Stranger Things. Season 1
by
1983, Indiana. A young boy vanishes into thin air. As friends, family, and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one very strange little girl.
Stranger Things is a thrilling mix of mystery, adventure, and nostalgia. Set in the 1980s, it follows a group of kids who discover that their small town hides some very big secrets. When a young boy goes missing, they meet a mysterious girl with strange powers, and their world is turned upside down.
I love how this show blends friendship, courage, and the supernatural. The characters are fun to follow, and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Stranger Things is exciting, spooky, and full of heart, making it a great pick for anyone who enjoys a good mix of sci-fi and emotion.
Now’s the perfect time to catch up or rewatch—season five, the big series finale, is coming soon!
Audience: Adult/General Content (MPAA: TV-14)
Related Media: Season 2 also available on DVD. Many related pieces of media, including novelizations, graphic novels, and tie-ins.
Modern Family. The Complete first season
by
Modern Family takes a refreshing and funny view of what it means to raise a family in this hectic day and age. Multicultural relationships, adoption, and same-sex marriage are just a few of the timely issues faced by the show's three wildly diverse broods. No matter the size or shape, family always comes first in this hilariously 'modern' look at life, love, and laughter.
If you’re in the mood for something funny, heartwarming, and full of relatable moments, Modern Family is a great choice. The show follows three different but connected families as they navigate the ups and downs of everyday life. Each episode is packed with humor, love, and those little moments that remind us how special family can be, no matter what it looks like.
I love how this show balances comedy and real emotion. The characters feel like people you might actually know, and you can’t help but root for them through all their mishaps and misunderstandings. Modern Family is the kind of show that makes you laugh out loud one minute and feel truly touched the next.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Seasons 1-11 all available on DVD.
Spirited Away
by
Chihiro must save her parents after they are turned into pigs at a mysterious and abandoned amusement park inhabited by spirits.
"Spirited Away" is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s classics. On the surface, it's a story about a girl named Chihiro, who moves to a new city away from her friends. However, as they settle in, everything changes, her parents end up turned into pigs, and now it’s up to her to save them in a mysterious, almost-forgotten amusement park filled with spirits. What makes this film really special is the deeper message about discovering yourself and staying true to who you are, all wrapped up in stunning animation and unforgettable characters.
Rated PG.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
by
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016 "I'm Thinking of Ending Things is one of the best debut novels I've ever read. Iain Reid has crafted a tight, ferocious little book, with a persistent tenor of suspense that tightens and mounts toward its visionary, harrowing final pages" (Scott Heim, award-winning author of Mysterious Skin and We Disappear). You will be scared. But you won't know why... I'm thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It's always there. Always. Jake once said, "Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can't fake a thought." And here's what I'm thinking: I don't want to be here. In this smart, suspenseful, and intense literary thriller, debut novelist Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago's early work, Michel Faber's cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk about Kevin, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, this novel pulls you in from the very first page...and never lets you go.
"I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is a psychological thriller that follows a young couple on a road trip to a secluded farm. Told from the perspective of the girlfriend, we learn that she's thinking of ending things with him. Eventually the two make an unexpected stop, and she wonders if she'll even have the chance to escape and end things at all. If I could describe this book in 3 words: thrilling, philosophical, and CREEPY! I could not stop thinking about it even days after finishing. I highly recommend!
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: Adapted into a Netflix original film in 2020.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Vol. 1
by
Tanjiro sets out on the path of the Demon Slayer to save his sister and avenge his family! In Taisho-era Japan, kindhearted Tanjiro Kamado makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been transformed into a demon herself! Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to return his sister to normal and destroy the demon who ruined his life. Learning to destroy demons won't be easy, and Tanjiro barely knows where to start. The surprise appearance of another boy named Giyu, who seems to know what's going on, might provide some answers--but only if Tanjiro can stop Giyu from killing his sister first!
In honor of the newly released 2025 Demon Slayer film, I want to recommend the original Kimetsu no Yaiba manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge. While the anime and films have gained worldwide recognition for their breathtaking animation and emotional storytelling, the manga is where it all began--and reading it offers a deeper and more personal connection to the story. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a kindhearted young boy whose family is slaughtered by demons, leaving only his sister Nezuko Kamado--who is tragically transformed into a demon herself. What makes the series so compelling is not just the action and beautifully drawn arcs, but the themes of resilience, family bonds, and empathy even toward one's enemies. For those who enjoy vivid storytelling--especially with deep lore and unique character development--I highly encourage you to pick up the first volume of this manga at our Pruitt Library, and delve into a newfound obsession with the entire franchise.
Audience: Young Adult
Related media: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy (spinoff series)
Roman Holiday
by
A princess on an official visit to Rome slips away without notice and falls in love with a newspaperman.
One of the great on-screen romances of the ages, Roman Holiday follows Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) and journalist Joe Bradley as they develop an unlikely romance in and around the Eternal City. Filled with rousing adventure, swooning love, and plenty of laughs, this is the best of every genre it touches. Rome has never looked more beautiful and magical than through the eyes of these two lovers, and it's a genuine thrill to watch them fall in love across a couple fleeting days. (If you end up liking it, make sure to check out Notting Hill, which borrows a lot from it!)
Audience: Adult/General Content, NR
Kiki's Delivery Service
by
Kiki is an enterprising young girl who must follow tradition to become a full-fledged witch. Venturing out with only her black cat, Jiji, Kiki flies off for the adventure of a lifetime. Landing in a far-off city, she sets up a high-flying delivery service and begins a wonderful experience of independence and responsibility as she finds her place in the world.
Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is a heartwarming coming-of-age film that follows a story of a young witch learning to live on her own in a charming seaside town! The themes of independence and self-discovery, coupled with the challenges that comes with growing into one’s own person, offers plenty for the audience to connect to. The film has a gentle pace, beautifully hand-drawn animation, and many whimsical moments that make for a visually delightful and cozy experience. What resonates with me is the film’s quiet honesty in the way it captures the emotional nuances of growing up and finding your place in the world while managing to maintain its warmth and sense of wonder in Kiki’s journey.
