As promised, I am posting a second Take Ten list this month. Like all book lists in this feature, these annotated lists of books are of the "take and go" variety. Librarians should be offering as many annotated lists as possible at their libraries and on their websites. Lists of books do not take up the physical space which must be devoted to displays, but they still supply your patrons with thoughtfully prepared information on where to find their next good read.
This Take Ten list was not prepared by me. Many of my students chose to create ten book annotated lists for their Midterms and this is one example. Rebekah explored the rich field of Christian Fantasy with an excellent annotated list of ten titles suitable for the entire family. Click on this link to see the list. Please feel free to use it and/or pass it on, but just credit this page as your source.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Book Discussion: Ines of My Soul
Back to the third Monday of the month and today’s book discussion was on Isabel Allende’s Ines of My Soul. This historically accurate book fictionalizes the true story of the Spanish conquerors of Chile in the 1500s. Ines Suarez narrates the book in her old age, as a memoir being told to her daughter, Isabel. Ines began her life as a seamstress in Spain, but became the first Gobernadora of Chile. Ines relates the trials and jubilation, the hard times and the wonderful moments of establishing Santiago, Chile. Most of the novel is taken up with the story of Ines and her lover, Pedro Valdivia, the war hero, and their bloody struggles with the indigenous people of Chile. This is the story of Ines’ life, a chronicle of the founding of Chile, a comment on the price of “discovering” the New World, and a tale of the power of love.
One of the most striking things about Ines of My Soul is how different it is from the rest of Allende’s work. Here there is none of the magical realism for which she has become so well known, as well as the appearance of much more gritty and violent details. Ines is not only witness to terrible acts of brutality against the indigenous people of the New World, she is a participant in many occasions. For example, Ines decapitates 7 Mapuche soldiers and flings their heads back at the indigenous fighters attacking her settlement. This is a level of violence from Allende’s protagonist that her fans will not have seen before. There were complaints that it was too raw and bloody, but I think Allende wants the reader to understand how life truly was for those who chose to conquer the New World and make their lives there.
Our discussion began on this point. One of our participants commented that she wished the daily papers today described our current war with this level of violent description; maybe people would look more closely at it. Most agreed that they didn't enjoy the violence but felt that it was necessary to give the reader a true sense of how things happened.
This led to another discussion of whether or not we need war and violent invasions to "move forward" as humans. The mixing of cultures does lead to many advancements. Another participant who recently went through some joint replacement surgery mentioned that her doctor was happy with all of the advancements in joint technology. She pointed out to her doctor that with all of these young soldiers coming home without limbs may have something to do with the rate of advancement.
As a whole the group loved how the story is told in an evenhanded way, with both sides of the story being given equal treatment. There were more mixed feelings about the memoir style of this work however. Some felt it detracted from the over all story, while others felt it personalized this "large" story of the history of Chile. Another person mentioned how it made Ines seem more real and earthy. While another participant enjoyed how Ines left no secrets behind.
Some final thoughts, people loved the character of Felipe, they felt Allende did a great job conveying both passion and violence, and all agreed that Pedro Valdivia's story is the classic tale of the corruption of power.
Readers who enjoy Ines of My Soul because of the historical setting may want to try other 16th Century set stories with independent women. Night of Sorrows by Frances Sherwood treads in familiar territory as it recounts the story of Cortes' Mexican conquest through the eyes of his Aztec Princess lover. The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan chronicles the life and times of Mehrunnisa, an ambitious and beautiful young women in 16th Century India, who eventually became one of India's legendary heroines.
Those who like the novel's treatment of the story of the important women who stand behind the "great men" of history thankfully have many choices. One example that our group read in July of 2007 is Sally Hemmings by Barbara Case-Ribould.
For nonfiction, readers should turn to the “Bibliographic Note” at the novel’s conclusion for a wide variety of reading materials used by Allende in her creation of this powerful novel. There one can find histories of the Conquistadors, the Mapuche, and the founding of the Kingdom of Chile. Two others that grabbed BPL's other book discussion leader Kathy's attention are The Conquest of Chile by H.R.S Pocock and The Mapuche Indians of Chile by Louis C. Faron.
