PaperCuts

Once again, here is are a few of the books I recently finished reading and what I thought of them:

Plain Secrets: An Outsider Among the Amish by Joe Mackall
The author and his family live across the road from an Amish family and in the course of time he develops a close friendship with them--as close as a non-Amisher is allowed. The family he befriends are of a very strict order and his friendship with them starts when he gives the husband a ride to a funeral. Through the years of interacting with this family, and through his own research, he has discovered a lot about Amish life which he shares along with his stories about how these things play out in real life. He also talks about a young man he knows who left the Amish order and much of a struggle it was for him to establish himself in the modern world. The result is an utterly fascinating look into another world, told in a real and heartfelt way as the author also discusses his own reactions to the ways of his neighbors.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

Scaramouche a Romance of the French Revolution by Rafael Sabatini
I didn't think I would like this at first, I've never been much interested in the French revolution and I thought the language would be challenging.

Continue reading "Thoughts on recent reads" »

Posted on March 28, 2008 by Deb at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At a recent staff meeting TSCPL staffers shared what they were reading.  Here's the list, with comments from the readers:

Gluten Free Girl by Shauna Ahern  --Not just your typical recipe book, but also her story.  She writes so well it's a fun read.

The First Patient by Michael Palmer  --Better than his last one, a medical thriller, an easy read and quick.

The Appeal by John Grisham --Not one of his best, different, especially the ending.

Ciao Italia Slow and Easy by Mary Ann Esposito --(a cookbook) I'm not so sure, it doesn't have very good pictures, but I am going to try a recipe from it.

Fowl Weather by Bob Tarte --It's really, really good, very involving.

Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough  --Extremely historically detailed.

Bird of Another Heaven by James D. Houston  --The stuff about the last King of Hawaii is fascinating.

The Summer of Ordinary Ways by Nicole Helget --A memoir, the chapters read like short stories, full of indelible images, grim yet the writing is beautiful.

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe --Still a really good book, really great characters, her favorite was Ophelia.

The Galton Case by Ross McDonald --An excellent hard-boiled story in the vein of Dashell Hammet.

Against the Machine by Lee Siegel  --A cultural study of the Internet and how it has affected human interactions.

Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins  --A demon vacations by possesing a human teenage boy, it takes you through what it means to be human in a fun story.  (Also a Printz honor book)

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale  --A fractured fairy tale, she loves stories like this where the female characters get to be the hero.

Posted on March 16, 2008 by Deb at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for February 26^th

30 Days of Night
The residents of an Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for 30 days straight head south for the winter. When a group of vampires comes in, looking to feed on the town's remaining inhabitants, it's up to them to survive the night! With Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston. (2008, 113 minutes, rated R)

Beowulf
Mighty warrior Beowulf becomes involved in an epic battle with the ruthlessly seductive mother of a demon named Grendel after he destroys the demon. With Robin Wright Penn, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Ray Winstone. (2008, 114 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Darjeeling Limited
Three American brothers set off on a train voyage across India to find themselves and bond with each other. They find themselves stranded alone in the middle of a desert and a new unplanned journey begins. With Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody. (2008, 91 minutes, rated R)

Death At a Funeral
Mourners and guests at a British country manor stuggle valiantly to 'keep a stiff upper lip,' as a dignified ceremony devolves into a hilarious, no-holds-barred debacle of misplaced cadavers and shocking family secrets. With Peter Dinklage, Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Rupert Graves. (2008, 91 minutes, rated R)

Goya's Ghosts
A look at Spanish painter Francisco Goya's involvement in the Spanish Inquisition when his teenaged muse Ines is sent to prison after being falsely accused of heresy, and of the brother and member of the Inquistion who becomes infatuated with her. With Randy Quaid, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgard, Natalie Portman. (2008, 114 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, February 26th 2008" »

Posted on February 26, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for February 19^th

American Gangster
Frank Lucas is a crime boss armed with ruthless, streetwise tactics and a strict sense of honor. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, Lucas comes to rule the inner-city drug trade. With Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Russell Crowe. (2008, 174 minutes, rated R)

Lust, Caution
A young woman is caught up in a plot to assassinate a powerful political figure in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II. With Joan Chen, Anupam Kher, Tony Leung. (2008, 155 minutes, rated R) 

Rendition
A CIA analyst is forced to question his assignment as he becomes party to the unorthodox interrogation of an Egyptian chemical engineer who disappeared on a flight to Washington, while his American-born wife desperately tries to track her husband down. With Alan Arkin, J.K. Simmons, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard. (2008, 120 minutes, rated R)

Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton is known as 'the fixer' at a powerful New York law firm. The firm's top litigator has become a whistleblower, and when Michael tries to undo the damage, he finds himself up against forces that put corporate survival over human life. With Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Tom Wilkinson, George Clooney. (2008, 119 minutes, rated R)

Margot At the Wedding
Relationships are tested and family secrets are exposed after Margot decides to visit her newly engaged sister and her less-than-impressive fiance on the eve of their wedding. With ennifer Jason Leigh, Nicole Kidman, Jack Black. (2008, 92 minutes, rated R)

In the Valley of Elah
A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq. With James Franco, Josh Brolin, Susan Sarandon, Jason Patric, Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron. (2008, 121 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, February 19th 2008" »

Posted on February 18, 2008 by Daniel at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for February 12^th

Becoming Jane
Based on an incident in the life of the beloved writer Jane Austen that follows the real-life romance that inspired her classic novels. Jane meets a young Irishman whom she initially can't stand, but a romance blooms, inspiring Pride and Prejudice. With James Mcavoy, James Cromwell, Anne Hathaway, Maggie Smith. (2008, 118 minutes, rated PG)

Dedication
Henry is an author of children's books that is forced to work with a beautiful illustrator after his best friend and collaborator dies, and discovers that sometimes in order to find love, you have to take a chance. With Christine Taylor, Dianne Wiest, Billy Crudup, Amy Sedaris, Mandy Moore, Bob Balaban, Tom Wilkinson. (2008, 111 minutes, rated R)

Gone Baby Gone
Two private detectives taking a closer look at the mysterious disappearance of a little girl discover that nothing is what it seems. They will have to risk everything - their relationship, their sanity, and even their lives - to find a little girl lost. With Ed Harris, Michelle Monaghan, Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman. (2008, 114 minutes, rated R)

I Could Never Be Your Woman
A young woman falls in love for the first time, as her mother falls in love with a younger man, with Mother Nature meddling in the middle of it all. With Tracey Ullman, Jon Lovitz, Henry Winkler, Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, Saoirse Ronan. (2008, 97 minutes, rated PG-13)

In the Shadow of the Moon
The surviving Apollo astronauts are gathered for this intimate epic about their inspiring and moving voyages to the moon. Combines archival material from original NASA footage with new interviews with Jim Lovell, Buzz Aldrin, and eight other astronauts. (2008, 110 minutes, rated PG)

Martian Child
A science fiction author who is still mourning the death of his wife adopts a 6-year-old boy with a hyper-imagination who says he's really from Mars. With Amanda Peet, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt. (2008, 108 minutes, rated PG)

No Reservations
A perfectionist chef addicted to her work struggles to adjust when her sister passes away, leaving her with a little girl to raise, and a new sous chef threatens to take over her kitchen with his high-spirited and free-wheeling ways. With Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bob Balaban, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin. (2008, 104 minutes, rated PG)

We Own the Night
A nightclub owner with ties to the Russian mafia tries to turn his back on his brother, an up-and-coming NYPD officer, and his father, the legendary Deputy Chief of Police. With Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg. (2008, 118 minutes, rated R)

Why Did I Get Married?
A story about the difficulty of maintaining a solid love relationship in modern times. Over the weekend, husbands and wives take a hard look at their lives, wrestling with issues of commitment, betrayal, and forgiveness as they seek a way forward. With Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry, Jill Scott. (2008, 118 minutes, rated PG-13)

Continue reading "New This Week @ you library, February 12th 2008" »

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Raine Tallentyre is mourning the loss of her closest relative, the aunt who raised her after her father’s death.  When she walks the real estate agent through her aunt’s house Raine immediately calls 911. A kidnap victim is imprisoned in a storage locker among the detritus of the basement.  Raine tries to explain to the police how she knew about the girl without revealing her own secret.  She is a psychic and hears voices, the voices of the desperate, criminal, and evil.  They led her to the girl.

The next day Zack Jones shows up.  He is a member of the secretive Arcane Society an organization that is responsible for psychic research and a community of people with psychic abilities like Raine’s. Zack needs her help finding a missing scientist whom he believes may have been pursuing the same dangerous formula that got her father kicked out of the Arcane Society so many years ago.  In return Zack offers Raine answers about her own past and the night her father died. 