Rated G.
A Quiet Place
by
After an apocalyptic event, a family discovers that they must live in silence to hide from monsters with extra-sensitive hearing.
A Quiet Place is a monster horror film that plays into sound, as the monsters have super sensitive hearing and are attracted to any noise. What makes the movie so interesting to watch is how the director, John Krasinski, uses different items to muffle noise or distract the monsters. The movie truly shines if you are able to listen to it with headphones or with quality speakers.
Rated PG-13.
Related media: A Quiet Place Part II (sequel), A Quiet Place: Day One (spinoff)
The White Lotus - The Complete First Season
by
A social satire set at an exclusive tropical resort, this limited series follows the exploits of various guests and employees over one highly transformative week. Checking into the luxurious White Lotus is a group of vacationers who run roughshod over the resort manager and head of spa services. As darker dynamics emerge with each passing day, this biting six-episode limited series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself.
The White Lotus Season 1 drew me in with its gorgeous Hawaiian setting, but it’s the darker undercurrents that truly kept me coming back for more! Beneath the surface of a luxury vacation resort lies a sharp, unsettling look at privilege, class, and identity. The characters are flavorfully flawed and intriguing which makes for a riveting story in this biting social satire. What was especially notable is how the showrunners depict the quiet, slow-burning tensions between guests and staff, leading to uncomfortable yet entertaining moments for those who like their stories with an edge.
Audience: Adult/General Content, TV-NR
Crimson Peak
by
When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger, a young woman is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay; a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth.
Crimson Peak is a gothic romance directed and co written by Guillermo del Toro. The film has a beautiful wardrobe and uniquely haunting feel with lots of enthralling scenes and imagery. The movie reimagines the classic tale The Fall of the House of Usher and gives it new life. Whether your interested for the vibes or the mystery its a memorable watch.
Rated R.
Related media: Spanish language novelization of the film.
Moonlight
by
A young black man struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.
Barry Jenkins' groundbreaking coming-of-age drama is not only a gorgeous film about Chiron, a young boy growing up Black and gay in Miami, but it's also a landmark of 21st century filmmaking. Awarded Best Picture by the Academy in 2017 (shocking in more ways than the notorious one), this adaptation of Tarell Alvin McCraney's play cemented Jenkins as one of the up-and-coming directors of today's generation as well as the independent studio A24 as a force to be contended with in Hollywood. Achingly scored by Nicholas Britell and shot languidly by James Laxton, this film is moving, powerful, and essential viewing. And- it may feel particularly familiar to the Floridians out there, having been shot and taken place just a couple hours down the road in Miami.
Rated R.
Abbott Elementary, Season 1
by
In this workplace comedy from writer/executive producer/star Quinta Brunson and executive producers Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker, a group of teachers is brought together in a Philadelphia public school, because they love teaching. Though outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do even if they don't love the school district's less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.
Abbott Elementary is a workplace comedy where a group of passionate, dedicated teachers, alongside their tone-deaf principal, strive to give their students the best education despite many, many odds. This is one of my favorite shows! It is hilarious while also revealing the severity of underfunded public schools. Highly recommend!
Audience: Adult/General Content, TV-NR
Godzilla Minus One
by
A disgraced kamikaze pilot returns to his obliterated house after witnessing an unbelievable attack on Odo Island. Rebuilding his home and life out of the detritus of the city, he takes in a displaced baby and the woman who found her, creating a family that gives him the courage to bring his neighbors together to fight when the monster returns to Japan while the citizens are already at their lowest point.
A disgraced kamikaze pilot returns to his obliterated house after witnessing an unbelievable attack on Odo Island. Rebuilding his home and life out of the detritus of the city, he takes in a displaced baby and the woman who found her, creating a family that gives him the courage to bring his neighbors together to fight when Godzilla returns to Japan, while the citizens are already at their lowest point. Godzilla minus one is a great introduction to the franchise, as it depicts the full scope of what Godzilla represents.
Rated PG-13.
City of Bones
by
Discover this first installment of the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and "prepare to be hooked" (Entertainment Weekly). When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder--much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing--not even a smear of blood--to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.
A compelling start to The Mortal Instruments series, “City of Bones” dives into a world where a hidden society of Shadowhunters battle demons and otherworldly threats! The story follows Clary Fray on a journey to rescue a loved one and uncover a powerful artifact while unearthing dark truths about her identity and family ties. Readers who prefer fantasy and adventurous YA novels should enjoy this fast-paced plot of supernatural mystery, sharp dialogue, and complex characters that Cassandra Clare offers in the first title of her series.
Audience: YA/Teens
Book one of The Mortal Instruments series.
Related media: The Mortal Instruments series, The Shadowhunter's Codex, adapted into a 2013 movie and a 2016-19 TV show.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
by
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Soon to be a Netflix Film A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune * The View * Southern Living * USA Today "Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender." -- Washington Post For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
Tova Sullivan, newly widowed, begins working at the local aquarium to help her cope. There she meets and befriends Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus! This is a cute, wholesome story about family, love, and loss. The writing is beautiful with vivid imagery and interesting point of views. Highly recommend!
Audience: Adult/General Content
Also available as a Digital E-Book, Digital Audiobook, in Large Print, and as a 12-copy Book Club Kit.
