The Dark Crystal on DVD

The Dark Crystal

by Jim Henson and Frank Oz [DVD j Dark]

In 1982, Jim Henson and Frank Oz, fresh off the success of the comedic The Muppet Show (1976-1981) wanted to push the boundaries of storytelling with their puppetry, and the result was The Dark Crystal. Oz had also recently performed as Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back, and the various fantastic creatures of The Dark Crystal bear far more resemblance to Yoda’s almost lifelike qualities than the obvious felt-and-strings appearance of Kermit and Miss Piggy. The Dark Crystal features a classic “epic quest” saga, in an exotic fantasy setting. Jen and Kira, a pair of young gelflings, find themselves in the middle of an epic battle between the forces of good (the aged Mystics) and evil (the hideous Skeksis), as the Dark Crystal, a source of Balance and Truth in their land, has shattered and they must seek to heal it or their world will suffer ruin. The look and feel of this film is tremendous, as are the designs of all the fabulous creatures that populate it. This film should appeal to both kids and adults (who may remember seeing the film when they, themselves, were kids). The music by Trevor Jones is one of my favorite film soundtracks. This DVD also features a marvelous “Making Of” documentary, which is well worth watching. If you’ve never experienced The Dark Crystal before, don’t pass it up now!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and featuring the same type of puppetry and fantasy setting. Or, the classic The Muppet Show, to admire the work of Henson and Oz and company in a more recognizable format.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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How I Fell In Love With a Librarian and Lived to Tell About It by Rhett Ellis

How I Fell in Love with a Librarian and Lived to Tell About It
by Rhett Ellis

Robert Smith is the 37-year-old unmarried pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in fictional Clegmore, Alabama. He’s an avid library user for his sermons, especially the nonfiction section, so he’s eager to meet the new librarian, Myra Findley. Miss Findley is 24 years old and a recent library school graduate who’s eager to update the library. Robert is immediately smitten.

But there’s something a little, um, shall we say, off, about Miss Findley. As Robert and Myra sort out her issues and their relationship, someone is leaking info about Myra to City Council member Langston Long who is threatening to blackmail our new librarian so he can cut library funding.
A short read at 101 pages, this book is ideal for those who like light Christian fiction, uncomplicated mysteries, and happy endings.

[ Amazon.com’s Rhett Ellis author page ]

Recommended by Charlotte K.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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But Enough About Me by Burt Reynolds on Compact Disc

But Enough About Me
by Burt Reynolds [Compact Disc Biography Reynolds] 

While I’ve never been what you would call a “huge” Burt Reynolds fan, I’ve definitely seen my share of his movies–being a child of the 70’s. I can remember watching “Smokey & the Bandit”, along with just about every other living human I knew…there was something free, uninhibited about Burt’s laugh during that movie–I always remembered it and felt like he must really know how to have fun! Years later, when he was in “Boogie Nights”, I was impressed that he had such a serious side (despite the often funny, hokey parts of the film). He proved himself to me as a solid actor.
So when I saw that Burt had written a memoir, I knew I had to read it at some point. I saw the opportunity to check out the audiobook (read by Burt himself) and I seized it! It must first be pointed out that Burt Reynolds is now 80 years old, and you can hear it in his voice. But I loved this book all the more because it was read by him!

I am constantly amazed and impressed by the vast amount of people Burt has worked with and made friends with over the years. Of course, I knew about Dinah Shore, Angee Dickinson, Sally Field, Loni Anderson, and Jon Voigt, etc. But there are so many other famous people that he knows or knew, well. Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Ossie Davis, Dom DeLouise and many more. After describing his childhood and his relationship with his parents, Reynolds spends the rest of the book going over his many friendships, as they evolved and as he evolved as an actor. He mentions movies he’s grateful he was a part of, as well as films he passed on or was passed over for. He dishes on a few celebrities that he does not respect or just never got along with (think Joan Crawford, Raquel Welch, Marlon Brando). I suppose the whole book reads like a “Who’s Who” of Hollywood, but because many of the people mentioned are from a time when I was growing up, it appeals greatly to me.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try If You Ask Me (and Of Course You Won’t), by Betty White, and Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher]

[ publisher’s official But Enough About Me web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Burt Reynolds ]

Recommended by Tracy T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Damned Busters by Matthew Hughes