Sizzle and Burn is a new Arcane Society novel by Jayne Ann Krentz.  Check out the first White Lies or take a look at her historical novel Second Sight written as Amanda Quick and discover the historic origins of the Arcane Society.

Posted on February 07, 2008 by Shari at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for February 5^th

Across the Universe
Jude, a young dockworker from Liverpool, travels to America, where he falls in love with Lucy, and together they join the Vietnam war protests after Lucy's brother is drafted. Set to some of the Beatles' most popular songs. With Eddie Izzard, Evan Rachel Wood, Bono, Jim Sturgess. (2007, 133 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Assassination of Jesse James
Robert Ford joins Jesse James' gang, only to become resentful of the legendary outlaw and hatch a plan to kill the fastest gun in the West. With Mary Louise Parker, Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Casey Affleck. (2008, 159 minutes, rated R)

The Brave One
New York radio host Erica Bain loves her life and her fiancé. All of it is taken from her when a brutal attack leaves Erica wounded and her fiancé dead. Unable to move past the tragedy, she prowls the streets, looking for the men she holds responsible. With Jodie Foster, Mary Steenburgen, Nicky Katt, Naveen Andrews, Terrence Howard. (2007, 122 minutes, rated R)

Elizabeth the Golden Age
Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, and she must act to protect the lives of her people, which will include a tragic sacrifice on her part. With Samantha Morton, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen. (2007, 115 minutes, rated PG-13)

Feast of Love
A professor who sees love and heartbreak in a coffee shop helps others with their problems and in the process gets help with his own problems. With Selma Blair, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Greg Kinnear, Morgan Freeman. (2007, 102 minutes, rated R)

The Jane Austen Book Club
A group of book club members examine six books from Jane Austen, and their lives and relationships begin to mirror the novels they are engrossed in. With Kathy Baker, Hugh Dancy, Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Maria Bello, Jimmy Smits, Marc Blucas. (2008, 106 minutes, rated PG-13)

Snow Buddies
The adorable talking puppies are back, and this time they venture to the frosty arctic and team up with new friends in a thrilling dogsled race across Alaska. This heartwarming film teaches them the power of teamwork and to follow your dreams. With Dylan Sprouse, Jim Belushi. (2007, 87 minutes, rated G)

2 Days In Paris
A hypochondriac New Yorker on vacation in Europe with his Parisian girlfriend gets an unexpected shock when he meets her sexually perverse and emotionally unstable family, and a few of her many ex-lovers. With Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg. (2007, 100 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, February 5th 2008" »

Posted on February 05, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Start your year off right and join a book discussion group!
So Many Books, So Little Time Book Discussion Group
Always wanted to join a book group, but never made the time?  If you want to read well-crafted, contemporary, literary works and discuss them with interested readers, then this book group is for you!  Everyone is welcome and books are provided.

Mark your calendar
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Sunday, February 24, 3-5 pm, Menninger Room 206
Call 580-4540 to register, or e-mail us that you plan to attend.

(read more about the book and get a sneak peek at our discussion topics after the cut)

Continue reading "Read and Discuss: Plainsong by Kent Haruf" »

Posted on February 02, 2008 by Deb at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for January 29^th

Bordertown
When a young girl is raped and left for dead in Mexico, she enlists the help of an ambitious reporter and a local newspaper owner for help. Soon their own lives are in danger as they try to uncover the terrors on the border. Inspired by true events. With Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen. (2008, 114 minutes, rated R)

Canvas
A woman's mental health puts her family and her own life in jeopardy, and she is taken from the family. Now her husband must raise a family alone and deal with her schizophrenia. With Joe Pantoliano, Marcia Gay Harden. (2008, 100 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Comebacks
A hilarious spoof comedy that tackles the most memorable scenes from your favorite sports movies. An out-of-luck coach tries to lead a ragtag team of fumbling footballers to victory. With Carl Weathers, David Koechner. (2008, 87 minutes, rated PG-13)

Daddy Day Camp
Charlie and Phil are two dads that decide to turn a dilapidated camp into a day camp for a group of unruly kids. Facing foreclosure and lack of enrollment, it's up to Charlie's father, a colonel, to help get things in order. With Cuba Gooding, Jr., Brian Doyle-Murray, Lochlyn Munro. (2008, 89 minutes, rated PG)

Feel the Noise
A young man living in South Bronx, with dreams of becoming a rapper, must hide in Puerto Rico with a father he doesn't know when members of a local gang are after him. With Omarion, Giancarlo Esposito. (2008, 89 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Invasion
A psychiatrist discovers that a mysterious epidemic altering human behavior is extraterrestrial, and she fights to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion. With Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Veronica Cartwright, Jeremy Northam. (2008, 99 minutes, rated PG-13)