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
by
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * From award-winning novelist and journalist Omar El Akkad comes a powerful reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its fundamental values "[A] bracing memoir and manifesto."--The New York Times "I can't think of a more important piece of writing to read right now. I found hope here, and help, to face what the world is now, all that it isn't anymore. Please read this. I promise you won't regret it."--Tommy Orange, bestselling author of Wandering Stars and There There On October 25, 2023, after just three weeks of the bombardment of Gaza, Omar El Akkad put out a tweet: "One day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this." This tweet has been viewed more than 10 million times. As an immigrant who came to the West, El Akkad believed that it promised freedom. A place of justice for all. But in the past twenty years, reporting on the War on Terror, Ferguson, climate change, Black Lives Matter protests, and more, and watching the unmitigated slaughter in Gaza, El Akkad has come to the conclusion that much of what the West promises is a lie. That there will always be entire groups of human beings it has never intended to treat as fully human--not just Arabs or Muslims or immigrants, but whoever falls outside the boundaries of privilege. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This is a chronicle of that painful realization, a moral grappling with what it means, as a citizen of the U.S., as a father, to carve out some sense of possibility in a time of carnage. This is El Akkad's nonfiction debut, his most raw and vulnerable work to date, a heartsick breakup letter with the West. It is a brilliant articulation of the same breakup we are watching all over the United States, in family rooms, on college campuses, on city streets; the consequences of this rupture are just beginning. This book is for all the people who want something better than what the West has served up. This is the book for our time.
In what truly feels like what will be one of the defining texts of the 2020s, journalist Omar El Akkad examines the ongoing genocide in Palestine at the hands of Israel- a genocide funded directly by Americans' tax dollars and nearly unanimously supported by US politicians of every stripe. He makes the moral case against the Palestinian genocide as black-and-white as it deserves to be, and confidently predicts that once the monstrosity is over (either by liberation or extermination), the global West and ruling classes who have inarguably allowed the genocide to be carried out will eventually posture themselves as morally against it- only once it is comfortable and politically convenient for them. He criticizes the ineffectual neoliberal left and the increasingly fascistic right equally, since their actions surrounding the genocide have been a rare moment of political agreement. A rattlingly prescient and urgent work.
Audience: Adult/General Content
The City of Brass
by
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Library Journal | Vulture | The Verge | SYFYWire Step into The City of Brass, the spellbinding debut from S. A. Chakraborty, an imaginative alchemy of The Golem and the Jinni, The Grace of Kings, and Uprooted, in which the future of a magical Middle Eastern kingdom rests in the hands of a clever and defiant young con artist with miraculous healing gifts. Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of eighteenth-century Cairo, she's a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trades she uses to get by--palm readings, zars, and a mysterious gift for healing--are all tricks, both the means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles and a reliable way to survive. But when Nahri accidentally summons Dara, an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior, to her side during one of her cons, she's forced to reconsider her beliefs. For Dara tells Nahri an extraordinary tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire and rivers where the mythical marid sleep, past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises and mountains where the circling birds of prey are more than what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass--a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound. In Daevabad, within gilded brass walls laced with enchantments and behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments run deep. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, her arrival threatens to ignite a war that has been simmering for centuries. Spurning Dara's warning of the treachery surrounding her, she embarks on a hesitant friendship with Alizayd, an idealistic prince who dreams of revolutionizing his father's corrupt regime. All too soon, Nahri learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences. After all, there is a reason they say to be careful what you wish for . . .
City of Brass is the first book of a trilogy which follows Nahri, an Egyptian orphan and charlatan in 18th century Cairo. Though Nahri does possess an extraordinary gift for healing, stealing and swindling through fake palm readings and rituals is the only way she's able to keep a roof over her head. However, everything changes when she accidently summons a Djinn during one of her exorcisms and finds herself wrapped up in a world of magic she could have never imagined. This series is a fantastic read for fans of high fantasy and political intrigue. I personally loved the rich world building centered around Middle Eastern history, culture, and mythology which is uncommon in the fantasy genre. The characters and their motivations are complex and compelling, keeping me glued to the book to find out what would happen next. Reading this for my book club was super fun, so I definitely recommend reading and discussing this book with friends!
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: The Daevabad Trilogy.
Also available as a Digital E-book and Physical Audiobook.
The Lost Hero
by
After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood where a new group of heroes will now inherit their own quest. But to survive the journey, they'll need the help of some familiar demig
The first entry within The Heroes of Olympus, a sequel series to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, “The Lost Hero” greatly expands upon the world of Percy Jackson with new demigods, deities, challenging prophecies, and a compelling combination of Greek and Roman mythology! Readers who enjoy epic quests and strong character friendships will appreciate the thrill and heart this story has to offer. Although I recommend reading the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series first for a deeper understanding of the story and its returning characters, it is not a strict prerequisite for picking up this book and jumping into this storytelling universe.
Audience: YA/Teens
Book one of the Heroes of Olympus series.
Related media: The Heroes of Olympus series, the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series
Also available as an adapted Graphic Novel.
Daughter of the Forest
by
Daughter of the Forest, the first book in Juliet Marillier's award-winning Sevenwaters Trilogy. Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment. But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift--by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever. When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all...
This story is a retelling of "The Wild Swans" by Hans Christian Andersen. Sorcha our main character must save her brothers from the evil enchantment they are under. To do so Sorcha must not speak while she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk. Kidnapped by enemies of Sevenwaters she is taken to a foreign land. This story has adventure, love, betrayal, heartbreak and endurance. I very much enjoyed Juliet Marillier's retelling of this fairy tale.
Audience: Adult/General Content.
Related media: Book 1 of the Sevenwaters Series.
The Littlest Yak
by
A little yak yearns for BIG things in this rollicking, rhyming picture book that celebrates individuality, unique talents, and the importance of not growing up too fast. Gertie is the littlest yak in her pack, feeling stuck in her smallness. She wants to grow up and have BIGNESS and TALLNESS, with the hugest of hooves and humongous horns too! Because there isn't anything a BIG yak can't do. So Gertie devises a growing-up plan. She eats her veggies, exercises every day, and reads lots of books. Still, she isn't any bigger. But when the other yaks come calling for Gertie to help them with a daring and dangerous task, could it be because it's something only a small yak can do? Lu Fraser's debut picture book is a heartwarming and relatable story of individuality, self-esteem, and the joys of being young and small. best-selling illustrator Kate Hindley has created a delightful wintry landscape, packed with adorable yaks in woolly hats and coats. Readers won't be able to resist snuggling down with this charming read aloud. A CCBC Choice
Gertie is the littlest yak in the pack. She can't wait to grow up and be big like everyone else. But when a crisis strikes the village that only a small yak can solve, Gertie is the only one who can save the day. This book teaches children about self confidence and the value of being different! The illustrations are cute and colorful, and the rhyming prose was exciting and fun to read.