One of the most striking things about Ines of My Soul is how different it is from the rest of Allende’s work. Here there is none of the magical realism for which she has become so well known, as well as the appearance of much more gritty and violent details. Ines is not only witness to terrible acts of brutality against the indigenous people of the New World, she is a participant in many occasions. For example, Ines decapitates 7 Mapuche soldiers and flings their heads back at the indigenous fighters attacking her settlement. This is a level of violence from Allende’s protagonist that her fans will not have seen before. There were complaints that it was too raw and bloody, but I think Allende wants the reader to understand how life truly was for those who chose to conquer the New World and make their lives there.
Our discussion began on this point. One of our participants commented that she wished the daily papers today described our current war with this level of violent description; maybe people would look more closely at it. Most agreed that they didn't enjoy the violence but felt that it was necessary to give the reader a true sense of how things happened.
This led to another discussion of whether or not we need war and violent invasions to "move forward" as humans. The mixing of cultures does lead to many advancements. Another participant who recently went through some joint replacement surgery mentioned that her doctor was happy with all of the advancements in joint technology. She pointed out to her doctor that with all of these young soldiers coming home without limbs may have something to do with the rate of advancement.
As a whole the group loved how the story is told in an evenhanded way, with both sides of the story being given equal treatment. There were more mixed feelings about the memoir style of this work however. Some felt it detracted from the over all story, while others felt it personalized this "large" story of the history of Chile. Another person mentioned how it made Ines seem more real and earthy. While another participant enjoyed how Ines left no secrets behind.
Some final thoughts, people loved the character of Felipe, they felt Allende did a great job conveying both passion and violence, and all agreed that Pedro Valdivia's story is the classic tale of the corruption of power.
Readers who enjoy Ines of My Soul because of the historical setting may want to try other 16th Century set stories with independent women. Night of Sorrows by Frances Sherwood treads in familiar territory as it recounts the story of Cortes' Mexican conquest through the eyes of his Aztec Princess lover. The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan chronicles the life and times of Mehrunnisa, an ambitious and beautiful young women in 16th Century India, who eventually became one of India's legendary heroines.
Those who like the novel's treatment of the story of the important women who stand behind the "great men" of history thankfully have many choices. One example that our group read in July of 2007 is Sally Hemmings by Barbara Case-Ribould.
For nonfiction, readers should turn to the “Bibliographic Note” at the novel’s conclusion for a wide variety of reading materials used by Allende in her creation of this powerful novel. There one can find histories of the Conquistadors, the Mapuche, and the founding of the Kingdom of Chile. Two others that grabbed BPL's other book discussion leader Kathy's attention are The Conquest of Chile by H.R.S Pocock and The Mapuche Indians of Chile by Louis C. Faron.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
BPL Displays for March 2008
March is Women's History month and we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Both make for fun displays. Right now we have this list on books featuring the Irish compiled by Betty and this list on Mothers and Daughters which was prepared by Kathy.
Both lists accompany well appointed displays. Come by the library and see them if you can, or feel free to take these lists to use when you visit your own local library.
Both lists accompany well appointed displays. Come by the library and see them if you can, or feel free to take these lists to use when you visit your own local library.
Friday, March 7, 2008
New Blog Feature: Take Ten
The Berwyn Public Library's website is about to be updated. One of the new features I am going to add to the RA page is a category of take and go annotated lists of 10 books on a general topic. One of our former employees, Kim, came up with the catchy name, "Take Ten."
The official description of the series as it was approved for publication on the as yet to be updated web site is as follows: "Feel like you have “read everything?” Want a fresh look at some new and different books? You have come to the right place. "Take Ten" is a collection of bibliographies of ten books, linked by some common theme, idea, or feel. There are many choices for a wide range of reading tastes. New reading adventures are only a click away."
As a teaser, I can start posting the lists now. I also have many student lists of 10 books which they have prepared for in class book talks which I will include under this heading in the future. My goal is to post at least 2 a month. We'll see how that goes.
I do want to state that these are different from the BPL display lists which I periodically post since those are tied to a specific display. These lists are meant to stand on their own.
The first, which gave me the inspiration to create these lists in general, is entitled Take Ten: Great American Novels...with a Twist. The list begins with an explanation as to the parameters.
Again, I will try to post these twice a month, and they will always be tagged as "take ten." You can click on that label on the right side of the page to find all of the lists.
I would love to see anyone else's lists if they want to share.
The official description of the series as it was approved for publication on the as yet to be updated web site is as follows: "Feel like you have “read everything?” Want a fresh look at some new and different books? You have come to the right place. "Take Ten" is a collection of bibliographies of ten books, linked by some common theme, idea, or feel. There are many choices for a wide range of reading tastes. New reading adventures are only a click away."
