VIDEO Files (foreign films, anyone?)

I was originally going to post about the “Best Books of 2014”, but frankly, I’m not all that inspired by what is showing up on those lists this year. SO, I’m going rogue and posting some foreign films & documentaries that I’ve enjoyed:

The Intouchables (France)

An irreverent, uplifting comedy about friendship, trust, and human possibility. Based on a true story of friendship between a handicapped millionaire and his street-smart ex-con caretaker, The Intouchables depicts an unlikely camaraderie rooted in honesty and humor between two individuals who, on the surface, would seem to have nothing in common.

Benda Bilili! (Congo)

Follow an unlikely group of musicians in Kinshasa, capital of the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, from the streets to the world's stages. The band, Staff Benda Bilili, is a group of street musicians composed of four paraplegics and three able-bodied men. The core of the group is four singer/guitarists who use customized tricycles to get around. French film directors Florent de la Tullaye and Renaud Barret document the band's struggles to survive through music in the volatile city.

Mother (Korea)

A mother desperately tries to overturn her son's murder conviction, find the killer who set him up, and have him released from prison.  MPAA Rating: R; for language, some sexual content, violence and drug use.

Lagaan (India)

An arrogant British Army captain forces a bet on a group of farmers. If they can win a cricket match against the army team, they will not have to pay the tax called lagaan for three years.

Schultze Gets the Blues (Germany)

Schultze is a recently retired miner who, like his father before him, entertains polka audiences with his accordion. When he discovers the fiery energy of Zydeco music on his radio, the rigid monotony of his daily routine takes a spicy turn. Schultze learns to play his accordion with a new snap and style. His new-found fascination ultimately leads him on a life-changing journey to the Louisiana delta.












What foreign films have you enjoyed?


And in case you DO want to check on the Best Books of 2014, here are links to the lists:


Kirkus
Publishers Weekly
Library Journal
Boston Globe
NPR
Huffington Post
Time
Guardian
New York Times
Entertainment Weekly
Wall Street Journal
Economist

What do you think of the 2014 best books lists?  DO you have a favorite book from 2014 that you want to share?

GIFTS MADE BY HAND

  

If you want to avoid the crowds, consider giving homemade presents. Some homemade gifts can be made in less time than it takes to get to the mall and find a parking space.

Gifts made by hand are cheaper, greener and more fun than store-bought gifts

Enjoy this list of books for gift giving ideas.

A Great Three Years

I've come to the end of my 3-year term as a member of Sno-Isle's Readers Advisory Team. What a fun time I've had getting to share my love of reading with you! Of course, I will continue doing so on an unofficial basis at my library as I serve our customers daily. I kept the list of books I've recommended over the past three years, so I want to share some of my favorites.

Great Books for Gifting: Nonfiction

  

Nonfiction is like a candy shop - there is a perfect flavor for every reader, and so many possibilities to choose from!  Ask your librarian for suggestions to please each of the people on your gift list.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

Great Books For Gifting: Adult Fiction

Books are the perfect gift.  There are such a variety to choose from.  For friends and family who prefer to read fiction, here is an eclectic mix with something for everyone on your list... And for your own reading pleasure, as well! 

 

Great Books for Gifting to Young Children

It is the time of year when people are searching for the perfect gift.  Why not give the gift of reading – a gift that keeps on giving.  Here are a few selections to help you ignite a lifelong love of reading, learning and imagination for the youngest members on your list:  

The Author Next-Door: Guest Post by Valerie Stein

Valerie Stein has spent the last 30 years teaching, most recently as Library Media Specialist for a small independent school in Snohomish County. Valerie’s first book is a memoir of her mother’s journey through terminal illness, begun shortly after her death in 1983. The Best of It: A Journal of Life, Love and Dying was published by Homeostasis Press in 2009. She has since taken proprietorship of the Press, inherited from her author father, embarking on a whole new adventure. Her latest book, Time Enough to Shine, is a historical novel set in both Washingtons during World War I, will be published next year. Valerie is currently researching for a middle grade historical fiction series, also set in Washington State. She will soon start blogging with the famous (at least in librarian circles) From the Mixed Up Files.

Here is a far-too-short list of some of Valerie’s lifelong favorite books, in no particular order of preference:

The Source, by James Michener, 

The Velvet Room, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, 

The Pink Motel, by Carol Ryrie Brink, 

The People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks, 

Becoming Naomi León, by Pam Munoz Ryan (favorite novel to read aloud to 4^th graders ever), 

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, 

Boxes for Katje, by Candace Fleming, 

Actual Size, by Steve Jenkins.

Meet Valerie TODAY at 2 pm at the The Author Next-Door event at Snohomish Library. 

The Author Next-Door

Did you know that a wealth of authors live in the Sno-Isle area? Meet the authors next-door and celebrate reading and community while learning more about some of the published authors who live among us. Participate in an interactive panel of authors who write for all ages on a variety of subjects, from children’s picture books to adult fiction and non-fiction. Books will be available for signing and purchase.

We'll also be highlighting participating authors on this blog with guest posts over the next serveral weeks. Whenever you see the badge to the left, you'll be hearing from on of our local authors. We're very excited to support and celebrate the artists in our community, and we hope you're excited to learn more about some of the people who make living in Snohomish and Island Counties special. 

Snohomish Library

Sunday, November 2, 2pm

Carole Estby Dagg

Lish McBride

Susan Schreyer

Valerie Stein

Lisa Stowe

Aarene Storms

Coupeville Library

Wednesday, November 5, 1pm

Barb Bland

Kay Foss

Lorraine Healy

Andrea Hurst

Vicki Robin

Frances Wood

Freeland Library

Sunday, November 9, 2pm
Pat Brunjes

Kurt Hoelting

Rick Lawler

Deb Lund

Dan Pedersen

Tom Trimbath

Rowena Williamson

Mukilteo Library

Sunday, November 16, 2pm

Greg Bear

Holly Cupala

Mindy Hardwick

Roy Kindelberger

Craig Orback

Bernadette Pajer

Trudi Trueit

Dan Richards

Stanwood Library

Wednesday, November 19, 6:30pm

J.Anderson Coats

Martin Limón

Alexis Morgan/Pat Pritchard

Lisa Souza

Mark Souza

Carole Schaefer

Dorine White

That Book You Just Can’t Put Down

It is a delicious feeling to be immersed in a book that you can't put down.  It is even better when that book is part of a series and you know that you have many more enticing titles to look forward to.  Though you may read prolifically, it is a rare treat to come across a story that urges and compels you to stop all other distractions – work, play, electronic, etc. – and allow yourself the time and indulgence to become engrossed in reading. 

My first encounter with this phenomenon was as a child reading The Emerald City of Oz and the rest of the Oz series, by L. Frank Baum, quickly followed by the works of Laura Engels Wilder, Walter Farley, C. S. Lewis, Ursula Le Guin, and J.R.R. Tolkien.  I jumped from series to series, book to book, easily slipping into literary worlds with great pleasure.

As an adult, I am much busier and less able to find time for reading.  It is harder to shut out the world.  When I do find the time to read, interruptions and distractions are abundant and most books are put aside without too much thought.  Reading has become a “catch as you can” activity.  That being said...  Every once in a while, a story will come along and grab my attention, urging me to get lost in a book.  When I start to look forward to commuting to work so that I can listen to an audiobook or stay up all night in order to finish another chapter, I know that I am savoring a gem of a read – the book that I just can’t put down.  If I am lucky, it will be at least 600 pages long!

What are some of your favorite “can’t put it down” books?