Posted in Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Film, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thrillers

Movie Night With Kanopy

Posted on by Molly

Have you taken a look at Kanopy lately? There is so much great content I can barely make up my mind when it comes to choosing something to watch. Below, I listed several dynamic pictures to suit many tastes and aesthetics. Gather your friends, your family, and the snacks you love. Pull on your jim jams, get comfy, and enjoy the miracle of light that is moving pictures.

Classic movie night:
The Outlaw (1943) starring Jane Russel and directed by Howard Hughes
This is a Billy the Kid story, but the only thing people remember about this movie is Hughes’ supposedly engineered a bra to make sure Russel’s prominent chest was as chesty as a chest could ever boob. While Hughes may have applied his airplane smarts to brassiere design, the resulting garment was uncomfortable to the point of excessive pain. Russel would wear a regular bra and tell Hughes she was fitted in the monstrosity of his design. He wasn’t going to check, after all. No, I do not care if this story is apocryphal.

The Stranger (1946) written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles
One of Welles’ lesser known, but greatly enjoyable noir pictures. Welles plays a former Nazi supervillain who has disguised himself as a small New England town boy’s school teacher. He has to do a murder real quick to hide his true identity, which attracts the attention of a tenacious Edward G. Robinson, a man who prosecutes war criminals for the UN. A tense and entertaining game of cat and mouse ensues. 

Sunset Boulevard (1950) starring Gloria Swanson and directed by Billy Wilder
I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to call this one of the great pictures of the 20th century. We see the herald of old Hollywood colliding with new that wouldn’t actually happen for another 20 years. Here, the narrative is driven by the effects of film transitioning from silent to talkies a further 20 years prior. Blink and you’ll miss “wax work” stars like Buster Keaton and H.B. Warner portraying themselves. Eric Von Stroheim, the legendary and unfairly maligned silent picture director, stuns as Norma Desmond’s protective manservant. Mark your calendars and join the Movie Club discussion of this film at 8th Street Ale Haus on Thursday, August 15 2024. 

Family movie night:
The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) directed by Lotte Reiniger
Gorgeous, meticulous animation using cut paper techniques of the Victorians. This may be slightly slow-moving for the very littles, but could be a good show to put on when it’s winding down to sleepy time. 

The Water Horse (2007) directed by Jay Russell
Delightful fantasy adventure with lots of cryptid action. This is based on a book of the same name by author Dick King-Smith. Wouldn’t it be fun to read this book as a family before you watch the movie? You could compare and contrast and decide which you like better and why. 

Kedi: The Cats of an Ancient City (2016) directed by Ceyda Torun
Enflame your family’s itch to travel with this charmer. The ancient city of Istanbul is famous for its numerous stray cats who are cared for by many but owned by none. Learn the reason why as the filmmaker follows seven different cats throughout their respective days. 

Horror movie night:
Battle Royale (2000) directed by Kinji Fukasaku
This is not a horror movie in the same vein as say, your Friday the 13ths or your Paranormal Activities or whatever, but it IS horrific. The film begins with a bus full of Japanese school kids getting gassed. They awake on an island, surrounded by various weapons. The group learns that only one person will be allowed to leave the island, and they have to do so by killing everyone else. Sometimes these high-concept films lose momentum or have muddy plots, but Battle Royale is as sharp and deadly in action and dialogue as the day it came out. Super creepy, exciting, and unforgettable. This is based on a very successful book of the same name.

House on Haunted Hill (1959) starring Vincent Price and directed by William Castle
This little oddball is an incredible cultural time capsule. Watch it straight on Kanopy to appreciate the scenery-chewing of a marvelous Vincent Price and the campy special effects. After that, check out this Rifftrax DVD. Rifftrax is where the boys from Mystery Science Theater 3000 took their brand of movie house heckling after the original cable show got canceled. They are joined by a razor sharp and always hilarious Paul F. Tompkins as they heckle, lampoon, mock, and adore House on Haunted Hill.