As a teaser, I can start posting the lists now. I also have many student lists of 10 books which they have prepared for in class book talks which I will include under this heading in the future. My goal is to post at least 2 a month. We'll see how that goes.
I do want to state that these are different from the BPL display lists which I periodically post since those are tied to a specific display. These lists are meant to stand on their own.
The first, which gave me the inspiration to create these lists in general, is entitled Take Ten: Great American Novels...with a Twist. The list begins with an explanation as to the parameters.
Again, I will try to post these twice a month, and they will always be tagged as "take ten." You can click on that label on the right side of the page to find all of the lists.
I would love to see anyone else's lists if they want to share.
Monday, March 3, 2008
What I'm Reading: February 2008
Another month has ended and I have three more books and some suggested readalikes to share with you.
Early in February I finally got to Away by Amy Bloom. One of last year's better reviewed novels, this title was suggested to me by many friends and colleagues. Away tells the story of Lillian and her struggles as a Jewish immigrant from Russia. Lillian left home after her parents, husband, and possibly young daughter were killed in a massacre of Jews back in her hometown. Once in New York, Lillian manages to get a good job as a seamstress for a Jewish theater and becomes the owner's and his son's mistress. Her life is going well until a relative comes to America and tells her that her young daughter is still alive and living with another family. Lillian leaves everything in New York behind and goes off on a cross country journey to Alaska in an attempt to cross to Siberia and find her daughter.
Along the way, Lillian meets many people who help her. This is the most intriguing aspect of Bloom's novel. She makes an interesting storytelling choice here. As Lillian meets and then leaves people, the reader is told of that left behind character's future. We know what happens to the secondary characters whom we have grown attached to. I also enjoyed how Bloom chose to end the novel with aspects of wish fulfillment, while still keeping a realistic ending.
Although I enjoyed this novel as a reader, I loved it as a Readers' Advisor. This will be an easy book to suggest to a wide variety of readers. Many of my readers will love both the story and being able to know what happened to everyone, even Lillian's daughter.
Readers who are currently enjoying Geraldine Brooks' newest best seller, People of the Book, with its Jewish history undertones and the journey aspect (of a book, if not a person) should try Away. Also readers of Ann Patchett would enjoy this novel.
Good-bye Chunky Rice was the first graphic novel by Craig Thompson, the critically acclaimed author of Blankets. I enjoy going back to look at currently popular author's earlier works and while some times the trip down memory lane is not worth it (think early Sue Grafton), this was not one of those cases. Good-bye Chunky Rice tells the story of a turtle with an urge to move on and the lovesick mouse he leaves behind. When Chunky Rice boards a rickety boat, we are introduced to other lonely and struggling characters. The pictures are in black and white panels, but the message of the price of "finding yourself" is in full color. Readers who like graphic novelists Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, and David B. will also enjoy Thompson's work.
I am also thankful (for many reasons) that I chose to listen to Stephen Colbert's I am America (And So Can You). I don't know how much more I can add to the discussion of this enormous best-seller, but I will say that I loved how Colbert changed the text for the listener. He reminds us that we are listening to, not reading, his book on many occasions. My personal favorite moment in the book is early on when he relates that the book will not be available in libraries because there are "no free rides." Although I enjoy Colbert's humor, I am glad I listened to an abridged version because the book loses its freshness overtime and becomes repetitive. Fans of Colbert's TV show and this book should also seek out Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines From America's Finest News Source.
Early in February I finally got to Away by Amy Bloom. One of last year's better reviewed novels, this title was suggested to me by many friends and colleagues. Away tells the story of Lillian and her struggles as a Jewish immigrant from Russia. Lillian left home after her parents, husband, and possibly young daughter were killed in a massacre of Jews back in her hometown. Once in New York, Lillian manages to get a good job as a seamstress for a Jewish theater and becomes the owner's and his son's mistress. Her life is going well until a relative comes to America and tells her that her young daughter is still alive and living with another family. Lillian leaves everything in New York behind and goes off on a cross country journey to Alaska in an attempt to cross to Siberia and find her daughter.
