Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide

Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Glenn Kay
Adult Non-Fiction - Upper Level - 791.436K

Odds are if you’ve walked outside or turned on the television lately you’ve seen a festering plague spreading onto the streets. No, I’m not talking about skinny jeans, although those are pretty frightening. Really, I’m serious! Have you seen fourteen year old boys wearing them? It’s just not right! No, this is far worse than some terrible fashion trend that people blindly follow shuffling around like some sort of…um…what’s the word?





ZOMBIE! That’s right, Zombies! Sure, vampires are certainly the undead rock stars at the moment, but their brain eating counterparts are having somewhat of a renaissance themselves.

There are a plethora of zombie graphic novels like “The Walking Dead,” and “Marvel Zombies.” (Peter Parker feasting on Mary-Jane’s brains anyone?) There are a ton of zombie videogames such as “Resident Evil” (Yeah, yeah, so the last two games didn’t technically have zombies but close enough) “Call of Duty: World at War,” (who doesn’t love shooting Nazi zombies?), and the “Left 4 Dead” series. Then there are zombie books like “World War Z,” and the timeless “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” I’m sure Jane Austen would be thrashing and moaning in her grave if she knew about it.

Of course one would be remiss to forget the zombie’s greatest benefactor, the ubiquitous zombie movie. From the 1932 Bela Lugosi film “White Zombie” to George Romero’s classic “Night of the Living Dead,” all the way up to 2004’s comedy “Shaun of the Dead” the amount of zombie related cinema can be daunting. If only someone would create some sort of zombie movie guide there might just be a way to sift through all these films and find the real gems. (It might also give this long rambling entry a point as well.) Well look no further because “Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide” is here! This guide contains loads of photos, detailed summaries of nearly every zombie film you can think of, and interviews with horror greats like make-up mastermind Tom Savini. So whether you’re looking for “Kung Fu Zombies,” a little zombie romance with “My Boyfriend’s Back,” or just a good old fashioned existential zombie crisis such as “The Cemetery Man” AKA “Dellamorte Dellamore,” “Zombie Movies” is sure to make any fan groan with delight.

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level - WAL

Cemetery Man by Michele Soavi
DVD Collection - Main Level - SCI/FI HORROR CEM

Shaun of the Dead by Edgar Wright
DVD Collection - Main Level - SCI/FI HORROR SHA

Night of the Living Dead by George Romero
DVD Collection - Main Level - SCI/FI HORROR NIG

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Adult Science Fiction - Main Level - Austen

World War Z by Max Brooks
Adult Science Fiction - Main Level - Brooks

The New Girl

The New Girl by Meg Cabot.
Youth New Book Shelves - Lower Level - CABOT

This is an adorable addition to the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series! In this installment, Allie is now starting school at Pine Heights Elementary as the new girl. She is excited yet nervous. On her first day, she wears a skirt over her jeans because her leggings are still missing after the family's big move to the old and somewhat creepy house. (This move is described in the equally wonderful first book of the series, Moving Day). Unfortunately, Allie regrets her fashion decision later especially when she meets the school bully Rosemary.

For some reason, Rosemary wants to beat Allie up, and threatens her continuously. What is Allie to do? She doesn't want to tell on Rosemary because that will make circumstances worse. Thus, Allie asks for advice from her friends, her dad, and her cool uncle Jay. None of their advice seems to be right though, and Allie struggles with her fear and anger over this situation.

In the meantime, Allie's promised kitten from Lady Serena Archibald's litter is born early, her grandma comes to visit and causes some irritation for her mother and herself, and the school spelling bee starts. How will Allie cope with all of this stress and still be the amazing "queen" that she is?

The New Girl, the second book in the Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls series, is such a delightful and entertaining book! It's very relatable to every reader, from the youngest to those who only long ago remember being 9 years old. I highly recommend this book and the overall Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series!

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan
Youth New Book Shelves- Lower Level – McGOWAN

“I love children. Eating them, that is. I’ve eaten quite a few children over the centuries. You may wonder where I get them all. The answer is: I get them the traditional way.” (McGowan) This is the opening paragraph in The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan.


Sol and Connie Blink are new to Grand Creek. The first person they meet is an odd older woman named Fay Holaderry and her dog Swift. Sol is smarter that your average eleven year old and he notices something strange about Swift. Swift was chewing on a bone but not just any bone, a human bone. Sol and Connie realize in their new neighborhood there are not many children around. Add into the mix that their new neighbor Fay is an odd woman whose dog chews on human bones and they have a step mother who does like them at all. It is up to Sol and Connie to find out what is going on in Grand Creek and to keep themselves from being eaten by a witch! Check out The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children to see what the traditional way for getting children is (beware the answer is shocking) and where Swift’s gets his human bones to chew on. This is a funny modern retelling of the classic Hansel and Gretel.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Youth New Fiction - Lower Level - KELLY

Calpurnia Virgina Tate, known to her family mostly as Callie V, is 11 years old and right in the middle of six brothers. It’s Texas, near the turn of the last century. Callie would like to learn more about that Mr. Darwin’s ideas, but the librarian at her small town library absolutely refuses to let a little girl check out such a dangerous book. When he hears about this, her fearsome Granddaddy takes her into his own private library and lends her his own copy. Thus begins a tender relationship between Callie and her grandfather, an amateur naturalist. He teaches her the basics of observing and collecting; she listens to his stories of the War and finds things in life much more interesting than the housekeeping and handiwork skills her mother thinks so important. Callie struggles also with three of her brothers going sweet on her best friend, the trials of her favorite oldest brother falling in love, and the humiliations of the piano recital. In spite of her growing awareness of the oppressiveness of her role and the lack of options for women, Callie has a great sense of humor, making hers a truly delightful story. I hope to hear more from you soon, Miss Callie.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
Adult Fiction Shelves – Main Level – JACKSON


Laurel’s life seems perfect until the ghost of her pre-teen daughter’s best friend comes to her in the night. Molly shows her to the backyard pool, where her body floats face down. How can little Molly be dead? Who did this to her? Shelby, Laurel’s daughter, might know more than she’s saying. Their family friend Bet may know more, too. Bet is from the impoverished town of DeLop, where Laurel’s family secrets lie. Then there is Thalia, Laurel’s difficult sister, who is summoned to help her figure it all out. This book is filled with subplots: sisterhood, friendship, loyalty, family secrets, and appearances. Joshilyn Jackson is an amazing author who just keeps getting better!

