Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen passed away Sunday, November 28th, from complications of pneumonia. Here’s some films from our collection to honor him:

Airplane (1980) Rated PG

In this spoof of disaster movies, Ted Striker, an ex-Navy pilot, just got dumped by his long-time girlfriend Elaine Dickinson, who works as a stewardess. In his wish to get her back, he follows her aboard a plane, although he has had a deep aversion against anything winged since he lost several men in the war. During flight, he tries to make up with her again and again, but a crisis looms as the crew and many passengers get seriously ill due to a bad fish meal. Now, it is up to him to land the airplane safely, before the poisoning starts causing casualties. But Ted Striker’s aversion to piloting is a serious psychosis, which breaks open and needs to be cured–right now.

An American Carol (2008) Rated PG-13

A cynical, anti-American Hollywood filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the 4th of July holiday. He is visited by three spirits who take him on a journey in an attempt to show him the true meaning of America.

Prom Night (1980) Rated R

A maniacal murderer stalks four lovely high school seniors, seeking revenge for a murder committed six years ago.

Scary Movie 3 (2003) Rated PG-13

A news anchorwoman investigates a killer videotape that’s making its way around town, digs into a mysterious crop circle on an ex-priest’s farm and falls in love with a wannabe white rapper.

Scary Movie 4 (2006) Rated PG-13

Cindy finds out the house she lives in is haunted by a little boy and goes on a quest to find out who killed him and why. Spoofs Tom Cruise and Dr. Phil, as well as the movies The Grudge, King Kong, Saw, and many others.

Readalikes for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”

Did you read Stieg Larsson’s best selling Millenium Book mystery trilogy? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was on the New York Times best seller list for months. It is a thrilling, fast paced story with a current events angle. There is sex and violence in these books, but it is not explicit.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson is the first of three books. Although they share characters, each book stands alone in regards to the plot. Due in part to the projected American film version of the first book, its popularity continues.

Here are some authors you might enjoy if you want more books like those by Stieg Larsson.

Author recommendations provided by Novelist.

Hoeg, Peter
Reason: Scandinavian authors Larsson (from Sweden) and Hoeg (from Denmark) write suspensful, dramatic novels with elements of mystery and large doses of social critique. — Katherine Johnson

French, Tana
Reason: Larsson and French both write exceedingly dark crime stories which feature a compelling man/woman investigative team. Their work is set in bleak landscapes with intricately plotted suspenseful story lines that are marked by violence. — Becky Spratford

Block, Lawrence
Reason: If you like Larsson, you may also like Block. Both write character-driven, complex plot, suspenseful, compelling, and gritty Mystery stories books for adults about Murder investigation and murder.

Burke, James Lee
Reason: If you like character-driven, complex plot, and gritty Mystery stories books for adults featuring Murder investigation and murder, you might like both Larsson and Burke.

Connelly, Michael
Reason: Readers who enjoy character-driven, complex plot, bleak, suspenseful, and gritty Mystery stories books for adults about Murder investigation and Cold cases (Criminal investigation) may also enjoy books by this author.

Gardner, Lisa
Reason: These two authors write complex plot and suspenseful books of Mystery stories for adults in which Murder investigation; Missing persons; and father and daughter are the main topics.

Thanksgiving Films

National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion (2004) Rated PG-13

Against the wishes of his wife and kids, Mitch Snider is determined to have a traditional Thanksgiving holiday with all the relatives. And it looks like that’s what he will have once he receives an invitation from his long-lost cousin Woodrow in Idaho. However, cousin Woodrow and his family turn out to be nuttier than a holiday fruitcake.

Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) Rated NR

Things are so bad for recently widowed farmer Mary Bassett and her three children that this Thanksgiving they may not even be able to afford a turkey for their dinner. Suddenly, Mary’s wealthy and estranged mother Isabella comes for a visit. Although Isabella finds a kindred spirit in Mary’s eldest daughter and budding writer Tilly, Mary resents her mother’s attempts to help them out of their financial difficulties. It will take more than money to heal the emotional wounds that exist between mother and daughter.

Pieces of April (2003) Rated PG-13

Family outcast April lives in a beat-up apartment in New York’s Lower East Side with her boyfriend, Bobby. In order to spend some time with her dying mother, April invites her conservative suburban family to her place for a Thanksgiving feast. While she frantically tries to complete the meal, the family drives in from Pennsylvania sharing less-than-pleasant opinions about April’s lifestyle. Her dad tries to think positively, while sister Beth flaunts her good-girl status and brother Timmy captures it all on film.

Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (1994) Rated PG

Indian brave Squanto is kidnapped from America and taken to England to be put on display as a savage. He escapes and when he returns home he brings peace among Pilgrims and a tribe, thus bringing the first Thanksgiving.

Time to Remember (2003) Rated NR

Two estrange daughters return to the family home on Thanksgiving to find their relationship with their mother even more difficult than before. As strong-willed widow Maggie busily prepares for a perfect family celebration, her recently diagnosed Alzheimer’s condition becomes more apparent.

Readalikes for The Alchemist

Twenty years and more after it was published, The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho still remains a popular and thought provoking novel. It is a modern fable of living life to its fullest. It was published in Brazil in Portuguese in 1986, and has since been translated into 56 other languages. In fact, it is the most translated book by a living author.

In this book, Santiago, a poor Andalucian shepherd, experiences a recurring dream that he believes is prophetic. He literally follows his dream all the way to Egypt. He travels to Egypt and encounters interesting characters along the way.