King of California
A man is reunited with his teenage daughter after spending years in a mental institute. When he becomes convinced that ancient treasure is buried under his home, his daughter decides to go along with his antics. With Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood. (2008, 93 minutes, rated PG-13)

King of Kong - a Fistful of Quarters
A hilarious, critically acclaimed story of two Donkey Kong players, one an arrogant 20-year reigning champion and one a soft-spoken newcomer to the game, who find themselves in a riveting rivalry to see who can reach the highest rung on the ladder. (2007, 90 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Nines
The lives of an actor, a television game show personality, and a videogame designer are intertwined, and the lines between fantasy and reality become blurred. With Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Elle Fanning. (2008, 99 minutes, rated R)

Rocket Science
In spite of his stuttering problem, the high school debate team star invites Hal to join the team. Stumbling his way to the championship, Hal falls in love, gains confidence, and ultimately realizes that love and life should not be rocket science. (2008, 101 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, January 29th 2008" »

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on DVD for January 22^nd

Adrift in Manhattan
A beautiful and mysterious doctor crosses paths with a young photographer who has become infatuated with her, and a patient that's going blind, on a New York subway. With William Baldwin, Heather Graham. (2007, 91 minutes, rated R)

The Hunting Party
An ex-hotshot reporter, along with his cameraman, sets off on a dangerous journey to interview and capture a wanted war criminal deep in Bosnia. With Richard Gere, James Brolin, Terrence Howard. (2007, 101 minutes, rated R)

Sydney White
In a new spin on an old story, a tomboy joins a group of seven geeky outcasts, and wages war on her sorority sisters and the reigning campus queen to try and change the social cliques of the college. With Matt Long, John Schneider, Sara Paxton, Amanda Bynes. (2007, 108 minutes, rated PG-13)

Saw IV
When SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences. With Donnie Wahlberg, Shawnee Smith, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell, Angus Macfadyen, Betsy Russell. (2007, 95 minutes, rated R)

The Game Plan
Superstar quarterback Joe Kingman is living the ultimate fantasy: he's rich, famous, and the life of the party. He's getting ready for a big championship game when the 8-year-old daughter he never knew existed shows up at his bachelor pad. With Roselyn Sanchez, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Kyra Sedgwick, Morris Chestnut. (2007, 110 minutes, rated PG)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, January 22nd 2008" »

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's amazing how much the cover of a book can affect your perceptions of it.  I'm fascinated by how book covers are designed and chosen.  Take the case of the US release of Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked.  Apparently, the picture to the left is what the US cover was originally going to look like, but the idea was nixed by the publisher. 

I personally don't see anything wrong with this cover, in fact I think it's rather eye-catching and would make me want to examine the book further to see what it was about.  Here is the US cover the publisher settled on (to the right).

It's not bad, but I think I like the first one better. I like them both better than the UK cover though (see below).

The line drawing style doesn't seem as appealing and to me it the illustration says that this is a cheeky romance novel, while the other covers seem to say it's more of a sophisticated book.

And isn't it interesting how as authors become better known their books are often re-released with different covers?  Check out these examples:

Continue reading "It's All In a Cover" »

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Deb at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

New on DVD for January 15^th

The Ten
Ten stories inspired by the Ten Commandments. Includes a woman who falls for a ventriloquist's puppet, a guy who becomes a hero after falling out of a plane, and more, presented by a man who has to choose between his wife and his lover! With Adam Brody, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Liev Schreiber. (2007, 96 minutes, rated R)

Good Luck Chuck
Meet Charlie Logan. He's a good luck charm and women are guaranteed to find true love after they sleep with him. What seems like a blessing feels like a curse when he meets the girl of his dreams and does anything he can to break the curse. With Jessica Alba, Dane Cook, Dan Fogler. (2007, 99 minutes, rated R)

Mr Woodcock
Self-made success John Farley returns home to find that his worst nightmare, his junior high gym teacher, is dating his mom. With Amy Poehler, Susan Sarandon, Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, Billy Bob Thornton. (2007, 87 minutes, rated PG-13)

Persuasion (2007)
Adaptation of Jane Austen's novel about lost and found love. Anne is persuaded to reject a proposition of marriage from the man she loves due to his lack of fortune. Years later she is made the offer again. (2007, 93 minutes, not rated)

Saving Sarah Cain
A newspaper columnist returns home for her Amish sister's funeral and discovers that she is now the guardian of her five nieces and nephews. How will everyone adapt when she moves them out of their world and into her own? With Elliott Gould, Tess Harper, Lisa Pepper. (2007, 103 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, January 15th 2008" »

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Meghan at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today Papercuts welcomes author Susan May Warren, who is stopping by on a blog tour promoting her latest release Chill Out Josey!  