Damned Busters
by Matthew Hughes

When Cheney Arnstruther refuses to sell his soul to the Devil, the cosmic order collapses. To set things right again, he teams up with both Heaven and Hell to fight crime as The Actionary! But he’s not the only one in town with incredible powers. A great read for theologists and super-hero fans alike.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Hell to Pay and Costume Not Included, also by Matthew Hughes] 

[ official Matthew Hughes web site ]

Recommended by Russell T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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GLOW on DVD

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

by Brett Whitcomb [DVD 796.812 Glo]

This is a documentary that tracks down the former Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. During the 1980s GLOW was a television show that featured lady wrestlers. This documentary tells the story of how the show started and where the stars are now. Interviews of the wrestlers today reveal how after applying to be on a TV show, they discovered at the casting that it was a wrestling entertainment show they had applied to. It also arranges a reunion meet up for the group. It was interesting that none of them actually were wrestlers, nor intended to be, but became so anyway. It’s a fun documentary and it’s not just for wrestling fans, if you are interested in television history, you should try this.

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official website for this documentary ]

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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Unbound by Jim C. Hines

Unbound
by Jim C. Hines

This is the third of Hines’ “Magic Ex Libris” quartet of novels — the fourth one is already out as well but I’m a little behind on my fantasy reading! As a result of the events of the second book, Michigan librarian/magic-user Isaac Vainio has had his physical connections to magic use stripped away from him, and he has been been ejected from the organization of magic users he belonged to. Simultaneously, a young protege he was supposed to protect has been taken by dark forces, and the two squabbling groups of “good guys” are finding themselves being defeated on multiple fronts by the ancient evil magician. Isaac’s quest in this novel is to try to find and rescue his missing protege, recover his stolen magical abilities, and stop the spread of evil in the world — all with limited resources and almost no allies to speak of. On top of that, but in this contemporary fantasy series, set in our modern world, the existence of real magic and the people who make use of it has now been revealed to the general public, making things even more complicated.
Though a lot happens in the course of this book, it still felt a little like a “bridge” volume in the series — an entry that carries the reader from the major events of volume two and connects with the connecting final volume. If you’re following Isaac’s journey, you won’t want to miss this, but Unbound is definitely not a place to jump into this series. None-the-less, I look forward to the final volume, Revisionary, which is high on my to-be-read pile right now!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Libriomancer, Codex Born, and the concluding volume Revisionary, all by Jim C. Hines]

[ official “Magic ex Libris” page on the official Jim C. Hines web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Fool Me Once
by Harlan Coben

Maya was a Blackhawk pilot in the Middle East but is now retired from the military giving piloting lessons to the public. During her deployment, her sister had been killed, and her husband was murdered just two weeks ago. Even worse, she was a witness to his death.

Still reeling from her losses, she’s ultra-protective of her toddler daughter and places a nanny cam in the house — and witnesses her dead husband cuddling the girl. Stunned, Maya now attempts to unravel what the heck is going on.

This is standard Coben. His excellent writing pulls you into the story as we learn about all of the characters. But I gotta say, I didn’t like the female protagonist nor the ending. Don’t let this distract you from the excellent read and tangled mystery. I had several theories going as to what was going on, and he still managed to surprise me.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Three Graves Full, by Jamie Mason] 

[ official Fool Me Once page on the official Harlan Coben web site ]

Recommended by Charlotte K.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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The Star Trek Concordance by Bjo Trimble

The Star Trek Concordance
by Bjo Trimble [791.457 StaYt]

For any true die-hard Star Trek fan (i.e. “trekkie” or “trekker”), Bjo Trimble’s Star Trek Concordance is an essential part of your fannish library. First published as a fan edition, available only through fannish networks, Trimble was able to find a professional publisher, Ballantine, who put this book out in 1976 as an oversized trade paperback, complete with a unique design element – a spinning disc on the front cover with cut-out windows, which allowed you to spin to an episode title, or a stardate, or a writer or director, and see the corresponding entries within the book. The book itself gave detailed plot descriptions for every “original series” Star Trek episode (as well as the animated Star Trek series), complete with primary credits (writer, director, main guest cast). There were detailed alphabetical indexes to all things Trek — you could look up the entries for Andorians, or Tellarites, or the planets and characters featured in the 79 original episodes, and see how they connected with the rest of the original series canon.

