Month: September 2013

Latest Additions

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This! This is the kind of joy I feel about the Fall! I saw this video show up in a few different places last week and was happy to watch it -again- each time! Adding to these happy feelings via one supremely adorable dog? Books! How about taking a look at some books that have just been added to The Reading Room?

It Happened at the Fair by Deanne Gist
Salvage the Bones by Jessmyn Ward
Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine
Death of a Demon by Anne Holt

Now really, what else could you possible want from a Monday?

Enjoy!
— Stacey

Celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29!

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I don’t usually need an excuse to drink coffee but as Sunday is National Coffee Day, I’ll use it as one. Did you know that coffee came to the United States in the mid-1600s, when coffee was brought to New Amsterdam (now called New York) by the British? And while coffee houses rapidly began to appear, tea continued to be the favored drink in the here until 1773 when colonists revolted against a heavy tax on tea imposed by King George. The revolt, known as the Boston Tea Party, would forever change the American drinking preference to coffee.

bestcoffee

It’s true, Americans drink plenty of coffee. According to the National Coffee Association, this past year Coffee consumption jumped by 5% and 83% of Americans Say they drink coffee!

Learn more about the history of coffee here: http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=68

Until next time, enjoy your Cup of Tar, Java, Brain Juice, Mud, Mojo or Cup O’ Joe!

-Carol

Tuesday at the Movies

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imagesThis is Banned Books Week and since I’m writing about movies, I thought I’d do a quick search to find a list of banned films. Of course the context is different: most banned books have been challenged by school districts or parents because of supposed offensiveness to children and teens, but films are often banned because certain groups take offense to the ideas, violence and/or sex in a film and take it to their local theater. Horror films, unsurprisingly, are lastoften challenged, including The Exorcist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There has also been controversy around films with a religious context such as The Last Temptation of Christ and even Monty Python’s Life of Brian. In the past, films that we wouldn’t blink an eye at were banned as pornographic, but currently we can watch pretty much anything – most censorship now occurs outside of the United States.

On another note, this Friday, at our Lunch and a Movie series we’ll be showing Love is All You Need, a Danish film directed by award winner Susanne Bier about a hairdresser who, after losing her hair to cancer and discovering her husband with another woman, travels to Italy for her daughter’s wedding. There, she meets Pierce Brosnan, …I mean a widower, who is still bitter about the loss of his wife. We’ll have popcorn and lemonade, so please join us.

Now onto the new Blu-Ray and DVD Releases for the week:
Iron Man 3 – Blu-Ray and DVD: Robert Downey Jr. returns to defeat another villain.
The Kings of Summer – Blu-Ray and DVD: an indie movie filmed in Ohio, this was the opener for the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Fill the Void – DVD: an Israeli film about a young woman in a conservative Jewish community who is being forced to marry the husband of her late sister.
Unfinished Song – DVD: a grumpy pensioner joins his former wife’s unconventional local choir and begins to build bridges with his estranged son.
Redemption – DVD: Jason Statham stars as a damaged ex-special forces soldier who, on the run from a military court martial, assumes another man’s identity  and transforms into an avenging angel.
In the House – DVD:  a French film about a high school French teacher and his relationship with a student.
Something in the Air – DVD: another French film set in the months after May ’68,  when a group of young Europeans are searching for a way to continue the revolution believed to be just beginning.
Room 237 – DVD: An exploration of various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick‘s horror film, The Shining.
2 Broke Girls, the Second Season – DVD
Foyle’s War, Set 7 – DVD
Modern Family, Season 4 – DVD

Happy Watching!

~ Dori

Latest Additions

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It’s official! It’s Fall! *Now* I can feel happy about seeing all those fall-time treats without thinking it’s too soon -right? So bring on the crispy weather, tasty treats, and promise of Halloween fun! And in celebration of all this goodness -let’s start a new tradition…  I’m going to share some titles that have been recently added to The Reading Room by staff members and then I’m going to invite you (our faithful readers!) to share a book you’ve recently read and enjoyed! How about that!!

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
Southern Cross the Dog by Bill Cheng

And you? What have *you* recently read and enjoyed!?

