The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words

The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words

by the Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy troupe [817 Mon]

"Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam...lovely Spam, wonderful Spam!" "Oh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay..." "It's..." "He's Pinin' for the Fjords??!!" "Now then, some cheese please, my good man!" "And now, for something completely different..." If any of these snippets of dialog bring a smile to your face, you probably number yourself among the millions of Monty Python fans in the world. If so, this two-volume set, The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words, is right up your alley. This is a collection of the complete scripts to all of the episodes of the classic Monty Python's Flying Circus series, including stage directions and character names (which often didn't make it onto the screen!). This is entertaining reading for both the casual viewer, and for the hard-core Python fan who wants to test their memory for Python trivia. Just remember... "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Monty Python's Flying Circus web site ]

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Watchmen

Watchmen

by Alan Moore (writer), Dave Gibbons (illustrator/letterer) and John Higgins (colorist)

Watchmen is a graphic novel, originally released as 12 monthly comic books, and then combined in book format. As a graphic novel, Watchmen was something of a watershed moment for graphical storytelling. The story, encompassing an alternate reality in which superheroes actually existed but had to deal with the every-day niceties of the "real world", was very "adult" in nature. Alan Moore was and is a fan favorite comic book writer, and with artist Dave Gibbons, Moore created a wholly original world for his story -- one filled with both darkness (gritty, noirish scenes) and light (hopeful characters, fighting for what's right). The main storyline, about a series of ostrasized retired superheroes who are being killed off, is interspersed with scenes from a comic book being read inside the context of the Watchmen universe. The cast is large, and multi-layered. Moore is able to cast an examining eye on the prototype superhero characters, such as Batman or Superman, and imagine what a character like that would be like in real life. Some of the characters are unforgettable -- particular the omnipotent but amorla Dr. Manhattan, and the seedy, violent Rorschach. This graphic novel has it all -- mystery, romance, science fiction, character growth, history, and thought-provoking questions of right and wrong. My only complaint, both when I read this during its original release and when I reread it before the release of the recent movie adaptation, is that the artwork is at times unpleasant to look at. But on the whole, this is a groundbreaking work that anyone who's interested in comic book history should not miss! [Note: Though currently marketed for Teens, and located in the Young Adult collection at the library, this storyline does deal with mature themes, and may not be for all young readers.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Watchmen entry on Wikipedia ] [ Alan Moore entry on Wikipedia ]

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The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

I love actress Ingrid Bergman and this movie to me, is one of her best. The story takes place in the 1930?s, when a young woman, Gladys Aylward (Ingrid Bergman) feels that her purpose in life is to become a missionary in the remote areas of China. Told by the missionary agency that she is unqualified, she works as a maid until she has saved up enough money to go on her own, with or without the support of the agency. Her employer and others try to talk her out of going, but she holds on to her passion, and takes the long, dangerous trip to China. Once there, she begins her work as a missionary, learning the language and helping the people of China. After a time, she becomes a highly respected person in the remote villages and chooses to gain Chinese citizenship. When war breaks out, she once again sets out on a dangerous journey attempting to transport one hundred orphaned children, across China to safety. I did not have time to watch the movie all in one setting. So I watched it three different times throughout a week long period. This movie lent itself very easily to segment watching, because it felt like it had very distinct chapters in it. If you like watching historical movies (this one was based on a true story), or like watching people that follow their passions in life, then this is a good movie to see. -- recommended by Patty L. - Walt Branch Library

[Also available in motion picture soundtrack format.][ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever

Harlan Ellison's The City on the Edge of Forever: The Original Teleplay That Become the Classic Star Trek Episode

by Harlan Ellison [791.457 StaYe]

Fans of the original Star Trek television series [1966-1969] generally agree that the episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" is arguably the most popular and "best" of all the original episodes. The story involves Kirk and Spock traveling back in time to Depression-era Earth to stop a drugged-out McCoy from saving the life of a social worker (whose anti-war activitism would ultimately lead to a different outcome in WWII). What casual viewers of Star Trek may not be aware of is that this thought-provoking and emotional episode faced a great deal of turmoil in its production. Famed author and screenwriter Harlan Ellison won multiple awards for his original script for this episode, and in this intriguing book he traces the history of the creation of this moment in television history. Ellison, who was extremely upset at the changes wrought to his original script (which could have been a fascinating episode in its own right), can be vitriolic at times, but he also provides an insightful look at how a television show is produced, from story-idea to final airing. The number of people who can influence the plot of an episodes is truly mind-boggling. This book is a must for Star Trek fans, especially as the release of this summer's new movie reinvigorates interest in the classic franchise. But I would also recommend it for anyone who's interested in the history of television production in general, and definitely for fans of Harlan Ellison. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[This episode of Star Trek is available in the Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One boxed DVD set.]

[ Detailed Wikipedia entry on this episode ] [ official Harlan Ellison web site ]

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Off the Wall

Off the Wall

by Michael Jackson [Compact Disc 781.66 Jac]

I wasn't a "fan" of the Jackson 5 when I was a child and teen but I knew who they were. And I had enjoyed Michael's solo hit "Ben." It wasn't until I heard the songs from Off the Wall (which came out when I was 20), a tightly-produced blend of pop, disco, and r&b, that I embraced his artistry and image -- a handsome young man who could dance both vocally and physically. And I'm not a big fan of falsetto singing, either, which comprises a lot of what MJ did. The best songs, interestingly, are those that either Michael or Rod Temperton wrote or co-wrote. The tunes by such heavy hitters as Carole Bayer Sager, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney seem forgettable in comparison. The album's best tracks, for me, are: the title cut; Rock with You; Don't Stop til You Get Enough; the high-energy Working Day and Night; Get on the Floor; and the angst-laden but simply-arranged She's Out of My Life. Props not only go to Jackson, Temperton, and album producer Quincy Jones, but also studio greats Greg Phillinganes, Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Porcaro, David Foster, and Louis Johnson. Other musicians who would be more famous later on include Larry Carlton and George Duke. -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library