In Chill Out Josey! readers get to follow Josey from Everything's Coming Up Josey around on her ongoing crazy adventures in Russia.  That's right, despite thinking that she was happily married and ready to settle down in her hometown of Gull Lake, Minnesota, it seems that God--and her new husband Chase--have other plans.  Josey fights the idea at first, but her desire to be the perfect wife leads her to follow Chase to the land of underfed women, designer knock-offs, and cold water baths.  Josey struggles to deal with all of this with a measure of grace, despite being jealous of her new husband's gorgeous co-workers, upset at being left alone while he becomes a workaholic, and discovering she is pregnant.  Josey, as you may have guessed, is the typical chick-lit heroine who exaggerates every situation and makes terribly bad decisions that get her into all sorts of trouble.  Josey will have you shaking your head at her stupidity, but also howling with laughter at the ensuing mayhem that she creates. 

A little more about Susan: Many of Josey's adventures come from the real life experiences of the author.  Susan, like Josey, grew up in Minnesota and spent several years as a missionary in Russia with her husband.  So those stories about a pregnant Josey's struggles to navigate the subway and find a bus seat were based on the author's real life.  Susan's Russian ties also show in some of her other fiction, such as the Mission: Russia series, thrillers in which a FBI agent and a Russian FSB agent cross paths.  Not all of Susan's stories have such exotic settings, for example the Deep Haven series is set in a small town on the shore of Lake Superior--a place Susan always dreamed of living.  And that is in fact where she and her family moved when they retired from the mission field a few years ago.  To find out more about Susan, her books, and maybe even win something in one of her contests, visit her website, blog, and contest pages.

Thanks for stopping by Susan, and I personally can't wait for you to write another Josey adventure!

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Deb at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, January 8th 2008" »

Posted on January 08, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Barbies are back, this time to act out scenes from the novel Austenland by Shannon Hale. When Jane Hayes' inherits a three-week vacation from her eccentric aunt, she heads to England to try to get over the overwhelming obsession that is preventing her from finding romance in New York. I first heard about this entertaining novel from Michelle's excellent review on Papercuts last October.

Posted on January 07, 2008 by Lissa at 08:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's what our staffer's had to say about some of their recent reads:

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor--"James Herriotesque, but with cruder language"
Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCraig--"Better than Scarlett, but no Gone With the Wind"
Black Monday by R. Scott Reiss (the audiobook version)--" a far fetched story that was thrilling to listen to and thought provoking"
Pontoon by Garrison Keillor--"Funny"
Before I Die by Jenny Downham--"One of the best I've read in a long time"
Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfield--"Really good, kid friendly, and easy"
World Without End by Ken Follet--"Liking it"
Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay--"Disappointed"
the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher--"Great!"
Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor--"a really good historical"
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson--"very good, a compulsive read, the Vietnam novel to end all Vietnam novels"
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connely--"good for a fast read"
the Close to Home cartoon collections by John McPherson--"like Gary Larsen"

And from someone who had seen the recently released movie adaptation of No Country for Old Men--"Fabulous!  Go See it!"

Posted on January 05, 2008 by Deb at 08:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

War
After his partner is brutally murdered by the infamous assassin Rogue, FBI agent Jack Crawford vows to find the elusive killer and personally avenge his partner's death. With Jet Li, Jason Statham. (2007, 103 minutes, rated R)

September Dawn
In the unspoiled land of Utah in 1857, a massacre of 120 men, women, and children took place. Who ordered it, why, and what this had to do with a large religious group is cloaked in mystery. Based on historical events. With Jon Voight. (2007, 111 minutes, rated R)

Resident Evil – Extinction
Alice, Carlos, and L.J. are back, along with some new survivors, to find and eliminate the deadly virus that is turning humans into the undead. Alice now has some new genetically altered abilities, which will come in handy if anyone wants to survive! With Ashanti, Oded Fehr, Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter. (2007, 94 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, January 2nd 2008" »

Posted on January 01, 2008 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack

Cassie Shaw has never been much of a scholar. In fact, she dropped out of high school and got her GED because trying to thrive with dyslexia in an academic setting was just too frustrating. Now that she’s 30, and a widow, and living back home with her mom again, Cassie just wants to move on with her life.