Along the way, Lillian meets many people who help her. This is the most intriguing aspect of Bloom's novel. She makes an interesting storytelling choice here. As Lillian meets and then leaves people, the reader is told of that left behind character's future. We know what happens to the secondary characters whom we have grown attached to. I also enjoyed how Bloom chose to end the novel with aspects of wish fulfillment, while still keeping a realistic ending.
Although I enjoyed this novel as a reader, I loved it as a Readers' Advisor. This will be an easy book to suggest to a wide variety of readers. Many of my readers will love both the story and being able to know what happened to everyone, even Lillian's daughter.
Readers who are currently enjoying Geraldine Brooks' newest best seller, People of the Book, with its Jewish history undertones and the journey aspect (of a book, if not a person) should try Away. Also readers of Ann Patchett would enjoy this novel.
Good-bye Chunky Rice was the first graphic novel by Craig Thompson, the critically acclaimed author of Blankets. I enjoy going back to look at currently popular author's earlier works and while some times the trip down memory lane is not worth it (think early Sue Grafton), this was not one of those cases. Good-bye Chunky Rice tells the story of a turtle with an urge to move on and the lovesick mouse he leaves behind. When Chunky Rice boards a rickety boat, we are introduced to other lonely and struggling characters. The pictures are in black and white panels, but the message of the price of "finding yourself" is in full color. Readers who like graphic novelists Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, and David B. will also enjoy Thompson's work.
I am also thankful (for many reasons) that I chose to listen to Stephen Colbert's I am America (And So Can You). I don't know how much more I can add to the discussion of this enormous best-seller, but I will say that I loved how Colbert changed the text for the listener. He reminds us that we are listening to, not reading, his book on many occasions. My personal favorite moment in the book is early on when he relates that the book will not be available in libraries because there are "no free rides." Although I enjoy Colbert's humor, I am glad I listened to an abridged version because the book loses its freshness overtime and becomes repetitive. Fans of Colbert's TV show and this book should also seek out Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines From America's Finest News Source.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
MP3 Mishap
Tonight my class will be discussing "Special Formats;" specifically, Graphic Novels, Audio Books and Bestsellers. I will be speaking to them about the appeal factors of these types of materials. It is one of the most interesting lectures for the students because many of them are fans on one of the three categories of books. Generally, the discussions are quite informative and interesting.
As you have seen in previous postings, I am a big proponent of audio books. Specifically, I am a huge fan of checking out books on CD from my local library, loading them onto my computer (each as one playlist), and then adding them to my i-Pod as I need them. This way I can load many books, but return the CDs to the library quickly (in a day or 2). I usually have about 8 books to choose from at any one time. I then delete them when I am through.
This solves the problem I have using my library's MP3 download service (which is still incompatible with i-Pods). Here you download the book and only have 3 weeks to listen to it before it disappears. With my preferred method, I still only listen to the audiobook once per checkout (therefore following copyright laws), but I can have the file for as long as I want. It is also a great way to keep a t0-read list. I can choose from pre-downloaded materials, books I was interested in reading at some point in the past. I can then pick the book I am in the mood for at that moment.
I have been doing this for about 18 months now and have never had a problem. Yesterday, however, I had my first (just in time to discuss it in class tonight). I was listening to Erik Larson's Thunderstruck and just as the murder part of the story was about to be revealed, I ran out of tracks. Of course I was at the gym, in the middle of a workout.
No big deal, I figured. I am sure I just didn't upload the entire book for some reason. But, nope, I only had up to Disc 6 on my computer. Last night I was at my local library for a meeting and luckily, the book was on the shelf. I have quite a bit left. So now I will read the last 100 pages.
This identified a large issue with my methodology. Since I loaded the CDs months ago, I no longer have the discs to rectify the problem. I would have to track down the audiobook again, or get the print (as I did).
Besides being very frustrated, there was no harm, but it will make for a good cautionary tale tonight.
Has anyone else had any Mp3 mishaps out there? Let me know.
As you have seen in previous postings, I am a big proponent of audio books. Specifically, I am a huge fan of checking out books on CD from my local library, loading them onto my computer (each as one playlist), and then adding them to my i-Pod as I need them. This way I can load many books, but return the CDs to the library quickly (in a day or 2). I usually have about 8 books to choose from at any one time. I then delete them when I am through.