Smash Cut

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
Adult New Book Display-Main Level – BROWN

The phrase smash cut is a movie term where one scene abruptly ends and another begins without any transition. THE SCENE: Hotel Moultrie, 3:15 pm on a Tuesday. An elevator with four people is stopped at a floor to pick up others. The occupants were stunned when the door opened to a mask man who quickly hit the stop button. The unknown man ordered everyone to kneel. After he took their jewelry he shot one man dead. END SCENE. Paul Wheeler was the man that was shot dead in the elevator on that fateful day. Of the three witnesses one was the most important; Wheeler’s female companion, art gallery owner, Julie Rutledge. The big question is who murdered Paul, was it a random robbery or the work of a cold, chilling sociopath.

Paul was a widow with no family except for his brother Doug, sister in law Sharon, and his nephew Creighton who were all shocked by his death. There is obvious dislike between Julie and Creighton, who try to point the police in each other’s direction even though they both have iron clad alibis. This is where Derek Mitchell enters. Derek is a hotshot criminal defense lawyer and he turns down the offer to be Creighton Wheeler’s lawyer. Not only is there a strange and startling conflict of interest but he does not like Creighton as a person and could not justify being his lawyer. Creighton is a spoiled young man. He does not hold a job; he plays various sports and has a large obsession with movies, especially horror movies. Just about every comment he makes is taken from a movie. Strange and scary disturbances start happening to Julie and Derek as they team up to prove that Paul’s murder was the work of a sociopath. Sandra Brown offers up a great read in this romantic thriller. You will enjoy the many twists and turns that this novel brings.

Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey

Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey by Karen Wilkin
New Book Shelves - Upper Level - 741.973 G

Macabre, darkly humorous, and uniquely hard to describe are just a few ways to sum up Edward Gorey’s work. Gorey, an author and illustrator of “children’s books” that are a bit too dark to be for children says as much himself, "Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable." This of course makes it woefully hard to write a recommendation of his works. Good thing this recommendation is about a book about his books, way less confusing.

For those still left in the dark about Gorey’s illustrations and writing look no further, Elegant Enigmas is just for you. For those of you who are devout Gorey fanatics look no further, Elegant Enigmas is also just for you! In addition to providing a glimpse behind the curtain of Gorey’s personal life, author Karen Wilkin takes selected pieces from Gorey’s books and explains their influences as well as the subtext behind them.

An example of this would be Gorey’s penchant for showing (or not showing) horrible events out of the panel. Wilkin compares this to a Greek play where the set up and aftermath of a violent event will happen on stage, but the event itself will happen off stage.

B is for Basil Assaulted by Bears


This leaves a lot up to the imagination, and this is a technique that Gorey uses not just with violent pieces but as a narrative, sometimes only giving the reader threads that they must piece together on their own.

On the surface Gorey might look simple, but there is a lot going on between his "sublime" lines. Take a look at Elegant Enigmas and you'll see why.

For more Gorey bug your librarian to order his books.

Becoming Naomi León

Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Youth Fiction - Lower Level - RYAN

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw is an 11 year old girl who loves to make lists and carve animals out of soap. She is part Mexican/part American, and she lives with her great grandma and younger disabled brother, Owen, in a trailer in Lemon Tree, California. Naomi knows life could be better, but she is content living with her loving Gram and her sweet little brother Owen.

One day the children’s mother, Skyla, comes to visit them. From that moment on, Naomi and Owen’s lives are never the same. At first, Naomi is thrilled about meeting her absent mother. However, as time passes, Naomi is awakened to all that Skyla is as a person: unstable, selfish, and immature. Unfortunately Skyla and her new unfriendly boyfriend, Clive, want to take Naomi to live in Las Vegas. Naomi is horrified and begs Gram to keep her safe. Gram promises that she will go to the ends of the earth to protect her, and she does. Soon the whole family ends up in Mexico to find the children’s father because they need his help for the ensuing custody battle.

In Mexico, new adventures await as the family fights to stay together. Will the Outlaw family find peace and stability? Will Naomi and Owen meet their long lost father again? Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a heartfelt and feel-good novel that shows the progression of Naomi as a shy and uncertain girl into a more self assured young woman. I recommend this novel, which is a 2005 ALA Notable Book, to all who enjoy happy endings!

Luv Ya Bunches

Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle
Youth New Books Shelves-Lower Level – MYRACLE

This is the first book in a children's fiction series by Lauren Myracle. This story is told in a mix of traditional narrative, instant messages, blog posts, and screenplays. This is the story of four very different girls who become very good friends during their first week of fifth grade. Violet is the new girl at school that does not really know how to fit in and the one person she wants/need to talk to is her mother and she is unable to do so. Katie-Rose is the budding cinematographer who is always enthusiastic and wants to be friends with Camilla (Milla). Milla is one of the popular girls in the grade but she acts friendly and nice towards everyone unlike her two BFF’s. Yasaman is the quiet computer savvy girl that people make fun of because she wears a hijab, which is a traditional head scarf worn by Muslim women.

An unexpected occurrence leads these girls to become fast friends and put the real mean girls Medusa, err opps I mean Modessa, and Quin in their place. At the beginning of the first week of fifth grade these were four different girls that were not friends with each other. At the end of the first week they realize they have more in common with each other than just being named after flowers. Tween girls will especially like this series.

