Author: Margaret Leroy
When Vivienne de la Mare’s husband is sent away to fight in the English army during World War II, she has no idea just how much her life will change. Vivienne struggles to take care of her two daughters and mother-in-law as the island of Guernsey, part of the Channel Islands, becomes occupied by German soldiers. When a couple of the soldiers move in to the house next door to hers, she finds herself falling for one of them, a German named Gunther. It becomes obvious that Vivienne has not been happy in her marriage for a long time, and Gunther seems to make her feel things that she hasn’t in a while. However, trying to keep her relationship with him a secret on a small island is something Vivienne finds difficult to do. In the end, she must decide whether this man is worth all of the risks and shame that come along with an affair with the enemy.
Although I don’t often read historical fiction, this one was very hard for me to put down. I felt many different emotions throughout the entire book, and it helped me to see what life may have been like in a different part of the world during World War II. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good love story with some historical details thrown in. It is available through SWAN.
Author: Hugh Howey
Reviewer: Jennifer
Any fan of dystopian fiction needs to read Wool, the start of a fantastic science fiction series by Hugh Howey. Wool was originally self-published as a series of 5 eNovellas in 2011. The setting depicted in the novel is familiar to many readers; it resembles our current society, though because the environment has become uninhabitable and the air toxic, humans live in a silo, built hundreds of feet into the ground. Everything to sustain life takes place in the silo, from hydroponic farms, to the IT center. One day, the silo’s sheriff, Holston, expresses the one sentiment that is punishable by ‘cleaning’—he wishes to go outside. ‘Cleaners’ are sent out of the silo, in a suit constructed as best as IT can configure to withstand the noxious environment as long as possible (which isn’t very long), to clean the sensors on the outside of the silo, and then make their way into the unknown. Holston’s replacement as sheriff is an unlikely candidate, Juliette, from ‘down deep.’ Juliette has no interest in being sheriff, but she does wonder what would cause Holston, a seemingly sane man, to want out of the silo. Juliette’s investigation results in sinister realizations about the silo, its history, and the uninhabitable outside. I can see why this series did so well that it was able to make the leap from self-e-publishing to print. Though dystopian fiction is a flooded genre at this point, this series is fresh and intriguing with many well-developed characters. Wool is followed by two more books, Shift and Dust, and is available through SWAN.
Author: Jose Saramago
In this novel, Jose Saramago brings death to life—literally. He turns death (small d) into a female character who is tired of constantly being insulted and hated. She decides that she is going to conduct an experiment in which no one dies. At first, the people celebrate the absence of death–no more lost loved ones and no more fear of dying themselves–but then they begin to experience the consequences of eternal life. Life insurance policies become meaningless, funeral home owners are no longer making money, and religious leaders no longer have many teachings to offer. Seeing the havoc that is being reaped, death then concocts a new plan–people will begin dying again, but they will receive a letter prior to their deaths. The scarlet envelopes start appearing on desks, in mailboxes, anywhere that the individual might happen to be 24 hours before they are supposed to die. Death, again, becomes unavoidable. All this changes, however, when death attempts to send a letter to a cellist. The letter keeps coming back to her. Finally death resolves to deliver the letter in person, but instead finds herself falling in love. Jose Saramago really captures the audience’s attention, not only with his examination of capitalism through the personification of death, but also with his love story. A must-read. And it’s available at Acorn and through SWAN.
Author: Todd and Tara Storch
I just finished Taylor’s Gift by Todd and Tara Storch. Although it was a very sad story, it offered joy and hope too. Taylor was the Storch’s 13 year old daughter who tragically died in a skiing accident during a family trip. I can’t even imagine losing my daughters at such a young age. Through this dark moment, there is some joy and hope. Out of death came life. The Storch’s were asked if they would like to donate Taylor’s organs and they said yes for 5 of them. They have been able to connect with 4 of the recipients and the authors tell those people’s stories too. Since then, Todd and Tara have decided to start a foundation called Taylor’s Gift Foundation. Their mission is increasing organ donation to Regift Life, Renew Health, and Restore Families. Todd offers this statistic: “Currently, only 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. are registered to be organ donors, yet there are more than 100,000 people awaiting an organ transplant” (317). I would encourage all of you to consider donating your organs upon your death as well. You probably can’t even imagine the restored health and life you can offer to others. I liked what Todd wrote: “Organ donation doesn’t cost anything; you can’t take your organs with you, and it saves lives when you leave them here.” (320). This book was also very honest in how two parents and two siblings dealt with their grief and how the community rallied around them.