Night of the Living Dead (1968) directed by George Romero
This film is foundational to almost all other horror movies to follow. The low budget thrills are still effective, and often shocking. Tom Savini did a remake in 1990, and his monster makeup effects are so good you can practically smell them (so, SO glad you cannot). The remake also addresses the weakest aspect of the original: Barbara’s ineffectiveness. The 1990 Barbara takes action against the ravening hordes and is such a total badass. Original Barbara is panicking and weak when she’s not outright catatonic. This diminishes my personal enjoyment of Romero’s otherwise extremely entertaining film, but then again I have seen it approximately five thousand times.

Wildcard night:
In the Heat of the Night (1967) starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier
I recently read the excellent and extraordinary 2008 book Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris. The author does a deep dive into how the five 1968 Best Picture nominees came to be and what they signified for Hollywood’s trajectory. It made me feel desperate to re-watch In the Heat of the Night, which won the Best Picture Oscar of that year, so imagine my delight when I found it streaming on Kanopy, and not a single other streaming service for free. 

Hot Rod (2007) starring Andy Samberg and directed by Akiva Shaffer
The character of Hot Rod is himself, a wild card. Turn your brain off and let your mouth go slack. Let those silly Lonely Island boys take you on an adventure so unusual, many of the principal actors said they “did not understand” what the movie was about up to and past its release date. 

Rumble in the Bronx (1995) starring Jackie Chan
Have you ever heard of a cooler movie title?! This was Jackie Chan’s breakout crossover hit for American audiences. He’d already been making movies in Hong Kong for like 20 years up to this point, and this is one of his best. Known for mind-boggling action pieces, and tightly choreographed fight sequences, it’s not hard to understand how this picture won over American audiences and increased the already blazing light of Chan’s international celebrity.  

All of the films I mentioned above are available for checkout on Kanopy as of April 26th, 2024, but may be subject to change over time as the lineup can shift from month to month. In fact, when I REALLY can’t make up my mind about what I would like to watch, I go to the “leaving this month” category and choose something I won’t have access to for long. I think the urgency helps me make a choice. 

I linked each title to the Monarch catalog DVD listing, if one prefers physical media. Click the link to see the listing which also tends to include a brief description. 

Still not finding something you’re excited to watch? Please consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Movies service by clicking HERE. Share some of your favorites with us and we’ll send you five movie titles you might love. We are always happy, nay, THRILLED to help people find the library material they love whether it’s books, movies, music or something else. Baking tool collection, anyone?

Posted in Adult, Fiction, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult, Uncategorized

Manga and cats, what could be better?

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I am returning to talk about a most epic of combinations. Manga and cats! Has there ever been a better combination? Perhaps coffee and cats surpasses it, but not by much in my opinion.

The first manga I’m going to talk about is Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z. When I tell you this is one of the funniest mangas I have ever read, I’m not exaggerating! I laugh out loud and smile the whole time I’m reading it. The way the author portrays Kyuruga, the cat, is so authentic and realistic for cat owners.

I also enjoy living vicariously through the main character, Fuuta, and his sister as they interact with a very affectionate Kyuruga. You see, dear reader, I live with a cat who is not very affectionate. Abraham (Abe for short) is a cat that wants affection on his terms, and usually for about a minute and then he’s done! However, because he is like that, it makes the moments when he jumps up on my bed and lays by me of his own volition that much more special.

Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z

When Fuuta comes home tired at night, all he wants to do is spend time with his sister’s cat, Kyuruga. So many of the mysterious habits and mannerisms of house cats―from the surprising array of shapes Kyuruga likes to twist into, to the bizarre challenge of getting a good photo of him, to his lightning-fast mood changes―are carefully reproduced in this relaxed and cute comedy about living with an adorable furball!

The next manga I’m going to talk about is a shonen manga, which, if you’ve read my previous blog post on manga, you will remember that this means this is a manga aimed primarily at a young male audience, typically characterized by action-filled plots.

There is indeed a ton of action in this manga in the form of, you guessed it, games! You didn’t see that coming at all, did you, dear reader? Luckily I’m here to inform you, no worries.