13 1/2

13 1/2 by Nevada Barr

Adult New Fiction Barr


In 13 ½, Nevada Barr takes a break from her excellent Anna Pigeon park ranger series of mysteries and crafts a perfectly paced, terrifying standalone novel.

This psychological thriller spans several decades, beginning in the 1960s with a family brutally murdered in Rochester, MN by one of their own, the reviled “Butcher Boy”, and continues through the present day with the murder of a tarot reader in New Orleans’s French Quarter. When the past collides with the present, an innocent woman must question what she really knows about her husband. Is she living with a stranger?

This book contains a few necessarily disturbing scenes consistent with the theme of a sociopathic personality. There is no additional, gratuitous violence, however.

Black Hills

Black Hills by Nora Roberts
Adult New Book Display-Main Level – ROBERTS

Cooper Sullivan was 11 years old the first time that he visited his grandparents ranch in South Dakota. Cooper was very unhappy to be there, he wanted to spend his summer home in New York hanging out with his friends and going to Yankee baseball games. His grandmother gives him 2 weeks to sulk and pout, once those weeks were up she made a deal with Cooper, go out and have fun and help grandpa around the ranch and they will buy a TV. Cooper realized that things are not too bad, he even found a friend. Lil Chance was the young neighbor girl. That summer the two became fast friends, riding horses and hitting baseballs in her homemade batting cage. Each summer Cooper would visit their friendship grew. One unforgettable summer Lil and Cooper realized that they wanted to be in a relationship with each other. They were inseparable all summer and had an experience neither of them will ever forget; they found the body of a young hiker.

As the years went by Lil makes her dreams come true. She is a wildlife biologist. She has opened an animal rescue on her family’s land and she travels all over the world researching different animals. Cooper struggled in life, his father wanted him to become a lawyer and join the family firm and Cooper wanted anything but that. He went on to become a policeman and later private investigator. Twelve years after they had their inseparable summer Lil and Cooper meet again.

Cooper left his job and life in New York to come back to the family ranch for good to help out his aging grandparents. Lil finally comes home from a long research trip and suddenly strange things start happening at her animal rescue. Lil tried to brush off the strange happenings but things escalate once her beloved cougar is killed. Cooper and Lil are thrown into a whirlwind of activity that has people scared in their small town. All these strange happenings and murders bring up the memory of the young hiker that Cooper and Lil found 12 years in the same hills. The wonder if the unsolved murder has anything to do with the incidents in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is an interesting tale of suspense that spans many years and will keep you guessing all the way to the end.

Sofie Metropolis is a great choice for fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Sofie is a young, single, sassy P.I. in the Greek-American community of New York City (Astoria). She finds herself in ridiculously dangerous situations in her quest to find missing pets, cheating spouses, and serve papers to the wiliest of citizens. These books are all really, really funny!




Sofie Metropolis by Tori Carrington
Adult Mysteries-Main Level - CARRINGTON

Dirty Laundry: A Sofie Metropolis Novel by Tori Carrington
Adult Mysteries-Main Level - CARRINGTON

















Foul Play: A Sofie Metropolis Novel by Tori Carrington
Adult Mysteries-Main Level - CARRINGTON

While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky
Adult New Book Display – Main Level - Delinsky

Robin Snow was a world class runner. She had dreams of going to the Olympics. When she suffers a massive heart attack during a training run, her family is devastated. How could this have happened to their vibrant, healthy daughter? Robin’s family surround her bedside in utter disbelief that she is brain dead – that machines are the only thing keeping her body going. Family secrets come out, but ultimately the family pulls together and learns about each other (as well as the Robin they didn’t know!). Here's some good brain candy for an easy weekend read.

The Truth Cookie

The Truth Cookie by Fiona Dunbar
Youth Fiction Lower Level - DUNBAR

Lulu (short for Louisa) Baker is not happy. Her father is going to marry Varaminta Le Bone, an awful woman that hates Lulu! Varaminta has a son Torquil that is horrible to Lulu. He steals Lulu’s Wodge of Stuff, which is a tin of photos and mementos from Lulu’s mom. Lulu is much attached to her Wodge of Stuff because her mom died tragically one day about 7 years ago and this is what Lulu has to remember her by. Every time Lulu tries to tell her dad about the awful stuff that Varaminta and Torquil do somehow she gets in trouble for it. On Lulu’s birthday she gets a recipe book from an unexpected person. This is no ordinary cookbook; this cookbook gives recipes for making things better. There is one recipe that Lulu wants to make, Truth Cookies. These cookies when eaten make the person the tell truth. Lulu is hoping that if she can make these then everything will go back to normal and Varaminta and Torquil will be out of her life forever! Find out if Lulu is successful in The Truth Cookie by Fiona Dunbar.

The Costume Copycat

The Costume Copycat by Maryann Macdonald.
Picture Book Shelves - Lower Level - MAC

Angela loves Halloween! It’s always so much fun to get dressed up and receive treats, especially from friendly Mrs. Walker. She gives out the best candy apples. Thus, Halloween should be a happy and stress free event. Unfortunately, it's not that way for Angela.

You see, while Angela delights in her costumes, her older sister Bernadette always seems to pick the absolute perfect disguises every year. Somehow Bernadette’s costumes are never affected by adverse weather conditions and always seem to entertain the neighborhood including Mrs. Walker. It’s just not fair! Angela wants to look as good as Bernadette. She wants special treatment and treats. Therefore, Angela decides to become a “costume copycat” and starts wearing Bernadette’s old costumes every Halloween. Will Angela finally be admired and given special treats?