Author: David Wilkie
While this book can be a little controversial because of the issues it addresses, it is a very refreshing read. It originally began as a single panel comic strip on the blog of artist David Wilkie, but soon became popular thanks to social media. He incorporates several main characters into these comics that deal with everyday issues–from the person who chews too loudly at the dinner table, to politics, to (obviously) religious beliefs. The book uses humor and sarcasm to demonstrate what Wilkie defines as a “practical” Jesus in his introduction. However, even if you are somewhat put off by the tone of this work, it allows you to see familiar problems you face on a regular basis in a new light. It’s a good, quick read and it’s available through SWAN.
Author: Richard Linklater
Reviewer: Danielle
Before, during and after just doesn’t apply to this cinematic triptych as it delves deeply into one relationship over many years. We imagine the ‘before’, we wait for the ‘after’ but we spend the entire time in the ‘during’. We race our own expectations to a finish line that never quite arrives. This is an inside view to a world that many of us will recognize in part but none of us have ever seen in full. An experiential walk through the lives and loves of two people during the moments that are usually hidden behind closed doors or played out in a tune that only two very specific hearts can hear.
The recently concluded Before trilogy of movies takes us to the heights and then drops us into the depths of the relationship of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy). Before Sunrise has the two twenty-somethings meeting on a train. They look. They talk. They decide to spend the night wandering the streets of Vienna together and, ostensibly, falling in love. Ah, youth. When I first saw this movie as a twenty-something myself, I admit my first reaction was, “They sure talk a lot!” Now, almost twenty years later, my reaction has evolved into “Aww, it’s so nice they talk to each other so much.” Ah, youth, indeed.
Before Sunset drags us back into their lives nine years post-youthful Viennese love waltz and transplants us to the café’d streets of Paris. Are they still in love? Have they been together the whole time? Did youthful lust and infatuation evolve into something deeper? Does singing a waltz that you wrote in honor of one night of pure love to the person you shared that one night with nearly a decade earlier win you the love of your life? Did they just leave that poor cab driver out there forever? You’ll have to watch to find out.
But, of course, there’s the third movie, Before Midnight, so we know something happened. Well, one thing that happened is that Jesse and Celine got old. (Wait a minute, if I was twenty-something when they were twenty-something and now they’re old…well, darn!) To me, this is the most real of the three films. This film takes place in Greece and is where we see the passion of youth and the connection of an actual relationship turn, perhaps, into the deeper, fully-enmeshed linking of two souls in true love. We see that, as opposed to the other types of love, true love is truly hard. The lesson here is that imperfect humans are, alas, imperfect but in that shared imperfection you just might find the other heart that sings your perfect song. I believe Jesse and Celine found it and I hope that all of you find or have found that other imperfect heart to sing you your perfect song.
Author: Charles Dickens
Reviewer: Dorothy Koll
It has long been a tradition of mine to observe each passing Christmas by reading from Dickens’s Christmas Tales. The obvious must-read in this collection is “A Christmas Carol,” but I would also encourage you to read two of his lesser-known works: “What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” and “A Christmas Tree,” both of which are short, powerful reflections on the Christmas season and what it means to us. These pieces are somber, beautifully written essays that become more meaningful to me every year I read them. If you hold Christmas dear in your heart, enjoy Dickens’s writing style, and have 15 to 30 minutes, I highly suggest you read these two selections. Christmas Tales can be found at Acorn or through SWAN.“What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” and “A Christmas Tree” are also freely available online.
Author: Adele
Although 21 came out in 2011, it’s one of those albums that you could listen to over and over again without complaint. No matter how many times you hear any song on the disc, the lyrics still move you and the melodies replay themselves in your head long after you’ve finished listening. I recently put it back in my CD player after having given it a rest for a couple of months and I’m wondering why I ever took it out in the first place. Not only does this album contain number one hits such as “Rolling in the Deep”, “Set Fire to the Rain”, and “Someone Like You”, but it also includes songs like “Take It All” and “One and Only”–hidden gems that, had they been released as singles, would have also topped the charts. Adele combines soul and rock in a way that puts her into her own unique category. This album is one that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what type of music genre you prefer. I highly, highly recommend that you give it a listen. It’s definitely worth it. And it’s available at Acorn and through SWAN.
Reviewer: Danielle
Muppet Christmas Carol. Gonzo, singing rats, Tiny Tim in polliwog form!
