Books

Spring Branch-Memorial Library--The Page Turners

Submitted by Karen Hayes on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 8:36pm

In the Garden of BeastsTitle to be discussed: In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson.  Date of meeting: Tuesday, June 11, 6:30pm.  Summary: "The bestselling author of "Devil in the White City" turns his hand to a remarkable story set during Hitler's rise to power. The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E.

From Classic Page to Screen

Submitted by Kimberly C on Sat, 05/18/2013 - 11:40am

great gatsby

Books, particularly the classics, have always been a huge source of inspiration for screenwriters. Some of the most enduring novels have inspired many film and TV adaptations, each approaching the story in a different way. Sometimes the adaptations are spot-on, true to both the story and the emotion of the source material. Often, screenwriters and directors take liberties to update the story for modern audiences or translate page to screen.

Last week, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, hit theaters in a glitzy Baz Luhrmann production. Its success at the box office is further proof that some of the best movie plots are waiting in the pages of classic literature.

If you’re in the mood for classic literature on the screen, browse the HCPL catalog and request a movie or mini-series today!

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

Submitted by Laura M on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 12:15pm

“Thousands of them have lived underground. They've lived there so long, there are only legends about people living anywhere else. Such a life requires rules. Strict rules. There are things that must not be discussed. Like going outside. Never mention you might like going outside.

Or you'll get what you wish for.”

Sheltered in underground silos to protect them from the toxic outside environment, people go their whole life without seeing the surface. Except for the cleaners, who mysteriously walk away after their task, to die.

Baldwin Boettcher Evening Book Club

Submitted by Elise S. on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 11:12am

Defending JacobPlease join us on Monday, June 10, 6:30 pm, for a discussion of Defending Jacob, a top-notch legal thriller by William Landay.  Summary:  Assistant District Attorney Andy Barber is blindsided when his teenage son, Jacob, is charged with murder.  Jacob insists he is innocent, and Andy believes him.  But as the trial intensifies, damning facts and shocking revelations surface.  Copies of the book are available at Baldwin Boettcher Branch.

The Perfect Reason to Take a Break

Submitted by Rachel A on Tue, 05/14/2013 - 9:13am

I don't know about you guys, but the constant up and down weather has me all thrown off. There was that weekend where the temperature was in the 50's, the epic raging thunderstorms, and the hail, oh how I wish I didn't have to experience hail twice in the past two weeks!

But there is a thin ray of sunshine hidden behind that big black thundercloud - we have a chance to plug in our earphones, brew a hot beverage, and just curl up to enjoy the sound of a melodic voice telling us a story. So fluff up those pillows, put your feet up, and use the weather as the perfect reason to just relax for a couple of hours.

Need some suggestions for the next time the storms hit? Check out some of my favorite comfort audiobooks:

And When She Was Good

Submitted by Clara Maynard on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 5:26pm

Lippman has won the Edgar award for her mystery, Charm City. She has received several other awards, and I think she is an excellent writer. I always look forward to her new books. Her latest is And When She Was Good.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Submitted by Linda Stevens on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 2:42pm

serendipityI knew very early on that I was destined to be a city girl.  I tend to wilt outdoors, I prefer food that isn't cooked by me, and I really like movies that need subtitled translations.  Or maybe it's just that I prefer to remain anonymous when I visit the 7-11 in my pajama pants.  No matter the reason, in contrast to my everyday life, I can't get enough of small towns and villages in fiction.  They provide a warm and cozy vacation to a place with a personality of its own, complete with a variety of colorful characters that form an extended fictional family.  Judging by the popularity of many of these books, I am not alone.

Twisted Fairy Tales by Maura McHugh

Submitted by Jennifer N on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 2:31pm

"Days passed. The birds told her stories of the outside world, and often assured her that she was kind and gentle. Rapunzel never believed them. She knew that she was born wicked and was better off isolated from the world, even if her heart yearned to join it."

Save Your Time for Better Things

Submitted by Angel Hill on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 10:28am

Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted SheetsLife gets very busy, especially if you're a to-do list junkie like me.  Every now and then I need to read a book like Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn.  Check it out!

Watch Me Die

Submitted by Clara Maynard on Thu, 05/09/2013 - 5:41pm

I’ve seen Eric Spindler’s books on our shelves often, but hadn’t really investigated her until today. I had not realized that she lives in New Orleans. She’s received several awards, so I picked up Watch Me Die. This is a suspense novel with romance thrown in, if you like that kind of book. At the beginning of the book, someone has killed an elderly priest at a New Orleans Catholic church.  The murderer has also spray painted “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” upon the church’s stained glass windows.  There are numerous twists and turns and a surprising end. 
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