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- Recommended Reading
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- The Vanishing Hitchhiker
- Jan Harold Brunvand
Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand's first book on
urban legends, provides a thorough introduction to the definition, interpretation, and
themes of urban folkore. About three dozen classic "friend of a friend" tales
are covered in depth; each is presented through several examples, accompanied by a
detailed analysis, and listed in a Notes section highlighting folklore journal articles
about it. All in all, an excellent introduction for those who care to learn more about the
field of urban folklore rather than just read collections of urban legends. (An
excellent introduction to urban folklore)
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- The Choking Doberman
- Jan Harold Brunvand
The second in a series of books examining urban
legend and folklore, is a rare find not only for its attention to the friend-of-a-friend
stories that we've all heard, but also for its perhaps unintended window into the
evolution of modern legends. Written in 1986, the myths and legends regarding computers
and other modern inventions reviewed in the book, as well as the means by which such
stories were disseminated, reflect the growing influence of information technology -- old
legends about "cable lice" proliferating in phone or power cables have given way
to doomsday viruses and other computer-age legends. I also was amused to discover so many
legends being integrated into movies and television, such as the "baby on the car
roof" (Raising Arizona), the woman who punishes her philandering husband with
superglue (Reservoir Dogs), etc. Just goes to show that a good story always deserves a
retelling.
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- The Mexican Pet
- Jan Harold Brunvand
Brunvand's previous collections of urban legends
(slightly fantastic stories that circulate in contemporary society), The Vanishing
Hitchhiker and The Choking Doberman , have been extremely popular. This collection
complements the earlier books and in fact contains, in part, new versions of stories
presented in them. These stories, which are often accepted as true, reflect the concerns
of modern life. Brunvand demonstrates their broad dissemination in both oral communication
and popular culture. Most academic folklorists will not be satisfied with the lack of
analysis here, but they, like other readers, will be highly entertained.
Brunvand's previous collections of urban legends
(slightly fantastic stories that circulate in contemporary society), The Vanishing
Hitchhiker and The Choking Doberman , have been extremely popular. This collection
complements the earlier books and in fact contains, in part, new versions of stories
presented in them. These stories, which are often accepted as true, reflect the concerns
of modern life. Brunvand demonstrates their broad dissemination in both oral communication
and popular culture. Most academic folklorists will not be satisfied with the lack of
analysis here, but they, like other readers, will be highly entertained.
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- Curses! Broiled Again!
- Jan Harold Brunvand
From the master folklorist and sly wit, Jan
Brunvand, comes a collection of all-new urban legends. Did your cousin's wife's dentist's
daughter tell you about her best friend who went to the tanning parlor once too often and
had her insides cooked (the title story)? Has your husband's brother's nephew told you the
story about the lady who tried to make a dead rabbit look alive ("The Hare
Drier")? If so, you've heard - or you yourself may have told - two of the
seventy-plus legends in this collection.
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- The Baby Train and other lusty legends
- Jan Harold Brunvand
America's premiere folk detective is back on the
case, sniffing out those zany but dubious stories that "really happened" to a
friend of your sister's boyfriend's accountant's mechanic. Jan Harold Brunvand - "Mr.
Urban Legend" (Smithsonian) - tracks the most fabulous tales making today's
cocktail-party circuit and shows why those stories that sound too good to be true probably
are too good to be true. The Baby Train offers a revealing peek behind the story of
"The Exploding Bra"; exposes the embarrassing source of "The Hairdresser's
Error"; resurrects a "Failed Suicide" Buster Keeton would have died for;
and shows why adults are better off not bringing their comic-book fantasies out of the
closet. From "Superhero Hijinx" to "The Shocking Videotape" to
"The Accidental Cannibal," The Baby Train uncovers the mysteries behind some of
the bawdiest, goriest, funniest, most pyrotechnic urban legends yet. The eponymous episode
- "The Baby Train" - sheds light on certain predawn activities that have linked
unusually high birth rates to the whim of train schedule-makers. Hottest legend of the
year? - undoubtedly "The Toothbrush Story." A couple is robbed while on
vacation; the only items not stolen, two toothbrushes and a camera. When the film is
developed, they discover...