I grew up playing car games with my brother, but I was nowhere near as obsessed with games as the main character, Riko, is in this manga. I find her enthusiasm for them quite charming, though. The way she goes over the top in response to a win or bad draw is hilarious! I also appreciate the short chapters at the end of the longer ones that feature Riko from Musubi the cat’s perspective. I was basically born into a cat family so I’ve never experienced first-time cat ownership, but the way Riko fumbles through it, as well as constantly relates it to the gaming world, treating it like a leveling up scenario will really charm you!

Continue reading “Manga and cats, what could be better?” →
Posted in Uncategorized

Memory Caregiver Kits

Posted on by Aleah

Did you know that Mead Library has memory caregiver kits? These kits are put together to support caregivers of those experiencing symptoms of dementia in all of it’s stages. Early stage kits focus on a goal with a tangible outcome. Early to mid stage kits involve activities that are broken into manageable chunks, so the user can focus on the experience rather than the overall outcome. Mid to late stage kits focus more on experience as well as sensations from an activity. Below are some of the items you might find in your kit:

Colored Pencils and Coloring Pages

Coloring can be a very relaxing activity for those experience dementia symptoms. It allows a person to focus and “zone out” for a period of time, as well as relieve stress and improve a person’s mood.

Continue reading “Memory Caregiver Kits” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Film, Staff Picks

Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night

Posted on by Ryan

Every day I feel like I’m turning more and more into my dad. I sneeze obnoxiously loud like him. I’m starting to get some gray hairs. I even sit at the dinner table the same way he does after eating — with my arms crossed over my chest and a sleepy look on my face. I imagine one day I’ll just wake up and find I’m a mini version of him (I’m technically taller than him so maybe a slightly bigger version? I don’t know but you get what I mean!)

One of the more recent dad-isms I’ve developed has involved watching one of his favorite kinds of movies: martial arts films. While I haven’t quite gotten into mobster movies yet like him — a story for another time when I inevitably do — I have been really enjoying films that include martial arts. Mainly the more comedic ones, but some serious ones here and there. Here’s a small helping of some of my favorites so far.

Shaolin Soccer (2004)

To kick things off, I’m starting with Shaolin Soccer for one simple reason: it combines my dad’s love for martial arts movies with his lifelong passion for soccer, a sport he played seriously for many years growing up.

In this movie, Shaolin kung fu master Sing — played by director Stephen Chow — teams up with former soccer star “Golden Leg” Fung to challenge Team Evil to a game of soccer, using the power of martial arts to pull off some over-the-top stunts, score some goals, and share the powers of Shaolin kung fu with the world.

With some funny dialogue, a goofy plot, and over-the-top special effects, this engaging movie provides quite a few laughs from start to finish. I can see why this was one of my dad’s favorites now.

Continue reading “Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night” →
Posted in Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Historical, Horror, LGBTQI+, Mystery, Nonfiction, Teen & Young Adult, Thrillers

Book Club Ideas From Me to You

Posted on by Molly

One thing I love about working as a librarian is the ability to provide classic services and programs. It doesn’t get much classic-er than the good ol’ book club.

We here at Mead run a variety of book clubs to suit an array of tastes and interests. We also provide circulating book kits (six to twelve copies of one title) available for public checkout. Below, I listed a few book club themes along with some titles that would make for excellent discussions in each category.

Mystery Club

Mead already has a fantastic mystery book club called Moonlight and Murder. Meetings occur every other month at The Black Pig. It’s a long-established group that even COVID could not defeat. 

Since mysteries are my main jam, I thought it couldn’t hurt to list some of the best books in this genre that I’ve encountered lately. The mystery titles I picked are highly sought-after new releases that all came out within the last year. 

