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Colorful dot picture with blog title

Post by Kristin S.

Recent New York Times Bestsellers (month of July):

Fiction

 

The Other Woman by Daniel Silva

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Gabriel Allon, the art restorer and assassin, fights the Russians to decide the fate of postwar global order.

   

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

When Eddie disappears, Sarah realizes they did not share the truth with each other.

   

Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Annie Marlow forms new relationships in the Pacific Northwest as she tries to recover from tragedy.

   

Spymaster by Brad Thor

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

The 18th book in the Scot Harvath series.

   

Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A Star Wars saga. Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Thrawn join forces to serve Emperor Palpatine.

 

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A window into Willa Drake’s life over 50 years and how she adjusts to some of life's surprises.

 

The Good Fight by Danielle Steel

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook

Meredith McKenzie embraces and eschews the values of her family of lawyers during the tumultuous 1960s.

 

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

In the 1950s, a high-society schoolgirl falls for the son of a lighthouse keeper and, years later, tries to help undo his wrongful imprisonment.

 

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Miryem goes to collect debts owed to her father and winds up on a dangerous quest.

 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A young woman living in New York City in 2000 contends with depression, bad relationships and an incompetent psychiatrist.


Nonfiction

 

The Russia Hoax by Gregg Jarrett

Borrow: [Print]

The Fox News analyst makes his case for why the F.B.I. investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia is without legal merit.

 

Liars, Leakers, and Liberals by Steven Brill

Borrow: [Print] [ebook] [eAudiobook]

The legal analyst and Fox News host argues in favor of President Trump.

 

Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic

Borrow: [Print]

A newly researched look into the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the story of the survivors and the fight to exonerate the court-martialed skipper.

 

The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The former New York Times chief book critic examines the cultural forces that have chipped away at reason and common values.

 

The Briefing by Sean Spicer

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A personal account of working for Trump's campaign, transition team and the Trump White House.

 

From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A memoir by a woman who went from working many part-time jobs to becoming one of President Obama's stenographers.

 

 DVDs - New Arrivals:

 

Life of the Party

Borrow: [DVD]

When her husband dumps her, Deanna goes back to college at the same school as her daughter. Embracing freedom, fun and frat boys, Deanna finds her true self.

 

Tully

Borrow: [DVD]

From the director-writer duo behind Juno and Young Adult, comes the year's smartest comedy about a mother (Charlize Theron) who forms a unique bond with a young nanny, Tully.

 

Overboard

Borrow: [DVD]

A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and becomes the target of revenge from his mistreated employee. A remake of the 1987 comedy.

 

Dark Crimes

Borrow: [DVD]

In the midst of a murder investigation, clues about a similar crime are unveiled in an author's book.

 

Final Portrait

Borrow: [DVD]

The story of Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

 

Kings

Borrow: [DVD]

The life of a foster family in South Central Los Angeles, a few weeks before the city erupts in violence following the verdict of the Rodney King trial.

 

Operation Red Sea

Borrow: [DVD]

An elite Chinese assault team performs dangerous missions against Somalian pirates and rebels and terrorists in Arabian Peninsula.

 

Incident in a Ghostland

Borrow: [DVD]

Sixteen years after a frightening confrontation in their deceased aunt's house, two women return to the house and begin experiencing paranormal activity.

 

The Con is On

Borrow: [DVD]

A British con-artist couple plans a jewel theft to pay off their gambling debt to a mobster.

 

Isle of Dogs

Borrow: [DVD]

In a near-future dystopian Japan where all dogs have been banished to a trash island after a flu outbreak, twelve-year-old Atari sets out for the island to find his lost dog Spots.

 

Disobedience

Borrow: [DVD]

A woman returns to the community that shunned her for her attraction to a childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality.

 

I Feel Pretty

Borrow: [DVD]

A woman struggling with insecurity wakes from a fall believing she is the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. Her new confidence empowers her to live fearlessly, but what happens when she realizes her appearance never changed?

 

DVDs - Coming Soon: 

 

Avengers: Infinity War

Borrow: [DVD]*

With the powerful Thanos on the verge of raining destruction upon the universe, the Avengers and their Super Hero allies risk everything in the ultimate showdown of all time.

 

Deadpool 2

Borrow: [DVD]*

The sequel to the first one.

 

First Reformed

Borrow: [DVD]*

The pastor of a small church in upstate New York spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife in this taut, chilling thriller.

 

The Miracle Season

Borrow: [DVD]*

Based on a true story, a high school girls' volleyball team must pull together and compete after the sudden death of their star player.

 

Love After Love

Borrow: [DVD]*

Following the death of their husband and father, a family struggles to cope with the loss and move on with their lives.

 

Breaking In

Borrow: [DVD]*

Gabrielle Union stars as a woman who will stop at nothing to rescue her two children being held hostage in a house designed with impenetrable security.

 

The Rider

Borrow: [DVD]*

After a tragic riding accident, a young cowboy undertakes a search for a new identity and redefine what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

 

On Chesil Beach

Borrow: [DVD]*

In 1962 England, a young couple finds their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.

