A sampling of films and books set in the 1960's civil rights movement

Selma
The three Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965 were part of the Voting Rights Movement. The first march took place on March 7, 1965. Although until the recent release of the film, Selma there were no movies made about Martin Luther King. Sno-Isle has several movies in our collection either set in the 60’s or containing scenes in this era.

The Help

is set in 1960’s Mississippi and tells the story of a young woman who decides to tell the stories of several black women who work and care for white families in this southern town. 

The Butler

was inspired by the true story of a black butler who served during eight presidential administrations including the LBJ years. The movie is based on the book The Butler: a witness to history by Wil Haygood.

Scrolling below are some book titles set in the 1960's south I hope you will enjoy.

When You Can't Sit and Read

I find that with a toddler in the house, my reading habits have changed drastically. Since sitting down with a good book in the comfy chair is largely impossible as long as The Fruit Bat is awake, I'm just not reading as much as I used to. At least not traditionally. My audiobook consumption has gone through the roof - and yes - that is still reading! I now regularly have an audiobook going both in my car and on my phone. I listen while I exercise and clean, in addition to when I drive. It's even become a motivator for exercise, which is mind-boggling to me. Unlike others you've heard from recently, I'm not a gardener, but if I was, I'd definitely be plugged into an audiobook while planting.

I learned many years ago that with audio it's all about the narrator. A good narrator can make a mediocre book shine, and a bad narrator can completely ruin a great book. On audio, you may find that you gravitate toward books that you might never pick up in print. I find that I consume far more narrative non-fiction in audio than in print - and I enjoy it more with that touch of drama a good narrator can impart. It becomes a performance piece complete with a director and the interpretation of the work can make a sizable difference in reader enjoyment.

Which of course, brings me to the fun part! What to read! Who to listen to! I'll just start with the fact that my all-time favorite narrator is Katherine Kellgren. I have listened to books I never, ever, would have picked up for the sole reason that she was the reader. She's won every major audio award other than the Grammy for Spoken Word (a travesty, I tell you. Those seem to go almost exclusively to Hollywood actors and comedians. I call bias!). She is a marvel at accents, pacing, singing, and really everything else. She sets the standard. Start with the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer for swashbuckling adventure, or  Connie Willis' Blackout & All Clear for gripping WWII-set time travel conundrums.

Some audio that I've enjoyed recently, in no particular order:

The Rosie Project by Graem Simsion, read by Dan O'Grady
Don Tillman is brilliant, but he's never been on a second date. He doesn't pick up on social norms, and his impulse is always to tell the whole and unfiltered truth. He... doesn't have many friends. In fact, he has only two. Most of that will change as he initiates The Wife Project. This is a comedic romance that I found myself smiling all the way through. I'm looking forward to listening to the sequel, The Rosie Effect, also read by O'Grady. FYI: Australian accent alert.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown, read by Edward Herrmann.
You've probably heard of this one about the rowing crew UW put forth for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Herrmann reads this with such warmth; he's friendly and welcoming. I don't know whether it was the text or the narrator, but not only was this compelling, it was utterly moving as well. I'm not one for sports, and when it came to rowing, about the only thing I knew was that oars had something to do with it. I can't say that anymore. I'll never forget this read; especially since I listened to it TWICE. Oh, and I hear that Herrmann's versions of Hank the Cowdog are pretty great too! Don't forget that this is the Whidbey Reads title for 2015.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, read by MacLeod Andrews.
The Calamity was ten years ago, and whatever it was and whatever caused it is still unknown, but doubtless, the world will never be the same. Ever since then, Epics have controlled it all. These supervillans rule on a whim, but the remaining populace is literally powerless to resist. The Epic named Steelheart controls Chicago, and on the day he staked his claim, he killed David's father. Now a normal, but resourceful teen, David, will begin to mount his revenge and attempt to take down all the Epics. It's a fool's errand. But maybe that's exactly what is needed. This is one of those books were the shear intensity breaks into humor unexpectedly. Andrews handles all of the battles, mood shifts, and accents deftly, and I found my commute to be far more enjoyable.

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris, read by Neil Patrick Harris.
Non-screw-up child actor, adult actor, and consummate awards show host (despite the sorta boring recent Oscar outing), Harris is just as charming and funny as you expect him to be in this unusual approach to autobiographies. As a reader who couldn't handle the pressure of Choose Your Own Adventures as a child (I needed all the options! I usually died.) the audio version of this is perfect for me, as it does not require any "Turn to page 56" instructions. It turns out Harris leads a pretty normal life. Except for being Elton John's pal. That's when things get... opulent.

The Martian by Andy Weir, read by R.C. Bray.
On the surface of Mars, Mark Watney and his team were caught in a dust storm. Watney got knocked out, and his suit was damaged, ruining the sensors that connected him to their ship. There are no readings of his vitals, so his teammates, thinking he’s dead, leave without him. Stranding him on Mars, alone. When he wakes up, he’s only got the supplies he had on him, which wasn’t much, his own ingenuity, and the disco music the captain left behind. At first I thought the reader sounded a little to... masculine for a nerd like Watney, but I got over it, since the book is SO GOOD. Easily my favorite adult read of 2014. And it's possible I might have a crush on Mark Watney. That will probably work out well, since Matt Damon will be playing him in the movie version.

 As a Sno-Isle Libraries user, you have three options to enjoy audiobooks: CDs, Overdrive digital, and Hoopla digital. I'm unable to link to a master record for all formats, so I tried to link to the audio version with the most copies or least number of holds. All of these are worth waiting for.

Who is your favorite audiobook narrator? What's your favorite audiobook?

Pro Tip: Unlike Overdrive, at the moment, Hoopla titles are not integrated into our catalog. There is never a waiting list for items borrowed through Hoopla. In addition to audiobooks, you can also stream and download movies, television shows, and music. None of the titles mentioned are available through Hoopla (although a handful of Kellgren's sizable oeuvre is), but many other audiobooks are.

What to read while you're waiting for gardening season...

The garden shows have come to town,  the weather feels like Spring, and you've got garden fever (well, I know Liz and I do!)  Too bad it's still February.  How about some stories that feature gardening to help scratch that gardening itch?  Here are a few that I've enjoyed.  Please share your favorites by commenting at the bottom!

 "In this profoundly moving memoir, Owita teaches Wall how to find grace amid heartbreak and to accept that beauty exists because it is fleeting; as in her garden, as in life." --People, 4 stars.
"A perfect spring awakening." --Good Housekeeping.
A true story of a unique friendship between two people who had nothing, and ultimately everything, in common. Carol Wall, a white woman living in a lily-white neighborhood in Middle America, was at a crossroads in her life. Her children were grown; she had successfully overcome illness; her beloved parents were getting older. One day she notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbor's yard. His name is Giles Owita. He bags groceries at the supermarket. He comes from Kenya. And he's very good at gardening.  Before long Giles is transforming not only Carol's yard, but her life. Though they are seemingly quite different, a caring bond grows between them. But they both hold long-buried secrets that, when revealed, will cement their friendship forever.

Thirty-six-year-old Gal Garner lives a regimented life. Her job teaching biology and her struggle with kidney disease keep her toggling between the high school, the hospital, and her home on a strict schedule. Only at home, in her garden, does Gal come alive. It's here that she experiments with Hulthemia roses, painstakingly cross-pollinating various specimens in the hopes of creating a brand-new variation of spectacular beauty. But even her passion has a highly structured goal: Gal wants to win Queen of Show in a major competition and bring that rose to market. Then one afternoon Gal's teenaged niece Riley, the daughter of her estranged sister, arrives. Unannounced. Neither one of them will ever be the same. Filled with gorgeous details of the art of rose breeding, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns is a testament to the redemptive power of love.




A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past. The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions, but for Victoria Jones, it's been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what's been missing in her life, and when she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

Please comment below to share your favorite book featuring gardening!

Countdown to Spring

This is the time of year I find myself getting antsy for Spring and the time in the garden that comes with it. Every morning as I walk to my car I take inventory of new sprouts and add to the growing list of garden projects in my head. I start my lists, one of things “to do” (Weed! Mulch! Prune!) and one of plants “to buy” (Dahlias! Veggies! More Dahlias!). I block out days in my planner, reserving them just for gardening. I cannot wait to get started! Now if only it were just a few degrees warmer out…

If you too are in the mood to beautify your yard, here are some good books to get you started.

Too hot or too cold? Books and DVDs to suit every temperature.

What weird weather we’re having this winter! Down in the 30s then up in the 60s, it just can’t make up its mind. Well, no matter the weather here are some books and movies that will either warm you up or cool you down.

Brrr! It's cold out there: for when you want to keep your cool.

We're having a heat wave: for when you want to keep the heat.

We Are Family: Literary Figures You'd Like to Adopt (or Have Adopt You)

You know the old saying about how you can't choose your family? Well, let's bend that rule a little and select some characters from books that compliment or enhance what you already have.

Sometimes when you read a book you get so involved in the characters it seems like they become part of your family. The character might be a loving and understanding parent. Or maybe the goofy uncle that whisks you away for a day at the amusement park. Or how about the close sibling you can tell all your secrets to. 

Here are a few books that contain fictional characters or real-life people that I connected with and wished they were part of my family.

Owen Thorskard of The Story of Owen by E.K. Johnston 

It was hard to choose between Owen and Siobhan--or even all of their guardians were pretty great--for the person I’d like to invite into my family because they were both friendly and courageous and willing to stand up for and with each other in desperate times. But Owen won out because with the legacy of becoming a dragon slayer and the pressure to live up to his extremely famous aunt he took everything in stride and was a very stand-up and rock solid guy to have in your corner.

Jenny Lawson (The Blogess) author of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (a Mostly True Memoir) 

Jenny would be my kooky aunt or cousin. She’d be a blast to hang out with, hear stories from and live through vicariously. And, the best part, she bought herself a five foot metal chicken and surprised her husband with it after he said she couldn’t buy more bath towels. I would love a giant chicken! Jenny’s a hoot and who wouldn’t want to sit around just listening to her outlandish stories.

Veronica Mars of The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas 
Veronica would totally be my BFF sister. She’s got the perfect level of snark and attitude as well as the ability to be compassionate and understanding in any situation. Besides that, she’s always ready to back you up. You know, in case you need to be cleared of a crime or something. I have to admit that my love of Veronica started from the television show but her personality really carries through to the book--probably because the author is the creator of the show and knows his characters well.

Who would you invite into your family?

Are You Ready for Some (More) Football?

Another Super Bowl (and the football season) has come and gone and I’m sure, after one day, you’re feeling some withdrawals. Well, fear not! I come bearing a list of books and movies (both fiction and non-fiction) that will keep your football off-season at bay for weeks to come.