Elf. ‘Nuff said.
Ref, The. Denis Leary warming the cockles of cynics’ hearts with love and cursing.
Rudolph. Just a misfit…Aren’t we all? Let your nose glow!
Yule really, really love Love Actually. Okay, I cheated. Y’s are hard.
Christmas Vacation. Oh, cousin Eddie…we love you, dickey and all.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. May all your hearts grow three sizes this holiday.
Ralphie and A Christmas Story. Fra-Gee-Lay…it’s Italian, don’t ya know?
It’s a Wonderful Life. You’ve all touched more lives than you realize.
Scrooge. Alastair Sim owns this one…but McDuck is in the running!
To…
My new friends who’ve made me feel welcome and at home at…
Acorn Public Library this past year…
Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year!
And, whether your family is far or near,
At this most festive time of the year,
Stop, look around and be filled with cheer,
That none of them, not one of them, can be found here.
Author: Charlie LeDuff
In preparation for the Barcodes Nonfiction Book Club, I read this account of Detroit’s decline into poverty. It is written from the point of view of Charlie LeDuff, a reporter who was born in Detroit, moved to New York to write for the Times, but “like salmon that swim upstream,” he returned home even though he knew of the terrible condition of his city. He tells many stories related to Detroit’s history, including that of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick who was sentenced to twenty-eight years in prison just last month for extortion, bribery, and fraud. Not only does LeDuff recount the dilapidated, burnt condition of the homes, churches, and other various buildings, but he also tells of the broken-down Detroiters living there. While this isn’t a happy story by any means, he also demonstrates the resilience of Detroit’s people. He writes in such a way that you really feel connected to these individuals. His style is a no-holds-barred tell-all that leaves me genuinely interested to see what what the future of Detroit will hold.
Author: Liane Moriarty
Set in Australia, this novel begins by introducing the lives of three different women who live in the same vicinity of each other. One of the women, Cecilia, finds a letter from her husband to be opened by her in the event of his death. However, even though her husband is very much alive and asks her not to open it, Cecilia finds it difficult to resist the temptation. What she finds changes her life and the lives of the other two women whom she hardly even knows.
At first I found it a bit confusing trying to keep up with who is who, as there are many characters introduced early on in the book. However, once I had a grasp on the three different storylines, I found the connections between all of them quite intriguing. The story as a whole quickly grabbed my attention, and I found myself trying to read faster so that I could find out what happened next. I highly recommend this book as a very enjoyable read and something that will keep you guessing until the end. This book can be found at Acorn or through SWAN.
Reviewer: Danielle
Movie lovers. Cinephiles. Film buffs. Whatever we may be called, we all have one thing in common, the love of darkness and sticky floors! No, wait, that’s not it. I meant the love of those magical projections of light that have the power not only to entertain but to reach into our deepest depths, take what they find there and tear it asunder or, perhaps, gently ease it into the light or, on occasion, send it soaring to the heavens. We, quite simply, love movies.
Now, everyone has favorites. Mine, quite obviously, is Smurfs 2: Revenge of Smurfette. (I kid.) I never really could pick just one so, instead, I’m going to talk about another, perhaps even greater love…the making of movies.
An excellent and almost all-encompassing place to start is The Story of Film: An Odyssey. This fifteen-hour (yes, you read that correctly…this rec is coming from someone who’s watched multiple Ken Burns documentaries as well as the seventeen-hour History of Britain!) chronological tribute to one man’s love of film takes you from the very beginning of film to the digitally recorded and increasingly unreal worlds of modern cinema. I was absolutely enthralled by this documentary with a slight lull in my enthusiasm as we entered the 1970s and slogged through to the 1990s. After that, things again brightened as we considered the future of cinema all the way to the 2040s. So, yes, an odyssey it is but one well worth undertaking.
After you’ve finished your master class in film history, you’re ready for the nitty-gritty of building dreams with light. Tales from the Script gives you the writer’s often missing perspective on the world of film. Directors: Life Behind the Camera gives voice to a multitude of directors on their individual visions and how they bring them to life. Visions of Light explores the art of cinematography, where the flesh and light become one. The Cutting Edge(alas, not the ice skating movie…and, unfortunately, available only through inter-library loan) celebrates the often misunderstood importance of editing as the ultimate device to breathe life into the stories we all love to lose ourselves in. The last stop on our journey is Side by Side (available at Acorn) where the future of film in a digital age is dissected and discussed and where we are given hope that our beloved medium will not soon perish from the world.