While I wait for the responses to roll on in, would you like to ponder the bigger picture? That’s lucky as isn’t just the first official week of Fall but it’s also the official Banned Books Week! Take a stroll through past years and read our thoughts on our freedom to read freely… This year I’m going to challenge myself to read “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie. A book I’ve been meaning to read for the longest time, so I’m seizing the moment…

— Stacey

Tuesday at the Movies

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imagesDo you subscribe to Netflix?  Well, you may want to check out the library’s great FREE streaming service too! It’s called Indieflix and it’s similar to Netflix in its method of delivery – but the content is focused on award-winning independent short films, features and documentaries from more than 50 countries – and did I mention that it’s FREE with a library card? To get started, go to Indieflix and, with your library card number, create your free account. Once you’ve created an account and validated your e-mail address, you’re ready to log into IndieFlix anytime, anywhere!

Of course, there are still loads of great choices to check out here at the library – and there’ve been a rash of new DVD/Blu-Ray releases in the last few weeks, so there’s a LOOOOONG list below. From Star Trek to Sharknado, there’s something here for everyone!

Released on 9/3
The Place Beyond the Pines – Blu-Ray and DVD: Ryan Gosling stars as a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his family and Bradley Cooper is the rookie cop trying to catch him.
Oblivion – Blu-Ray and DVD: Tom Cruise stars in this sci-fi drama.
The Iceman – Blu-Ray and DVD: This film, based on a true story, is about a contract killer for the mob.
Now You See Me – Blu-Ray and DVD: The FBI tries to corner a group of illusionists who have pulled off a series of daring heists.
Stories We Tell – DVD: Acclaimed writer/director Sarah Polley investigates family secrets in this documentary.
The Lords of Salem – Blu-Ray and DVD: Rob Zombie directs this horror tale.
From Up On Poppy Hill – Blu-Ray and DVD: an animated film from Japan co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by his son about a group of Yokohama teens growing up as Japan is preparing for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Sharknado – DVD: Sharks plus tornado equals a big bloody mess!
Arthur Newman – DVD: Colin Firth and Emily Blunt star in this film about a man who fakes his own death to escape his life.
Three Worlds – DVD: a French film about three people whose lives intersect when one kills another in a hit and run accident and the third witnesses it.
MLB 25 Greatest Post Season Home Runs – DVD – speaks for itself.
Somm – DVD: a documentary about four sommeliers who attempt to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam.
The Office, Season 9 – DVD
Scandal, the Complete 2nd Season – DVD
Vampire Diaries, the Complete 4th Season – DVD
Spartacus, War of the Damned, Complete Third Season – DVD
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 8 – DVD
The League, Season 4 – DVD

Released on 9/10
Star Trek, Into the Darkness – Blu-Ray and DVD: Spock and Captain Kirk return to vanquish a mysterious foe.
Love is All You Need – Blu-Ray and DVD: a Danish romance directed by Suzanne Bier and starring Pierce Brosnan; it’s about a hairdresser who finds out her husband is having an affair,  the travels to Italy and meets a widower. BONUS: We’re showing this at our Lunch and a Movie series on September 27th at noon.
Chasing Ice – Blu-Ray and DVD: a documentary about a National Geographic photographer who captures a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers.
Peeples – Blu-Ray and DVD: an ensemble comedy starring Kerry Washington about a man who wants to marry into a family that he initially doesn’t fit into.
Sisters & Brothers – DVD: four stories about sibling relationships.
Castle, the Complete 5th Season – DVD
Parade’s End – DVD
Supernatural, Complete 8th Season – DVD
Big Bang Theory, the Complete 6th Season – Blu-Ray and DVD
Homeland, Complete Second Season – DVD

Released on 9/17
World War Z – Blu-Ray and DVD: Brad Pitt needs to stop a zombie pandemic before humanity is destroyed.
Bless Me Ultima – DVD: set during World War II, it’s about the relationship between a young man growing up in New Mexico and a local medicine woman.
The East – Blu-Ray and DVD: a thriller about an intelligence operative who must infiltrate an anarchist group that terrorizes corporate leaders who commit crimes against humanity.
Disconnect – Blu-Ray and DVD: a movie about people trying to connect in a wired world.
The Bling Ring – Blu-Ray and DVD: Inspired by a true story, Sofia Coppola’s film is about a group of teenagers who track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes.
Augustine – DVD: a French film about the relationship between 19th century French neurologist Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot and his teenage patient, a kitchen maid who is left partially paralyzed after a seizure.
Nashville, the Complete First Season – DVD
The Mentalist, the Complete 5th Season – DVD
Bates Motel, Season 1 – DVD
Grimm, Season 2 – DVD

Happy Watching!

