simone's reboots to The New 52 and television shows, cartoons, and films. Which teach the right messages for girls and boys? Which have problematic...
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On the heroine's journey, the young woman quests for autonomy, with adversaries who reflect her shadow side. They polarize with her, evoking different aspects of the personality. Wrestling with these figures and achieving a rapprochement, the heroine discovers all the untapped potential and hidden strength that lies within. BBC's Orphan Black follows this perfectly. Sarah Manning discovers she's a clone when she meets her identical copy, Beth, and...
29) Pop Culture in the Whedonverse All the References in Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Agents of
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Speed, Toy Story, X-Men, Alien: Resurrection, Roseanne, Parenthood, Superman/Batman. Even outside Buffy, Firefly and Avengers, Joss Whedon has written stacks of scripts, along with many series of comic books. His signature style offers strong women, sudden tragedies, and clever quips. But even more than these, he's known for the pop culture references: Under his watch, Iron Man calls Hawkeye "Legolas," Buffy dresses as Red Riding Hood and snarks,...
30) Sci-Fi Fantasy Baby Names for the Twenty-First Century: Anime, Authors, Actors, Dark Lords, Disne
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Did you know that Ellen is a good name for an astronaut and Emma for an action heroine? Or that dark lords are predetermined? Given all this, what's the best name for your scifi baby? True, those more fannish than sensible might go with Darth, Zoidberg or Katniss. Crueler yet are Mekaneck, Mundungus, or Number Six. However, the cleverest fans can sneak in their homages. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is really named Elizabeth, and her boyfriends are both...
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This book explores characters' agendas, from Sansa's secret schemes to Arya's ultimate goal. What is Cersei's true fear? What do trout or golden roses symbolize? Is the show a feminist success or a male playground? This book answers all these and more, revealing the enigmas and surprises hidden deep within the series. Martin's interviews, homages, and past works hint at the pattern he's chosen, while the classic pattern of the hero's and heroine's...
32) We're Home
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is crammed with delightful references – there are stacks of easter eggs, famous cameos, nods to the Extended Universe and computer games. Here they're all listed and described for discerning fans. There's also summaries – not just of shows and films but of the universe's history after Return of the Jedi covering thirty years of new canon in painstaking detail. Big questions from the film get answered, in-jokes get...
33) Joss Whedon's Names The Deeper Meanings behind Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Agents of S.H.I
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Doctor Horrible, Jayne Cobb, Oz, Fitz-Simmons, Echo, Pike, Saffron, Kaywinnet, the Groosalugg, Skip, Satsu, Dana Polk, Perfect Jheung, Icarus, the Siphon, Edna Giles, Dandelion Naizen, and especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Whedon's superhero names, goddess names, flower names, saint's names, and dozens of British names, he's filling his world with references from Shakespeare to manga, delighting fans who look closer. Which names repeat the...
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BBC's Sherlock has brought the classic adventures into brilliant life-fans across the world are delighting in every moment. But more is hidden within the episodes for the more serious fans-nonstop hints to the original adventures and the classic films as well. Within this book are all the references, with quotes from the actors and creators, notes from John and Sherlock's blogs, and loads of colorful symbolism. There are vistable locations in London...
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Learn how to create a dynamic hook and thesis, budget your time, and make killer outlines. Write quality paragraphs full of specific facts and clever insights. Learn where to get your information by reading the right books, visiting the right websites, and even watching the right movies! With a bonus section on Grammar, Idioms, and Verb Forms for the SAT Writing Test, this book has everything you need to succeed. Worksheets on grammar, style, and...
36) A Preposterous Portfolio of Parodies: Free Selections from Spoofs of The Hobbit, Game of Thrones
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A collection of short parodies, excerpted from the award-winning Henry Potty and the Pet Rock, An Unexpected Parody: The Unauthorized Spoof of The Hobbit, How Game of Thrones Will End, and new side-splitting material for readers young and old. A delightful romp through the world's favorite franchises.
37) Nonsensibility Or Finding Love, Freindship, Pride, Sensibility, Persuasion, Dilemma, and Creative
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Fan of Jane Austen? Why not try the beloved books all mashed together. Six young ladies – five sisters and a country cousin – live their lives straight from trashy novels. Nonetheless, all must find husbands or spend the rest of their lives at Longbore embroidering sofa cushions and mittens for the cat. Will countrified ninny Fanny Anne wed Wentworth or her cousin? Will they all swoon at Mr Darcy's wet shirt? Come dine on gold-plated truffles,...