 

Aardvark

Borrow: [DVD]*

Troubled man Josh Norman has hallucinations of his famous brother Craig so sees a therapist, Emily, who ends up falling for Craig.

 

Revenge

Borrow: [DVD]*

Jen is enjoying a getaway with her boyfriend when it's disrupted by his sleazy friends. Their intrusion leads to a shocking act that leaves Jen near death. Unfortunately for her assailants, Jen reemerges with a wrathful intent: revenge.

 

Bad Samaritan

Borrow: [DVD]*

Life is good for two young car valets who use their business as a front to burglarize houses of their unsuspecting patrons until they target the wrong house, changing their lives forever.

 

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Borrow: [DVD]*

Worlds collide when Enn, a shy teenager in 70s London, meets the beautiful and rebellious Zan at a party. They set in motion the ultimate showdown between their rivaling worlds and test the limits of how far they will go for true love.

 

Furlough

Borrow: [DVD]*

Melissa Leo and Whoopi Goldberg star alongside Tessa Thompson in this hilarious and touching road trip comedy.

 

Show Dogs

Borrow: [DVD]*

A human detective and his canine partner must go undercover at an exclusive dog show and recruit an all-star cast of animal helpers to solve their biggest case yet.

 

Book Club

Borrow: [DVD]*

Four friends' lives are turned upside down to hilarious ends when their book club tackles the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey. Also starring Andy Garcia, Don Johnson and Craig T. Nelson.

 

RBG

Borrow: [DVD]*

Details the biography and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

 

Upgrade

Borrow: [DVD]*

After his wife is killed during a brutal mugging that also leaves him paralyzed, Grey Trace is approached by a billionaire inventor with an experimental cure that will "upgrade" his body.

 

American Animals

Borrow: [DVD]*

The unbelievable but true story of four young men who brazenly attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history.

 *Caution: Once DVDs are released, the links above may stop working.

 

Sources: The New York Times, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, Goodreads, EarlyWord, Novelist, DVDs Release Date

Posted by [email protected]  On Aug 08, 2018 at 1:42 PM
  

Smartphone with the Instagram logo

 Post by Tessy W. 

Social Media and the Poet

As an introduction, I'll begin with a few disclaimers.

I don't read a lot of poetry. Other than a short phase in high school, dreaming of literary stardom as I scribbled profound thoughts in a rainbow colored notebook, I haven't had much to do with poetry. Even then, I did little but read a Frost poem or two, and thought myself risqué for buying a pocket-sized Arthur Rimbaud.

Additionally, I'll also note that I'm an odd millennial. Don't get me wrong, I have the trappings of your average millennial; Snapchat filters are necessary for everything, and I communicate almost exclusively via text.

But I'm not big on social media. Send me a wave on Facebook Messenger, and I probably won't see it for two months. I haven't checked my Instagram account in half a year, and I was never on Twitter to begin with.

Thus, this conversational gem:
"Have you seen the latest Rupi Kaur?"
"Umm... I don't think so?" I had no reference point to place the name, but had a vague notion that I'd heard of her before.
A phone was thrust into my face.
"On Instagram.... you know, the Instapoets?"

Having only just heard the term, I was confused. My friend sighed, already well-acquainted with my flaws, and the conversation moved on.

But I was intrigued. I'd vaguely heard of Rupi Kaur, later learning that she is a giant among this new generation of poets. The poem I had been shown was succinct and lovely; so, I decided to investigate.

Poem with illustration from Instagram

rupikaur_. Poem. Instagram, 25, Feb. 2018, www.instagram.com/p/BfoOHhYAQTt/?hl=en&taken-by=rupikaur_.

Instapoets present their poetry, often in stylized font and sometimes with illustrative imagery, on various forms of social media (including Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.), with an emphasis on Instagram. The result: clips of thought presented with instant shareability.

These poets are labelled "Instapoets" like they're frivolous. It’s a result of their medium.

Thoughts and ideas shared on social media hold less gravitas apparently. On occasion, this is a justified stereotype. Using technology can make us truly thoughtless.

It's easy to say something stupid when you share your first, and sometimes second thought, without ever pausing to reflect. Or if you parse that semi-serious thought with a meme.

However, the immediate sneering dismissal of Instapoets and their social media kin isn't often inspired by a well-reasoned, multi-point critique of the impact of technology on modern lifestyles. Instead, social media is paralleled with the younger generation it emerged with, and when are Millennials ever seen as anything but thoughtless?

A snowflake generation producing snowflake poetry.

However, as a non-poetry reader, I was impressed by Rupi Kaur and her fellow Instapoets.

Their poetry is heavy; the type of snow with weight. Flipping through "The Princess Saves Herself in This One" by Amanda Lovelace, I was smacked in the face by parental abuse, death, bad relationships, and an ever-present fantastical sheen that charmed the fantasy-reader within me. She cast herself as the hero that could overcome those pesky plot barriers that we call life. Emotions at the forefront, candid.

These poems are often as fast-paced as the modern society they're spawned from. The bold words and images, burned into your mind like afterimages. Pausing between the meetings and the endless string of e-mails, you remember the clipped stanzas that stole your breath, the imagery still blooming with color.

