Seriously Weird pushes the boundaries of current understanding of the grotesque. In a set of interdisciplinary essays, contributors explore the grotesque in literature for adults and children, in contemporary film and TV, in psychological experimentation, and nineteenth-century midwifery. Seriously Weird reconsiders problems of defining the grotesque, placing it in the contexts of the carnivalesque, the abject, and the disgusting.

This Expanded Edition features even more insights on “Weird Al” Yankovic, including his activities during a tumultuous 2020 and 2021, diving deeper into the world of the iconic man who has made a career out of making us laugh. Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself, creating a fresh take on comedy and music’s complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovic’s jests have always had a deeper meaning, addressing such topics as bullying, celebrity, and racial and gender stereotypes. The Expanded Edition celebrates Yankovic’s vast influence on musicians, comedians, and performing artists as well as what the man has meant to fans—in a time of uncertainty, Yankovic has served as a much-needed bright spot for many. From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact, Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovic’s over forty-year career, this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.

Despite being sullied by frauds and dismissed by sceptics, the paranormal has exerted a strange fascination over humankind for centuries. In Seriously strange, a group of nine intellectuals come together to shed light on some of the most baffling experiences on record - psychical experiences. Through these illuminating essays, they tell us how such extraordinary events can be decoded nad interpreted to become the object of rigorous scientific study. the range is wide, from essays that reveal how Freud and Jung engaged with the notion of the paranormal to a provacative and humorous memoir of a physicist who spent over a decade running a secret psychic spying programme for the US government druing the Cold Wa; from hearfelt accounts by practising psychiatrists of the anomalies in their healing practice to a learned call for the renewal of professional parapsychology in the light of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. By telling their own stories and exploring some of the implications of their work, these men and women map the mind-bending geography of the human psyche and the spectum of experiences - love and death, desire and sex, hurt and healing, myth and magic - that influence it.

A “fun and colorful” biography of the accordion-toting comedy legend—with rare photos, lyrics, lists, tweets, and more from Al himself (Publishers Weekly). The undisputed king of pop-culture parody, “Weird Al” Yankovic has sold more comedy recordings than any other artist in history, receiving three Grammy Awards (and fourteen nominations) in the process. This is a comprehensive illustrated tribute to this icon of the American humor landscape, the man behind such classics as “Eat It,” “Amish Paradise,” and “White & Nerdy.” Covering more than three decades of hilarious songs, videos, and concert performances, and his life story in words and pictures—and featuring an introduction, lists, tweets, and photo captions from Yankovic himself—Weird Al: The Book is the ultimate companion piece to an extraordinary career. “Part biography and part pop culture museum . . . a treat.” —Huffington Post

Black theology has flourished within the academy. Its theories, however, have not always translated into practical use for Black people. 'Dramatizing Theologies' outlines the strong practical dimension of Black theology. Combining Black theology with dramatic, dialogical sketch material, the book produces an accessible approach to Black theological dialogue. The chasm between the academy, church and grassroots communities is overcome through the use of drama. 'Dramatizing Theologies' offers a unique methodology for Black theological conversation with the poor, marginalized and disenfranchised.

There is a man football fans across the land wake up for on a Saturday morning. A man whose renegade rhyming skills never fails to leave the nation dazzled - and maybe a bit baffled.He's Soccer AM's most infamous interviewer and Surrey's sickest rapper...it's the one, the only, Tubes. And he's ready to reveal the funniest, the best and the downright oddest stories from the Premiership and beyond.Soccer AM's very own lyrical miracle began life on the show as a humble work experience named Peter Dale. But a few world-class cuppas earned him a cameo as the nappy-wearing, beer-swilling Peter the Test Tube Baby. And the rest, as they, is history.Since then our floppy-haired hero has laid the rap down on every serious A-lister from Hulk Hogan to Steve Coogan in his trademark 'One Question and One Question Only' feature. Whether he's trapped in a headlock by Denzel Washington or going head-to-head in a rap battle with Professor Green, there's never a dull moment in the life of Tubes.Ever hear about the time Roy Hodgson bopped through a Premier League dressing room with a ghetto blaster? How about Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and the Underwear Bandits? This treasure trove of priceless anecdote has got it all.Stuffed with stellar banter, Tubesology is guaranteed to dish out the insider knowledge that every self-respecting football fan needs to hear. So all that remains is One Question and One Question Only...are you ready to hear all about the world according to Tubes?

Single and known for never finishing a romance novel, Laurie Wilcox is a creature of habit whose work consists of picking up after customers and helping them choose skimpy, yet still legal, outfits. In Fall River, Massachusetts, life is mundane to say the least—that is, until a handsome stranger walks into her store and changes her life forever. While the stranger pays for his purchase, his hand grazes Laurie’s. Suddenly, she is fed an image of a man with fangs who is about to bite. As he smiles and leaves, Laurie experiences a weird, almost déjà-vu feeling. But when the stranger returns and invites Laurie and her co-worker to a dance club, Laurie is disturbed. Something about Alexander Young is making her feel uneasy, but despite her worries, she finally agrees, opening herself up to new experiences and a potential romance. But when a part of Laurie’s life is put into question—as well as the people in it—she must decide whether friendship, life, and most importantly, love is worth all the sweet deception.

In the exciting conclusion to Herbie Brennan's New York Times bestselling Faerie Wars series, a child who is half faerie, half human has the power to determine the fate of both worlds. The Faeman Girl is Mella, daughter of Lord Henry and Queen Holly Blue, half faerie, half human and all trouble. When Mella accidentally travels to the country of Haleklind, she discovers rebel forces preparing an invasion using magical manticores. Old favourites are here - Brimstone, Lord Hairstreak and Pyrgus - but readers will identify immediately with Mella, whose stubborn streak and feisty daring must save the faerie realm from mass destruction.

Fan favorite Wong takes readers to a whole new level with this blistering sequel to the cult sensation "John Dies at the End," soon to be a movie starring Paul Giamatti.

Secrets don't remain hidden for long in this thrilling read from a #1 New York Times bestselling author that's perfect for fans of Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not and Barry Lyga's Bang. Three years after losing her brother Luka in a school shooting, Skye Gilchrist is moving home. But there's no sympathy for Skye and her family because Luka wasn't a victim; he was a shooter. Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don't heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend--Skye. Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can't resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.