Potential employers all want to talk about her education though, and even the temp agency jobs require a college degree. Cassie knows she doesn’t want to work with her mom at the wildlife center forever, so she lies on her resume to get an interview for an office job. It works; she’s hired to assist two psychology professors with typing and filing at the local university. Cassie has to work extra hard at tasks that involve reading and writing, and she is succeeding at her job. She even starts attending the animal behavior lectures of one of her bosses, Professor William Connor.  With her years of living in the wilds of Topanga Canyon and all of the time she spent at the wildlife center, Cassie immediately takes to the subject matter. It doesn’t hurt that Professor Connor is handsome, charming and a bit of a flirt. Cassie begins to transform herself to blend into the academic world. She changes her clothes, her hair, her hobbies, her friends – and not everyone agrees that these are improvements. Underneath all of these changes, though, is the big lie on her resume, the one she is trying to cover up, and possibly even to make true eventually. But for now, Cassie Shaw is only living a version of the truth.

In this story, the characters really drew me into the action. Cassie’s challenges are never explicitly referred to in terms of self-esteem, but her deceased husband was certainly not an encouraging or supportive man. Even though I personally am not into the great outdoors, I appreciated the beauty and comfort that Cassie found there. Without preachy environmentalism, the authors share a profound connection with nature and the benefits of heading out into the woods. Another sign of our times was that Cassie’s friend had a brother serving in the military in Iraq. While this was a minor part of the story, it seems fitting to acknowledge some of the ways that the current war is affecting families and friends back home in the literature of the times.  These authors, Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack, worked together previously on the delightful Literacy and Longing in L.A. which I reviewed here. This book again features intelligent writing, appealing romance, and (best of all) a multitude of reference to other books (this time with a natural and environmental focus).

Reviewed by Lissa Staley

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Lissa at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Fiction Books

Diary of a Bad Year by J.M. Coetzee
Touchstone by Laurie R. King
Shadow Music by Julie Garwood
Dragon Harper by Anne McCaffrey
Death Song by Michael McGarrity

New on DVD for December 26^th

The Brothers Solomon
Two brothers with no social or romance skills try to find a woman to have a baby with, before their dying father passes. With Will Arnett, Lee Majors, Chi Mcbride, Will Forte. (2007, 93 minutes, rated R)

Eastern Promises
A ruthless member of a Russian organized crime family has his existence compromised when he meets an innocent midwife who accidentally uncovers evidence against the family. With Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts. (2007, 101 minutes, rated R)

Rush Hour 3
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker star in an all-new adventure that takes them to Paris. (2007, 90 minutes, rated PG-13)

The Kingdom
An elite FBI team is sent to Saudi Arabia to stop a killer before he strikes again, when a bomb goes off in an American housing compound. With Jeremy Piven, Chris Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman. (2007, 110 minutes, rated R)

Continue reading "New This Week @ your library, December 26th 2007" »

Posted on December 25, 2007 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I must admit, when I saw the golden retriever on the front cover I was hoping for some sort of sequel to Watchers one of my all time favorite books.  Alas, this was not it; but Dean Koontz’s books are never disappointing, and the Darkest Evening of the Year is a consuming, fast paced thriller with the heart and slight oddness one hopes for when picking up one of Koontz's books.

Amy is a woman with a hidden past who runs an animal rescue for golden retrievers.  She follows up on complaints of abuse or neglect rehabilitating and placing the dogs in safe loving homes.  One night she finds more than an abused dog at one of her calls and takes in Nicki, a golden retriever who has the same name as her beloved childhood pet.  Amy has an instant and uncanny connection with Nicki and decides to keep her as her own. 

Brian is Amy’s close friend and he is ready to take the next step in their relationship, but his ugly past is back to haunt him.  Long ago his girlfriend disappeared with their baby, and after years of hiding and cruelly taunting him she claims she is ready to allow him to see their child.  But the meeting is going to be perilous, because Amy and Brian have a lot more in common than their mutual affection and the ghosts from their past want them dead.

Take a look at Dean Koontz website for excerpts, and video interviews.

Posted on December 20, 2007 by Shari at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

New Fiction Books

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Posted on December 18, 2007 by Daniel at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Fiction Books