  • None of This is True (2023) by Lisa Jewell; excellent use of the unreliable narrator trope. I had to read this as fast as possible or I would have lost my mind. 
  • Bright Young Women (2023) by Jessica Knoll; a feminist and fictionalized account of a famous 1979 Florida sorority house murder spree that focuses on the victims and not the booger-eating alcoholic dipshit who committed the crimes. Important AND infuriating. 
  • The Frozen River (2023) by Ariel Lawhon; easily one of the best books I have read in the past 10 years. It’s based on the real-life diaries of 18th century midwife Martha Ballard. Her diary is in circulation, too. Books featuring elements of pregnancy and childbirth are usually off-putting to me, but this was different. This made me feel how powerful we can be as women, and reminded me not to take for granted all the gains we’ve made socially, politically, and professionally over the intervening two hundred years. 
  • The Teacher (2024) by Freida McFadden; if you’re not familiar with McFadden’s brand of bonkers, you are in for a treat. In this book, everyone is making terrible choices all the time and no one is very likable, which makes the comeuppance all the more delicious. Messy messy messy.

Film Criticism Club

I run a movie club. It’s awesome. We watch a movie on our own and come together to discuss as a group, just like a book club. Join us at 8th Street Ale Haus third Thursdays to see what I mean. 

Film is a particular interest of mine, and I have been encountering more and more film writing and criticism when I prepare for a movie club meeting. This list represents some high points of film writing from over the last few decades, while still being accessible to popular audiences. Doesn’t that sound like a fun book club? I KNOW!!!!!

  • Life Itself: a Memoir (2011) by Roger Ebert; I love him. I LOVE HIM. Fascinating man living through fascinating times. The passages about trying to interview Robert Mitchum made me laugh so hard I cried, and that’s just the first thing that comes to mind. The world is a poorer place without my beloved Ebert. “Movies are like a machine that generates empathy.”
  • Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of New Hollywood (2008) by Mark Harris; inventive breakdown that uses the five 1967 Best Picture nominees- Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; The Graduate; In the Heat of the Night; Doctor Doolittle; and Bonnie and Clyde to examine the transition from Old Hollywood to New that came to pass in the late 1960s.
  • For Keeps (1994) by Pauline Kael; one of the more important and original voices in 20th century film criticism. Her opinions often contradicted prevalent voices of the day. She was famous for only ever watching a picture once before reviewing it. 
  • Cinema Speculation (2022) by Quentin Tarantino; it doesn’t matter how you feel about his oeuvre, this man loves movies and his enthusiasm only serves the medium. Tarantino literally grew up in Los Angeles movie houses when his mother started bringing him along at the age of seven in 1970. He formats this book into ten chapters, one for each year of the 1970s, and focuses on one film for each year as a departure point to expound on.  

YA Book Club, but for adults

About one out of four books I read could be considered Young Adult. This genre label is more useful as a tool to identify reading level as opposed to quality, with the understanding that reading really is ageless. Some among us have  knee-jerk reactions to material produced for a younger audience, but fellas, y’all are missing out when avoiding YA and juvenile material. 

The books I listed are all titles I encountered as a whole adult. Most shattered me emotionally, in the best way possible (looking at you, The Outsiders). Another thing they all have in common are killer plotlines, accessible prose, and relatable depictions of memorable characters.

  • The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (1990) by Avi; o! To be a 13-year-old girl matching wits with an amoral ship’s captain on the high seas in the mid-19th century! 
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999) by Stephen Chbosky; remember what it was like to feel ugly, vulnerable, beautiful, and powerful all at once? This story helps to remember. 
  • The Outsiders (1967) by S.E. Hinton; this book made me sob real tears. What a beautiful story, which still resonates with readers old and new, fifty years later. 
  • Ghost (2016) by Jason Reynolds; part one of the Track series. If I had the time and inclination I would assign all four volumes of this series for an adult book discussion. Each novella highlights one of four members of a junior high track team, and each stands alone as narratives. The real magic lies within the intertwining and deepening of the stories with each successive installment. If you haven’t read any Jason Reynolds at all yet, what are you even doing? One of the best YA writers in all the land, maybe ever. 