And by no means do these poets limit themselves to social media; if anything, their Instagram accounts are savvy marketing tools. Rupi Kaur sold over a million copies of her first book, Milk and Honey.1 R.H. Sin, with over a million followers and the second bestselling poet of 2017 (Kaur was the first)2, is nearly as popular with his characteristic fourth-wave feminism.
Wandering the poetry section of the library, I can pull a handful of slim volumes off of the shelf. Is there a difference between the poet and the Instapoet?

A mottled cover like sparks of flame, Wild Embers by Nikita Gill drew me in with a powerful reimagining of Grecian goddesses. Hera locking the door on Zeus, and learning to sleep by herself. Persephone exalting in her throne of fire. Gill has almost half a million followers on Instagram - a demigoddess in her own right.

Next, a slender green volume titled, Nature Poem by Tommy Pico. I flipped between poems randomly, forwards, backwards, and then back to the start; all the way through. Sharp and absorbing, with a solemnness like the overcast skies on his cover. You can find him on Instagram, but mostly for the common usage of filtered shots and life-moments, not specifically for his poetry.
Instagram is a modern day method of expression. If it encourages people to read poetry, everyone benefits. A line of verse on Instagram could spark a passion for words just as easily as a book.

Investigation thus completed, I settled on an easy conclusion. Poetry makes the poet, not the medium.

1. Maher, J. (2018). Can Instagram Make Poems Sell Again?. [online] Publishersweekly.com. Available at: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/75976-can-instagram-make-poems-sell-again.html [Accessed 14 Jun. 2018].
1. April is National Poetry Month in bookstores – and on social media, too. NPD Group. https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2018/instapoets-rekindling-u-s--poetry-book-sales--the-npd-group-says/. Published April 5, 2018. Accessed June 14, 2018.

 

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 26, 2018 at 11:23 AM
  

emojis surrounding blog title post

Post by Sara V.H.

It's World Emoji Day! party popper

When words just aren't enough, emojis are there to help you really say what you mean!
World Emoji Day is celebrated each year on July 17 because that is the date shown in the calendar emoji. 

calendar of July 17






To celebrate World Emoji Day, let's play a game of "Guess that Book: Emoji Style!" Guess the titles below portrayed by emojis (scroll to the bottom of the post for answers). Leave a comment with how many you were able to accurately guess!

Ready...go!

emojis depicting book covers

 




























































The answers are below...







Answers:
1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2. Dragons Love Tacos
3. Turtles All the Way Down
4. Holes
5. Grapes of Wrath
6. Water for Elephants
7. The Scarlet Letter
8. War and Peace
9. Frankenstein 
10. Twilight
11. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish 
12. The Secret Garden
13. The Time Travelers Wife
14. A Tale of Two Cities
15. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Thanks for playing! Please comment with how many you got correct and which one was the hardest.

Posted by [email protected]  On Jul 17, 2018 at 9:39 AM
  

Girl in a flower crown reading on while sitting on the ground
Post by Sara V.H. 

While any form of shared reading and exposure to books is beneficial to a young child, dialogic reading is a form of shared reading that can greatly assist in the development of a young child’s language skills. Dialogic reading “involves reading with, rather than to, the child” (Atkinson, 2013). With dialogic reading, the adult involves the child in the book, encouraging them to participate through prompts, providing feedback to the child, and adapting the way they read to the child based on their developing skills (Atkinson, 2013). While there are a number of ways to engage a child while reading, literacy initiative Reading Rockets uses the acronym CROWD as a guide for parents to engage their children.

  • Completion prompts - having a child finish a sentence in a rhyme scheme to help them learn the structure of language
  • Recall prompts - asking a child to tell you what happened in the story to help them understand plots, either at the beginning of a familiar story or at the end of a new story
  • Open-ended prompts - asking a child to explain what is happening, especially when there are strong images, to help develop their expressive abilities
  • Wh- prompts - asking a child the “5 W’s and H” - who, what, where, when, why, and how - to help develop the child’s vocabulary
  • Distancing prompts - asking a child to relate an aspect of the story to something outside of the story, such as an aspect in their own life
    (Whitehurst, 2017)

These simple prompts can help a child engage more in the story and gain more from storytime.
  
To see dialogic reading in action, visit your local Aurora Public Library for a storytime! A complete schedule can be found at AuroraLibrary.org or here.

Below is also video showcasing dialogic reading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jetjDEF4w

Resources

Atkinson, A. (2013). Critical review: Does dialogic book reading improve overall language skills in preschoolers? University of Western Ontario: School of Communication Science and Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/lwm/teaching/EBP/2012_13/Atkinson_A.pdf

Whitehurst, G. J. (2017). Dialogic reading: An effective way to read to preschoolers. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/dialogic-reading-effective-way-read-preschoolers
Rx for Success (2016, Sept. 14). Rx for success: Dialogic reading. [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jetjDEF4w

Posted by [email protected]  On Jun 12, 2018 at 9:53 AM
  

Brew Tour seal

Cold brews, great books – enjoy both with the Aurora Craft Brews Tour!