The Costume Copycat by Maryann Macdonald is a very cute and relatable Halloween story. The illustrations are bright, endearing, and comical. The story is perfect for story times because it is all about the favorite childhood pastime of trick-or-treating. Furthermore, this is one holiday picture book that has a true and interesting plot.

Trick R' Treat

Trick R' Treat Directed by Michael Dougherty
DVD Collection - Main Level - SCIFI HORROR - TRI

Being somewhat of a morbid child who was both fascinated and terrified of the macabre, it’s safe to say that Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. There’s something thrilling about the scattered colors of the fall leaves crunching under ones feet, the gloomy eyes of the Jack O’ Lanterns peering out into the night, and oh yeah… there’s that whole candy thing. In addition to these annual symbols of the season one can not overlook the best part of it all, horror movies.

As a child of the 80’s (with a fairly open minded mother) I was able to relish the horror movie video boom. With the advent of home videos I was able to catch up on the classic (Halloween, The Evil Dead, and Creepshow to name a few) and not so classic (Lloyd Kaufman, and Roger Corman anyone?) horror films I missed out on. However the state of the modern American horror movie has me wondering whether “Silent Night, Deadly Night 2” was really that bad.


Ok, yes it was that bad.

Hey at least it has the famous "Garbage Day" (warning this link contains violence) quote, but what passes for American horror today is either gratuitous torture with scant plot, or remakes. We’ve got the classic horror remakes such as House of Wax with less than classic actors. (AKA Paris Hilton pretends to act.)

I know, it's a frightening thought for us as well

Then there are the slasher remakes like Friday the 13th, and Black Christmas. Then there are the “did we really need a remake of such an obscure movie to begin with” remakes (My Bloody Valentine? Really?!) Finally my favorite is the unnecessary sequel to a remake that was in itself unnecessary. I’m looking at you Rob Zombie. If you’re going to remake a film at least have something to add. John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” and Cronenberg’s “The Fly” are great examples of how a horror remake should be done.

GOOD Um... NOT SO GOOD


To say I’m a bit distraught by the modern American horror film would be an understatement, so it is with great pleasure I was able to view Mike Dougherty’s horror anthology “Trick R’ Treat.” The film revolves around four somewhat intersecting tales that involve classic icons of the genre such as werewolves, serial killers, ghosts, and one menacingly original creation. However, the writing is smart enough to take these standards and turn them on their head. In addition to this, the film doesn’t merely rely on grotesque imagery and needless torture just because it can. Of course it doesn’t mean there aren’t any gross out moments; it just means they actually service the story. Dougherty also has an excellent sense of style with regard to visual atmosphere. While many modern day directors like to overload their film with visual tricks and create a music video instead of a film, (I’m looking at you again Rob Zombie), Dougherty knows how to create an interesting shot without showboating. The film also has a great sense of humor, albeit a dark one. “Trick R’ Treat” also pays homage to classic horror films like “Halloween,” without directly ripping them off.

In this awful climate of modern horror one would think that an original film would be welcomed with opened arms. However, Warner Bros. appearently didn’t think so with regard to Trick R’ Treat. Set to be released in 2007 the movie was unfairly pushed back until it was unceremoniously dumped onto DVD last week. So if you are faced with the choice to see “Saw 25” in which exactly the same thing happens in this installment as it has in the previous ones or the option to check out “Trick R’ Treat” and indulge your 80’s horror movie nostalgia the answer should be pretty clear cut. Unless of course you already have that “Silent Night, Deadly Night” marathon planned.¬

The Fixer Upper

The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
Adult New Book Display-Main Level – ANDREWS

Dempsey Killebrew had everything going for her in Washington DC. She had a great job as a lobbyist (even though she is a lawyer). Dempsey also had great friends and shared an apartment with a few of them. Her life changed in an instant when her boss is caught in a political scandal and he pointed the blame at her! This event left Dempsey broke, unemployed and homeless. It is hard to pay $2000 a month in rent when one does not have any income. Dempsey had nowhere to turn and was out of options. She decided to help out her father, who had inherited an old family place called Birdsong that is located in Guthrie, Georgia. Dempsey realizes this could be a good opportunity for her, her dad does not think it needs that much work, just some paint and a little elbow grease to get it in tip top shape to sell.

Dempsey was in for the shock of a lifetime when she actually pulled up to the old Victorian house. It is basically a dump with junk everywhere. She is also in for a surprise when she finds out that there is a squatter with an unfriendly dog living there. It turns out this squatter is a distant relative that refuses to leave, ever! Dempsey agrees to let her stay while she renovates the house.

Guthrie is a typical small town; everyone knows everyone and their business. Dempsey has met some friendly people, some she would consider friends. The one problem that does creep up is the FBI Agents that will not leave her alone. The agents are trying to get Dempsey to give up information about her ex-boss. Check out The Fixer Upper to see how Dempsey clears her name of any wrong doing, finds her identity, true love and actual belief in herself.

Penny from Heaven

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm.
Youth Cd Books - Lower Level - HOLM

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm is a very sweet novel. Barbara Falucci, better known as Penny, is an 11 year old girl growing up in New Jersey in 1950s America. Her Italian father is deceased so Penny lives with her American mother and grandparents. While she loves them, she really enjoys spending time with her father's eccentric extended family. From really delicious meals to her favorite Uncle Dominic, spending time with the Falucci's and all of their cousins is a true treat!

The summer Penny turns 12 is filled with time working at Uncle Ralphie's store, adventures with her sarcastic yet loving cousin Frankie, bad hair days, Nonni's food, her cat passing away, her mother dating the milk man, and baseball games. One unfortunate event causes Penny to be in the hospital for many weeks. It is during this time that Penny truly grows as a person and receives needed answers about her father.