This was all in the pre-internet days, before the existence of such wonderful sites as Memory Alpha, which serves the same purposes now. In 1995, Trimble put out an all-new edition of the book, still focused exclusively on the “original series”, but now updated to include the first 7 Star Trek feature films featuring the original cast, as well as some (but not all) episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space 9 that featured original series characters appearing in “new generation” stories. Both the 1976 and 1995 Concordances include quite a lot of fan art — something you don’t see in many of the other professionally published Trek non-fiction books. Having grown up using these two books as my ultimate resource for Classic Trek questions, I still love sitting down and browsing both volumes — I do use Memory Alpha, so I don’t ignore the online resources available to modern Trek fans, but I still use “do you have a copy of Bjo Trimble’s Star Trek Concordance” as my acid test on how devoted a Trek fan truly is!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try On the Good Ship Enterprise, Bjo Trimble’s personal memoir about her history with Star Trek, including her legendary write-in campaigns that saved the series from cancellation — twice!]

[ History of the Star Trek Concordance at Fanlore.org ] | [ Memory Alpha page for Bjo Trimble (with links to more info) ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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The Music of Star Trek (a Hoopla streaming file)

The Music of Star Trek
performed by The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra [on the Hoopla online service]

This album consists of the end titles to most of the Star Trek films and the television show themes performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. I thought it was a very well done performance. The original series is my favorite so I am most familiar with those tunes, but it was really nice to hear the Next Generation theme again because my dad and sister used to watch that series when we were younger. So it was overall enjoyable and I recommend it to Star Trek fans of any series or film (although the two newer movies are not included). It could also be enjoyed if you like orchestra music and want something non-classical. If you want to try this one you can check it out on Hoopla, which is a digital streaming service our library subscribes to. There is not much in the way of set up you simply go to www.hoopladigital.com (or follow a link from our online catalog) to create an account, and then stream the music through your browser. It’s nice that you don’t have to wait for these either. On OverDrive you do have to wait sometimes if an item is out to someone else, but not on Hoopla.

[If you like this item, you might like these too – You may also like the soundtracks to the two newer Trek films, also available on Hoopla. If you want an actual CD you could try Frontiers: Classic Science Fiction Themes. It has music from seven different sci-fi movies and TV shows including Star Trek, Logan’s Run, Total Recall and Alien, performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.]

 

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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Web of the Romulans by M.S. Murdock

Web of the Romulans
by M.S. Murdock [Heritage Murdock, or Hoopla]

The Enterprise has a few problems before it in this story. The ship’s computer has fallen in love with Kirk and is not allowing other people to access information. There is also a Romulan vessel to deal with, which has its own problem, a virus. This is actually pretty short; it felt like a TV episode rather than a movie, so saying more about the story would spoil it. This was one of the first Star Trek novels I’ve read and while I did enjoy the story, I would say I liked the story lines in the Newspaper Comics better. However, this audio production was a bit beyond other audio books I’ve listened to because it has added in sound effects and has multiple readers. It reminded me of the audio version of The Hobbit, which was recorded as a BBC radio show. Most of the text is read by George Takei (Sulu) but Spock’s logs are read by Leonard Nimoy and I really enjoyed hearing the original crew’s voices with story. Another point of interest is that the author is Nebraskan (born in Omaha), so there is a paper copy in the Heritage Room. You may want to try this out if you’d like listening to a radio show type of production of a space drama. You can check it out on Hoopla, which is a digital streaming service our library subscribes to. There is not much in the way of set up you simply go to www.hoopladigital.com (or follow a link from our online catalog) to create an account, and then stream the audiobook through your browser; they don’t download to your device/computer.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Star Trek The Newspaper Comics, Volumes 1 and 2, by Thomas Warkentin.]

[ Web of the Romulans page on the Memory Alpha Star Trek site ] | [ M.S. Murdock page on Memory Alpha Star Trek site ]

See more books like this on our Star Trek: The Reading List booklist on BookGuide!

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed [Biography Strayed]

When this book first came out, I sort of wanted to read it, but I wasn’t terribly motivated. Then I saw the movie (Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed). I loved it, but I love Ms. Witherspoon! Well, after watching the movie, which I’d heard Strayed had been very involved with (thus, it must follow the book pretty closely), I decided to read the book itself and see what might have been left out.
This is a well-written book, first of all! It reads like a novel, in my opinion, but you know that it’s a true story. I really felt like I was out hiking with Cheryl, and I felt like I could see back into her childhood when she described certain incidents. This story is rich with beautiful descriptions of the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as lovely interactions (for the most part) with strangers met along the way.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try On the Road, by Jack Kerouac]