Audience: Kids
Related Media: Next book in series, "The Littlest Yak and the New Arrival."
The Power
by
In this stunning bestseller praised as "our era's Handmaid's Tale," a fierce new power has emerged--and only women have it (Washington Post). In The Power, the world is a recognizable place: there's a rich Nigerian boy who lounges around the family pool; a foster kid whose religious parents hide their true nature; an ambitious American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But then a vital new force takes root and flourishes, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power: they can cause agonizing pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world drastically resets. From award-winning author Naomi Alderman, The Power is speculative fiction at its most ambitious and provocative, at once taking us on a thrilling journey to an alternate reality, and exposing our own world in bold and surprising ways. "Captivating, fierce, and unsettling...I was riveted by every page. Alderman's prose is immersive and, well, electric." --New York Times Book Review
“The Power” by Naomi Alderman is a fictional narrative about a world where women develop the ability to generate electrical energy. I appreciated the substance the story offers as, through this powerful evolutionary ability, a shift happens to gendered power dynamics, and along with it the traditional patriarchy is subverted. It was very interesting to witness the flipping of societal norms in a new world come to life as the author sparks intense messages about control and inequality. Like myself, readers may be drawn to Alderman’s thought-provoking narrative as she uses a touch of fantasy in inviting the audience to reconsider the systems of power that govern the world as the book grapples with themes of empowerment and endangerment.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: Adapted into a TV series.
Also available as a Digital E-book.
Oscar Wars
by
The author of the New York Times bestseller Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep returns with a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama. America does not have royalty. It has the Academy Awards. For nine decades, perfectly coiffed starlets, debonair leading men, and producers with gold in their eyes have chased the elusive Oscar. What began as an industry banquet in 1929 has now exploded into a hallowed ceremony, complete with red carpets, envelopes, and little gold men. But don't be fooled by the pomp: the Oscars, more than anything, are a battlefield, where the history of Hollywood--and of America itself--unfolds in dramas large and small. The road to the Oscars may be golden, but it's paved in blood, sweat, and broken hearts. In Oscar Wars, Michael Schulman chronicles the remarkable, sprawling history of the Academy Awards and the personal dramas--some iconic, others never-before-revealed--that have played out on the stage and off camera. Unlike other books on the subject, each chapter takes a deep dive into a particular year, conflict, or even category that tells a larger story of cultural change, from Louis B. Mayer to Moonlight. Schulman examines how the red carpet runs through contested turf, and the victors aren't always as clear as the names drawn from envelopes. Caught in the crossfire are people: their thwarted ambitions, their artistic epiphanies, their messy collaborations, their dreams fulfilled or dashed. Featuring a star-studded cast of some of the most powerful Hollywood players of today and yesterday, as well as outsiders who stormed the palace gates, this captivating history is a collection of revelatory tales, each representing a turning point for the Academy, for the movies, or for the culture at large.
An absolutely essential read for not only Oscar-fanatics like myself, but also for anyone at all interested in learning more about the silver screen and the city at the heart of the American film industry. This gargantuan history of Hollywood as told through a select few Oscar ceremonies covers everything from the silent era to the pandemic-era- truly a century of film, awards, and celebrity history. If two sisters competing for their first Oscars, many pivotal changing-of-the-times in Academy (and Hollywood) leadership, proverbial David vs Goliath stories abound, and the advent of movie awards campaigning sounds at all interesting to you, this deeply-researched and witfully-written book is the place to start.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Far and Away
by
A poor young Irish man immigrates to the United States along with the daughter of a wealthy land owner.
An American epic romance released in 1992, this movie features a young Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as they find their way from Ireland to America. They go through ups and downs as well as hardships all in hopes of starting a new life and gaining free land in Oklahoma. I have watched this movie multiple times and enjoy it every single time. This movie defines the struggle and passion needed to grasp one’s destiny.
Rated PG-13.
Happiness Falls
by
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK * When a father goes missing, his family's desperate search leads them to question everything they know about him and one another in this thrilling page-turner, a deeply moving portrait of a family in crisis from the award-winning author of Miracle Creek. OPRAH DAILY'S #1 NOVEL OF THE YEAR * ONE OF PEOPLE'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * A WASHINGTON POST, BOOKPAGE, KIRKUS REVIEWS, NEW YORK POST, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, BOOK RIOT, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, REAL SIMPLE, CRIMEREADS, AND SHE READS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Belletrist Book Club Pick * Finalist for the New American Voices Award * Finalist for the Virginia Literary Award * "This is a story with so many twists and turns I was riveted through the last page."--Jodi Picoult "A brilliant, satisfying, compassionate mystery that is as much about language and storytelling as it is about a missing father. I loved this book."--Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow "I fell in love with the fascinating, brilliant family at the center of this riveting book."--Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful "We didn't call the police right away." Those are the electric first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing. Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything--which is why she isn't initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don't return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia's brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak. What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut, Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing-person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.
Told from the point of view of the daughter, Mia, this book follows a family's desperate search for their father who disappears after going for a walk in the local nature reserve. The only witness to what happened is Eugene, her nonverbal little brother. This book leads you through many twists and turns making it an engaging read. It taught me new information about people with nonspeaking disabilities, and provided perspectives I have never considered before. I highly recommend!
Audience: Adult/General Content
The Outsiders
by
When it was first published in 1967, The Outsiders defied convention with its immediate, deeply sympathetic portrayal of Ponyboy and his struggle to find a place for himself in a difficult world. Thirty years later, it speaks to teenagers as powerfully as ever.