Back for its third year, the Aurora Craft Brews Tour gives participants a chance to explore the city’s great craft brews scene, support local businesses and earn prizes from the Aurora Public Library! 

To start your adventure, pick up a passport at any Aurora Public Library or participating business, or print it off from AuroraLibrary.org. Take your passport to participating locations, make a purchase and receive a stamp. Collect four stamps to receive your first prize – a commemorative glass – and collect all eight stamps to receive your second prize – a growler! Prizes are available while supplies last at all Aurora Public Library locations through Wednesday, Nov. 7. 

Participating locations:

We’re making this year’s tour bigger and better than ever! In addition to the passport portion, Aurora Public Library is partnering with local breweries to host fun, free events at the breweries during the tour! Below are a list of Aurora Craft Brews Tour events. All events are free and for adults 21 and older. Please note registration via AuroraLibrary.org is required for some events.

  • Disney Trivia
    Wednesday, May 16, Launch Pad Brewery, 884 S. Buckley Road
  • Craft Night
    Monday, May 21, Peak to Peak Tap & Brew, 16701 E. Iliff Ave.
  • Book Scene Book Club* (Registration required)
    Sunday, June 10, Cheluna Brewing Co., 2501 Dallas St.
  • Adult Spelling Bee
    Tuesday, July 31, 6:30 p.m., Ursula Brewery, 2101 N. Ursula St. #10
  • Netflix Trivia
    Wednesday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m., Launch Pad Brewery, 884 S. Buckley Road
  • Beer & Cheese Pairing* (Registration required and space is limited)
    Monday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., Two22 Brew, 4550 S. Reservoir Road
  • Books & Brews (Library Costume Party & Book Drive)
    Saturday, Oct. 20, Dry Dock Brewing Co.

Earn a bonus prize for attending any of the above programs! Also, visit the City of Aurora booth at local events and show us your passport to receive a bonus prize!

Show us your tour and share your Aurora pride by using the hashtags #AuroraCraftBrews and #ThisIsAurora on social media!
For more information about the Aurora Craft Brews Tour, visit AuroraLibrary.org.

Cheers!

Posted by [email protected]  On Jun 08, 2018 at 2:29 PM
  

June New Releases and Best Sellers
Post by Kristin S.

Books that recently premiered on the New York Times Bestseller List:

New Fiction

 

The Fallen by David Baldacci

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Amos Decker, known as the Memory Man, puts his talents toward solving a string of murders in a Rust Belt town.

 

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A woman marries a widower and reunites with her teenage daughter who is murdered soon after, and the husband is put on trial for it.

 

Noir by Christopher Moore

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

In the summer of 1947, a woman and an Air Force general attract the attention of a San Francisco bartender while a suspicious flying object is spotted near the coast.

 

Circe by Madeline Miller

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

Zeus banishes Helios' daughter to an island, where she must choose between living with gods or mortals.

 

I've Got My Eyes on You by Mary Higgins Clark

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A high school guidance counselor tries to uncover the identity of her sister’s murderer.

 

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

Nine people drawn to trees for different reasons fight for the last of the remaining acres of virgin forest.

 

The Thief by J. R. Ward

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

The 16th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Sola Morte falls for a man who sells weapons to a group of vampire warriors.

 

Shoot First by Stuart Woods

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

Stone Barrington searches for the person who plotted to kill the woman behind a cutting-edge software startup.

 

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Ten years after her daughter disappears, a woman tries to get her life in order but remains haunted by unanswered questions.

 

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The relationship between a college freshman and a famous feminist reveals the challenges of intergenerational feminism.

 

The Sixth Day by Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

The fifth book in the A Brit in the F.B.I. series. After the German vice chancellor dies, special agents investigate one of Dracula’s descendants.

 

Red Alert by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The fifth book in the NYPD Red series. Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald investigate the death of a documentary filmmaker and an explosion at a charity benefit.

 

The Disappeared by C. J. Box

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

A Wyoming game warden teams up with his daughter to find a missing British businesswoman.

 

Varina by Charles Frazier

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

As the Confederacy and her marriage to Jefferson Davis fall apart, a woman flees Richmond with her children.

 

Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

In this adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, police in a 1970s industrial town take on a pair of drug lords.

 

Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman

Borrow: [Print]

Tribal police officers search the Navajo Nation for a missing instructor and investigate a troubled girl’s story of finding human remains.

 

To Die but Once by Jacqueline Winspear

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

In 1940, months after Britain declared war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of an apprentice working on a government contract.

 

The Cutting Edge by Jeffery Deaver

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print]

Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs track a killer who targets engaged couples.


New Nonfiction

 

A Higher Loyalty by James Comey

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The former F.B.I. director recounts cases and personal events that shaped his outlook on justice, and analyzes the leadership styles of three presidents.

 

Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright

Borrow: [eAudiobook]

The former secretary of state examines the legacy of fascism in the 20th century and its potential revival.

 

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A look at our biases and the argument for why the world is in a better state than we might think.