[ official Wild page on the official Cheryl Strayed web site ]

Recommended by Tracy T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time by G.B. Trudeau

The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time
by G.B. Trudeau [741.5 Tru]

I have been a fan of G.B. Trudeau’s work on Doonesbury since the early 1970s. Peopled with a vast and varied cast of characters, Trudeau took a comedic poke at all of society’s conventions, usually with a liberal slant. Fron the zoned-out Zonker, to the Hunter S. Thompson parody Duke, to the titular Mike Doonesbury, the characters all have multiple layers to explore. This particular collection gathers the entire storyline of ex-football player B.D. — he who always wore his football helmet in the strip, even after college — as he goes to serve in the military in Iraq. When his humvee is blown up by an RPG while on patrol, B.D. ends up losing his leg, beginning a long journey of recovery, both physical and emotional. B.D. eventually gets a titanium prosthetic leg — this series of comic strips, spread out over a year’s time, tells of every step of his recovery process…sometimes in humorous tones, but often with very serious entries. For a comic strip that usually is satirical, Trudeau is able to treat a very sensitive topic with humor and honesty. Great work! It turns out that The Long Road Home is merely the first of four books in a set that Trudeau put out that tied into soldiers’ experiences in war and their reintegration into society. The War Within continues to follow B.D., as he deals with PTSD and the emotional stresses of being a survivor. Signature Wound: Rocking TBI features B.D. serving as a mentor to one of his former soldiers, who suffered a traumatic brain injury (and lost an eye), and who faces unique challenges fitting back into society. The fourth volume is Mel’s Story, which tells the story of a female military chopper mechanic, who is the victim of rape by a fellow soldier but who works through the healing process enough to re-enlist for another tour of duty in the mideast. These latter three volumes are not owned by the libraries but would be available through our InterLibrary Loan service.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Lisa’s Story: The Other Shoe, by Tom Batiuk — a sensitive and heartbreaking treatment of a family’s experiences with terminal cancer in the Funky Winkerbean comic strip; and Remembering Farley, by Lynn Johnson, the story from puppyhood to passing of the beloved dog in the For Better or Worse comic strip.] 

[ official Doonsbury web site from author Garry “G.B.” Trudeau ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Deliverance by James Dickey

Deliverance
by James Dickey

I saw parts of this movie many years ago, and I found it troubling. I believe, now, that I didn’t even see the movie in its entirety…. Upon listening to Burt Reynolds memoir (But Enough About Me), I decided I’d like to watch it again sometime… before that, I decided to read the book. (Reynolds said he had read it before being asked to play Lewis–I thought that was interesting, and I realized the actual story must be pretty good.) I’m so glad I picked this book up! I really enjoyed the writing itself, and as is typical for me, I was able to read the difficult scenes much more easily than I’m able to watch them. This story is beautifully written–many of the things Dickey’s character, Ed, says or thinks are things I could easily see myself saying or thinking. I especially appreciated that the story came from his point of view, rather than Lewis, who I had initially believed to be the protagonist of the story. In reality, it is Ed’s story, and that makes it so much better! I was really able to identify with Ed and his struggles, his fears, and his successes!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try , or The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, by Stephen King, or Jaws, by Peter Benchley]

[ Wikipedia page for Deliverance ] | [ Wikipedia page for James Dickey ]

Recommended by Tracy T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Shaun the Sheep: The Movie on DVD

Shaun the Sheep: The Movie [j DVD Shaun]

This is one of those kid’s movies that is just as funny for adults. Like the TV show, none of the characters talk, even the humans — they just mumble like the adults in the Peanuts cartoons. The story begins on the farm when Shaun begins to think of a way to get a day off their usual routine. Disaster and humor ensue when he and the other farm animals put the sleeping farmer an old camper, which then rolls away to the big city. The farm dog, then Shaun, then the rest of the sheep herd head to the city to find the farmer – as it turns out its not so nice without him. If you liked Wallace and Gromit you are sure to like this too because they are made by the same company using clay models and stop motion animation.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Shaun the Sheep: Season One or Season Two.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Shaun the Sheep: The Movie web site ]

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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The Weapon of a Jedi by Jason Fry

The Weapon of a Jedi
by Jason Fry [j Fry] 

