In the years since their first release, Belle and Sebastian have grown from a secretive cult concern into one of the most beloved and revered pop'n'roll bands in the world. Intelligent and sensitive, witty and original, beautiful and bold, their music inspires the kind of devotion not seen since The Smiths. Their continuing desire to push the boundaries of their vision has resulted in some of the most essential and idiosyncratic records of recent times. In this, the first biography of Belle and Sebastian, Paul Whitelaw traces their unpredictable personal and creative curve. With all original interviews and personal photos from the band Belle and Sebastian:Just A Modern Rock Story is the definitive account of the clandestine world and continuing rise of the unique and fascinating musical phenomenon that is Belle and Sebastian.

Autobiography/Cultural Studies. This book is a personal prayer at the altar of Pop. It's the story of the importance of Pop to the wildhearted outsider, and an attempt to record a history that has been largely ignored by the mainstream press. It's about not treating Pop as just sounds and songs, but more as personal connections and associations. It's about passion as opposed to fashion; possession as opposed to flirtation. Alistair's work reminds me of why I fell in love with pop music in the first place--Everett True. Fitchett currently designs and edits the e-zine Tangents, teaches Art & Design in a Devon high school, and DJs at the eclectic-minded Living Room and Glitch club events in Exeter.

Novel They call me Peacock. Why? The tattoo. I wear it on my shoulder. I had it done in my teens, in admiration of the bird. I still admire the bird today. I admire the way it looks. I admire the way it struts. I admire the way it preens. And did it hurt? Did it fuck. Come and meet Peacock Johnson, and ride with him on the craziest journey of your life as you travel across America in search of his ultimate fantasy: the hit record, the fame, the fortune. It's so close he can almost smell it. But a word of warning, don't fuck with Glasgow's own Rhinestone Cowboy, because nothing is going to stand in his way. Not the nagging of his mad missus, Bev, nor the weird antics of his Yanky side-kick, Evil Bob, not even you. As Peacock careers from one crisis to another, always clutching his masterpiece demo tape close by his side, his aspirations and plans spiral out of control in a frenzy of hilarity, disaster, sadness and dejection. Yet, he always grasps onto that glimmer of hope - after all, this is America, the land of dreams, where anything is possible... or is it? The Peacock Manifesto is probably the best black-comedy you'll read this year, a superbly realised follow-up to the critic

If you've ever dreamed of working at Vogue, photographing supermodels, or outfitting celebrities, In Fashion will equip you with everything you need to know to get an “in” into fashion. Former beauty and fashion news director of Harper's Bazaar and editor in chief of Seventeen, Annemarie Iverson—the outsider’s insider—knows just how to get noticed and stay on top. In Fashion is packed with her insightful tips, along with advice from leaders at Michael Kors, Bergdorf Goodman, Condé Nast, and more. Straightforward, honest, and insightful, Iverson has put together a book that will help you determine your best fashion career fit will providing a bird’s eye view into the most elite fashion companies. Along the way, you’ll learn what school may be best for you, as well as how to write a chic resume, handle the pressures of a fast-paced environment, hone your skills to make you a success in your ideal job, and more. The most comprehensive guide available for a notoriously competitive industry, In Fashion exposes all of its seams, with plenty of details on what it's like to work at dozens of of elite and cutting-edge companies. Whether you're just getting started or are considering a career switch, In Fashion offers all the resources you need to land your dream job in fashion.

Accompanying CD-ROM provides short film clips that reinforce the key concepts and topics in each chapter.

Douglas Coupland takes his sparkling literary talent in a new direction with this crackling collection of takes on life and death in North America -- from his sweeping portrait of Grateful Dead culture to the deaths of Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe and the middle class. For years, Coupland's razor-sharp insights into what it means to be human in an age of technology have garnered the highest praise from fans and critics alike.At last, Coupland has assembled a wide variety of stories and personal "postcards" about pivotal people and places that have defined our modern lives.Polaroids from the Dead is a skillful combination of stories, fact and fiction -- keen outtakes on life in the late 20th century, exploring the recent past and a society obsessed with celebrity, crime and death.Princess Diana, Nicole Brown Simpson and Madonna are but some of the people scrutinized.

This is the first major book in English on literary reading to be based on empirical methods. Moving the focus away from interpretation to the experience of literary texts, these studies demonstrate the role played by feeling in readers' responses, showing how feeling performs important functions during reading that cannot be accounted for by cognitive understanding. These studies not only reinvigorate the concept of literariness, they are also thoroughly interdisciplinary, offering a coherent approach to literary reading that draws on literary theory, psychology, neuropsychology, and evolutionary psychology. Several chapters help to introduce the empirical approach for students.

Patrick Bade's intimate yet comprehensive study of all the stages of Michael Leonard's career reveals his artistic development in all its variety. Lavishly illustrated with paintings, drawings and photographs, this is a seminal book for admirers of one of Britain's most versatile and popular artists.