S.E. Hinton’s "The Outsiders" is a beloved classic that explores themes of brotherhood, found family, class conflict, and empathy with profound authenticity. The novel follows Ponyboy Curtis and his Greaser friends as they navigate a world where social barriers and class disparity incites gang violence. Through the struggles experienced in the story, the emotional depth and perspective shown by the characters will draw readers into an embrace of humanity and empathy toward others.
Audience: Young Adult
Related media: Adapted into a 1983 film.
Also available as Digital E-Book and CD Audiobook.
12 Angry Men
by
Courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a boy accused of killing his father, where one man stands between him and capital punishment.
A true masterpiece of mid-century Hollywood. Set almost entirely in one room, the film follows a jury of men on a sweltering afternoon as they deliberate on a case that could send a man to his death. While the jury's first impression is that the case is a clear-cut guilty verdict, there is more than what meets the eye at first glace. An absolute monument to the power of critical thinking, basic compassion, and genuine curiosity in search for truth. Henry Fonda's lead performance is an true force in this remarkable achievement that has stood- and will stand- the test of time.
Related media: 50th anniversary re-release DVD.
My Brilliant Friend
by
#1 BEST BOOK OF THE CENTURY - NEW YORK TIMES Now an HBO series: the first volume in the New York Times-bestselling "enduring masterpiece" about a lifelong friendship between two women from Naples (The Atlantic). Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Elena Ferrante's four-volume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters, the fiery and unforgettable Lila and the bookish narrator, Elena, become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. This first novel in the series follows Lila and Elena from their fateful meeting as ten-year-olds through their school years and adolescence. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between two women. "An intoxicatingly furious portrait of enmeshed friends."--Entertainment Weekly "Spectacular."--Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air "Captivating."--The New Yorker
Recently named the Greatest Book of the 21st century by the New York Times, Elena Ferrante's landmark first novel of her "Neapolitan Novels" tells the story of two young girls growing up in post-war Naples, Italy. They experience family turmoil, rights of passage, stunning realizations about their world and the adults in it, and all of the joys and despairs that the closest of friendships can bring. Stunningly written by Ferrante and translated by Goldstein, this novel so richly delivers a picture of not only the textured neighborhoods of Naples, but also the inner machinations of our protagonists who populate them. This recommendation is a full endorsement of the first novel, but it really stands for the whole 4-book series, which only gets better as it goes on throughout their entire lives.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: First book of the "Neapolitan Novels" series, Adapted into an ongoing HBO TV series.
Also available as Digital E-book and in Large Print.
The Wailing
by
When a mysterious illness begins spreading through a small village, a local policeman is drawn to the incident to solve the mystery.
A Korean occult thriller that I recommend going into blind for the best experience. There are no jump scares, but the film is very tense and unsettling. If you're bored of the generic horror films coming out of Blumhouse these days and are looking for something fresh, definitely check this out!
Rated TV-MA.
A Man Called Ove
by
Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks! #1 New York Times bestseller--more than 3 million copies sold! Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon--the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. Fredrik Backman's beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. "If there was an award for 'Most Charming Book of the Year,' this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down" (Booklist, starred review).
A Man Called Ove is a funny and heartwarming story about the journeys life takes us through. I loved this book because it provided a new perspective on how impactful the strangers in your life can become and it made me laugh out loud! If you like silly stories with a touch of life lessons this book might be for you.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: Adapted into a Swedish movie (2015), later adapted into an American movie (2022).
Also available in CD Audiobook, Digital Audiobook, Digital E-Book, and Large Print.
A Bride's Story, Vol. 1
by
Acclaimed creator Kaoru Mori (Emma, Shirley) brings the nineteenth-century Silk Road to lavish life, chronicling the story of Amir Halgal, a young woman from a nomadic tribe betrothed to a twelve-year-old boy eight years her junior. Coping with cultural differences, blossoming feelings for her new husband, and expectations from both her adoptive and birth families, Amir strives to find her role as she settles into a new life and a new home in a society quick to define that role for her.
I enjoy this series because it shows different cultural practices of courting's, relationships, and weddings from different cultures. This series is fiction, but it still respects and shows how other cultures do weddings and how brides are chosen. Even though I'm not that much into slice-of-life stories, this series does a good job in tying in drama and romance and not making it super cheesy all at the same time.
Audience: Young Adult/Teen
Book 1 of the Manga series.
Call Me By Your Name
by
The son of an Italian professor forms a relationship with his father's summer research assistant.
Luca Guadagnino's 2017 Italian romance and drama absolutely oozes with verdant surroundings of gorgeous northern Italy in the 1980s, and delivers us into the summer of Elio, a young precocious man living with his parents in their villa, and Oliver, a graduate student studying under Elio's father for the summer. As the days whirl them through archaeological digs, nightclubs, and wistful plains and piazzas, their relationship develops into new territory. Nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture (and winning for James Ivory's masterful screenplay adaptation), this is my personal favorite film and would recommend it very deeply.
Rated R.
Related media: Adapted from a book of the same title by Andre Aciman.
Heartstopper #1: a Graphic Novel
by
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Now streaming on Netflix! Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
Heartstopper is a beautiful, coming-of-age love story between two high school boys who develop a friendship that unexpectedly turns into more over time. Charlie, a shy and relatively quiet boy has a lackluster love-life and is used to being hidden by those afraid to love him out loud... until he meets Nick, the kind-hearted star of the rugby team who cannot deny his own feelings.
Audience: Young Adult
Book 1 of the Heartstopper series.
Related media: The Hearstopper Yearbook, Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella, This Winter: A Heartstopper Novella
Click, Clack, Moo
by
The quirky, hilarious farmyard tale that started it all from New York Times bestselling duo of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin! Now the inspiration for a new Christmas special, CLICK, CLACK, MOO: Christmas on the Farm. Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.... Doreen Cronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.