The Weapon of a Jedi takes place between Episodes 4 and 5 of Star Wars. Luke Skywalker, along with C-3P0 and R2-D2, are sent on a scouting mission for the Rebel Alliance. A vision from the Force, along with a run-in with Imperial forces, lead Luke to the planet Devaron. Under the guise of repairing his ship, Luke is drawn to an old ruin declared off-limits by the Empire and avoided by the locals as haunted. Luke is guided to the ruins by a mysterious alien named Sarco Plank, a jaded opportunist with his own agenda. The Force guides Luke past the Imperial sensors to an old Jedi temple where he can learn more about the Force. That is, if Luke can survive Imperial hunters and a merciless foe out for his own gain. Jason Fry has contributed to plenty of Star Wars books before. He is a skilled writer who knows how to write a good story. The Weapon of a Jedi is a worthwhile read for any Star Wars fans. The plot and the villain are underdeveloped. But, it’s still a fun story that most Star Wars fans should enjoy.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Moving Target, by Cecil Castelluci, or Smuggler’s Run, by Greg Rucka] [ official Jason Fry web site ]

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

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Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

Murder in Mesopotamia
by Agatha Christie

  An archaeology team from England and the United States is out on an expedition in the Middle East for the summer. The wife of the head of the team has been very uneasy so her husband hires a nurse to care for her. The nurse is the narrator of this story and from the beginning she is puzzled about what the woman’s issues are, because she appears healthy. When the woman confides her fear to the nurse, that someone is going to kill her, the nurse is confused as to why she was brought in rather than a private eye or security person. The woman’s fears prove to be justified when she’s found murdered in her room one afternoon. Mr. Poirot just happens to be passing through and is called into the case. While this will appeal to mystery fans, there is a substantial bit of archaeology in the story line so that if you liked the Tomb Raider movies or video games, you might like this too.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try 5 Little Pigs, by Agatha Christie. This novel like Murder in Mesopotamia brings the past to the present during the investigation.]

 

[ Murder in Mesopotamia page on the official Agatha Christie web site ]

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD

Star Trek: The Animated Series 

[DVD Star]

When the original live-action Star Trek ended its three-season run on NBC in 1969, nobody could have foreseen that a fairly low-rated series in the early days of color TV was going to have much of an impact on popular culture. However, the studio packaged the existing 79 episodes and sold them into local syndication across the country (and, eventually, across the world), and audiences who hadn’t caught the series when it originally aired now found it and turned Star Trek into a huge hit.

With Star Trek conventions starting to pop up around the country, and an audience growing in size each year — and hungry for new Star Trek adventures — NBC authorized the production of an animated version of Star Trek. The Animated Series, which lasted for 22 half-hour episodes in 1973 and 1974, carried on the style and tone of the live-action series, while also pushing some visual boundaries that the live show could not have managed — several truly “alien” characters were introduced as “cast regulars”. Speaking of “cast regulars” — most of the actors who played the core cast of characters on the original Star Trek — William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, etc. — returned to reprise their characters in this animated version.

Some of the plots of the animated episodes were a bit more outlandish than the live-action series, and in subsequent years Gene Roddenberry and his successors in the Star Trek production offices have pretty much disavowed almost all of the events from the animated series episodes, stating that none of the animated plots are part of the “official Star Trek continuity”. At its worst, the animated series is too comical. At its best, Star Trek: The Animated Series can stand up to the best of any other Star Trek live-action series very easily, particularly in episodes such as “Yesteryear”, which explores Spock’s childhood growing up bi-racially on the planet Vulcan.

Any true Star Trek fan should own a copy of this series on DVD, but if you don’t, the libraries now have it available for check-out

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Star Trek: The Original Series, or any of the first Star Trek feature films, starring the cast of the original series.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ Synopsis of this series at StarTrek.com ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Once a Crooked Man by David McCallum

Once a Crooked Man
by David McCallum

  Not only am I a fan of mystery fiction, but I grew up on the pop culture shows of the late 1960s and 1970s. So when I saw that one of my favorite actors, David McCallum — Illya Kuryakin from the kitschy spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-68); also “Duckie” on the current hit series N.C.I.S. — had written a mystery/thriller novel, I couldn’t pass it up. Once a Crooked Man is McCallum’s first foray into writing, after an illustrious career in both acting and singing, but you’d be hard pressed to tell that he’s never published a book before — this comic novel features well-defined characters — including a family of American mobsters, our main protagonist — a B-list actor whose Good Samaritan act pulls him into a deadly situation, an edgy young female British cop, and an embittered but determined wife of a British Colonel, desperate to avenge the wrongs inflicted on her parents. There’s a convoluted but cohesive plot, unexpected sexual encounters, and globe-trotting adventure.