Penny from Heaven is a nostalgic read with great well-rounded characters. It is also a 2007 Newbery Honor Book. If you have any Italian heritage, then you will really connect with this story because the characters are so authentic. I listened to this story on Audio CD, and Amber Sealey does a wonderful job with the Eastern and Italian accents. This is a fun and well-written historical fiction novel...enjoy!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Teen Zone CD Books - Main Level - Asher

Before 17-year-old Hannah Baker committed suicide, she recorded thirteen cassette tapes. Each one explains one of the reasons why she did it. She names a different classmate on each tape, and has instructed each person to pass the tapes to the person named after them. If they don’t, another classmate has been instructed to go public with the tapes. The story is told from Clay Jensen’s perspective. He, of course, is one of the people named on the tapes. You may be thinking that this is a depressing story –and it is – but it is told in such an intriguing way that the reader can’t help but empathize. I listened to this book on audio, and found myself both dreading and yearning to know who the next named person would be and how that person affected Hannah’s life. Ultimately, this book is a lesson in hope, reminding us that nothing (and no one) is beyond repair or redemption if we just open ourselves to those around us with honesty and humility.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman: Arkham Asylum for Playstation 3
Video games - Main Level - VG BAT

Batman: Arkham Asylum for Xbox 360
Video Games - Main Level - VG BAT

It’s been a long and painful road for video game adaptations of the caped crusader. For over twenty years there has been a Batman game for systems spanning the entirety of home console history. Whether that system was a Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Nintendo Entertainment System, Genesis, Playstation, Gamecube, Xbox, or Gameboy there has been some iteration of Batman getting defiled on it. As is commonly the case with high profile licensed material such as comic book characters or movie adaptations, the games tend to suffer because their development is based on a quick cash grab. Just make a quick Google search for E.T. for the Atari 2600, and you’ll understand why there is a landfill somewhere that consists solely of that game.

Um phone home?

However, every once in awhile there is an exception to the rule, Batman: Arkham Asylum is that exception. After capturing the Joker for one might assume the millionth time, you hand deliver him to Arkham only to be caught in the middle of a breakout where the lunatics start running the place. What makes this title so great besides the stellar graphics, top notch voice acting, and compelling story is that for the first time you actually act like Batman. You actually “gasp” do some detective work, you hide in the shadows and swoop down to take out your prey, and of course you get to use all the “wonderful toys” like the batarang. The version for Nintendo actually had Batman with a gun! Any Batman nerd will tell you how sacrilegious that is.

Ahem, well usually anyway.

All of this delivered with a pretty straightforward control scheme. Of course the game isn’t perfect but it’s pretty close. Some of the boss fights were a bit underwhelming and while you do get to take on some of the classic villains there are quite a few missed opportunities. One can only hope for a sequel that takes place in Gotham to remedy these small issues.

So who cares if it took twenty-three years for someone to develop a good Batman game, I’m still eagerly awaiting that E.T. follow-up

Vision in White

Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Adult New Book Display-Main Level – PB ROBERTS

Mackensie (Mac) Elliot and her three best friends turned their childhood playtime activity into a reality. Together they founded Vows, which is a full service wedding venue complete with a florist, baker, and a photographer. Mac is the women behind the camera and her photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and advertisements across the state. Mac loves the ability to capture the happy moments in life that she has never experienced. Her father abandoned her when she was 2 and started a new family that does not include her. Her mother begs for attention and money without a second thought. While planning the wedding of a high school acquaintance she runs into the bride-to-be’s brother. Carter Maguire is not Mac’s type. Mac is not looking for any type of relationship since she has too much going on in her life already. Carter is crazy about Mac and would do anything for her. Nora Robert’s plays a nice twist making the woman afraid of saying “I do”. Go ahead and read Visions in White to see if Mac and Carter have their happily ever after. Also look for Bed of Roses, the next in The Wedding Quartet series due out October 27, 2009.

Still the Same Me

Still the Same Me by Sweet Honey in the Rock
Youth CD Bins – Music, General

When looking for music to listen to with my child, I want several things. The songs need to appeal to kids without being tedious for adults, and the music needs to be good, authentic music performed by real musicians. Sweet Honey in the Rock is a long-standing all-women, all-black a capella group better known for their music for adults. This is their third album for children, all of them beautifully done. Still the Same Me features a mix of spirituals, contemporary songs, and traditional African music, all of them hard to sit still for. It also has a recurring theme of improvisation, with regular tracks each encouraging kids to join in on a different style. Like most of their work, Still the Same Me is fun, thought-provoking and just plain fabulous music.

Thank You For All Things

Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring
Adult Paperbacks Main Level - KRING

11-year-old Lucy McGowan and her twin brother Milo have genius IQ's. They are home schooled by their mother, Tess, in Chicago. When Tess's father's health declines, the family goes to Tess's childhood home in Wisconsin to help out. Tess has always refused to talk to the children about their father, and they know equally little about their grandfather. Lucy dreams of having a father figure in her life, and loves her new-found grandfather too. She is very perceptive, though, and realizes that there are secrets between her mother and her grandfather. Lucy finds some old journals of her mother's, and puts the pieces together of her grandfather's abusive past - this old man that she has come to adore. She begins to understand why her mother has been hesitant to bring a father figure into their lives, but still yearns for it. Sandra Kring's books are all wonderfully emotional with precocious children characters that readers love.

Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase

Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase by Jen Lancaster
New Book Shelves-Upper Level – 814.54 L

Pretty in Plaid is Jen Lancaster’s fourth memoir. She writes about different experiences her from childhood up until she penned this book. Jen started off as Jeni, a Brownie that could not wait to be in Girl Scouts because she liked the uniform better. Once she sums up her early years and drops the “i” she moves onto the best stories; which are from her college years. She wants to be a sorority girl in the best sorority on campus but does not understand why some girls call their purses “Louis” (Louis Vuitton handbag) or why anyone would carry around bags with “C’s” (Coach handbag) on them. Once she gets older and discovers the loveliness of designer handbags she vows that one day she will buy one. She will also say it is never a good idea to stand in the unemployment line carrying one! Jen is very excited to get her first real job once she finally completed college. Yet on her first day she feels clueless because she has never used a fax machine or collated anything in her life. Jen tells hilarious but insightful stories, if you want to laugh out loud and enjoy some easy reading check out Jen Lancaster’s books.

Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered, Smartass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster
Adult Paperbacks-Main Level – LANCASTER

Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are All These Idiots and Why Do They Live Next Door to Me?

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big; Or, Why Pie Is Not the Answer by Jen Lancaster
Adult Non-Fiction-Upper Level – 814.54 L

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream

 At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream By Wade Rouse
Adult Biography - Upper Level - Rouse


David Sedaris channels Thoreau. If this concept intrigues you, you must read At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream by Wade Rouse. Flamboyantly gay, city loving Wade turns 40 and realizes he is disillusioned with his life. He hates his job and dreams of becoming a writer. Wade decides to change his life and sets new goals that match the tenets and principles that Thoreau set forth in Walden, the book that Wade’s beloved Grandmother read to him during his childhood. While on a vacation in Saugatuck, Wade and his partner Gary spontaneously decide to sell their home in St. Louis and move to rural Michigan, where Wade is sure he will be inspired to write. This always funny, often moving story recounts the misadventures that inevitably ensue in his trying to adapt to country life. A fun, lighthearted read.

The Pepins and Their Problems

The Pepins and Their Problems by Polly Horvath. Read by Julie Halston.
Youth CD Books – Lower Level – HORVATH

Mr. and Mrs. Pepin and their two children, Irving and Petunia, think they are ordinary enough people. Somehow, though, they and their very fine neighbor Mr. Bradshaw keep having problems. Why is their cow producing lemonade instead of milk? How will they get off the roof when the ladder has fallen down? What to do when the neighbor on the other side objects to Mr. Bradshaw’s being called a very fine neighbor? Most authors would let their characters muddle through these difficulties on their own, but not this one! She solicits her readers/listeners for advice on what the Pepins should do and includes responses from across the country. This is silliness the whole family will enjoy.

Stealing Lincoln's Body

Stealing Lincoln's Body by Thomas J. Craughwell
Adult Nonfiction-Upper Level – 973.709 C

During this year of Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial, books dealing with his life have flooded the bookshelves. Stealing Lincoln’s Body (published in 2007) deals not with his life, but his death, choice of final resting place, and ultimately the plot to steal his body by a group of counterfeiters in 1876. Their goal, it seems, was to hide the coffin and hold it for a $200,000 ransom as well as gain the release of a fellow counterfeiter named Ben Boyd from prison . The plot was foiled by the work of the Secret Service, but it led to the eventual moving of the entire deceased Lincoln family's remains into a new and impenetrable tomb in 1901. Along with relating the bizarre plot, Stealing Lincoln’s Body describes to readers the huge problem of counterfeiting in the early years of our country and the corruption of law enforcement in dealing with it. This fast-paced, slim volume includes contemporary photographs and is sure to fascinate Civil War buffs and admirers of Abraham Lincoln.

Teen Idol

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot.
Teen Zone Cd Books - Main Level - CABOT

Jen Greenley, 17 year old Junior at Clayton High School in Clayton Indiana, is the type of girl everyone wants to be friends with because she’s easygoing, cute, and nice to everyone. Jen never challenges the status quo, she sings in her school's show choir, and she even secretly dispenses advice in the "Ask Annie" column of her school's newspaper. Jen has the perfect life--or does she?

When Jen is put in charge of guiding the major motion picture teen star, Luke Striker (aka Lucas Smith), around Clayton High she isn't even excited. Jen is not interested in movie stars. She would rather read science fiction books than moon over the latest glossy pics in gossip magazines. Guiding undercover Luke around Clayton High is just another duty in Jen Greenley's predictable life. However, Jen is in for quite a surprise when Luke comes to town!

At first, Jen is able to keep Luke's true identity a secret, and she feels that her life will return to normal once Luke heads back to Hollywood. However, after a few days in Clayton, everyone in town finds out who Lucas Smith really is, and chaos ensues. All the girls in Clayton, including Jen's best friend Trina, want to date Luke, entertainment reporters camp out at Jen's house, and now Jen is going to the Spring Fling with Luke as her date! Will Jen's life ever go back to being normal again? Or maybe that normal isn't what Jen needs?

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot is a super engaging and funny book. The audio book version of this novel is delightfully read by Elizabeth Moss who expertly brings the characters of Clayton High to life. Teen Idol may not be thought-provoking literature, but if you are looking for a tall and refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, then this novel is your ticket!

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Teen Zone Fiction-Main Level
15-year-old D.J. Schwenk takes over the milking chores on her family farm when her father is injured. When heart-throb Brian Nelson, the quarterback of the rival football team, is sent to help out and learn how to work, D.J. is put in charge of teaching him. They start working out (training for football season) together. D.J. acts as the trainer, which becomes awkward when she later decides to try out for her high school football team. Issues of family communication, friendship, loyalty, teenage crushes, and the value of hard work make up this fun teen fiction book.

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
Adult Fiction Shelves--Main Level
Sarah Walters grew up in the cotillion world of South Carolina. As she goes out into the world and becomes an independent adult, we watch her become self-destructive. She can’t seem to keep a relationship going, and has low self-esteem and a job that never quite becomes a career. Her debutante friends (Bitsy, Charlotte, and Annie) are also flawed characters. The author gives the characters a dry wit, though, that gives this book more depth than just a slacker with no self respect. When family tragedy brings Sarah home to South Carolina, she has to decide if the southern way – back to her roots – is where she should stay, or if it is too late for her to come back for good.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Adult Paperbacks-Main Level
Alice Howland is a psychology professor at Harvard University. She is well-respected and successful – popular with her students and colleagues. She travels regularly to give speeches at important conferences, and writes articles and books. When she gets lost on her way home from her daily run, her panic leads her to her doctor. She realizes that she has been misplacing things lately, but blames it on menopause. When her clumsiness and lapses in language get worse, she eventually gets a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s. The reader experiences Alice’s steady decline, until she can no longer work, cannot recognize her own children, and does not know when she is in her own home. This is a truly heartbreaking story, so realistic that the reader can’t help but feel compassion for Alice and her loved ones. This is Neuroscientist Genova’s first novel.