[ official Michael Jackson web site/memorial site ]

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Paper Clips

Paper Clips
[DVD 940.531 Pap]

This is an out of the ordinary documentary, about a rural high school class in Tennessee and how they set out to collect 6 million paper clips, representing the 6 million Holocaust victims of World War II. When the news spread on the internet about this project, paper clips came pouring in. Some paper clips came individually. Some came in by the box loads. People, who sent paper clips, often wrote stories about the memory of a loved one that had died in the Holocaust. The climax of this project to me was when they invited Holocaust victims from New York to come to their school and talk about their experiences. The stories brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience, and created a special bond between the young students and the aging victims. The fact that the students were able to acquire a rail car that transported thousands of people to the concentration camps, and used that rail car to display all of the paperclips, was the culmination of the project. -- recommended by Patty L. - Walt Branch Library

[ Internet Movie Database page for this film ] [ official Paper Clips web site ]

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The Art of Detection

The Art of Detection

by Laurie J. King

I hadn't read any of the Kate Martinelli books before this particular title was selected for the Just Desserts mystery fiction discussion group at the library. I'm not sure that I'll go ahead and read any others, either. That's not to say that The Art of Detection was unenjoyable...I did like reading it. The dual mysteries in this book -- first, the investigation into who killed a Sherlock Holmes memorabilia dealer and hid his body in a gun battery outside of San Francisco, and second, the storyline in a possible unknown Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle -- were both fascinating and kept me engaged throughout the book. What I didn't care for was Kate Martinelli herself. She came off as a bit too harsh and judgemental, especially considering the fact that as a lesbian police officer, she herself has probably faced a lot of judgemental types. In the long run, I like the book -- the interweaving of the plots from the two different time periods, plus the historical footnotes about Arthur Conan Doyle's visit to the San Francisco area in the 1920s, made for an intriguing "what if" scenario. And there's a doozy of a Twilight Zone moment thrown in at the end of the book, too. Holmes purists may or may not enjoy this one, and may also find Martinelli's opinions about Sherlock Holmes fanatics a bit off-putting, but it was still an interesting read, and I do recommend it. Fans of the Martinelli series may be surprised to find that 9 years have passed since the previous Martinelli mystery, but for newcomers to the series, that's not an impediment to the story. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Art of Detection page on the official Laurie R. King web site ]

See more books like this on our Sherlock Holmes booklist

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

1776 and All That

1776 and All That

by Leonard Wibberley

In the White House in 1776, a dignified man comes for the clock, saying that the Maker wants to look at it; he signs a receipt with a flourish. In heaven, unicorns and wyverns cry, "In excelsis Deo." George III remarks that a bit of frost is good for the turnips. Thomas Jefferson notices the clock and begins to get nervous: there is no Time in eternity, so why is it here? Benjamin Franklin, who also notices the clock, reminisces with an angel named Ruth about the Countess Marie des Petit Chalons, who once called him Poo Poo. (He reminded her of a stuffed bear.) Then the hands of the clock begin to move and Voltaire, King George, and Thomas Jefferson find themselves at the Presidential Costume Ball to honor the Bi-Centennial of the United States. This book is an utterly delightful, brief, (it's only 96 pages long), and humorous look at the concept of liberty. Treat yourself with this one for Independence Day. -- recommended by Rianne S. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia article on Leonard Wibberley ]

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Quieter Than Sleep

Quieter Than Sleep

by Joanne Dobson

Drafts of three letters addressed to "Master" were found among Emily Dickinson's papers after her death. Who "Master" was remains a mystery to this day. These letters form the basis of the plot of Quieter Than Sleep. When the novel opens, assistant English professor Karen Pelletier is at the annual Enfield College Christmas party trying to escape from one of her colleagues, Randy Astin-Berger. Astin-Berger is trying to entice Karen into agreeing to meet with him later to discuss one of Emily Dickinson's "master" letters. Astin-Berger thinks that he may know who the "master" was. Karen escapes from him and circulates among the other guests. Later she decides to leave the party. When she opens the closet door to get her coat, Randy Astin-Berger falls into her arms. He had been strangled. Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Piotrowski is assigned to the case. He believes that Emily Dickinson's papers are the reason for Astin-Berger's murder and hires Pelletier as a consultant to trace Astin-Berger's research of Dickinson's papers. This is the first book in the series. Karen Pelletier is a woman with a lot of inner strength. She is a single mother from a working class background whose dedication and effort earned her a teaching position at an elite college. -- recommended by Donna G. - Eiseley and Walt Branch Libraries

[ Publisher's Quieter Than Sleep web site ] [ official Joanne Dobson web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

New Booktalk Booklist: East Coast Crime

Donna G., one of the library system's biggest mystery fiction afficionados, recently presented a booktalk at all three of the libraries' book group venues -- Bethany Books Talk, Gere Books Talk, and Courtyard Book Chats...in the Garden!

The focus of her latest booktalk was East Coast Crime -- mystery and thriller novels set on the U.S. Eastern seaboard. She provided attendees with a nice overview of 40+ books by 9 different authors, set in a variety of Eastern communities!

So...if you're a mystery fan looking for some recommendations of a good summer read, visit the East Coast Crime booktalk booklist on the libraries' BookGuide web site!

If you don't see your favorite Eastern U.S. mystery here, we'd love to know what you would have included!