 

Natural Causes by Barbara Ehrenreich

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]  

A look at aging, the ways people try to control the inevitable and strategies for accepting mortality.

 

God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]  

An exploration of the history, politics and economics of the Lone Star State.

 

This is Me by Chrissy Metz

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

A star of “This Is Us” describes her journey toward self- acceptance.

 

Dear Madam President by Jennifer Palmieri

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

The director of communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and the Obama White House prescribes a new model of leadership.

 

Make Trouble by Cecile Richards

Borrow: [Print]  [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A memoir by the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and former labor organizer.

 

Killing the Deep State by Jerome R. Corsi

Borrow: [Print]

The conservative commentator describes a secret conspiracy to undermine the Trump presidency. From the author of "The Obama Nation." 

 

Our 50-State Border Crisis by Howard Buffett

Borrow: [Print]

An Illinois sheriff describes the close connection he sees between national security and the opioid crisis.

 

Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A deeper look at the personal and professional triumphs and disasters of the champion golfer.

 

Faith by Jimmy Carter

Borrow: [Print]  [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The former president discusses the broader meaning of faith and its effect on our lives, including its religious aspects.

 

Unified by Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy

Borrow: [Print]

Two Republican lawmakers from South Carolina use their relationship as a model for overcoming differences.

 

Pretty Mess by Erika Jayne

Borrow: [Print]

A memoir by a star of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

 

 DVDs - New Arrivals:

 

The Greatest Showman

Borrow: [DVD]

Hugh Jackman stars in this bold and original musical - inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum - celebrating the birth of show business and dreams coming to life.

 

Sweet Virginia

Borrow: [DVD]

The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal stars in this neo-noir crime thriller where hitman and troubled small-town motel owner collide in an unsettling tale of sex and violence.

 

All the Money in the World

Borrow: [DVD]

After the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, in a race against time, his mother works to convince his wealthy grandfather to pay the ransom. Inspired by historical events. Certain scenes, characters and dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.

 

Father Figures

Borrow: [DVD]

Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father, two fraternal twin brothers hit the road in order to find him.

 

Beast of Burden

Borrow: [DVD]

Pilot Sean Haggerty (Daniel Radcliffe) must deliver cocaine across the US-Mexico border for his final run as a smuggler to save his wife

 

Molly's Game

Borrow: [DVD]

The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.

 

The Phantom Thread

Borrow: [DVD]

Set in 1950s London, a renowned designer and dressmaker finds his fastidiously planned life disrupted by the love of a young, strong-willed woman.


DVDs - Coming Soon:
 

 

Black Panther

Borrow: [DVD]*

When young King T'Challa is drawn into conflict with an old foe that puts his homeland Wakanda and the entire world at risk, he must release Black Panther's full power to save them.

 

The Last Movie Star

Borrow: [DVD]*

Burt Reynolds stars as an aging screen icon who gets lured into accepting an award at a rinky-dink film festival in Nashville, launching him on both a hilarious fish-out-of-water adventure and an unexpectedly poignant journey into his past.

 

The Strange Ones

Borrow: [DVD]*

Mysterious events surround two travelers as they make their way across a remote American landscape. On the surface all seems normal, but what appears to be a simple vacation soon gives way to a dark and complex web of secrets.

 

Thoroughbreds

Borrow: [DVD]*

Two upper-class teenage girls rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. They hatch a plan to solve both of their problems -- no matter what the cost.

 

The Little Hours

Borrow: [DVD]*

Italy, 1347: Bored, volatile nuns Alessandra (Alison Brie), Fernanda (Aubrey Plaza), and Ginevra (Kate Micucci) live in a monastery under the watchful eye of Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly). The arrival of a handsome new groundskeeper (Dave Franco) - introduced to the sisters as a deaf mute to discourage temptation - soon leads to a frenzy of hormones, substance abuse, and wicked revelry.

 

I Kill Giants

Borrow: [DVD]*

Barbara is the only thing that stands between terrible giants and the destruction of her small town. But as she boldly confronts her fears in increasingly dangerous ways, she begins to question everything shes always believed to be true.

 

Mary and the Witch's Flower

Borrow: [DVD]*

From the director of When Marnie Was There, comes a dazzling new adventure about a young girl who discovers a flower that grants her magical powers - but only for one night.

 

Peter Rabbit

Borrow: [DVD]*

Peter Rabbit and family wreak havoc in hopes to win back the Manor House of Old McGregor and the affections of their neighbor, Bea.

 

Please Stand By

Borrow: [DVD]*

Wendy is an independent and brilliant young woman with autism. To submit her script on-time for a Star Trek screenplay competition she sneaks out of her group home and travels hundreds of miles not letting anything stop her from achieving her goals.

 

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Borrow: [DVD]*

Based on Peter Turner's memoir, tells the story of the actor's passionate relationship with aging Gloria Grahame, who finds support in her younger lover when she is diagnosed with breast cancer.

 

In the Fade

Borrow: [DVD]*

Golden Globe® Winner for best foreign language film. Katja's family is killed in a terrorist attack and her life falls apart. The killers are set free and Katja can do nothing else but seek justice.