Baby's first introduction to class consciousness and collective action! This charming children's book follows an eclectic group of farm animals as they go on strike for better living conditions. Using an old typewriter, they communicate back and forth with their farmer, withholding their capital until their demands are met. A truly delightful farmyard tale that I heard millions of times as a child and think about often even today.
Audience: Children
Related media: Adapted into DVD with other stories by author.
Available also as VOX book, and in translation in Spanish.
S.P.Q.R.: A History of Ancient Rome
by
Ancient Rome was an imposing city even by modern standards, a sprawling imperial metropolis of more than a million inhabitants, a "mixture of luxury and filth, liberty and exploitation, civic pride and murderous civil war" that served as the seat of power for an empire that spanned from Spain to Syria. Yet how did all this emerge from what was once an insignificant village in central Italy? In S.P.Q.R., world-renowned classicist Mary Beard narrates the unprecedented rise of a civilization that even two thousand years later still shapes many of our most fundamental assumptions about power, citizenship, responsibility, political violence, empire, luxury, and beauty. From the foundational myth of Romulus and Remus to 212 ce--nearly a thousand years later--when the emperor Caracalla gave Roman citizenship to every free inhabitant of the empire, S.P.Q.R. (the abbreviation of "The Senate and People of Rome") examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries by exploring how the Romans thought of themselves: how they challenged the idea of imperial rule, how they responded to terrorism and revolution, and how they invented a new idea of citizenship and nation. Opening the book in 63 bce with the famous clash between the populist aristocrat Catiline and Cicero, the renowned politician and orator, Beard animates this "terrorist conspiracy," which was aimed at the very heart of the Republic, demonstrating how this singular event would presage the struggle between democracy and autocracy that would come to define much of Rome's subsequent history. Illustrating how a classical democracy yielded to a self-confident and self-critical empire, S.P.Q.R. reintroduces us, though in a wholly different way, to famous and familiar characters--Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Augustus, and Nero, among others--while expanding the historical aperture to include those overlooked in traditional histories: the women, the slaves and ex-slaves, conspirators, and those on the losing side of Rome's glorious conquests. Like the best detectives, Beard sifts fact from fiction, myth and propaganda from historical record, refusing either simple admiration or blanket condemnation. Far from being frozen in marble, Roman history, she shows, is constantly being revised and rewritten as our knowledge expands. Indeed, our perceptions of ancient Rome have changed dramatically over the last fifty years, and S.P.Q.R., with its nuanced attention to class inequality, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, promises to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.
One of the quintessential Roman histories for the non-academic enthusiast. Mary Beard culminates a lifetime of work into a highly digestible, easily readable, and very engaging history of Rome (the city itself but also the very idea) across the millennia. Filled with insightful images, maps, and figures along the way, "SPQR" is one of the best starting places for the Rome-curious, and also one of the great foundation-blocks for folks with all ranges of Rome expertise. (Take it even from a Roman History major- I learned a lot!)
Audience: Adult/General Content
The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer
by
The creator of National Geographic's popular Blue Zones-now a documentary on Netflix-brings readers a beautifully illustrated and informative guide to the places on Earth where people live the longest-including lessons learned, top longevity foods, and the behaviors to help you live to 100-plus a surprising new blue zone. National Geographic Explorer and best-selling author Dan Buettner has traveled the globe to uncover the best strategies for longevity, which he found in the blue zones- places around the world where higher percentages of people enjoy remarkably long, full lives. In The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer, Buettner returns to Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula; and Loma Linda, California to check in on the super-agers living in the blue zones and interprets the not-so-secret sauce of purpose, faith, community, down-time, natural movement, and plant-based eating that has powered as many as 10 additional years of healthy living in these regions. And Buettner reveals an all-new blue zone-the first man-made blue zone yet explored. Throughout his two decades of research, Buettner has worked with some of National Geographic's top photographers-including David McLain and Gianluca Cola-to document the healthy habits of the world's longest living communities. In this informative collection, their work punctuates Buettner's lively text, offering a beautiful tour of the blue zones.
I decided to read this book for a second time this summer after the recent release of the Netflix documentary Live to 100, based on this original book. It has held up well over the years. The book takes the reader to parts of the world where people live the longest and shares why these people live so much longer than everyone else. Filled with research, personal anecdotes, and suggestions for ways to live a little more like these amazing people from around the globe, the book is worth a read. I thought it was extremely motivational for making some healthy improvements to my lifestyle.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: The Blue Zones Kitchen (available in print and E-book), Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, The Blue Zones American Kitchen, The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones Challenge
Available in translation in Spanish.
Parasite
by
Follows the Kim family as they begin providing luxury services to the wealthy Park family but are soon caught in an underhanded struggle to maintain their new lifestyle.
This historic Best Picture winner (first non-English language film to win) is simply one of the best films out there. Telling a genre-bending story of classism in modern South Korea, this has heart-pounding suspense right beside laugh-out-loud moments, woven together by seamless directorial and technical work from director Bong Joon-ho. With an incredible versatile cast, amazing design, and four Oscars to its name, Parasite is an essential for anyone and everyone.
Rated R.
Broken Harbor
by
The mesmerizing fourth novel of the Dublin murder squad by New York Times bestselling author Tana French Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French's bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That's what's made him the Murder squad's top detective--and that's what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands. On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care. At first, Scorcher and his rookie partner, Richie, think it's going to be an easy solve. But too many small things can't be explained. The half dozen baby monitors, their cameras pointing at holes smashed in the Spains' walls. The files erased from the Spains' computer. The story Jenny told her sister about a shadowy intruder who was slipping past all the locks. And Broken Harbor holds memories for Scorcher. Seeing the case on the news sends his sister Dina off the rails again, and she's resurrecting something that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control: what happened to their family one summer at Broken Harbor, back when they were children. With her signature blend of police procedural and psychological thriller, French's new novel goes full throttle with a heinous crime, creating her most complicated detective character and her best book yet.