Horror Book Club

At one time I thought I did not like horror fiction, but then I saw some best-of lists, and it turns out I have read a lot of horror fiction. Once I realized my affinity for the genre, I started cultivating my own best-of list. Mead does not have a horror book club! Maybe you should start one!

Here are some of my favorites that could work great in a book club scenario:

  • My Heart is a Chainsaw (2021) by Stephen Graham Jones; this truly upsetting love letter to slasher films is proof positive that Jones is one of the foremost voices in modern horror lit. Lots to discuss here, from treatment of indigenous people to family dynamics and mental health. Don’t worry, the library owns most of the slasher movies mentioned in this book.  
  • Ring Shout (2020) by P. Djeli Clark; what if the racist 1915 film Birth of a Nation caused actual demons to walk the earth? This book freaked me out bad, but in the hands of a writer as talented as Clark, it was tough to put down.  
  • The Hollow Places (2020) by T. Kingfisher; this author is a particular favorite of mine, so I write about her a lot. Kingfisher has a way of tilting the world off kilter just so. Atmospheric, humorous, and unexpectedly gooey at times (I mean like, people turn into goo, not emotionally-speaking), no one does horror like this.
  • How to Sell a Haunted House (2023) by Grady Hendrix; this guy has been cranking out bangers since 2016’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism. In How to Sell a Haunted House, Hendrix brings actual scares and dread to his take on grief portrayed as a haunted house. Most of the work in his back catalog would work great for a book club discussion, too. 

Honorable mention YA/Horror Book Club crossover:

  • Clown in a Cornfield (2020) by Adam Cesare; thinly veiled criticism of the MAGA crowd that imagines what would happen if conservatives straight up started murdering people they didn’t align with politically. Super violent and grody, this book practically has a smell to it. Despite all that, it is such a lot of fun to read if you love slasher fiction as much as I do. 

While I personally dislike reading on a schedule (hence running movie club which only cuts into two hours of my leisure time as opposed to several), many thrive on it. My goal was to provide a starting point and some solid book picks for those who are interested in running their own book group. Figure out a venue and some snacks, and a charming evening awaits. 

Don’t want to start your own book group? Consider attending one of ours. Click the links to see current book picks (as of March 28, 2024), meeting locations, and timings:

Posted in Adult, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult, Uncategorized

Manga with a message

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I want to talk with you about manga. I’ve been devouring it lately so I figured, why not talk about it?

First of all, what is manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a wide variety of comic books or graphic novels originally produced and published in Japan. Unlike American comic books, which are usually printed in full color, Japanese manga are almost always published in black and white.

There are also several different demographics of manga, three of which I will be talking about today.

Shonen – targeted at tween and teen boys

Shojo – targeted at tween and teen girls

Seinen – targeted at adult men 18+

Josei – targeted at adult women 18+

Kodomomuke – targeted at young children

The first manga I’m going to talk about is A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita. This is a shojo manga.

A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita

Yuki, who’s always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. But she’s not used to English, so when a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics…until a handsome stranger steps in to help. His name is Itsuomi, and it turns out he’s a friend of a friend. A charismatic globetrotter, Itsuomi speaks three languages, but he’s never had a deaf friend. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter’s night…but Yuki’s friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt. Could this be something real? Or will these feelings melt away with the snow?

Dear reader, I am thoroughly enjoying this manga! The author does a marvelous job showing how Yuki navigates her world, and in portraying the difficulties she encounters from day to day as a deaf person. She has friends who are supportive, but also people who use the knowledge of sign language against her. Throughout the series you can see Yuki striving for and achieving independence, and of course witness her growing relationship with Itsuomi. I’m sure you will fall in love with the characters as much as I did!

Continue reading “Manga with a message” →
Posted in Uncategorized

What’s New in Mead’s Experience Collection

Posted on by Aleah

Yup, that’s right! Mead has new things for it’s library of things! If you aren’t familiar with Mead’s Experience Collection, this is a collection of non-traditional library items. It includes free entry passes for a variety of locations, STEM kits, baking pans, games, ukulele’s, and so much more! You can find our display of all of the items right when you walk into the library, or take a search through monarchcatalog.org for Mead Public Library Experience Collection. Here are a few of our newest additions:

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal detector

This is one of those things you wish you had while walking down the beach to see if you find any treasure.  If you’ve wanted one, but just haven’t convinced yourself to get one yet, try out Mead’s Metal Detector!

This metal detector is perfect for searching in rugged ground conditions.  There are 3 modes, which include Motion All-Metal mode, Discrimination mode, and 2-Tone audio mode.  There is a Disc/notch control that you can set to distinguish between target metals and unwanted metals.

Continue reading “What’s New in Mead’s Experience Collection” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Film, Teen & Young Adult

6 Classic Animated Stop Motion Films

Posted on by Ryan

Recently, one of my favorite activities after a long week has been sitting down on the couch, cozying up with a nice cup of tea, and watching one of my favorite genres of movies; animated stop motion films. They’ve fascinated me since I was a kid and, even as an adult, still fill me with wonder. It’s amazing to see what can be done with figurines, voice actors, and hundreds upon thousands of photographs to produce motion out of something that was once still.

I think my love for them started back as a child with Gumby, a blocky green human-like bit of clay. I watched all of the adventures the green figurine and his sidekick pony Pokey got into, eagerly awaiting the next time I could see them on TV. And when I ran out of episodes to watch, I’d play with my Gumby and Pokey action figures, making up new stories for them as I imagined what new trouble they could get into.

So, it’s no wonder these kind of films have become a favorite of mine these days. In short: if you’ve never experienced the joy of watching animated stop-motion films, you’re missing out. But if you’re looking to get started, have no fear! Below is a list of six classics to get you started:

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Mr. and Mrs. Fox live a happy home life underground with their eccentric son Ash. Mr. Fox works as a journalist, but against the advice of Badger, his attorney, he moves his family into a larger and finer home inside a tree on a hill. The treehouse has an excellent view of the nearby farms of Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Ash becomes hostile when his cousin, Kristofferson, joins the family for an extended stay. Mr. Fox decides to raid the farms, but this leads the farmers to stakeout the treehouse. The farmers try to dig the Fox family out, but they dig even faster. Mr. Fox organizes a tunneling project to burrow under all three farms and steal all the chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

It’s ‘veggie-mania’ in Wallace and Gromit’s neighborhood. The two enterprising friends are cashing in with their humane pest-control outfit, “Anti-Pesto.” With only days to go before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition they find that their business is booming. They come to find out that running a “humane” pest control outfit can have its drawbacks. Suddenly, a large and mysterious veg-ravaging “beast” begins attacking the town’s sacred vegetable plots at night. The competition hostess, Lady Tottington, commissions Anti-Pesto to catch the beast and save the day. But Victor Quartermaine would rather shoot the beast and secure the position of local hero – not to mention Lady Tottingon’s hand in marriage.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington is the King of Halloween. He becomes bored with the same routine every year. He decides to take a walk in the woods. There, he discovered a door leading to Christmastown and decides to spread Christmas joy to the world. When he is back in Halloweentown he shows his friends what Christmas is like, and he suggests doing Christmas this year instead. But things do not go as planned when Oogie Boogie, an evil gambling boogey man, plots to play a game with Santa Claus’ life and creates a nightmare for all the good little boys and girls everywhere. Although Sally attempts to stop him, Jack embarks into the sky on a coffin-like sled pulled by skeletal reindeer.

Chicken Run (2000)

While the chickens on Mrs. Tweedy’s farm dream of a better life, a clever hen named Ginger is hatching plans to fly the coop for good. The only problem is, chickens can’t fly, or can they? Every escape attempt goes fowl until Rocky, a smooth-talking All-American rooster, crash lands in the coop. It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her fine feathered friends to fly, but, with teamwork, determination, and a little bit of cluck, the fearless flock plots one last daring attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom.

Coraline (2009)

A young girl walks through a secret door that she has found in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life, but much better. When her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents, including the Other Mother, try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family.

ParaNorman (2012)

A boy must use his special powers to save his town from a centuries-old curse. In addition to spooky zombies, he’ll also have to take on unpredictable ghosts, wily witches, and, worst of all, clueless grown-ups. But this young ghoul whisperer will soon find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.

*Descriptions provided by the publisher

Posted in Adult, Fiction, Thrillers

While You Wait March 2024: First Lie Wins & The Teacher

Posted on by Zachary

Another month and another post about the books at the top of our holds list. (To be upfront, this month’s books are in second and third place on our list because The Women is still at the top.) You’ll find read-alikes for First Lie Wins and The Teacher below. Each book has a blurb about it from our catalog.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (Large Print)

“Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes–especially after what happened last time. Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to–her real identity–just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher–but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…”

Continue reading “While You Wait March 2024: First Lie Wins & The Teacher” →
Posted in Adult, Award Winners, Film

2024 Academy Award for Best Picture Nominee Roundup

Posted on by Molly

What was the best movie you watched this year? Would you nominate this movie for an Academy Award? Which category? I had a ton of fun watching Saltburn, but I wouldn’t necessarily start showering it with Oscars willy-nilly. New movies require new categories like Best Unhinged Naked Dance or Most Shocking Use of Plumbing. I’ve been drafting a letter to the president of Hollywood to this effect, don’t worry. 

While we wait for the Academy to catch up to modern times, below I listed all ten 2024 nominees the Academy deemed worthy of a chance at the Oscar for Best Picture. Condolences to Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, Quantumania, and the remake of White Men Can’t Jump starring Jack Harlow for not making the cut. 

Movie titles are linked to the Monarch catalog listing, or IMDB, if the film has not yet been released on DVD. I also indicated which platform each movie can be found streaming, as of Feb. 23, 2024. In the meantime, get up to speed with three 96th Academy Award nominated films available on Kanopy: Past Lives (Best Picture); Jules (Best Actor, Actress, Independent Film); and Four Daughters (Best Documentary Feature Film).

American Fiction; streaming on Apple TV
Also nominated for Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright); Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K. Brown)

Will it win Best Picture? Probably not. I’m pulling for Wright to win Best Actor, but the field is strong this year. This is Wright’s first-ever Academy Award nomination.

Anatomy of a Fall; DVD release date set for May 28, 2024; streaming on Apple TV
Also nominated for Best Director; Best Actress (Sandra Hüller); Best Original Screenplay; Best Editing

  • Directed by Justine Triet who is also known for Sibyl (2021); In Bed With Victoria (2016); Age of Panic (2013)
  • Starring Sandra Hüller who is also known for her role in Triet’s Sibyl (2021) and Area of Interest, which is also nominated for Best Picture. 

Will it win Best Picture? It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, which I understand to be a big deal. However, only three other films have ever won both institution’s top prizes. The other films were The Lost Weekend (1945); Marty (1955); and Parasite (2019). How well it fares with American audiences and up against the behemoth that is Oppenheimer will be a big factor. It seems like an unlikely win.

Barbie; streaming on MAX
Also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling); Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera); Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Original Song (I’m Just Ken AND What Was I Made For); Best Production Design; Best Costume Design

Will it win? Not for Best Picture, I am afraid. While Barbie provided an extremely enjoyable frothy pink bright spot amidst our often fraught surroundings, many of the other nominees are more, uh, Oscar-y. This is Fererra’s first and Gosling’s third nomination. I predict it will win in the Best Original Song category. 

The Holdovers; streaming on Peacock
Also nominated for Best Actor (Paul Giamatti); Best Supporting Actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph); Best Original Screenplay; Best Film Editing

Will it win? I think Giamatti deserves every award he’s nominated for. I also think Randolph stands a good chance. She was a revelation and I want her to be famous forever. The Holdovers will not win Best Picture, however. 

Killers of the Flower Moon; DVD release date unknown; streaming on Apple TV
Also nominated for Best Director; Best Actress (Lily Gladstone); Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro); Best Cinematography; Best Editing; Best Production Design; Best Costume Design; Best Original Score; Best Original Song

  • Directed by Martin Scorsese who is also known for: Taxi Driver (1976); The King of Comedy (1982); Raging Bull (1980); Goodfellas (1990); The Departed (2006). Scorsese won Best Director for The Departed. 
  • Starring Lily Gladstone; Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro; Jesse Plemons; Brendan Frasier. It’s a murderer’s row. I will not be detailing various past nominations because we only have so much time in a day.

Will it win? With a whopping 10 nominations, chances are good for this film cleaning up, but all those Oppenheimer nominations could really cut this one off at the knees. I am not a gambling type and I don’t know how to calculate odds, so let’s go with a 25% probability that Killers of the Flower Moon will win Best Picture. 

Maestro; DVD release date unknown; streaming on Netflix
Also nominated for Best Actor (Bradley Cooper); Best Actress (Carey Mulligan); Best Original Screenplay; Best Cinematography; Best Makeup and Hairstyling; Best Sound

Will it win? I don’t think this is our Best Picture winner either, and all bets are off with the Best Actor category.

Oppenheimer; streaming on Peacock
Also nominated for Best Director; Best Actor (Cillian Murphy); Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.); Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt); Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Original Score; Best Sound; Best Production Design; Best Cinematography; Best Makeup and Hairstyling; Best Costume Design; Best Film Editing. For those of you keeping score that is an astonishing 13 nominations. 

  • Directed by Christpher Nolan who is also known for: The Dark Knight (2008); Interstellar (2014); Inception (2010). Nolan received a nomination for Best Director for his work on Dunkirk (2017). 
  • Starring Cillian Murphy. This is his first Academy Award nomination.
    Also known for: Murphy is a frequent Nolan collaborator who also starred in Inception, Dunkirk, and Batman Begins (2005). Other career highlights include 28 Days Later (2002) Red Eye (2006); Sunshine (2007); Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

Will it win? Yes. This is going to win Best Picture. And probably a bunch of other Oscars. No, I will not be elaborating further. 

Past Lives; streaming on Showtime
Also nominated for Best Original Screenplay

  • Directed by Celine Song
    Also known for: Song was mainly a playwright and staff writer before Past Lives, her big breakout. 
  • Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro
    Greta Lee is also known for Inside Amy Schumer (2013-2016); Wayward Pines (2015-2016); Russian Doll (2019-present); The Morning Show (2021-present)

Will it win? I don’t think so, but the fact that it’s nominated is a pretty big deal. 

Poor Things; available on DVD February 2024; stream Video On Demand starting February 27th
Also nominated for Best Director; Best Actress (Emma Stone); Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo); Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Original Score; Best Production Design; Best Cinematography; Best Makeup and Hairstyling; Best Costume Design; Best Film Editing

Will it win? MAYBE. I think it’s down to Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things. This could be the dark horse of the race. Emma Stone is a shoo-in for Best Actress. This is Ruffalo’s fourth nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 

The Zone of Interest ; DVD release date unknown; streaming on MAX with no release date announced
Also nominated for Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best International Film Feature; Best Sound

  • Directed by Jonathan Glazer who is also known for: Sexy Beast (2001); Birth (2004); Under the Skin (2013)
  • Starring Sandra Hüller and Christian Friedel
    Hüller also stars in Best Picture-Nominated Anatomy of a Fall. 

Will it win? Naw. But I imagine it is a very strong contender for Best International Film Feature.

There you have it. The Best Picture nominees have been rounded up. Whether you are a die-hard award season aficionado, can’t stand dusty, exclusionary institutions like the Academy, or have very few strong feelings about the whole thing, I think we can all agree that it’s fun to speculate about the big winner. 

If prestige pictures aren’t appealing, fear not, I just re-ordered a copy of Sausage Party (2016) and The Jerk (1979). Mead also owns a BluRay 4K copy of Howard the Duck (1986). We include the low AND the high-brow up in our library. For more film suggestions consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Movies service by clicking HERE.