 

The Insult

Borrow: [DVD]*

In today's Beirut, an insult blown out of proportion finds Toni, a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser, a Palestinian refugee, in court.

 

Red Sparrow

Borrow: [DVD]*

Jennifer Lawrence is Dominika, a former ballerina forced to join Sparrow School, a secret government program that transforms her into an agent who can manipulate, seduce and kill.

 

Braven

Borrow: [DVD]*

Jason Momoa stars in this intense action-thriller about a logger fighting for survival against drug traffickers who have stashed heroin in his hunting cabin.

 

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds

Borrow: [DVD]*

In the wake of his heroic death, a firefighter experiences the afterlife with the help of three guides.

 

7 Guardians of the Tomb

Borrow: [DVD]*

7 Guardians of the Tomb follows a team of scientists in search of a colleague that disappeared in an ancient cave. To save him, the group must battle a swarm of deadly man-eating spiders and discover the elixir - before it's too late.

 

Fifty Shades Freed

Borrow: [DVD]*

Newlyweds Christian and Ana embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. However, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.

 

Winchester

Borrow: [DVD]*

Believing her house is haunted, firearms heiress Sarah Winchester decides to keep building onto her home in order to appease the spirits of people killed by the Winchester rifle.

 

The Post

Borrow: [DVD]*

Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep team for the first time in this exhilarating true story about how the Washington Post exposed a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades.

 

Paddington 2

Borrow: [DVD]*

Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt's 100th birthday. Hilarity ensues when the gift is stolen.

 

12 Strong

Borrow: [DVD]*

Weeks after 9/11, U.S. Special Forces go to Afghanistan ordered to take the city of Mazar Sharif. To survive, the U.S. must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers

 

Hostiles

Borrow: [DVD]*

In 1892, a legendary Army captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory.

 

Forever My Girl

Borrow: [DVD]*

A country music super-star returns to his hometown after leaving his love behind 8 years ago.

 

The Commuter

Borrow: [DVD]*

Liam Neeson stars as a man who gets caught up in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute home and works against the clock to stop a deadly attack to save the lives of his fellow train passengers.

 

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Borrow: [DVD]*

In the epic Maze Runner conclusion, Thomas leads the Gladers on their final mission - they must break into the legendary Last City, which turns out to be the deadliest maze of all!

 

Proud Mary

Borrow: [DVD]*

Mary is a hit woman working for an organized crime family, whose life is turned around when she meets a boy during a professional hit.

 

Den of Thieves

Borrow: [DVD]*

A gritty Los Angeles crime saga which follows the intersecting and often personally connected lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank of downtown Los Angeles.

 *Caution: Once DVDs are released, the links above may stop working.

Sources: The New York Times, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, Goodreads, EarlyWord, Novelist, DVDs Release Date

Posted by [email protected]  On Jun 04, 2018 at 3:47 PM
  

pen-blog.png

Post by Chris G. 

The history of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is fairly interesting. The award itself is named after the international association of writers, PEN (which is an acronym for "Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Editors, and Novelists), and the prolific American author William Faulkner.
Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 "for his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the modern American novel." In 1960, he used his prize money to establish the William Faulkner Foundation, a charitable organization intended to support young writers. Among other things, the Faulkner Foundation gave out an annual literary prize called the William Faulkner Foundation Award, the winners of which include names like John Knowles, Thomas Pynchon, Cormac McCarthy, and Robert Coover. After 10 years, the Faulkner Foundation was dissolved in 1970. The PEN/Faulkner Award was named to honor Faulkner's philanthropy, as well as to continue in the Faulkner Foundation Award's tradition of recognizing works of literary excellence.
The PEN/Faulkner Award was founded in 1980 by Mary Lee Settle, who herself had won the National Book Award in 1978 for her novel "Blood Tie". This resulted from some controversy surrounding the 1979 National Book Award winner, "Going After Cacciato" by Tim O'Brien. Many in the publishing industry believed that year's award should have gone to John Irving for "The World According to Garp", which led to a rift among the panel of judges and ultimately changes to the rules of how the National Book Awards were judged. In protest of these rule changes, PEN voted to boycott the awards, citing them as "too commercial." The following year, the PEN/Faulkner Award was established. Settle's vision was that the "awards would be judged by writers, not by industry insiders, and no favoritism would be granted to bestselling authors."
Now in its 38th year, the PEN/Faulkner Award is among the most prestigious literary honors an author can receive, and continues to fulfill Settle's mission "to create a community of writers, honor excellence in American fiction, and encourage a love of reading."
The 2018 PEN/Faulkner Award winner was announced on Saturday, May 5th. All of this year's nominees, the winner as well as many winners of years past are available to be borrowed from the Aurora Public Library. You can find those titles and the formats in which they are available below.  

  This Year's Nominees


 "In the Distance" by Hernan Diaz

   
 "The Dark Dark" by Samantha Hunt Also available as an eBook.

   
 "The Tower of the Antilles" by Achy Obejas

   
 "Improvement" by Joan Silber


 "Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward Also available as an audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook.


