Blog Post
Congratulations to Persepolis on an Oscar nomination!
by anned
The three films nominated for best animated feature are an interesting mix: Ratatouille, a computer-animated Pixar film about a rat who becomes a great chef, directed and written by Oscar winner Brad Bird; Persepolis, a sparsely drawn, largely black-and-white French film based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi that takes an autobiographical look at growing up in revolutionary Iran; and Surf's Up, another computer-animated film about penguins. Persepolis will be playing at the Michigan Theater beginning February 15.
Blog Post
Great Impressions
by Maxine
Today, January 22, is the birthday of one of the great French Impressionist painters, Edouard Manet. Manet was born in Paris in 1832. He was one of the first painters who was later called an impressionist and his paintings still had many aspects of realism. He took a different path from his father who was a magistrate and was influenced by his trips to the Louvre with his uncle. After failing his naval examinations, he studied under the painter, Thomas Couture.
Manet's work was controversial during his time and his technical innovations were criticized by academics. But today, his paintings can sell for as much as $26 million.
Blog Post
May Angelou (Poetry for Young People)
by Tahira
Young and old will be inspired by the powerful words of one of our Nation's most distinguished poets in Maya Angelou (Poetry for Young People)
Blog Post
Chess as psychic murder...?
by wheloc
...at least at the highest levels, according Bobby Fischer. With his death on January 17th, 2008 (at the age of 64), now might be a good time to look at his life and game he loved.
He was the first (and currently only) World Chess Championn from America (unless you count Wilhelm Steinitz, who won in 1886 but didn't become an American citizen until 1888). Fischer took the title in 1972; since the previous seven champions were Russian, this created quite a stir in a cold-war crazed world. Three years later he forfeited his title and fell into relative (and enigmatic) obscurity.
Want to know more? For details on his life, try a general biography, but I recommend you skip right to the good stuff and read Bobby Fischer Goes to War, which focuses on his championship-winning game. To truly understand him you also really need to read the books he wrote on chess. His strategy is pretty advanced, however, so you might want to start with a simpler book on chess (we have many, for all age groups and skill levels).
You also might enjoy Searching for Bobby Fischer, a book (and DVD) about child chess prodigy Joshua Waitzkin. Bobby Fischer doesn't actually make an appearance, but several other big names in the chess world do make cameos.
Blog Post
Cookbooks for cooks of all kinds
by Nicole R
This week, two recent cookbooks from both ends of the spectrum, Veganomicon: the Ultimate Vegan Cookbook and The Bacon Cookbook, are sharing more than just shelf space at the library.
NPR's The Splendid Table features interviews with each of the cookbook authors. Listen to the program and see sample recipes from the books on the show's website. Choose from a vegan Asparagus Quiche or Bacon and Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles (or make both, omnivores!).
Blog Post
An Epic Tale
by RiponGood
David and Leigh Eddings have been writting epic fantasy for many years. Their first series is The Belgariad. In the first book Pawn of Prophecy we are introduced to Garion, a farm boy being raised by his Aunt Pol. Together, they leave the farm travelling with Mister Wolf the story teller to recover a mysterious object stolen by a no-name theif. You too can travel with them by reading this and the rest of the books in the series, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanters' End Game.
Blog Post
Storytime Takes Flight!
by StoryLaura
The hilarious new picture book, Grumpy Bird, will be joined by a blackbird adventure from India and a crafty trickster rabbit tale from American Indian tradition, when rabbit bounces up through the clouds to steal fire from the sky people, at the Wednesday Downtown and Thursday Pittsfield storytimes.
Blog Post
Teens: never ever say "there's NOTHING good to read" again!
by erin
Yeah, yeah, so you're not interested in reading AWARD winners, but what about just some good books? YALSA (the association for those cool types who serve teens in libraries) also released a bunch of annual lists of good stuff! Let's start with the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list where you will find everything from Mark Crilley's Miki Falls series to the After School Nightmare manga series. If you're not a BIG reader the Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list is the spot to find titles like Dead High Yearbook and Encyclopedia Horrifica. Looking for more? Check out the Best Books for Young Adults, and Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults lists. Eyes a little tired? Try different formats with Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults and 2008 Selected DVD and Videos for Young Adults lists. Enjoy!
Blog Post
What would we do without Pooh?
by Maxine
Today, January 18 is the birthday of A.A. Milne, author of the beloved Winnie the Pooh. Alan Alexander Milne was born in London in 1882. After graduating from college with a degree in mathematics, he worked for Punch Magazine, writing humorous essays. Milne went on to write more than thirty plays, detective novels and more essays, all of which were entertaining but not very successful. It was only when he started spending time with his three year old son, Christopher, that he wrote his poetry collection, When We Were Very Young which was a huge success. At about the same time, his son began playing with his stuffed animals in the forest near their house. And so began the story of Pooh and his friends.
Milne wrote, "Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his bear will always be playing."
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #95
by muffy
Shortlisted for the CWA's New Blood Dagger Award, this compulsively readable debut novel by Kitty Sewell is dark and intriguing.
Ice Trap* is set in Moose Creek, a tiny outpost in Canada's Northwest Territories where Dr. Dafydd Woodruff returns after an absence of 14 years to investigate a paternity claim against him. He was sure he never had sex with Sheila Hailey, a head nurse who is beautiful, cruel and manipulative but the positive DNA test clearly points to Sheila’s twin being his.
Sewell’s skillful mixing of long buried secrets and past shame, depiction of Dafydd’s crumbling marriage, and the puzzle surrounding his newfound family make for a compelling read.
For other mysteries set in the Canadian arctic, try The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney and Consumption by Kevin Patterson.
* = Starred Review