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- Too Good To Be True
- Jan Harold Brunvand
A fabulously entertaining book from the ultimate
authority on those almost believable tales that always happen to a "friend of a
friend." Alligators in the sewers? A pet in the microwave? A tragic misunderstanding
of the function of cruise control? No, it didn't really happen to your friend's sister's
neighbor: it's an urban legend. And no matter how savvy you think you are, you are sure to
find in this collection of over 200 tales at least one story you would have sworn was
true. Jan Harold Brunvand has been collecting and studying this modern folklore for over
twenty years. In Too Good to Be True he captures the best stories in their best
retellings, along with their latest variations and examples of how the stories have
changed as they move from person to person and place to place. To help you find your
favorite, Brunvand has arranged the tales thematically. "Bringing Up Baby" is
full of episodes of child-rearing gone wrong, including the grisly tale of the drugged out
baby-sitter who mistakes the kid for a turkey. "Funny Business" showcases
stories of infamous lapses in customer service, such as the story of the shockingly
expensive chocolate chip cookie recipe. And "The Criminal Mind" features both
brilliant --if they were real --scams, as well as the purported antics of the less
mentally gifted. Whether you want to become an expert debunker or just have plenty of
laughs, this book will surprise and entertain you.
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- The Exploding Toilet
- Catherine Daly-Weir,Phoebe Gloeckner
Many of us have heard the story of the man who
caused an explosion when he dropped his lighted cigarette into the toilet, not knowing
that his wife had squirted hair spray there moments earlier. This and many other humorous
anecdotes enliven this collection of urban legends. Daly-Weir nicely frames these tales in
the setting of a school day at Lake Homily Middle School. Students, parents, teachers and
even the bus driver each take the stage to relate a "true" humorous story. There
is plenty of bathroom humor here, but nothing overly offensive. Real life teachers would
do well to share one or two incidents on a weekly basis with a deserving class. Kids will
utterly enjoy them. Well-crafted illustrations will draw laughs as well.
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- The Chicken Fried Rat
- Cylin Busby,Phoebe Gloeckner
Eric's first day of summer vacation does not go
as expected. Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he finds that he's on the receiving end
of one horror story after another. The introduction describes the gross urban legends that
the boy's family and friends tell him, leading him to believe that they are true. Some of
them may be familiar to readers; others may be new, but all will get them to gasp or
cringe or shudder. Told as stories within the context of Eric's day, this short book is a
quick read that will have special appeal to reluctant readers. The print is large, the
pictures are cartoonlike, and the punch lines come quickly. There's a nice tie-in at the
end of the book to the first story, told by Eric's older brother, but the selections do
not have to be read in any order and the book can be picked up at any point.
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- Spiders in the Hairdo
- David Holt, Bill Mooney, William Mooney
Two well-known storytellers collaborate on this
well-planned audio collection of modern folklore. The anecdotes and very short
stories--like those passed from friend to friend in conversation--represent our fears,
worries, prejudices and delight in our neighbors' missteps. Humorous and ironic, these
modern legends have incredible plot twists that make us chuckle with recognition, gasp
with astonishment, and nod approvingly at a character's cleverly executed retribution.
Dick Hyman's lively jazz piano introduces the collection, setting a jaunty tone for Holt's
and Mooney's engaging storytelling. These tales offer good family listening and may appeal
especially to teenagers, who will appreciate the pace and ironic humor.
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- The Baby-Sitter's Nightmare
- Gilson, Kristin
Once Jimmy tells a scary story, it seems like
everyone in his class has heard about something even creepier. From sleep-overs to
Halloween parties, the stories are spreading faster than a bad case of the heebie-jeebies!
Part of the famous series that includes, TALES OF THE EXPLODING TOILET: TALES TOO FUNNY TO
BE TRUE.
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- The Study of American Folklore
- Jan Harold Brunvand
The definitive introduction to American folklore.
Distinguished folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand, famous for his collections of 'urban
legends,' offers readers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the field of
folklore. New to the fourth edition are 67 "Focus" boxes that provide in-depth
examples of folk genres, research methods, and theoretical approaches, and over 70
photographs that illustrate material and performative folk traditions.
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Readings in American Folklore
Jan Harold Brunvand The title says it all...an excellent source for those
interested in American Folklore.
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- American Folklore: An Encyclopedia
- Jan Harold Brunvand
TA reference for scholars, students, and the
general public on American folklore, which is defined here as North American folklore,
including Canadian but excluding, except for a few general topics, the folklore of Native
Americans (planned for coverage in its own encyclopedia). Some 500 articles encompass folk
literature, music, and crafts of major and minor ethnic groups, urban and rural,
traditional and contemporary traditions, as well as including entries for folklorists
(those whose body of work is completed, i.e. nonliving), and scholarly terms and
approaches. Some entries are brief descriptions; others are extensive essays. Each
includes references and cross-references.
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