Past Winners

2017

 "Behold the Dreamers" by Imbolo Mbue Also available as an eBook.
2016

 "Delicious Foods" by James Hannaham
   2014

 "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves" by Karen Joy Fowler
2012

 "The Buddha in the Attic" by Julie Otsuka
2010

 "War Dances" by Sherman Alexie Available as an eAudiobook through RBDigital. 
2009

 "Netherland" by Joseph O'Neill Also available in Large Print and as an audiobook.
2007

  "Everyman" by Philip Roth Also available as an audiobook and eAudiobook.
   2006

  "The March" by E.L. Doctorow
   2005

 "War Trash" by Ha Jin
2004

 "The Early Stories, 1953-1975" by John Updike
   2002

 "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett Also available as an eBook.
2001

  "The Human Stain" by Philip Roth Also available in Large Print.
   2000

  "Waiting" by Ha Jin Also available in Large Print and as an eBook.
   1999

 "The Hours" by Michael Cunningham
   1997

  "Women in their Beds" by Gina Berriault
1996

 "Independence Day" by Richard Ford Available as an eAudiobook through RBDigital.
1995

 "Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson Available as an audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook.
   1993

 "Postcards" by E. Annie Proulx

And the 2018 winner is...

 "Improvement" by Joan Silber 

 



Sources: The Nobel Prize in Literature 1949 Notes on People; New York Writer Getting PEN/Faulkner Award Novelist Mary Lee Settle; Founded PEN/Faulkner Award PEN/Faulkner PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction PEN International William Faulkner Foundation
Posted by [email protected]  On May 17, 2018 at 2:10 PM
  

Baseball diamond title photo
Post by Zach S.

With opening day over and the warm days of spring setting in, it’s time to get ready for a season filled with all things baseball! Whether you’re a lifetime fan who can name batting averages from memory or simply enjoy the foot long hot dogs at a game, we can all enjoy these fun baseball crafts, recipes and movies together.

We’ll start things off with my personal favorite – a baseball piñata! While it is a little more involved, it will certainly be the hit of your party. This craft comes from Easy Crafts For Kids.

Materials:Baseball pinata
• Bowl
• Water
• Newspaper
• White Paint
• Red Marker
• Balloon
• Pin
• Glue
• Scissors
• Candy (wrapped)

Step 1:
Blow up a balloon. Make it about the size of a softball.
Cut out strips of newspaper. You want these strips to be about an inch width and a few inches long.
Mix your paper mache mixture - 3/4 glue 1/4 water.

Step 2:
Dip a piece of newspaper in the glue mixture, coating it completely. Take off the excess with your fingers.
Cover your balloon in moistened pieces of newspaper.
Make sure to leave a small area around the balloon end. This will allow you to pop the balloon and fill it with candy.

Step 3:
Once the balloon is covered, place it in the sink to dry.
Once it is partially dry add another layer of paper. This time use white paper so it is easier to paint the ball afterwards.
This can take up to 24 hours depending on your region and temperatures.

Step 4:
Once dry fill it with candy and cover the hole up with some white paper (covered in your glue mixture). Allow to dry.
Paint the balloon white. Allow to dry.

Step 5:
Draw on stitching with a red marker. This will be one large oval around the baseball - adding V marks around it.

************************************

I think it’s time for a snack to refuel after that project. How about baseball rice-krispie treats? This recipe comes to us from Domestically Speaking.

Rice krispie baseballs
1. Make a batch of classic rice krispie treats but instead of putting them in a pan, put them in a cookie sheet with sides. This will make the rice krispie treats thinner for cutting. 

2. Let them set up for about 30 minutes before using a round cookie cutter.

3. Melt some white chocolate in a glass pie pan.

4. Dip one side into the white chocolate.

5. Use a spoon to add some more white chocolate to the dipped tops and then smooth them with an off-set spatula.

6. Once they set up (about 30 minutes) use a red gel cake decorating tube to make the baseball stitching.
 
************************************
 
Now that we’re refueled and full of sugar, let’s get one more craft in before we’re done. Fingerprint baseballs! This craft comes from Crafty Morning and is a great one for the younger kids.
Fingerprint baseball
Materials:

Fingerprint baseball• White paper
• Red washable paint
• Scissors
• Red Marker

1. Start by drawing a circle onto a piece of paper and having the kids cut it out.

2. Take a red marker and draw two curved lines.

3. Have the kids dip their pointer finger in the red washable paint and make laces on the baseball. Let it dry and you’re done!
 



************************************
Top your busy day off with a baseball movie night! Check out this list of baseball themed movies from 3 Boys and a Dog. Stop into your Aurora Public Library to check out some of the movies below on DVD.


 "The Perfect Game"
DVD @ APL
 DVD cover  "Million Dollar Arm"   DVD cover
 "The Sandlot"
DVD @ APL
 DVD cover "A Mile in His Shoes"
 DVD cover
 "Rookie of the Year"
DVD @ APL
 DVD cover "Season of Miracles"
DVD @ APL
 DVD cover
"The Final Season"  DVD cover "Angels in the Outfield"
DVD @ APL
 DVD cover
"Everyone's Hero"

 DVD cover



Hopefully these activities help you get your baseball season off to a great start! For any baseball books, movies, or other resources, stop into your Aurora Public Library branch and chat with us!