The Immortals: Evermore

Evermore by Alyson Noël
Teen Zone Fiction-Main Level – NOEL

Sixteen year old Ever Bloom is the only survivor in a car accident that claimed the lives of her parents, her younger sister, and the beloved family dog. Now Ever resides with her wealthy aunt in Southern California. As a result of the accident Ever can now see people’s auras and read their thoughts. At her old school Ever used to be popular, wear the latest trendy clothes and have a lot of friends. At her new school she is the freaky new girl that wears jeans, keeps her hood up on her sweatshirt and only has a couple of friends. Ever tries to block everything out by hiding in large sweatshirts and listening to her I-pod. Everything changes the day she meets Damen, the new boy in school. There are many things about Damen that intrigues Ever. She cannot see his aura or read his thoughts and is perplexed by his ability to make red tulips appear out of nowhere. Once Ever discovers the truth about Damen she discovers the truth about herself as well. Will Ever accept the fact of what she became even though she did not have a choice?

This is the first in a new fantasy series called The Immortals by Alyson Noël. If you are a fan of the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer than you will probably enjoy this series. The second book in the series is called Blue Moon. The third book called Shadowland will debuting January of 2010.

Age of Bronze

Age of Bronze. Vols 1-3 by Eric Shanower
Adult Graphic Novels – Main Level - AGE
There was this famous war in the Bronze Age in a city named Troy, about which many, many stories have been written over the centuries, including most famously the Iliad, which somehow doesn’t include some of the most famous bits of the legend. Shanower is doing his best to weave these stories into a cohesive whole. Not only did he read a lot of stories, but he did a lot of art and archeological research to make the settings, the clothes, and the people as accurate and realistic as possible. Historians will probably still find room to quibble, but this amount of research appeals to the library in me. Still, all would be lost if the story didn’t work. Shanower’s beautifully detailed drawings and expressive text bring the ancient characters to life. He’s made the decision not to have the gods appear in the story, though the characters nearly uniformly strongly believe in them and appear to receive messages from them. While a strong break from the Iliad, it’s a choice that makes the story more accessible to modern readers, who may pray for guidance but don’t generally view people as heroes who succeed only because the gods made it happen. It also makes the story deeper and more ambiguous: did Aphrodite really promise Helen to Paris? Or is this just another excuse from a young man who demonstrates overpowering arrogance and belief in his own charm from the very beginning, starting with deciding to win the royal athletic contests to win back his family’s bull and continuing on to kidnapping Helen instead of liberating the aged aunt he was sent to rescue, just because he didn’t care about an old woman. I just read the entry on the Iliad in Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan; one of the things he mentions is how cinematic Homer’s language is. This work feels cinematic as well, as the view zooms from close-ups to wide panoramas. Though in line with the Iliad, the war itself is just getting started at the end of volume three, there’s plenty of violence, sex and mayhem to keep things going in the meantime. This is a book that manages to be beautiful, macho and compelling all at the same time.

The Passion of the Hausfrau

The Passion of the Hausfrau by Nicole Chaison
New Book Shelves – Upper Level – 814.6 C

Chaison’s memoir of motherhood hits both the humor and the hurt of motherhood, told in text with comic-style illustrations in the margins. She talks about giving birth – once in a hospital utility closet and once in a feeding trough; about grocery shopping and Halloween costumes with children; about trying to maintain her relationship with her husband. But she also traces her journey to self-actualization, aligning her journey with those of the male and presumably childless heroes in the classics that fill her bookshelves. It’s this angle, I think, that got her a cover blurb from Alison Bechdel, whose Fun Home, while less funny, also journeyed through the classics. Chaison’s version of motherhood requires large amounts of both courage and humor seasoned with profanity; for those of similar bent, this is well worth reading.

Canterwood Crest Series

Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart
Youth New Book Shelves-Lower Level – JPB BURKHART

Take The Reins is the first in this debut series from a former equestrian turned author. Jessica Burkhart loved to ride horses but was unable to anymore. At a young age she decided to pursue writing and eventually started writing about horses and horseback riding because it was the one thing that she loved and the one thing she missed dearly. Jessica is able to ride horses through Sasha Silver and the other characters in this fun new series.

Sasha Silver is new to Canterwood Crest. On her first day with her horse Charm by her side she knows that she is in trouble. Not all the girls on the Equestrian team are friendly to her and some are downright mean. She finds a friend in her roommate Paige and an ally with Callie another member of the Equestrian team. Sasha is determined to prove that she fits in at Canterwood Crest. She tries her best as she auditions for the Advanced Riding Team in which only a handful of girls make it. Check out Take the Reins to find out if Sasha and Charm make the team! If you enjoy this book check out the others in the series:

Chasing Blue
Youth New Book Shelves-Lower Level – JPB BURKHART

Behind the Bit
Youth New Book Shelves-Lower Level – JPB BURKHART

COMING SOON
Triple Fault August of 2009
Best Enemies October 2009
Little White Lies December 2009
Rival Revenge February 2010
Home Sweet Drama April 2010

The Twisted Window

The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan
Teen Zone Fiction - Main Level - DUNCAN

Adolescent Brad Johnson is very upset because his baby sister, Mindy, has been kidnapped by his estranged ex-stepfather Gavin Brummer. Brad has traced Gavin to Winfield, TX so he decides to travel from New Mexico to find Mindy. Once in Winfield, Brad seeks the help of teenage Tracy Lloyd, a young woman with a sad past. He begs Tracy to help him find his sister. Although Tracy is suspicious of this stranger, she decides to help Brad because of her own shaky relationship with her father. How can Tracy ignore the needs of a helpless little girl when she herself knows what it's like to have an uncaring parent?

Brad and Tracy develop a scheme to get Mindy back. Everything seems to be going according to plan when suddenly Tracy realizes that there is much more to the story than Brad has told her. What will Tracy do now? Can Mindy be found? Is Brad telling the truth? Is Brad crazy? These are just a few of the questions that will arise as this book is read.

The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan is an interesting psychological mystery. It's a short read with many surprising plot turns. If you are looking for something unusual and suspenseful then The Twisted Window is a great choice!

Timothy and the Strong Pajamas

Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Viviane Schwarz
Youth New Book Shelves – Lower Level - SCH

There is a stage in the preschool years when many children become obsessed with superheroes. What three or four-year-old doesn’t long for the power to fly and to beat bad guys ten times his or her size? Yet good books for this age on the topic are surprisingly difficult to find. Poorly written easy reader books based on big budget films inappropriate for the age abound, as do picture books of similar quality but much denser text-per-page levels. Even using my librarian-fu on the catalog has had very limited success. I have seen a few good books (and alas, not written them down!), but here is a good recent entry:

Timothy Smallbeast, a young boy of indeterminate species, is not a superhero. But he really wishes he was! When his mother fixes his favorite pajamas, he finds that they make him superstrong. He promptly goes out and saves scads of people with his new powers, before disaster strikes and he finds that his powers have deserted him in his hour of need. This is a book aimed squarely at kids rather than all ages. However, for parents who want a good story for their superhero-loving young fry, one that won’t instill in their offspring a desire to see R-rated movies, one that they can read several times in a row without getting sick of, Timothy and the Strong Pajamas fits the bill just perfectly.

Darkborn

Darkborn by Alison Sinclair
Adult New Book Display – Main Level – SCI FIC SINCLAIR

In the city of Minhorne, Lightborn and Darkborn have always lived side by side, despite the fact that light is fatal to Darkborn and vice versa. Dr. Balthasar Hearne, Darkborn, gets a knock on his door just as the sunrise bell is ringing, and obeying ancient laws of hospitality, opens it. It’s his estranged younger brother’s former lover, now betrothed to a high society lord. Before next day comes, she has given birth to twins whose father, she impossibly claims, came to her in the day. Yet the unwanted twins appear to be sighted, impossible for Darkborn. Bal’s sister, the attending midwife, takes them to safety. That night, Bal is attacked and beaten by ruffians demanding the twins. He is saved by his Lightborn neighbor, but as they flee, they find his wife, Telmaine, and two daughters returning home from a society visit, unexpectedly accompanied by Baron Ishmael di Studier. The ruffians snatch the older girl on their way out. Despite his title, Ishmael is disreputable, a known mage who uses his powers to hunt the Shadowdwellers on the borders – important, but hardly proper for a baron. And only the Lightborn consider magic use truly acceptable. Lady Telmaine herself has magic, which she has concealed even from her husband her whole life and never learned to use. But now, with the plot rapidly thickening and both her husband and daughters’ lives in danger, she may need to risk her position in society.

This novel was well put together. It has an interesting premise and a taut plot without overwhelming with too many characters or details of the world. The characters were sympathetic. The kidnapped child fell just under my low threshold for child or parental suffering (I won’t read books, thriller or thoughtful, that center on a child’s death), and the thriller-aspect just the right pace to tempt me to stay up a few minutes late without keeping me up all night. The only downside is that (common for fantasy) it’s the first of a trilogy, the next volume due out next year, and the mystery behind the mystery isn’t solved this book.

Jules and Jim

Jules and Jim by Francois Truffaut
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - JUL

Next to Jean Luc Godard’s “Breathless,” Francois Truffaut’s “Jules and Jim” could be considered one of the most influential films of the French New Wave movement. The story revolves around two writers Jules and Jim who after giving up on “professionals” in their search for love, find themselves both enamored with the free spirited Catherine. The film follows the two inseparable men through their whimsical youth, and into the First World War where they fight on opposing sides. The two are reunited after the war but neither can shake their love for the uncontrollable Catherine. While the romance the men share with Catherine runs hot and cold and ultimately ends in tragedy, the true love story is the relationship between Jules and Jim.

Although the tale is a great one rife with thematic messages about friendship, love, and lost innocence, one can not overlook Truffaut’s influence with regard to style. Take a look at the Wes Anderson film “The Royal Tennenbaums” and the beginning of “Jules and Jim” and you’ll see striking similarities in the presentation. Anderson himself even quotes Truffaut in “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” when the title character says “not this one Klaus,” just as Jules says “not this one Jim,” with regard to not sharing Catherine. Of course Wes Anderson isn’t the only filmmaker to be influenced by Truffaut. His reach extends to the likes of Spielberg, Scorsese, Paul Mazursky, and Blake Edwards. Take a look at any of his films from “The 400 Blows” to “The Last Metro” and you’ll see why.

Also by Truffaut:

The Last Metro
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - LAS

Shoot the Piano Player
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - SHO

The Story of Adele H.
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - STO

The 400 Blows
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - FOU

Day for Night
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - DAY

Related Material:

Breathless by Jean Luc Godard
Foreign Film DVD's - Main Level - BRE

Francois Truffaut
Adult Video Biography - Upper Level - BIO TRUFFAUT

Truffaut by Truffaut by Dominique Rabourdin
Adult Biography - Upper Level - O'SIZE/BIO TRUFFAUT