Once a Crooked Man is not perfect, by any means — there are some pretty graphic bits, and, personally, I found the ending a bit rushed or forced, or I would have rated it higher. But, if you’re a fan of the comic farce crime fiction popularized by Donald Westlake in his Dortmunder novels, or Lawrence Block in his Bernie Rhodenbarr novels, you should enjoy this one as well.
[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Donald Westlake or the “Burglar” books by Lawrence Block.] [ publisher’s official Once a Crooked Man web page] | [ official David McCallum – Writer Facebook page ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Letters to a Young Scientist by Edward O. Wilson

Letters to a Young Scientist
by Edward O. Wilson [Biography Wilson] 

 Part biography and part advice to a science student or recent graduate, this book by a myrmecologist was a short read. It is very much aimed at science students at the university level in the advice it gives for those early in their careers. I read this after graduating with a degree in geology and I would say that it would make a nice graduation gift someone. People who like biographies may also find it interesting because in the series of letters there are a number of stories from the author’s life long quest to learn as much about ants as possible.

[If you’d like other perspectives on life in science I’d also recommend the DVD Antarctica: A Year on Ice about scientists who live and work at McMurdo. Another good one that’s a bit more historical is The Girls of Atomic City, by Denise Kiernan, about the people who worked at the location where uranium was enriched for the atomic bomb that ended WWII.] [ official E.O. Wilson Foundation web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Edward O. Wilson web site ]

 

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Series (on DVD)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Series 

[DVD Signed] 

In October 2013, the Hallmark channel on cable television aired a TV-movie titled “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, which starred Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty) as the head of a small division, at the main Denver post office, which processed damaged or lost mail. The movie (and subsequent series) was created and executive produced by Martha Williamson, best known for the nine-season CBS hit “Touched By an Angel”. My wife, the daughter of a longtime postal delivery man, loved the story of a quirky crew of misfit postal workers trying to identify the intended recipient of long-delayed mail, and the drama that ensued as they reunited the letter and the person it was supposed to go to. And she got me hooked as well! The TV-movie pilot was very successful, and led to a ten-episode season of postal misadventures. Unfortunately, The Hallmark Channel decided NOT to renew Signed, Sealed, Delivered as a weekly series…but has continued it as a series of irregularly scheduled 2-hour TV-movies on the harder-to-find Hallmark Mysteries & Movies cable channel. This two-disc set includes the ten 1-hour episodes from 2014. The heart-tugging dramatic stories about the senders and receivers of “lost mail” pair up nicely with the more comical and light-hearted personal foibles of the four members of “The Postables” team. There’s even romance! If you like emotional stories about chances missed and opportunities recovered, with a heavy dose of humor to leaven the emotion, I recommend giving this series a sample.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Second Chances, a.k.a. “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Movie”, available as a standalone title.] [Also available in traditional print format.] [ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Signed, Sealed, Delivered web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Star Trek by The Vulcans (on streaming service Hoopla)

Star Trek
by The Vulcans [on streaming service Hoopla] 

This is not official Star Trek music, but the album does (at the beginning) sound like it could be from the shows. The album is classified as reggae music but it also has synthesizer sounds to it. As I said the music kind of drifts away from sounding like Star Trek as you listen through the tracks; to me it just sounded like retro videogame tunes. I was quite OK with that, because I do listen to those on YouTube sometimes. Overall it was a sort of weird but I still liked it. Just know that familiar Star Trek tunes are not included. If you want to try this one you can check it out on Hoopla, which is a digital streaming service our library subscribes to. There is not much in the way of set up you simply go to www.hoopladigital.com (or follow a link from our online catalog) to create an account, and then stream the music through your browser.