This solves the problem I have using my library's MP3 download service (which is still incompatible with i-Pods). Here you download the book and only have 3 weeks to listen to it before it disappears. With my preferred method, I still only listen to the audiobook once per checkout (therefore following copyright laws), but I can have the file for as long as I want. It is also a great way to keep a t0-read list. I can choose from pre-downloaded materials, books I was interested in reading at some point in the past. I can then pick the book I am in the mood for at that moment.
I have been doing this for about 18 months now and have never had a problem. Yesterday, however, I had my first (just in time to discuss it in class tonight). I was listening to Erik Larson's Thunderstruck and just as the murder part of the story was about to be revealed, I ran out of tracks. Of course I was at the gym, in the middle of a workout.
No big deal, I figured. I am sure I just didn't upload the entire book for some reason. But, nope, I only had up to Disc 6 on my computer. Last night I was at my local library for a meeting and luckily, the book was on the shelf. I have quite a bit left. So now I will read the last 100 pages.
This identified a large issue with my methodology. Since I loaded the CDs months ago, I no longer have the discs to rectify the problem. I would have to track down the audiobook again, or get the print (as I did).
Besides being very frustrated, there was no harm, but it will make for a good cautionary tale tonight.
Has anyone else had any Mp3 mishaps out there? Let me know.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Book Discussion: Digging to America
The third Monday of the month in February is President's Day, one of the few holidays the Berwyn Public Library closes for. So our group met yesterday, the second Monday, and had a very lively discussion of Anne Tyler's Digging to America. Our discussion was among the best we have ever had. I think I will add this novel to my collection of books I use in my "Book Disucssion Made Simple" classes.
Digging to America's plot is deceivingly simple. Two families are waiting at the Baltimore airport for the arrival of their adopted children from Korea (Jin-Ho and Sooki, renamed Susan). The families are very different, but forge a strong friendship from this shared experience.
I know I should not be surprised since this is Tyler's 17 novel, but the layers and nuances that accompany her set-up make the book remarkable. For example, the Yazduns (parents to Susan) are of Iranian descent, but they are not all immigrants. The father is American born, his mother came to America as a young bride, and his wife came over as a teenager. Even the 3 grandparents (all Iranian) have different customs and perspectives. These immigrant issues, especially as they pertain to Maryam are explored in detail througout the novel. Our discussion dealt with these issues a great deal. We talked about how families blend their ethnic traditions and create new ones and how immigrants in our own families chose to (or not to) "be American."
The Donaldsons (parents of Jin-Ho) appear to be your typical laid back, hippy, white suburban family, but they also are infused with contradictions and nuances. Bitsy's "binky party" late in the novel brought about much discussion in our group. Determined to rid her second daughter of her pacifier habit, Bitsy insisted on going through with a planned party to set each pacifier aloft on a balloon despite the arrival of a devastating hurricane and their lack of power. Needless to say, it is not a success, but this chapter (told from Jin-Ho's persepctive) led to much discussion.
There are also many good fits for those who enjoyed the themes of the immigrant's struggle to assimilate while holding onto his or her past. Two of the best explorations of this theme can be seen in Zadie Smith's White Teeth and Monica Ali's Brick Lane; both also perennial book discussion favorites.
In terms of nonfiction readalikes, those who were intrigued by the detailed descriptions of Iranian culture and the circumstances surrounding the Iranian Revolution should try the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Of course many may also be interested in International adoption. In fact, a regular member of our discussion group brought along a friend who had adopted 2 children from overseas. She shared her experiences and answered many of our questions. I found 10 Steps to Successful International Adoption: A Guided Workbook for Prospective Parents by Brenda Uekert for those who want to explore this topic further.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
BPL Display Lists: Women's Lives
Last March I did a display for Women's History month. As usual for the Berwyn Public Library, the display was accompanied by 2 annotated lists highlighting some of the offerings found on the approximately 75 book display. One is this one on books which highlight the lives of women today, and the other is this one which highlights the lives of female historical figures.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to pair your larger displays with ANNOTATED lists. The public library has even more books than the average book store because we also have many of the out of print books. Think of yourself as a reader. There are too many titles to choose from. Anything that breaks up the overwhelming offerings will be appealing to your patrons.