“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
– The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

If you enjoyed The Alchemist, here are some other books you might like!
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Cave by Jose Saramago
The Tale of the Unknown Island by Jose Saramago
The Shack by William P. Young

NoveList and One Way I use it…

How often do you finish a book series and miss the characters? Often characters will stay with me long after I have finished the book. Every so often an author will introduce me to a character (or more) that I become so engrossed in their story it’s hard to read the last chapter as my desire to find out how it ends clashes with my reluctance to say goodbye to the characters.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned a book series I was reading by Laurie King and finishing this book brought me closer to the end of the series and finding myself dueling with the desire to continue my literature friendship and the reluctance to say goodbye to fictional friends.. The two main characters, Ann Russell and Sherlock Holmes are those friends I can catch up with them after work and travel to far off places where a mystery is always waiting. The further I got into the series and started thinking like the characters, my friends, I found myself keeping a couple of steps ahead with Mary and what a thrill! I often found myself laughing at their intellectual bickering releasing much of the day’s tension. “Who would want that to end?” Not I! But I have requested the next book and am ready to explore my options of another series similar to that of which Laurie King has so brilliantly created.

A quick and easy way to do this is through NoveList Plus, one of the many databases free using your library card. The link below will take you to our YouTube channel and walk you through getting started with NoveList.

If you’d rather see this in person stop in at the reference desk and we’ll be happy to show you around NoveList! Want to start now? Log onto the RLPL site and select NoveList Plus along the right side of the page. At the prompt, enter your library card number (without the spaces). You’ll find yourself at the EBSCO Host page where you can choose from a list of free databases. Select NoveList once more and your set. Have Fun!

In a book club? NoveList also has Book Discussion Guides for you.

Are you a teacher? There’s a version of NoveList for you too—NoveList K-8 featuring picture book extenders, teaching with books, Lexile reading levels and more.

JILL CLAYBURGH

Jill Clayburgh passed away this weekend from leukemia. If you haven’t seen a Jill Clayburgh film, please check out our list of Jill Clayburgh’s films.

 Dirty Sexy Money (Tvseries) Rated TV-14 2007

The fantastically wealthy, scheming Darlings have everything money can buy, including a posh palazzo in Manhattan. It’s up to their incorruptible family attorney to help them keep their secrets from destroying them – which makes him a very busy man.

I personally like the first season after that the show just didn’t seem to know where it was going.

Fools Rush In (1997) Rated PG-13

On a whim, Alex proposes to Isabel, who became pregnant as a result of a casual night of passion they shared.

This is a cute romantic comedy.

I’m dancing as fast as I can (1981) Rated R

Barbara Gordon, a successful television documentary producer, becomes hopelessly dependent on tranquilizers. The dramatic story of a woman’s survival for her sanity–and her life.

Running with Scissors (2006) Rated R

After seeing a less-than-conventional psychiatrist for her problems at home, getting too many prescriptions and too much bad advice, a mother ends her marriage and sends her young son to live with the doctor and his odd family.

Semi-Tough (1977) Rated R

Two professional football players pursue the same woman in this satirical spoof on sports, romance, and the pop-psych crazes of the Seventies.

Musicals

Up for a musical-here’s some you might enjoy.

Annie (1981) Rated PG

The story of the comic strip character Little Orphan Annie, who is adopted by billionaire “Daddy” Warbucks.

Autism: the Musical (2007) Rated NR

Follow the extraordinary acting coach and founder of the Miracle Project musical theater program Elaine Hall, five autistic children, and their parents as they improbably, heroically mount a full-length original stage production and learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance.

Oklahoma (2003) Rated NR

Laurie, an Oklahoma farm gal is courted by boisterous cowboy Curley and by menacing, obsessive farm hand Jud Frye. Fearing that Jud will do something terrible to Curley, Laurie accepts Jud’s invitation to the box social. But Curley rescues Laurie from Jud’s unwanted advances, and wins her hand. On the eve of their wedding, Laurie and Curley are menaced by Jud. During a fight with Curley, Jud falls on his own knife and is killed. The local deputy insists that Curley be arrested, but he is outvoted by Curley’s friends, and the newlyweds are permitted to ride off on their honeymoon.

Pin Up Girl (1944) Rated NR

Splashy musical about a secretary whose penchant for stretching the truth gets her into trouble.

Do You NaNoWriMo?

Do you NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is the short hand term for National Novel Writing Month. People across the nation dedicate all their free time to write 50,000 words during the month of November each year.  There are thirty days in November, so that means writers have a goal to write 1,667 words per day. Today is November 3 … have you written 5,000 words yet?! That’s about 10 pages of typed words in 12 pt font.

Have you done NaNoWriMo before? Are you doing it this year? If so, what was it like? Did you stay on target? Write in and share your experiences!

Here are some books that offer advice to authors, new and experienced. Look through these books and others available through the Rice Lake Public Library.

Sin and Syntax: How to Create Wickedly Effective Prose
by Constance Hale

This is advice for those desiring a review of the basic elements of effective writing. It begins by explaining the building blocks of grammar: nouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, etc. Then it builds upon this understanding to create effective sentences. The book concludes with several final chapters that discuss tone, rhythm, and melody through sentence variety.

 

A Writer’s Guide to Fiction
by Elizabeth Lyon

This book is a brief introduction to creating writing. Separate chapters guide the novice writer through the basics of fiction. These chapters include information about creating believable characters, setting the scene, and mapping out the order of events. It includes information on troubleshooting the narration, setting, or characterization as well. Finally, it ends with some information on marketing your work to publishers.

 

The Writer’s Market 2011

The Writer’s Market is the most trusted resource for finding information on the publishing market. It lists publishing houses and editors, and includes information on how to locate an agent and navigate the legalities of book contracts.