[If you are looking for actual Star Trek music Hoopla has a few albums for you including but not limited to: The Music of Star Trek by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, sound tracks to original television show, Wrath of Khan, The Undiscovered Country, Nemesis, and the two newer films Star Trek (2009) and Into Darkness.] [ Review of this album on AllMusic.com ]

Recommended by Kristen A.
Gere Branch Library Library

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Ringo: With a Little Help by Michael Seth Starr

Ringo: With a Little Help
by Michael Seth Starr [Biography Starr] 

If you’re looking forward to seeing Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band perform at Lincoln’s Pinewood Bowl this summer, here’s something to help you prep for it. This hefty 2015 biography by journalist/editor/biographer Michael Seth Starr (no relation, obviously, since Ringo’s given name is Richard Starkey but a nice coincidence) goes into great detail about the life and times of “the last Beatle.” The author’s fondness for the little drummer with the big nose is evident but he also chronicles the events, circumstances, and relationships of Ringo’s life with multiple perspectives and extensive research. From a wartime hard-scrabble and sickly beginning to fame as a teenage teddy-boy drummer who graduated to the rock-n-roll ranks with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes before John Lennon and company gave him a better offer, Ritchie Starkey’s childhood and youth alone would have made a compelling story, but to add in the fact that he became legendary in his own lifetime as a member of perhaps the most recognizable pop/rock band in history is even better. Add in his acting roles, his business ventures, his marriages and affairs, and his friendships with famous musicians and actors in addition to his relationships to John, Paul & George, and you have some engrossing reading. Now-days all about “Peace and Love”, Ringo is enjoying the fruits of his early labors, his escape from addictions, and a settled family life. Ringo and his wife, the American actress Barbara Bach, live part of each year in America, grateful to the nation that welcomed him with open arms when many of his fellow countrymen viewed him negatively for replacing Pete Best in the Beatles lineup. The book includes two small photo sections and an epilogue in which some famous contemporary drummers give their assessment of his skill and influence. Interestingly, Ringo did not endorse this tome, which seems arbitrary, given the love and time that went into it, but maybe that is just one cost of such a level of fame — not being able to trust what’s written, or have the time to review it, about yourself..

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Beatles Anthology, by The Beatles, or the DVDs A Hard Day’s Night, and Help!.] [ official Michael Seth Starr author web site ] | [ official Ringo Starr web site ]

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

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The Colorado Kid by Stephen King (on audio)

The Colorado Kid
by Stephen King

 I read (listened to) this book because my book club was going to be gathering for our 100th time soon, and we’d all be discussing our all-time favorite mysteries. Since I’m new to the mystery genre, I wanted to try to (a) sneak in another mystery quickly before we met, and (b) add a Stephen King one to my repertoire, if possible. (Did you know that most of his novels are considered either Horror or Suspense? I guess I used to consider Suspense the same as Mystery, but apparently they’re not the same. Anyway…)

I enjoyed this book, largely because of the fellow who did the reading — he did his Mainer voices really well, and there were only three characters, so it was easy to keep them separate. And the story was beautifully written, as I’ve come to believe that few authors other than King can do. My attention was snagged in the beginning and held firm ’til the end.

However, I’m only giving this an “I really liked it” rating, rather than “it was amazing”, because as a mystery, it didn’t have me absolutely on the edge of my seat, dying to know the answer…plus, well, I don’t want to spoil it, but it didn’t end the way I’d hoped…

That being said, I’d still recommend it if you enjoy King’s work and/or if you’re into mysteries.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Joyland, also by Stephen King.] [ Colorado Kid page on the official Stephen King web site ]

Recommended by Tracy T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Star Wars: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka

Star Wars: Before the Awakening
by Greg Rucka [j Rucka]

Before the Awakening is a trio of short stories about the heroes from “The Force Awakens”. Finn (when he was still FN-2187) is a promising stormtrooper concerned that he doesn’t fit in with his comrades in arms. Rey is a lonely desert scavenger afraid to trust but desperate to belong. Poe Dameron is a hotshot fighter pilot looking for a cause worth fighting for. Before the Awakening is a fun, well-paced book that provides even more depth to some new fan favorites. Any fan of Star Wars, child or adult, will enjoy this book.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Moving Target, by Cecil Castelluci, Smuggler’s Run, by Greg Rucka, or The Weapon of a Jedi, by Jason Fry] [ Description of Before the Awakening on Wookiepedia ] | [ official Greg Rucka web site ]

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. 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. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Project Almanac on DVD

Project Almanac [DVD Project]

This movie, rated PG-13, was very entertaining. We all agreed we want to watch it again later this year. It is a Science Fiction Action Adventure. If you like time travel or teenage situations, you might like this. If you like geek techno-invention movies you would probably enjoy this movie. If you like suspense or thrillers you might want to try it.

[If you enjoy this, try an M. Night Shyamalan movie, like Lady in the Water, Signs, The Village, or After Earth.] [Also available in traditional print format.] [ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Project Almanac Facebook site ]

Recommended by Kathy H.
Walt Branch Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. 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. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!