But go beyond just breaking things up for them. You are not simply at the desk to answer the questions that you are physically asked. You are there to help each and every reader who walks through the door whether or not they ever speak to you. Providing 2-3 sentences hinting at the plot and appeal of some of the books on the display will both help them know a bit more about a title in front of them, and, more importantly, illustrate that you care about finding them something to read. You have to be invested in their leisure reading. Annotated list are a way librarians can demonstrate this investment
There is another point I want to make about attaching annotated lists to your displays, which my experiences with creating these lists also proves. These lists can be used to highlight gems which have been lost in the stacks for years. As you can see on my Historical Lives of Women list above, I annotated the title Sally Hemmings. This novel came out many years before the sexual relationship between Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson was proven through DNA. When Barbara Chase-Ribould first published this novel, she was both highly praise and condemned. It has since gone out of print.
About 2 months after we had this display I asked my book club for their suggestions as to titles they would be interested in reading over the coming 6 months. 3 people mentioned "hearing about" Sally Hemmings and wanting to read it. There was proof that my lists piqued my patrons' interests. This past July (2007), we read and discussed the title with much success.
I know it is extra work to annotated your lists, but this little effort goes a long way toward patron satisfaction, and more importantly, toward matching readers with a great leisure read.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to pair your larger displays with ANNOTATED lists. The public library has even more books than the average book store because we also have many of the out of print books. Think of yourself as a reader. There are too many titles to choose from. Anything that breaks up the overwhelming offerings will be appealing to your patrons.
But go beyond just breaking things up for them. You are not simply at the desk to answer the questions that you are physically asked. You are there to help each and every reader who walks through the door whether or not they ever speak to you. Providing 2-3 sentences hinting at the plot and appeal of some of the books on the display will both help them know a bit more about a title in front of them, and, more importantly, illustrate that you care about finding them something to read. You have to be invested in their leisure reading. Annotated list are a way librarians can demonstrate this investment
There is another point I want to make about attaching annotated lists to your displays, which my experiences with creating these lists also proves. These lists can be used to highlight gems which have been lost in the stacks for years. As you can see on my Historical Lives of Women list above, I annotated the title Sally Hemmings. This novel came out many years before the sexual relationship between Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson was proven through DNA. When Barbara Chase-Ribould first published this novel, she was both highly praise and condemned. It has since gone out of print.
About 2 months after we had this display I asked my book club for their suggestions as to titles they would be interested in reading over the coming 6 months. 3 people mentioned "hearing about" Sally Hemmings and wanting to read it. There was proof that my lists piqued my patrons' interests. This past July (2007), we read and discussed the title with much success.
I know it is extra work to annotated your lists, but this little effort goes a long way toward patron satisfaction, and more importantly, toward matching readers with a great leisure read.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Me, Live in Wheeling, IL
A week from today, Tuesday, February 12 from 1-4 pm, I will be presenting my RA 201 lecture at the North Suburban Library System HQ in Wheeling, IL. They claim registration is full, but if you still want to come, click here and call to see if there are any cancellations.
Monday, February 4, 2008
No Country For Old Men
As advertised last week, I did go see the Coen Brothers' Oscar nominated film No Country for Old Men this weekend. I was blown away. It was amazing. But the difference here as opposed to seeing Atonement is that I did not read McCarthy's novel.
You can read reviews of the movie, but I want to give a Readers' Advisor tip here. We got home and I went right on the internet to pull up book discussion guides on the novel. I know this is not McCarthy's movie, but knowing his work, I could tell the movie stayed true to his vision. This really helped to answer a few questions my husband and I had about the overall themes of the movie and fueled an even longer discussion on the film.
No Country for Old Men has an apocalyptic theme which I think is nicely followed by McCarthy's latest novel The Road (which happens to be one of my recent favorites). I am excited to see the film version of The Road due this year.
So, I have seen 2 of the 5 Best Picture Nominees and it is hands down No Country for Old Men in the lead now. Oh, and Javier Bardem is that good. This week is Juno or There Will Be Blood.
You can read reviews of the movie, but I want to give a Readers' Advisor tip here. We got home and I went right on the internet to pull up book discussion guides on the novel. I know this is not McCarthy's movie, but knowing his work, I could tell the movie stayed true to his vision. This really helped to answer a few questions my husband and I had about the overall themes of the movie and fueled an even longer discussion on the film.
No Country for Old Men has an apocalyptic theme which I think is nicely followed by McCarthy's latest novel The Road (which happens to be one of my recent favorites). I am excited to see the film version of The Road due this year.
So, I have seen 2 of the 5 Best Picture Nominees and it is hands down No Country for Old Men in the lead now. Oh, and Javier Bardem is that good. This week is Juno or There Will Be Blood.
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