North Branch Screening of The Kite Runner

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 6:30 PM

In celebration of Banned Books Week the North Branch is screening film adaptations of banned and challenged books. Tonight’s film is The Kite Runner based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini.

Paul Newman, 1925-2008

Remember Paul Newman’s life by watching some of his work greatest work:

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

The Sting (1973)

See more here.

Food Fight!

Newly Released DVDs you can put a hold on

1. Hancock

2. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

3. Kung Fu Panda

4. The Longshots

5. Mamma Mia!

6. Meet Dave

7. Space Chimps

8. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

9. Wanted

Read Any Good Books Lately?

We want to hear from you!  Email your book reviews to me and I’ll post them on our blog.  Submissions are always welcome!  If you don’t want your own post, feel free to comment on this post about anything you’ve been reading.  Reviews can be as long or as short as you like.  Also, all ages are invited–from babies to senior citizens (although I realize it’s hard for babies to type, what with their fat, cute fingers).

Email your reviews to dana.zakrzewski@cityofdenton.com.  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Graphic Novel Round-Up

Here are some I’ve been reading lately:

Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper  by Kazu Kibuishi 

After moving into the house of their great-grandfather, Emily and Navin discover amazing and frightening secrets that lead them to a dark adventure.  This is a great new graphic novel series for the elementary set.  There’s a strong female protagonist, lots of fast-moving action and rich visuals.  Best for ages 8-12.

Love*Com by Aya Nakahara

This shojo manga is very cute and full of tension (the good kind!) between the tallest girl in the class, Riza and the shortest boy in the class, Otaki.  They develop a friendship as they both search for love. Will they eventually fall for each other?  Read and find out! Best for ages 12 and up.

Aishiteruze Baby by Yoko Maki

I admit, I have no idea how to pronounce this title, but I still enjoy it!   Another shojo manga, Baby centers around Kippei Katakura, the flirtiest ladies’ man at his high school.  Kippei’s life is turned upside down when he becomes ”mother” to his 5 year-old cousin Yuzuyu, whose real mother has abandoned her.  Little Yuzu’s attachment to Kippei is both heartwarming and bittersweet.  So, if you go for that kind of thing, I highly recommend Aishiteruze Baby.  Best for ages 12 and up.

                                                                                                                       -Dana Zakrzewski

What we are reading

Dante Valentine Series book two Dead Man Rising by Lillith Saintcrow.

Emerging from the flurry of current urban fantasy authors, Lillith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series is a refreshing read with a believable high tech and magic near future setting; focusing on a world that deals daily and publicly with magic rather than the Jim Butcher style cloak and dagger secrecy.      

                                                                                                  -Greg, North Branch

 

Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron

The author of Sophie’s Choice and The Confessions of Nat Turner turns his attention to this memoir of personal struggle with depression. Styron writes, “the horror of depression is so overwhelming as to be quite beyond expression.” This sobering, yet oddly hopeful, tale of coping through understanding, is not so much uplifting as it is comforting in the knowledge that someone wrestles the same dark demons with whom so many others wrestle as well.          -Doug, North Branch

 

 

Hospital: Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity, Plus Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God and Diversity on Steroidsby Julie Salamon  

A behind the scenes look at a Brooklyn hospital serving a population that speaks over 67 different languages and facing a myriad of cultural conflicts and challenges. The reality is certainly nothing like “Grey’s Anatomy” or “ER”.                   -Kimberly, South Branch

 

 

 

The Twilight of American Culture by Berman, Morris

Published in 2000, The Twilight of American Culture examines American and global society at the dawn of a new millennium. Are we witnessing the beginning of a new enlightened consciousness or are we destined to plunge into another dark ages? Berman leans to the latter, but suggests that individuals leading the examined life should group together to perpetuate creativity and humanistic thinking in the face of rising corporate homogenization.                                                             -Andrew, North Branch

Purgatorio by Dante.

The second of three books comprising Dante’s Divine Comedy, this is an interlibrary loan, which I got after reading the Pinsky translation of Dante’s Inferno. This particular translation of Purgatorio was deftly crafted by husband and wife team Jean and Robert Hollander, two American scholars and teachers. Having gone through hell (literally) with his guide Virgil, Dante is making his way up the mountain of purgatory into paradise. Souls in purgatory can move up to paradise eventually, as opposed to those in hell who will stay there for eternity.  

 Though a more hopeful place than hell, sinners are still separated from God and punished in ways only Dante could devise. So far, my favorite punishment in purgatory has been for those guilty of envy: their eyes are stitched shut with iron threads while spirits fly overhead, intermittently thundering out admonitions against avarice and greed. Nice.

Will Dante make it to paradise? Will his guide be able to navigate the steep, upward climb? Read and find out!                       -Kerol, North Branch

 

Sept. 11 Peace Rally in Quakertown Park

A peace rally just came by Emily Fowler Library about 6 p.m.  One of the nice things about being in this area.  Heck, this town.  Here are some photos.

Banned Books Week

Observe Banned Books Week @ Your Library® Sept. 27 – Oct 4, 2008 and celebrate your freedom to read.

 

“Closing Books Shuts Out Ideas,” the theme of this year’s 27^th annual Banned Books Week encompasses the true essence of this American Library Association sponsored event.  Celebrating the Freedom to Read reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.

 

Join the North Branch Library as we celebrate these First Amendment rights by holding a Banned Books Film Festival, Sept. 27 – Oct. 4, 2008.

 

Come watch what THEY don’t want you to read!

 

September 27,  2 pm              James and the Giant Peach, Rated PG

September 28,   2 pm             Of Mice and Men, Rated PG-13

September 29,   6:30 pm        Slaughterhouse Five, Rated R

September 30,  6:30 pm         The Kite Runner, Rated PG-13

October 2,  4 pm                    She’s the Man, Rated PG-13

October 3,  4 pm                    Golden Compass, Rated PG-13

October 4,  2 pm                    The Witches, Rated PG

 

 

Snacks and covered beverages permitted. 

 

 

OverDrive Mp3 Audiobooks

Now you can download audiobooks in Mp3 format through our OverDrive site.  These files are compatible with iPhones, iPods and iPod Touch players.  Happy downloading!