New and Featured DVDs for 02/07/12:

Come and check out these and some of the other new DVDs and materials (or at least new to us) added to our library collection…

FICTION:

The Orphanage

Fish Tank

Lord Of War

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

Attack Of The Block

2011, directed by Joe Cornish. This British science fiction action film about a group of urban youths taking on an alien invasion is already a cult classic. Roger Ebert gave the film 3 stars and one of our patrons assured me the other day that this movie is a lot of fun.

Premonition

Brief Encounter

1945, directed by David Lean. Based on the play by Noël Coward, the film stars Trevor Howard and Cecilia Johnson and challenged the traditional ideas of British suburban life when a bored housewife finds real, passionate love outside of her marriage and has to deal with the powerful emotions that come with such a revelation.

The Man Who Would Be King

O Brother, Where Art Though?

The Shining

1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Stars Jack Nicholson and loosely adapts Stephen King’s novel. Jack Nicholson, a family trapped in a hotel isolated by a snowstorm, the dangerous of alcoholism, psychic kids, and some very, very malevolent ghosts.  Stanely Kubrick was at the top of his game here and this is not just a horror/thriller classic, but one of the scariest movies ever.

Braveheart

The Eiger Sanction

Speed Racer

NON-FICTION:

Freakonomics

2010. The classic and bestselling book by economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner gets a very interesting documentary adaptation, featuring six different directors – including Super Size Me‘s Morgan Spurlock and Jesus Camp‘s Rachel Grady – bringing its various segments to life, all featuring a look at human behavior  and why we do the things we do through an interesting bit of research that combines economics and sociology. This is a fun and interesting movie. And you should all check out the Freakonomics blog.

Ultimate Factories: Coca-Cola

Hitler’s Museum: The Secret History Of Art Theft During World War II

Freedom Riders

Ghost Ships

Crazy Love

2007, directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens. A morbidly fascinating story that proves that not only is the truth stranger than fiction, but that you really do only hurt the one you love. You can read reviews for the documentary in The San Francisco Chronicle and Peter Traver’s review in The Rolling Stone, and check out the trailer below:

Hoop Dreams

Howard Hughes: The Real Aviator

Waiting For “Superman”

2010, directed by Davis Guggenheim. This powerful, passionate documentary deals with the failures of the American education system and focuses on several children hoping to get a better education via participating in a lottery to gain admission to high performing charter schools. Some reviews point out that the film could be a strong point in a revolution to reform our education system while others point out that the documentary is highly critical and not entirely representative of teacher’s unions. But it definitely makes for compelling viewing.

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Please note that DVDs could be checked out between the time they end up on the blog and when you come to check them out. If you don’t see the items you’re looking for then please come up to the front desk and we’ll put your name on the reserve list for when the item returns.

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Previous New/Featured DVDs:

12/30/11.

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Previous New/Featured books:

02/02/12.

01/27/12.

12/27/11.

12/23/11.

12/19/11.

12/17/11.

New and Featured Books for 01/27/2012:

It’s a brand new year! So come and check out these and some of the other new books and materials (or at least new to us) added to our library collection…

FICTION:

Chew, vol. 1: Taster’s Choice by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory

Machine Man by Max Barry

Hark! A Vagrant, writen and illustrated by Kate Beaton

If I had only one word to describe this book it would be simply: “Brilliant.” If you allowed me a second word I’d also add: “Fun!” Kate Beaton’s webcomic is one of my favorite spots to check out on the internet and this collection of some of her strips was easily one of my own personal most highly anticipated books of last year. I would highly recommend that you check out this gloriously fun spin of history and literature. For example:

The Hunter by John T. Lescroart

American Fantastic Tales: Terror And The Uncanny From Poe To The Pulps, edited by Peter Straub

and

American Fantastic Tales: Terror And The Uncanny From The 1940s To Now, edited by Peter Straub

This is a very exciting looking two volume set featuring amazing short fiction from authors like Kate Chopin, H. P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, Willa Cather, Truman Capote, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, Michael Chabon, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Ray Bradbury, Vladimir Nabokov, and Edith Wharton, amongst many others. Perfect for the dark and stormy night that any lover of American fiction craves.

The Jaguar by T. Jefferson Parker

Love In A Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly

Believing The Lie by Elizabeth George

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell

NON-FICTION:

Marriage Confidential: The Post-Romantic Age Of Workhorse Wives, Royal Children, Undersexed Spouses & Rebel Couples Who Are Rewriting The Rules by Pamela Haag

I Know Who You Are And I Saw What You Did: Social Networks And The Death Of Privacy by Lori Andrews

Your personal information is violated constantly and the law can’t seem to keep up with the changing demands and capabilities of new technology, all of which makes this a fascinating read about the way our “IRL” selves and our digital selves can be harmed by one another, and usually without us knowing it.

The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View Of The Search For God by Carl Sagan

The Roots Of Modern Conservatism: Dewey, Taft, And The Battle For The Soul Of The Republican Party by Michael Bowen

Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story Of A Financial Legend by Mitchell Zuckoff

Bottom Of The 33rd: Hope, Redemption, And Baseball’s Longest Game by Dan Barry

The Amazing Story Of Quantum Mechanics: A Math-Free Exploration Of The Science That Made Our World by James Kakalios

A book about something so awesome that’s written for the rest of us. How could you pass this up? Definitely worth a look if the subject interests you but you could do without all that intimidating math nonsense. Plus, it’s got the word “Amazing” in the title and a really cool cover, right?

Kennedy v. Nixon: The Presidential Election Of 1960 by Edmund F. Kallina Jr.

Our Fathers, Ourselves: Daughters, Fathers, And The Changing American Family by Peggy Drexler

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Please note that books could be checked out between the time they end up on the blog and when you come to check them out. If you don’t see the items you’re looking for then please come up to the front desk and we’ll put your name on the reserve list for when the item returns.

* * *

Previous New/Featured books:

12/27/11.

12/23/11.

12/19/11.

12/17/11.

12/16/11.

12/15/11.