Blog Post
New Arabic Books Available
by Tara LS
Coming soon to all locations, new Arabic books for adults. These Arabic books will be marked with "New 7/07" stickers and can be searched for in the catalog by call number. The call numbers range from "FLC ARA 152" to "FLC ARA 191". We hope you enjoy these new books. If you have any comments, suggestions or questions about Arabic books or other foreign language books, please contact stantont@aadl.org.
A partial listing of new Arabic books:
Suraya bint al ghul by Imil Habibi
al-ʻAdāmah by Turki Hamad
Tāksī: ḥawādīt al-mashāwīr by Khālid al-Khamīsī
Bayna al-qaṣrayn by Naguib Maḥfouz
Sarīr al-gharībah: shiʻr by Maḥmūd Darwīsh
Qamar ʻalá Samarqand by Muḥammad al-Mansī Qandīl
Blog Post
The Crime Of Padre Amaro
by french_film_grl
What do you get when you mix together; awesome acting, sensational scenery, and a controversial storyline...then throw in a pinch of pride, a cup of corruption, a tablespoon of tragedy, and a liter of lust?? You have the spicy dish of a movie, The Crime Of Padre Amaro.
Father Amaro, Gael Garcia Bernal, is a young priest sent to work in the small Mexican town of Los Reyes. Once there, he soon finds himself drawn to beautiful 16 year old waitress Amelia, Ana Claudia Talancón.
We can see Father Amaro's slide into temptation, and right away we know what is going to happen. There is no rope for him to grab onto, and frankly we wouldn't want to throw him the rope if we could. However, there is no forseeing the path he ultimately chooses to walk which, unfortuanely, includes a lifetime stroll down redemption lane.
There is no surprise that this sensational Mexican film was nominated as Best Foreign Language Film in 2002 by the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. The official FFG rating of this movie is a 10.
Blog Post
New French Children's Books
by Tara LS
There will soon be new French children's books at all branches. Some of the new titles are:
Charlie et la chocolaterie by Roald Dahl
L'enorme crocodile by Roald Dahl
Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson
La chenille qui fait des trous by Eric Carle
Chair de poule/Goosebumps 24 "L'horloge maudite" by R.L. Stine
La Cabane Magique/Magic Tree House 7 "Le voyage sur la lune" by Mary Pope Osbourne
Check them out! If you have any suggestions for French or any other foreign language books, please e-mail stantont@aadl.org
Blog Post
New French books at the library
by Tara LS
Look for new French books on the shelf at all branches very soon marked with "NEW" stickers. The library just received many new French books. The selection includes:
Books by Francophone African authors:
Kiffe Kiffe Demain by Faiza Guene
La Retournee by Fawzia Zouari
Les Sirenes de Bagdad by Yasmina Khadra
Books translated from other languages:
La Maison aux esprits by Isabel Allende
Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Le Zahir by Paulo Coelho
Other new French books include:
Impuretes by Philippe Djian
Plateforme by Michel Houellebecq
La ligne noire by Jean-Christophe Grange
Blog Post
City of God
by french_film_grl
City Of God is a very interesting title for a movie that gives us a glimpse into a world of hell on earth. What I found most disturbing about this movie is that it is based on a true story. While I loved this movie for showing me a world I never knew existed, I simultaneously found myself in a state of agitation throughout the film. Watching this film was like watching a train wreck. I wanted to cover my eyes, but I could not turn them away. The setting for this film is a Brazilian ghetto filled with poverty, anarchy, crime, violence, and drug dealing. The youth running wild in the streets brought to mind the William Golding masterpiece "Lord of the Flies". Watch this movie for a jarring dose of reality, but be prepared for a raw shot of cinematography served straight up. The official FFG rating of this movie is a 10.
Blog Post
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
by french_film_grl
When you are a French Film luvr, as I am, you are usually an Audrey Tautou luvr as well. Audrey is a wonderful actress that posts high in my "A2-C2" actress list. This "A2-C2" categorization means Audrey embodies the characteristics of being attractive, adorable, charming, and classic. In the movie, He Loves Me, He loves me not Tatou plays a character, Angelique, that is reminiscent of Glenn Close's character, Alex, in Fatal Attraction. Instead of one climactic rabbit boiling scene in this film, the climax unfolds slowly as a series of seemingly innocent events. What REALLY is, is not what you were lead to think it was. Yes, it is all very sneaky, sneaky...but, we are misled so well. Misled so cleverly actually, that I had to go back into the film to verify that I saw what I actually thought I saw. Let's just say the love affair in this film between the two main characters is not based in reality, but pure fantasy. Feel the chill when you notice the pharmaceutical collage in the shape of Angelique's love interest in the final scene! The official FFG rating of this movie is a 9.
Blog Post
Farsi/Persian books at the Ann Arbor Library
by Tara LS
Have you read or checked out Farsi books from the library? Are you interested in checking out Farsi books from the library? Do you have any suggestions or comments regarding the Farsi collection here?
The library is considering discontinuing the Farsi collection at the library because it is not often used. I would like to have your opinions, suggestions, comments etc. about the Farsi language collection and whether you have or would use it.
Please feel free to e-mail me, Tara, at stantont@aadl.org. I would love to have patron input on whether or not to continue offering Farsi books in the foreign language collection. Thanks!
Blog Post
New Spanish books at all branches!
by Tara LS
The library has just received many new Spanish books, including more copies of the Harry Potter books and the Chronicles of Narnia. We also have new original Spanish titles in both fiction and non-fiction. Additionally we have many new children's books including picture books and books for older kids.
Various new books are at all the branches in the foreign language section and you can easily find these books by the call number "FLC SPA" and the "New 5/07" or "New 6/07" stickers on the books. You can also search the catalog by call number "FLC SPA" and reserve books at any branch to be picked up at the branch location of your choice.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please e-mail stantont@aadl.org. Your suggestions for materials are always welcome.
Blog Post
Arabic books at the Ann Arbor Library!
by Tara LS
At all of the Ann Arbor Library's branches, we have Arabic books available for checkout. The library has a growing collection, from contemporary authors such as Najib Mahfouz and Elias Khoury to Arabic translations of novels from other languages. Arabic books are available at every branch in the "Foreign language collection" under the call numbers FLC ARA. You can also search the catalog by call number "FLC ARA". Please check these books out and if you have any suggestions, comments or questions about Arabic books (or any other foreign language materials) at the library, please e-mail stantont@aadl.org. We welcome any book suggestions and comments.
Blog Post
Pan's Labyrinth
by french_film_grl
Pan's Labyrinth is now available at AADL. Although not a children's movie, the "fairy tale" part of this movie could be cauterized, fed, and made into a movie all its own. If the director had chosen that route, this would be a wonderful cinematic experience for children as well as adults. The fairy tale aspect of this movie is wonderful, beautiful, and imaginative. There just wasn't enough of it for my liking. Instead of more magic and labyrinth adventure, Director Guillermo Del Toro gives us graphic details about the 1940's fascist movement in Spain. His choice to share insights into the fascist torture methods popular during that time period, which include the trifecta of pinchers, poker, and hammer, make this movie non-family friendly. The official FFG rating for this movie is 7.