Detective Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy investigates a brutal family murder in a troubled suburban development, uncovering dark secrets and personal demons along the way. Tana French crafts a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of human nature. A must-read for fans of atmospheric and thought-provoking crime fiction.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Part of French's interconnected Dublin Murder Squad series, but they can be read in any order.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by
"Riveting, heart-wrenching, and full of Old Hollywood glamour, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most captivating reads of 2017." --BuzzFeed "The epic adventures Evelyn creates over the course of a lifetime will leave every reader mesmerized. This wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet and her tumultuous Tinseltown journey comes with unexpected twists and the most satisfying of drama." --PopSugar In this entrancing novel "that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all" (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways. "Heartbreaking, yet beautiful" (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is "Tinseltown drama at its finest" (Redbook): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means--and what it costs--to face the truth.
This novel is great for fans of stories featuring Old Hollywood glam, secret love affairs, and strong lead women characters. It follows the events that take place when aging Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo decides to tell her life story and publish a memoir, but will only do it if Monique Grant, a relatively unknown reporter - is the one to write it for her. As the two get to know each other, more and more secrets from Evelyn's life spill out.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Related media: Loosely connected to Daisy Jones & The Six by the same author.
Available as E-book and CD Audiobook.
Throne of Glass
by
The first book in New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's sweeping fantasy saga - now available in hardcover with a new look to match the series!When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the king's champion and be released from prison.Her name is Celaena Sardothien.The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing she never thought she'd have again: a friend. But something evil dwells in the castle--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world.
This book is the start of an action packed series, full of magic, fantasy, and romance. If you're a fan of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series, or "Fourth Wing" you will love this series.
Audience: Young Adult/Teens
Book 1 of Throne of Glass series.
The Song of Achilles
by
A New York Times Bestseller "At once a scholar's homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art....A book I could not put down." --Ann Patchett, author of The Dutch House A thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War from the bestselling author of Circe A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer's enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller's monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction's brightest lights--and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.
A thoughtful retelling of a classic story, Madeline Miller weaves a new perspective on the story of the Greece’s mythological hero in The Song of Achilles! This story will immerse readers in the human experience of the Trojan War as it explores the backstories and relationship of Achilles and Patroclus. Experience the revival of this legendary story with new insights provided through the point of view of Patroclus who humanizes his demigod counterpart and fills in the missing pieces of their story from beginning to end.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Memoirs of a Geisha
by
In 1929, an impoverished fishing village father sells his nine-year-old daughter, Chiyo, to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and she becomes subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. As she grows older, her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo. She is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic graces and social skills a geisha must master. As a renowned geisha, she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. With the onslaught of World War II, Japan and the geisha's world are forever changed.
This movie captured me from the first time I viewed it. Based off a book, this film depicts the story of a young girl from a small fishing village. Chiyo tragically loses her mother to illness and is then sold with her older sister Satsu. The pair are taken to Kyoto, this is where the story begins. Chiyo has such a strong character and voice throughout the movie. Her voice narrates the beginning of the film looking back on her life. Another aspect of this movie the blew me away was the sound tract. With cello performances by Yo-Yo Ma the music is an absolute work of art. The Chairman's Waltz is definitely my favorite.
Rated PG-13.
Related media: Adapted from book (available in Large Print from IRSC), available as E-book.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
by
When Joel discovers that his girlfriend, Clementine, has had their tumultuous relationship erased from her mind through an experimental scientific procedure, he decides to ease his own pain by getting the same treatment. But, as each memory of Clementine is systematically eliminated, Joel suddenly realizes how much he still loves her and desperately attempts to reverse the process.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind features Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey and tells a beautiful story about love, heartbreak and loss. The overarching theme revolves around the idea that you cannot escape your true love, no matter how hard you try to erase it from your memory and move on. There is also a fascinating science-fiction element.
Rated R.
My Heart Is a Chainsaw
by
Winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel Named a Best Book of 2021 by NPR In her quickly gentrifying rural lake town Jade sees recent events only her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films could have prepared her for in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones. "Some girls just don't know how to die..." Shirley Jackson meets Friday the 13th in My Heart Is a Chainsaw, written by the author of The Only Good Indians Stephen Graham Jones, called "a literary master" by National Book Award winner Tananarive Due and "one of our most talented living writers" by Tommy Orange. Alma Katsu calls My Heart Is a Chainsaw "a homage to slasher films that also manages to defy and transcend genre." On the surface is a story of murder in small-town America. But beneath is its beating heart: a biting critique of American colonialism, Indigenous displacement, and gentrification, and a heartbreaking portrait of a broken young girl who uses horror movies to cope with the horror of her own life. Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies...especially the ones where a masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them. And Jade narrates the quirky history of Proofrock as if it is one of those movies. But when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian Lake, she pulls us into her dizzying, encyclopedic mind of blood and masked murderers, and predicts exactly how the plot will unfold. Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges...a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home. A girl whose feelings are too big for her body. My Heart Is a Chainsaw is her story, her homage to horror and revenge and triumph.
Horror-obsessed teenager Jade Daniels discovers eerie similarities between her small town's recent murders and classic slasher films. As the body count rises, Jade's encyclopedic knowledge of horror movies becomes crucial in uncovering the killer and saving her community. For fans of intense, genre-savvy thrillers.
Audience: Adult/General Content.
Book 1 of The Indian Lake Trilogy.
Available in Large Print and as E-book.
The Guncle
by
Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits. However, tragedy strikes and Patrick suddenly finds himself taking on the role of primary guardian. Having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Soon he realises the level of responsibility and that even being larger than life means you re unfailingly human.
This was so good! I loved the whole thing and read it in just a few days. It's a great story that dives into love, acceptance, grief, and the importance of joy. Patrick is a "retired" sitcom actor hiding from grief in Palm Springs. Sadly, when his best friend and sister-in-law passes away he is forced back into real life to help care for two adorable young children. The story draws the reader in with plenty of laughter to balance the heavy parts. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Book 1 of The Guncle Series.