~ Dori

Soup warms the soul and belly!

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Even though Autumn doesn’t actually begin until this weekend with the Autumnal Equinox on September 22, we’ve already experiencing temperature drops and shorter days. That, combined with an abundance of veggies from the garden has got me thinking about one of my favorite foods: SOUP!

I love that soup can be made with just about any vegetables. It can be a restorative healthy broth or a light appetizer. Add cream or cheese and use your immersion blender to make it a creamy, decadent dish. Generally, I don’t follow recipes. Usually, I make my Mom’s version of vegetable soup using cabbage, carrot, onion, spices and a can of stewed tomatoes. It’s simple but delicious! Tonight, though, I think I’ll be making a tomato soup using just tomatoes from our garden, garlic, and onion.

Feeling hungry for some soup inspiration of your own?

Stop into the library and check out one of our cookbooks to get started. One I like is Love soup : 160 all-new vegetarian recipes by Anna Thomas. I also get find inspiration from the Vegetarian Times’ website at: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/soups-and-stews/

So, go ahead, put some soup on, grab a throw and cozy up with a good book! The weather demands it!

~Carol

Latest Additions

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This has been both the fastest and the slowest year -ever! We are half-way through September, which is three-fourths of the way through the year, and I first spotted Halloween decorations over two weeks ago! It’s a good thing I *love* the Fall Season and all the fabulous treats that come along this time of year! Like pumpkins and apples and pretty colored leaves and …weighty tomes! Maybe the only thing to do at this point is to start picking some of the bigger fall books and see if the longer it takes to read one story, the slower time might pass? (I know it sounds unlikely, but it’s the best I can do! Any other suggestions are welcome!) And while I’m waiting for those books to come rolling in, maybe I’ll start with one of the books recently added to The Reading Room!

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist

Enjoy!

— Stacey

Books and the Afterlife

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I just finished reading Jason Mott’s brand-new debut novel, The Returned. In this book, Jacob Hargrave, who died on his eighth birthday in 1966, arrives on his parent’s doorstep fifty years later, unaged, and very much alive! Now elderly, his parents, Harold and Lucille Hargrave, aren’t sure what to believe about the return of their young son. As people’s loved ones all around the world begin to come back from the “beyond,” the reemergence of these “Returned” brings out both the best and the worst in the living.

I just cannot stop thinking about this novel. Isn’t that the sign of a good book? Apparently, Brad Pitt’s production company was impressed as well. The Returned has already been optioned to be made into a film! Now is your chance to read it before you see it!

heaven

Want more books that speculate on the afterlife? Here are some others I’ve enjoyed:

A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier

The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

This Body by Laurel Doud

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Hope you find one of these to your liking! I for one think that finding a good book is just heavenly!

-Carol

Latest Additions

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It feels a little sad that there are no more summer reading baskets to share and that all that lovely fried food on a stick must return to my dreams for another year… But we shall get through these tough times together, right?! For my part, I think I’ll take solace in knowing that I can share five new titles recently added to The Reading Room by your very own Rocky River Public Library Reference staff members! Doesn’t that give you comfort too? In that case, here they come:

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Execution of Noa P Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver
The Healer by Antti Tuomainen
Joyland by Stephen King
Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen

But of course you can stop in, call, or use the online Reader’s Request form, if you’d like more titles to try! Enjoy!

— Stacey

Life is Sweet!

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Labor Day marked the unofficial end of Summer. We rested on Labor Day (or gardened or picnicked!) and now everyone is back in school, back to work, and back to running around like the busy bees we are!

Speaking of “bees,” did you know that September is National Honey Month? How Sweet!

National Honey Month was started in 1989 to promote US beekeeping and to promote honey as a natural sweetener.

To make one pound of honey, 2 million flowers are tapped! A worker honey bee makes only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime! Can you believe it? Also, honey has been around since before the dawn of humanity. Some of the earliest references to honey can be found in paintings on cave walls in Spain and Greece.

You can read more fun facts about National Honey Month, honey and bees, and find delicious recipes at the National Honey Board’s website here: http://www.honey.com/

I can tell you how much I like honey, but I’ll just leave you with a quote instead from an expert on the subject. Until next time, enjoy this sweet life.

-Carol

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”   ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh