Banned Books Week: September 27 – October 3

Banned Books Week

 

What are Banned Books? Books that have been removed from schools or libraries.

Why are books banned? The top three reasons for banned books are as follows:

1. The material was considered to be “sexually explicit.”

2. The material contained “offensive language.”

3. The material was “unsuited for any age group.”

Why do we have Banned Books Week? Founded in 1982 and celebrated annually during the last week in September, it is an awareness campaign for the Freedom to Read.

How can you participate in Banned Books Week?

Many local libraries will be participating in Banned Books Week by either holding programs or creating displays. The Bettendorf Public Library will be hosting Banned Song Fest on Monday, September 28 at 6:30 pm. Local musicians will preform banned songs and music styles in honor of Banned Books Week. At the Rock Island Public Library local librarians and writers will read from banned books on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 pm. The Davenport Public Library will have displays at each location where you can learn about and check out a variety of banned books.

Banned Books

The top ten challenged books of 2014

The 100 most banned/challenged books from 2000-2009

 

the absolutely true diary The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is currently ranked number 1 for the most challenged books of 2014 according to The American Library Association. While this book is considered YA fiction, it is based on the real life events of Native American Author Sherman Alexie. I read this book while attending graduate school as part of a multicultural literature course.  The book is about Arnold, an incredibly smart Native American boy living on a reservation. He is given the opportunity to attend an all white school outside of the reservation. This book highlights not only some of the struggles of Native Americans living on reservations, but dives deep into what it took for this character to break away from his life on the reservation. When I finished reading the book I immediately researched the author. It was shocking to read that this work is semi-autobiographical, but still all the more important that this book remain on shelves. Anyone should have the opportunity to read this book. Why is the book challenged/banned? The book contains themes and elements of alcohol abuse, sex, violence, bullying, and racial issues.
go ask aliceGo Ask Alice was published in 1971 and for many years was thought to be the anonymous diary of a troubled teenager that became addicted to drugs. It was later revealed to have been written by Beatrice Sparks, a psychologist, only partially based on one of her patient’s diaries. Since this revelation, the book is considered a work of fiction. I read this books several years ago as I was making my way through a list of top 100 books that everyone should read. While the book does tend to be over the top in certain circumstances, it does include so much of the feelings and thoughts experienced by young women. Why is this book challenged/banned? Despite being published over 40 years ago, the book has never been out of print and still remains high up in the list of challenged/banned books. The book contains drug use, sex, and offensive language.

 

 

67th Emmy Award Nominations…Who Will the Winners Be?

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The annual 67th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 20 on Fox network. This is an award show that honors evening television programs. In total there were 567 nominations, with the HBO network nabbing 126 of them! The rest of the 441 nominations were split between 47 other networks. Game of Thrones leads the pack of individual programs with a whopping 24 nominations. Other noteworthy leading programs include American Horror Story:Freak Show19, Olive Kitteridge 13, Bessie – 12, and House of Cards, Mad Menand Transparent (Amazon Prime exclusive series-library does not carry) with 11 each.

Most fans are interested in the big awards like Outstanding Drama or Outstanding Actress/Actor. This blog is going to get down to the meat and potatoes of it all. Below is the list of nominees for some of the big Emmy categories, a few fun facts, and my Emmy predictions. The library carries nearly all these titles, just click the title to go to the catalog. The rest are not on DVD yet, but keep checking our catalog for the rest of these titles to appear.

Outstanding Drama Series: Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Orange is the New Black. Traditionally, this category has been a love fest between Breaking Bad and Mad Men, with Homeland squeezing in the win in 2012. Does that mean that the new AMC series Better Call Saul will pick up where Breaking Bad left off? Better Cal Saul is a spin off prequel to Breaking Bad. Well I say let the new kid on the block pay some dues and make way for some of the other fantastic story lines in TV land.  Mad Men hasn’t won an Emmy in years and apparently no one can decide if Orange is the New Black is a comedy or drama so I think those two are out. That leaves four solid competitors. Game of Thrones is hands down the best thing on television. It should get the win. The other three shows are great and have consistently been highly entertaining, but they just aren’t Game of Thrones.

Outstanding Comedy Series: Louie, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and VeepModern Family has won this award every year since 2010. We get it! You’re the best, now can we please let someone else have a turn? At this point, it doesn’t matter to me who wins as long as it is not Modern FamilyI’d like to see Transparent take the win even though they are a new show. Rarely do I root for the new guy, but this show is unique. It is tackling a tough topic while being streamed through to a very limited audience via Amazon Prime. A win will mean big things for Amazon and hopefully more great shows like this to come.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Kyle Chandler in Bloodline, Jeff Daniels in The Newsroom, John Hamm in Mad Men, Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul, Liev Schreiber in Ray Donovan, and Kevin Spacey in House of Cards. Let it be Kevin Spacey, let it be Kevin Spacey, let it be Kevin Spacey. This is a great category full of amazing talent, its any man’s game. Kevin Spacey has won many awards in his career because he simply is fantastic. But he was, as they say, born to play Frank Underwood in the Netflix series House of Cards, and he has yet to win the Emmy. My fingers are triple crossed for you sir.

Outstanding lead Actress in a Drama Series: Claire Daines in Homeland, Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder, Taraji P. Henson in Empire, Elizabeth Moss in Mad Men, and Robin Wright in House of Cards. Viola Davis has been the Belle of the ball this award season for her outstanding work on the new show How to Get Away With MurderSorry ladies, I think she has this one wrapped up.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson in Black-ish, Louise C.K. in Louie, Don Cheadle in House of Lies, Will Forte in Last Man on Earth, Matt LeBlanc in Episodes, William H. Macy in Shameless, and Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent. Even if it doesn’t take home the win for Outstanding Comedy, I’m pretty sure Transparent will take home this award. Jeffrey Tambor is amazing in this role and has already won a Golden Globe for it. Tambor plays a 68 year old man with three grown children, who is finally living openly as a woman. As I watch this show, I believe every second of what I see. Tambor is so real in this role, which makes the acting all the more marvelous.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Edie Flaco in Nurse JackieLisa Kudrow in The Comeback, Julia Louise-Dreyfus in VeepAmy Poehler in Parks and RecreationAmy Schumer in Inside Amy Schumer, and Lily Tomline in Grace and Frankie. I feel like I’m taking a shot in the dark here. Julia Louise-Dreyfus has won this award for the past three years, so I just can’t pick her. It would be interesting to see Amy Schumer or Lilly Tomline to pull out the win with their first nominations for these roles. However I am going to go out on a limb and give it to Lisa Kudrow although she was my least favorite “friend”. Her show The Comeback had it’s first season in 2005 and  then went on a 9 year hiatus before returning to HBO in 2014. She’s out of the gate with an Emmy nomination, maybe even a win.

Outstanding Miniseries: American Crime, American Horror Story: Freak Show, The Honorable Woman, Olive Kitteridge, and Wolf HallWhat a great category. I highly recommend watching them all. I’ve narrowed this down to The Honorable Woman or Olive Kitteridge. It is a coin toss, but I’m going with The Honorable WomenI think Maggie Gyllenahl can be very powerful on screen and she hit her sweet spot with this.

Outstanding Television Movie: Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain, Poirot’s Last CaseBessie, Grace of Monaco, Hello Ladies: The Movie, Killing Jesus, and NightingaleHBO and Queen Latifah can do no wrong. HBO’s Bessie will be the big winner here. This made for TV movie based on the life of blues singer Bessie Smith has been all the rage.

For a complete list of nominees visit 2015 complete list of Emmy nominations.

For more fun facts visit 2015 Emmy facts and figures.

For more 2015 Emmy predictions visit any of the sites listed below. I promise I didn’t look!

Indiwire

GoldDerby

AwardsCircuit

NY Times

New Drama Series

how to get away with murderHow to Get Away with Murder  is a legal thriller starring Viola Davis as a criminal defense attorney and law professor. She chooses five students to intern with her at her lawn firm. This season is shown alternating between past and present as two murders involving the professor and interns are explored. Viola Davis has won both the SAG award and Critic’s choice award for best performance in a TV drama series. Season 2 airs on Thursday September 24 on ABC.

 

The the affairAffair is a psychological drama set in a resort town in Long Island. Ruth Wilson plays a young waitress who begins an extramarital affair after the death of her child. Dominic West plays opposite Ruth. He is school teacher from New York working to write his second novel. While he is happily married with children, he resents his dependence on his father-in-law. The story is told as memories from both of their perspectives. The Affair won Golden Globes for Best TV Drama and Best Leading Actress in a Drama Series in 2015. Season 2 premieres October 4th on Showtime.

 

Gotham

Gotham is a crime drama set in the fictional city of the widely known character Batman. Ben McKenzie is the lead actor starring as a young James Gordon. The show begins with the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents. Gordon is put on the case to investigate and meets the young Bruce Wayne. Gotham is a prequel of events we already know are coming. We get an inside look on the child that will someday become Batman. We also learn about the origins of well known Batman villains like Penguin and Riddler. Gotham won People’s Choice Award for Most Exciting Series. The second season starts September 21 on Fox.

New Comedy and Action Series

jane the virginJane the Virgin is a romantic dramedy so there are both comedic and dramatic elements to the show. Gina Rodriguez stars as Jane, a young Latina woman who is very religious. Jane is hardworking and has vowed to save herself until marriage. During a routine exam, Jane is accidentally artificially inseminated. Coincidentally the donor is not only a married man, but the owner of the hotel she works at. Gina won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy in 2015 and the show was nominated for Best Comedy. The second season begins October 12 on the CW.

 

izombie

iZombie is a comedy crime series. Rose McIver stars as Liv who has recently been turned into a zombie. She now finds herself hungry for human brains. To appease this appetite, Liv takes a job at a morgue where she is free to eat lots of brains. The twist is that every time Liv eats a brain, she gets snippets of memories and takes on a bit of that person’s personality. Liv uses her ability to solve murder crimes by eating the victim’s brains. It may sound strange, but the show has received great reviews. Season 2 premieres October 6 on the CW.

 

The Flaflashsh is an action super hero spin off series. TV viewers first met The Flash on the action TV show Arrow where he appeared twice. Grant Gustin plays Barry Allen/Flash as crime scene investigator with superhuman speed. An exhibition gone wrong creates a man made thunderstorm. Barry is turned into what is called a ‘metahuman’ after he is struck by lighting. Barry soon learns there are others like him causing trouble  in his town of Central City. He vows to use his power to stop the other metahumans. The Flash won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama. Season 2 starts October 6th on the CW.

The Newest Seasons of Your Favorite TV Shows on DVD

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August and September are when the majority of TV shows release the previous season on DVD. It gives you just enough time to binge watch and get caught up before the start of next season. The shows listed on this blog can be placed on hold now and you will automatically be notified when it is your turn. Just click on the TV show title to get started!

Action Shows: Arrow season 3, Chicago Fire season 3, Hawaii Five-O season 5, and Rogue season 2

Comedy Shows: 2 Broke Girls season 4, The Big Bang Theory season 8, Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 2, The League season 6, Mike and Molly season 5, and The Mindy Project season 3

Dramas: Blacklist season 2, Blue Bloods season 5, Castle season 7, Chicago P.D. season 2, Criminal Minds season 10, Elementary season 3, The Good Wife season 6, Greys Anatomy season 11, Last Tango in Halifax season 3, Nashville season 3, NCIS Los Angeles season 6, NCIS season 12, Once Upon a Time season 4, Orange is the New Black season 2, Person of Interest season 4, Revenge season 4, Scandal season 4, and Vampire Diaries season 6

Horror: The Walking Dead season 5

SciFi: Bitten season 2, Falling Skies season 4, Helix season 2, and Supernatural season 10

 

Interested in the most popular shows at the library? The following shows took top circulation honors for the last fiscal year.
Action: Chicago Fire season 2 circulated an average of 25 times per copy.
Comedy: The Big Bang Theory season 7 circulated an average of 29 times per copy.
Drama: Blacklist season 1 and NCIS Los Angeles season 6 circulated an average of 30 times per copy.
Horror: The Walking Dead season 4 circulated an average of 28 times per copy.
SciFi: Supernatural season 9 circulated an average of 26 times per copy.

 

More TV shows will be added to the library catalog as we get closer to September. If you don’t see your favorite show on this list, keep checking the catalog.

Coming Soon: American Horror Story season 4, CSI season 15, The Following season 3, The Goldbergs season 2, Grimm season 4, Haven season 5, Penny Dreadful season 2, Portlandia season 5, Reign season 2

Cult Classics – The Box Office Flops

Cult Classics are films or TV shows that initially do not catch on with mainstream audiences, but develop a devote band of followers. A spectacular example of this is the original Star Trek series that premiered in September of 1966. Ratings for the show were consistently low, and the show was cancelled after 3 seasons. Shock is a perfectly normal reaction to this news. After all, Star Trek was the first of its kind, and since then numerous movies and TV shows have been made using the Star Trek franchise or its fundamentals. Fast forward to today and Star Trek is part of American culture. Popular catch phrases from the series such as “beam me up Scotty” are often used in TV and Cinema or in everyday interactions between friends. There is even a word for the franchise’s most loyal fans, Trekkies. Multiple Star Trek conventions throughout the year are held all over the United States.  Star Trek is the ultimate cult classic. Most cult classics never attain that level of notoriety but nevertheless still deserve recognition.

There are plenty of TV shows or movies that could be considered cult classics depending on who you ask. Many shows develop a cult following and remain on TV for many seasons like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I thought it would be fun to look at the cult movies that didn’t let a box office flop get them down. These movies became cult classics despite having a poor initial audience response to them. The website Gamesradar provided a nice list of movies. Some of these I have seen and love, and others I have never heard of. I’m going to highlight some of them that we have at the library. For the full list visit Gamesradar. I’d recommend writing these down or putting them in your phone. It can be a fun way to spend an evening with friends or maybe just watching something different from the norm.

clueClue premiered in movie theaters in 1985 and had a box office gross total of 14 million dollars. The budget for the movie was about 15 million dollars so it almost broke even. The movie stars Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, and Madeline Kahn. Clue is based on the popular game of the same name. The movie begins with a group of people arriving for a dinner party at a lavish home. During the dinner party, a murder is committed. The guests spend the rest of the movie running around trying figure out who done it and how! With outrageous characters with names like Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard, its no wonder it was quick cult classic.

 

office spaceOffice Space came out on the big screen in 1999 and grossed 10.8 million dollars. However on DVD it made nearly as much as it did at the box office.  The movie stars Jennifer Aniston, Ron Livingston, and David Herman. The movie is a good comedy, but just had bad advertising when it came out in the theaters. Three office workers plot to rebel against their unlikable boss. Perhaps it hits home with the disgruntled office worker in all of us, making it an office cult classic.

 

 

fight clubFight Club appeared on screens in 1999 and grossed 37 million dollars. That number might be good for some movies, but this movie stars Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Not to mention the budget was about 63 million dollars. Ouch. Luckily, you can’t  keep a great movie down. Word about Fight Club’s awesomeness quickly spread, and the movie made 100 million dollars in DVD sales. The movie is about a loner that forms a friendship with the coolest guy he’s ever met. Together they start a fight club where misfits gather to fight, sell goods, and cause mischief. With a great message, fun script, and intense acting, this movie remains a chronic topic of conversation among thirty-somethings.

 

big lebowskiThe Big Lebowski hit theaters in 1998 and grossed 17 million dollars. While the film technically didn’t lose money, it did not make nearly as much as was projected. The movie is a comedy about mistaken identity with high stakes, and stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and a slew of other well known actors. This movie is loved by many, especially the male population between 20-40. It is almost a rite of passage into manhood. It is definitely an ultimate cult classic.

 

rock horror picture showThe Rocky Horror Picture Show was pulled from theaters in 1975 after its release in 8 cities grossed a mere 22,000 dollars. The movie stars Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as a young couple that have car trouble and have seek help from an eccentric doctor living in a nearby mansion. Eventually midnight showings started in New York and spread nation wide. The catchy tunes and crazy wardrobes brought fans out in droves to dance and sing along in theaters. This cult classic is still holding midnight showings today.

 

 

If you are interested in more cult movies and TV shows, here are some links to direct you to even more lists!

Rolling Stone’s reader’s poll of best cult movies of all time

Games Radar’s 34 best cult classics of all time

Rotten Tomatoes list of top cult movies

Entertainment Weekly 26 cult TV shows

July…a Month in Food

This month celebrates lots of national food holidays. Our blog today is going to highlight some of those holidays and give you great recommendations for books that pair well with each. I hope you are hungry!

fried chickenJuly 6: National Fried Chicken Day. Fried chicken is a staple at every summer picnic across America. From my own experience, the chicken is usually purchased from a name brand such as KFC or Walmart. Rarely do I get to enjoy some home cooked fried chicken. Check out Fried and True by Lee Schrager for 50 different fried chicken and sides recipes. Interested in chicken on the lighter side? Weightwatchers Ultimate Chicken Cookbook has more than 250 healthy recipes with chicken.

sugar cookiesJuly 9: National Sugar Cookie Day. Anybody and I mean anybody can make sugar cookies. For the novice baker, I would suggest purchasing the already prepared dough from the store. All you do is put the pieces on a cookie sheet, bake and decorate! Decorating after all is the best part. Whether you are using icing from the can or making your own, it’s always fun. If you love decorating sugar cookies take a look at 50 Deliciously Decorative Cookies by Fiona Pearce. This book is full of creative cookies. For a twist on a cookie, try Smart Cookie by Christi Johnstone. It’s decorating without the baking!

pieJuly 12: National Pecan Pie Day. I still remember the first time I ever tried to bake a pie. It was a sad looking apple pie, but it tasted great. Over time my pies improved and today they are absolutely gorgeous. Making a pie from scratch may seem daunting, but I encourage anyone who has interest to give it a try. We have the perfect book to get you started! Pie School by Kate Lebo includes 50 different pie recipes and all her pie baking secrets.

ice creamJuly 19: National Ice Cream Day. Nothing says summer like a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. If you love ice cream you definitely want to read Scoop Adventures by Lindsay Clendanial. In her book are the best ice cream recipes from each of the 50 states. In the Quad Cities we are home to an ice cream establishment that is known throughout the country. To learn more about its history visit the Whitey’s Ice Cream.

July 30: National Cheesecake Day. Cheesecake is much easier to bake than a pie and comes in just as many wonderful flavors. You will need a springform pan which can be purchased anywhere that sells baking pans. Once you have that, you are good go. The Cheesecake Bible by George Geary contains 200 different recipes for making cheesecake. You can be making your own cheesecake in no time! If you’d rather go to a restaurant, try the Phoenix in Davenport. They have excellent cheesecake.

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye

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It’s that time of year again…when we are forced to say goodbye to shows that have been part of our lives for years. They were characters and stories we could count on to teach us, shock us, entertain us, and so much more. The following shows are ones that I have watched from the beginning and would recommend if you are looking to start watching a great show.

Boardwalk Empire is all about corruption and bootlegging in 1920’s Atlantic City. The makers of this show took real events, a real place, and even real historical figures and wrote their own version of history. There are some accurate historical accounts in the show, but the writers took many liberties. Some characters stayed true their real life counterparts such as in the case of Al Capone. During the decade of time covered by the show we see Al Capone get his start as a lackey for Johnny Torrio, rise to fame and power, then his inevitable arrest in 1931. The real star of the show is Enoch “Nucky” Thomson played by Steve Buscemi. This is one of the real life figures that the writers completely changed in order to create the story line for this show. Boardwalk promises a lot of action, drama, and history. This is a great show for anyone interested in the 1920’s and the original gangsters. I personally liked the drama that the first few seasons offered. I continued to watch the show in the last couple seasons, but shows would often pile up on my DVR as my enthusiasm had waned. Nevertheless, this was a great show. This show is rated TV-MA.

If you watched Boardwalk Empire and would like to learn more about the real life figures, check out Time Magazine.

Total Seasons: 5

 

Glee is one big giant ray of sunshine. I have always had such a strange relationship with Glee. I think the difficulty I had was the time slot. There were other shows happening at that time that won out on my DVR, but I always found a way to catch up on this good natured show. When I finally did watch the show, I would be completely uplifted and wonder why the heck I’d put off watching it for so long.

Anyway, lets state the obvious. Yes this is a show about teenagers singing…but it is fantastic! The actors have amazing vocal range and ability and the choreography is top notch. What I found to be most enthralling were the arrangements of the music they sang. Some songs were written decades ago and others were new, but all of them had the Glee take on it. This group can sing anything! One of my favorite performances was a mix of the classic Singing in the Rain and Rhianna’s Umbrella. For the YouTube video, click here. Other awesome things about this show include guest appearances by loads of actors and singers, the hilarious commentary of Sue Sylvester played by Jane Lynch, and watching teens make mistakes but learning to do what is right and why you do the right thing. You can’t go wrong with this show.

Total Seasons: 6

 

 The Newsroom is very different than any show I have ever watched. I am quite sad that this show was only three seasons. Despite having a short life span, Aaron Sorkin (writer) wrapped up the show very well. No surprise that the set of this show is a fictional newsroom for a nightly news program in New York City. Early on it becomes the goal of this news show to start telling the news as it is, no matter the consequence. The twist is that although season 1 airs in 2012, the story line begins in April 2010. This allows the news station to cover events that have already happened for the viewers. We get inside information on the news stories we kind of heard about in real life. There are many ‘ah ha’ and ‘you don’t say’ moments as Sorkin picks and chooses what information he wants to recreate on his news show.

This show is very smart. It can be difficult to keep up at times and I often had to rewind to catch this or that. The intelligent banter is a refreshing change from what you usually see on TV.

Total Seasons: 3

 

Mad Men  is another period TV drama, but very different from Boardwalk Empire. The show begins in the 1960’s at a New York ad agency. There is an interweaving of history with fiction as a cast of made up characters live in a world that is bound by real fashions, products, and events that leave little room for error. The products they are trying to sell are the real products of that time. This show is the story of how a group of ad agency workers stop at nothing to be the best at what they do. Each person has their own story and as the years go by we see the ups and downs, but they never give up.

You never know quite what you are going to get with each episode. Sometimes episodes will be very straightforward and serious, but other times a song and dance will make its way into a scene. What you can count on with this show is guts. The characters take risks and often put it all on the line.

Total Seasons: 7

 

If you would like to see a complete list of canceled shows visit tvseriesfinale.com.

Interstellar on DVD and Blu Ray

Interstellarinterstellar takes place in a future Earth where a plague called the Blight is eating up the food sources around the world. Another effect of the Blight is routine dust storms that cause a range of health problems. Scientists have concluded the Earth is dying.  As food dwindles and dust storms increase, a young girl begins to receive messages through her bedroom bookshelves. Her father (played by Matthew McConaughey), an ex engineer and pilot, is called upon to lead a hail Mary expedition through space to find a new home for Earth’s residents.  He is joined by three others (including the lovely Anne Hathaway) to travel through space and time where minutes lost in space mean years lost on Earth.

Watching Interstellar is a complete mind boggling experience. Be prepared going in to it that you will be stuck to your seat for the next three hours. I recommend going to the bathroom first and keeping liquid intake to a minimum. Whatever you do, do not start this moving an hour before bed time. You will be up two hours past your bedtime. I made all of these mistakes. Luckily  during my bathroom break, I stopped the movie long enough to knock some sense into myself and go to bed (only an hour late). However I spent the entire next day thinking about this movie and wondering how it was going to end. And one more thing, use the subtitle function. It may seem strange at first to have it on, but you will get used to it. Action movies tend to be really loud or really quiet and you can never get it just right. You might miss some good information if you don’t have the subtitles on.

Interstellar has all of the things we have come to expect from a space movie (including plenty of terminology and theory that you need a degree in astrophysics to understand), but it finishes way ahead of predecessors. Interstellar gives you raw human emotion and good, sometimes great acting. On more than one occasion I wanted to drop to my knees, snap my head to the sky and scream ‘nooooooo!’  Other times my face lost all expression and my body went limp as I tried to grasp what just happened. It is the kind of movie that will you keep you up at night, and make you hold on to the ones you love just a little bit tighter.

I’m sure after reading this you will all be determined to watch this movie. While you will love it, you will be confused. After you have watched the movie, come back to this blog and check out this site. Den of Geek gives a great explanation of what is really going on in this movie as the movie does wrap up pretty quick.

Verdict: Not only one of the best movies of 2014, but could possible break into my personal top ten hit list of all time.

Award Watch: Won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. To see a full list of awards visit Interstellar Awards.

Fun Fact: Matt Damon is actually in this movie! He pops up about halfway through the movie. Interstellar is full of big name actors that have little actual screen time. John Lithgow, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, and Topher Grace all appear in Interstellar in small roles.

Looking to Watch Something New? DPL Staff Reviews Last Year’s New Hit TV Shows.

agents of shield

Are you interested in starting a new TV show but are having trouble deciding what to watch? I don’t blame you! Picking a new show to watch takes time and consideration, and no one wants to have their heart broken when they find out their favorite new show has been cancelled after one season. Personally, only two new shows made my DVR cut last year. I thought I could broaden my radar on new shows by asking members of the DPL staff to share what new shows they have tried out. The following is a list of recommended new TV shows that include a review by a DPL staff member. First seasons of all shows are owned by DPL.

Agents of Shield – Action – Currently in season 2 – This series is in limbo! It has not been renewed for a third season, but it also has not been cancelled.

If you’re a fan of Marvel movies—specifically Iron Man and Iron Man 2, Thor, and The Avengers—then you’re familiar with Agent Phillip J. Coulson (Clark Gregg) of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, a covert government agency that stamps its logo on everything without fear because it’s just that good.

Anyone who has watched The Avengers, knows that Agent Coulson died at the hands (and spear) of Loki, an outrage to superheroes and audiences alike.  We don’t know how—he doesn’t know how—but he’s back and leading a new team on an enormous plane called “The Bus” to investigate the increasingly weird stuff that has been happening since the Battle of New York.  There’s abandoned Chitauri technology to collect, ancient alien artifacts to break, mad scientists to stop, random Asgardians to ferret out, several evil organizations with cool acronyms to thwart, and one resurrection of our favorite secret agent to explain.

Running simultaneously with the movies, Coulson’s team wins some, loses some, fights to a draw a couple times, bonds, and faces a personal betrayal as devastating as the reveal of HYDRA.

And then things get weird . . . and totally Marvelous.

Reviewed by Sarah  – Special Collections Librarian 

 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Comedy – Currently in season 2 – Renewed for season 3

I was initially very wary of Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I am a devoted fan of Andre Braugher*, from back when he brilliantly played the very intense Detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide:  Life on the Street. And now he’s in a Fox comedy? With Andy Samberg? There were so many ways it could go terribly, painfully wrong. To be honest, I really didn’t want to like it. And yet, I do!

Set in Brooklyn’s 99th precinct, the half-hour comedy follows the precinct’s detectives, led by Braugher’s Captain Ray Holt through their personal and professional exploits. Samberg’s Det. Jake Peralta is the goofball comedic lead, ably hitting the sweet spot between silliness and seriousness without  spilling over into incompetence. The cast, bolstered by veteran comedians Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti and Joe Lo Truglio, plus Melissa Fumero and Stephanie Beatriz form a great ensemble of jarringly different personalities that mesh into a believably relatable police  precinct and a very entertaining show.

*Read a great profile of Braugher in the New York Times Magazine here.

Reviewed by Allison – Reference Librarian

 

The Originals – Drama – Currently in season 2 – Renewed for season 3

Vampires, witches, and werewolves oh my! This show is about the ever famous New Orleans Quarter and the supernatural creatures that fight for control of it. Aptly named The Originals, the story line revolves around a family of vampires that are literally the first vampires on the planet. They have been around for about 1000 years. Lead character Klaus Mikaelson, played by Joseph Morgan, is a fantastic villain because he pretty much can’t die due to his witch/werewolf/vampire bloodlines. I believe everyone on  the show has  tried at some point and they always come up short.  Klaus Mikaelson is definitely the bad guy, but you keep rooting for him because every once in awhile you see the hero he could be.

The Originals is actually a spin-off show of The Vampire Diaries ,which is currently in its sixth season. Klaus was the 1000 year old, all powerful vampire villain that reeked havoc on the vampires of Mystic Falls (the good kind of vampires) for several seasons. Many of Klaus’ family members were also introduced on The Vampire Diaries. They were pretty much all evil and up to no good. However the characters became so important to the ever weaving story lines that they were given their own show. Since VD is so popular, an audience for this show was already in place. This is how I started watching the show.

While the WB network occasionally overlaps story lines and characters between these two shows, you don’t have to watch the first five seasons of Vampire Diaries to understand what is going on in The Originals. If you are interested in this show, I recommended watching the first two seasons of The Originals. If you love it, then go back and get in on the Vampire Diaries.

Reviewed by Bianca – Reference Librarian

 

Reign Drama – Currently in season 2 – Renewed for season 3

I loved watching The Tudors on Showtime.  I watched England’s King Henry VIII divorce two wives, behead two other wives, and lose one wife in childbirth.  His relationship with his daughters Mary and Elizabeth was never stable, and at the end of the show we know that Elizabeth will someday take the throne and rule England for 44 years.

I was excited when I heard about Reign.  The show’s central character is Mary, Queen of Scots, the rival of Queen Elizabeth of England.  We learn that Mary became Queen of Scotland when she was only six days old.  The show starts off with Mary living in a convent in France.  After an attempt on her life, Mary goes to the French palace to be reunited with her betrothed, Francis, the Dauphin of France.  Mary’s ladies in waiting from Scotland join her at the French court.

If you are looking for a realistic retelling of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, then you do not want to watch this show.  Reign is nothing like The Tudors.  Reign takes a lot of liberties with the story of Mary, Queen of Scots and King Francis II of France.  While Reign may not be historically accurate, it is fun to watch this young couple try to learn how to be married and learn how to govern two countries.  In every episode, one of them has a crisis that must be resolved.  If you are looking for a fun show with a strong female lead character, then you would enjoy Reign.

Reviewed by Rachel – Reference Librarian

 

Resurrection – Science Fiction – Currently in season 2 – In limbo

ABC’s Resurrection started as an accidental viewing for me. It was right after Once Upon A Time (sooooooo good!), so I recorded it on pure coincidence. I ended up watching the pilot and not understanding a single thing by the end of it. Really, the entire show goes on like this. But it sure is fun trying to figure it out!

It follows the story of the residents of small town Arcadia, Missouri, both living and undead. By coincidence, government agent Martin Bellamy, who has his own secrets, is sent to return a child who will become one of the many Returned. The Returned are people who have been brought back to life, mostly family members of the residents, unaged and identical to before they were dead. The disturbing thing is that NOBODY knows why or how. Agent Bellamy and the town doctor Dr. Maggie Langston team up to investigate, but they both have things to hide and so, it seems, does everyone in town.The show trumps every single thing you guess, which makes me excited for the big reveal. It has an eerie feel to it, like The Twilight Zone, and has a fairly unique cast that includes some famous names like: Kurtwood Smith and Frances Fisher. An overall entertaining show if you like the supernatural and suspense, which I do!

Reviewed by Camille – Student Clerk Aide

 

Sleepy Hollow – Drama – Currently in season 2 – In limbo

This show is loosely based off of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.  Ichabod Crane is an American soldier and spy for General George Washington.  During a battle, Crane encounters a Hessian soldier and cuts off his head while the Hessian soldier simultaneously mortally wounds Crane.  Their blood intermingles and two men lives are joined by a blood spell.  When the Hessian soldier, better known as the Headless Horseman, rises again, Ichabod Crane will rise too.

Ichabod Crane finds himself alive in present day Sleepy Hollow, New York.  The town is being terrorized by the Headless Horseman.  One of the victims was the Sheriff. His partner, Lieutenant Abigail Mills, witnessed his death.  But it turns out that she isn’t just a witness, she is one of the Witnesses from the Book of Revelations.  The other Witness is Ichabod Crane.  It is up to Crane and Mills to fight evil and stop the first horseman of the Apocalypse.

As the show progresses, viewers learn that the founding fathers were not only battling the British, but they were fighting against the Apocalypse.  Various historical figures appear during the show, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and Abigail Adams.  The show takes pieces of American history and turns them into clues against the war against evil.  For example, in one episode, Benjamin Franklin was flying his kite in a thunderstorm to destroy a mystical key.  He was not trying to do an experiment on electricity.

Sleepy Hollow is a combination of the American history, fantasy, detective story and the Book of Revelations.  It will appeal to fans of the Da Vinci code, fans of American history and fans of Washington Irving’s tale.

Reviewed by Rachel – Reference Librarian

 

True Detective – Drama – In between seasons – Season 2 airs summer 2015

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrleson star as detectives in this HBO drama. That could be the end of this review, because honestly these two actors are phenomenal on their own and make an even better team. With HBO as its network, you can basically guarantee a hit show. For those of you that need a little more convincing…let me set the seen. The TV show is technically spent in present day, but most of the story unfolds through the story telling of Rust Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrleson) about an investigation they worked together in 1995.

In 1995, Cohle and Hart are paired up to lead a complicated murder investigation. Cohle is new to unit and gives off a very creepy vibe. Even Hart is reluctant to pair up with him and is often baffled by Cohle’s unorthodox methods. As we twist and turn through the season, Cohle and Hart’s partnership blooms as they near catching the killer. Simultaneously bits and pieces of present day Cohle and Hart are uncovered as they are separately questioned about the 1995 case. In present day Hart is working as a private investigator, and Cohle is bartending on the outskirts of town after having dropped off the face of the earth for a decade. As the stories weave back and forth we inch towards the closing of the 1995 case and learn more and more about what has happened to these two detectives in the years in between. This all leads to discovering why Hart and Cohle are being questioned about a murder case that was closed 17 years ago.

Viewer discretion is advised for this series as it includes many adult elements.

-Reviewed by Bianca – Reference Librarian

 

Witches of East End  – Currently in season 2 – Cancelled by Lifetime, but there is a nation wide campaign to air a season 3.

Talk about a guilty pleasure! If you were a big fan of the TV series Charmed back in the day like I was, then you will love Witches of East End. It also centers on a powerful group of strong ‘witchy’ sisters.  The Witches of East End was originally from a novel by Melissa de la Cruz.  The story focuses on family matriarch Joanna Beauchamp (played by Julie Ormand) and her two adult daughters, Ingrid and Freya (played by Rachel Boston and Jenna Dewan Tatum). Joanna Beauchamp is a witch and knows it but her daughters are completely unaware about their magical backgrounds as they go about their lives in a secluded seaside town.  However, when Joanna’s estranged sister and the girls’ Aunt Wendy Beauchamp blows into town with secrets of her own, it’s not long before the girls find out about their unique family history and their powers.

I can’t forget to mention that all of the characters are intriguing and well-cast with very juicy story lines! I can honestly say that I finished the whole series in about 2 days! Filled with romance, zombies, ghosts, and surprise twists and turns to keep you entertained, this show has become a surprising favorite of mine. I eagerly wait for the 2nd season of this show.

-Reviewed by Shaniece – Senior Clerk