The Lightning Thief
by
The #1 New York Times Bestseller | Now a series on Disney+ 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon in the opener to the hilarious, fast-paced adventure fantasy series for young readers ages 10 and up The hardcover edition of the first book in Rick Riordan's thrilling series, filled with magic, mythology, and plenty of monsters Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school again--he can't seem to stay out of trouble. Is he supposed to stand by while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself when his teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. What's worse, he's angered a few of them: Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Percy and his friends Grover the satyr, and Annabeth, the demigod daughter of Athena, must find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. They travel cross country to the gates of the Underworld in Los Angeles, facing a host of enemies determined to stop them. With millions of copies and over 10 years spent on the New York Times bestseller list, Percy has also become a movie, a Broadway musical, and now a Disney+ series. He continues to find fans in classrooms and libraries across the world.
Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is the first entry in a series that masterfully fuses Greek mythology and modern day. The story follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson who discovers that not only does the Greek pantheon exist, but he is actually the son of a Greek god! Readers will join Percy as he learns to embrace his demigod origin and embarks on a perilous, monster-filled quest to prevent a war of the gods in this contemporary adventure.
Audience: Young Adult/Teens
Book 1 of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Related media: Adapted into a movie (2010), and graphic novel.
Available in an Illustrated edition and as E-book.
A Discovery of Witches
by
Book one of the New York Times bestselling All Souls series, from the author of The Black Bird Oracle. "A wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight" (People). Look for the hit series "A Discovery of Witches," now streaming on AMC+, Sundance Now, and Shudder! Deborah Harkness's sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, book three, The Book of Life, and the fourth in the series, Time's Convert.
"A Discovery of Witches" is the thrilling tale of Diana Bishop, a witch who has long ignored her powers after the mysterious death of her parents, and Matthew Clairmont, a vampire on the search for an ancient book detailing the origins of all magical creatures. Matthew and Diana find each other through it all and must stick together to remain safe from a faction of daemons, vampires, and witches hell-bent on keeping the status quo of the supernatural community and tearing them apart. The search for their magical book intensifies as they learn Diana is the key to retrieving it from the archives of Oxford's Bodleian Library.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Book 1 of the All Souls series.
Related media: Adapted into TV series (Season 1, Season 2, Season 3 available on DVD).
The Cat's Table
by
In the early 1950s, an eleven-year-old boy in Colombo boards a ship bound for England. At mealtimes he is seated at the "cat's table"--as far from the Captain's Table as can be--with a ragtag group of "insignificant" adults and two other boys, Cassius and Ramadhin. As the ship makes its way across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, into the Mediterranean, the boys tumble from one adventure to another, bursting all over the place like freed mercury. But there are other diversions as well: one man talks with them about jazz and women, another opens the door to the world of literature. The narrator's elusive, beautiful cousin Emily becomes his confidante, allowing him to see himself "with a distant eye" for the first time, and to feel the first stirring of desire. Another Cat's Table denizen, the shadowy Miss Lasqueti, is perhaps more than what she seems. And very late every night, the boys spy on a shackled prisoner, his crime and his fate a galvanizing mystery that will haunt them forever. As the narrative moves between the decks and holds of the ship and the boy's adult years, it tells a spellbinding story--by turns poignant and electrifying--about the magical, often forbidden, discoveries of childhood and a lifelong journey that begins unexpectedly with a spectacular sea voyage.
This under-read gem from Michael Ondaatje (author of The English Patient) tells the story of a young boy alone aboard a 1950s cruise liner as he discovers the strange and mysterious world of adults along with a ragtag cast of characters. Hazy, dreamlike, nostalgic, and curious, this tale is never quite nailed down to brilliant effect as the mysteries of the boat and life itself slowly reveal themselves to our adolescent protagonist.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Just for the Summer
by
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club Pick! This witty, slow-burn rom-com is the "ideal beach read." --Elle Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other's out, and they'll both go on to find the love of their lives. It's a bonkers idea... and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka. It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
This book was fantastic. I was immediately drawn into the characters and absolutely loved the Easter eggs that tied all of Jimenez's books together. I was rooting for Emma and Justin to make their love story work despite all the trauma and grief they had both experienced. It's such an engaging story for anyone looking to escape for a few hours.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Book 3 of the Part of Your World series.
Witch Hat Atelier 1
by
Best of the Year - AV Club, New York Public Library, Nerdist, SYFY Wire, Chicago Public Library "Harry Pottermeets Kiki's Delivery Service!" -AV Club A beautifully-illustrated story about a girl who longs for magic in her life and learns that, on the inside, she already is what she wishes she could be. Reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this lushly-drawn story has captured the hearts of fantasy fans worldwide. In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream- She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch...until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she's never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody "knows" might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem...
This series has a great story and amazing artwork. Its good for teens and adults alike. The story follow Coco as she learns what it means to be an actual witch, something she has always wanted to be. Coco come to realize the ramification of learning magic and the price she must pay to get what she always yearned for. With a full cast of interesting characters fun and detailed creatures and a imaginative world this series is magical to read.
Audience: Young Adult/Teen
Book 1 of Witch Hat Atelier series.
Related media: Spin-off series Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen.
The Thursday Murder Club
by
A New York Times bestseller | Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment "Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining." --Wall Street Journal "Don't trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman's own laugh-out-loud whodunit." --Parade Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves A female cop with her first big case A brutal murder Welcome to... THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?
The Thursday Murder Club is the first in a cozy-mystery series that follows a group of spunky and diverse retirees who meet up weekly to discuss unsolved murders until they are faced with a real one right in their retirement village that needs solving. With short chapters and lots of action, this book is one of those that is hard to put down until you're finished. Great for fans of cozy-mysteries, murder-mysteries and found-family friend groups that stick together no matter what.
Audience: Adult/General Content
Book 1 of the Thursday Murder Club series.
|
|
|