Posted by [email protected]  On Apr 11, 2018 at 8:42 AM
  

April New Releases Banner
Post by Kristin S.

It's the start of April which means it's time for some new releases and bestsellers! Whether you are out in the sunshine enjoying the tulips or huddled inside from a sudden day of snow or rain, spring into a new book or DVD! (pun intended)

Books that recently premiered on the New York Times Bestseller List:

New Fiction

 

Accidental Heroes by Danielle Steel

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

Strangers pull together to avert a disaster involving two flights from New York to San Francisco.

 

The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Detectives Havers and Lynley investigate the death of a deacon accused of a serious crime in a historic medieval town in England.

 

The Rising Sea by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A scientific team searches the globe for the threat causing sea levels to rise at an alarming rate.

 

The Bishop's Pawn by Steve Berry

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Cotton Malone discovers revelations about the day the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

 

The Escape Artist by Brad Meltzer

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

Nola Brown, a painter and trained soldier, discovers a military secret that traces back to Harry Houdini.

 

The Temptation of Forgiveness by Donna Leon

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

The 27th book in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series.

 

Covert Game by Christine Feehan

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

Gino Mazza must save an artificial intelligence expert who tampered with a crime lord's computer network.

 

Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

An incident in her Manhattan neighborhood forces Nora Nolan to reckon with aspects of her life.

 

Fifty Fifty by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Detective Harriet Blue tries to clear her brother's name and save a small Australian town from being massacred.

 

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

After waking up next to a dead man in a hotel room in Dubai, a binge drinker pieces together the previous night's events.

 

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The fifth book in the Alpha and Omega series. Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham answer a call of distress.

 

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A mute janitor working in an aerospace research center develops a relationship with an amphibious man from the Amazon.

 

Caribbean Rim by Randy Wayne White

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print]

The 25th book in the Doc Ford series. The marine biologist searches for a state agency official and rare Spanish coins.

 

The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C. Rosenberg

Borrow: [Print]

A Secret Service agent and a Russian lawyer cross paths as a nuclear war threatens.

 

Raspberry Danish Murder by Joanne Fluke

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

After her husband disappears, Hannah Swensen Barton searches for a killer while trying to fulfill holiday baking orders.

 

The Hush by John Hart

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Johnny Merrimon fights to keep the 6,000 acres of once-sacred land in North Carolina he inherited.

 

Agent in Place by Mark Greaney

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

The seventh book in the Gray Man series. Court Gentry gets the chance to end a brutal dictatorship.


New Nonfiction

 

Russian Roulette by Michael Isikoff and David Corn

Borrow: [Print

Details of the 2016 presidential election, with an emphasis on Russia's possible involvement.

 

Secret Empires by Peter Schweizer

Borrow: [Print]

The author of “Clinton Cash” describes what some politicians might do to enrich themselves while in office.

 

In the Shadow of Statues by Mitch Landrieu

Borrow: [Print] [eBook

A memoir by the mayor who called for the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans.

 

The Triumph of Christianity by Bart D. Ehrman

Borrow: [Print]

The religious studies professor explores how a new religion came to influence Western society.

 

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The late true-crime journalist's search for the serial murderer and rapist known as "the Golden State Killer."

 

Educated by Tara Westover

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The daughter of survivalists, who is kept out of school, educates herself enough to leave home for university.

 

The Age of Eisenhower by William I. Hitchcock

Borrow: [Print]

A history of the 34th president of the United States, who faced bitter partisanship.

 

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

An insider look at the Bachelor franchise and its effect on society.

 

Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Borrow: [Print]

A memoir by the musical theater composer and impresario, whose works include “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats” and “Evita.”

 

The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

The physicist describes how humans might develop civilization in outer space and possibly become immortal.

 

Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

An argument for taking on risk.

 

Time Pieces by John Banville

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

A memoir based on the author's experiences and imaginings of Dublin.

 

All the Pieces Matter by Jonathan Abrams

Borrow: [Print]

An oral history of the creation and development of the series "The Wire."

   

Common Good by Robert B. Reich

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A case for strengthening public morality in the United States. 

 DVDs - New Arrivals:

 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Borrow: [DVD]

The Star Wars saga continues in The Last Jedi as the heroes and galactic legends go on an epic adventure unlocking mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

 

The Shape of Water

Borrow: [DVD]

From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes an otherworldly fairy tale set in 1960s America where a woman's life is changed forever after she discovers a secret experiment.

 

Justice League

Borrow: [DVD]

Inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne joins forces with his new ally, Diana Prince, and goes to battle with a greater enemy.

 

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Borrow: [DVD]

In this fun comedic adventure, 4 teens get sucked into the video game world of Jumanji and have to finish the dangerous game to escape.

 

I, Tonya

Borrow: [DVD]

Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a dark comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history.

 

Ferdinand

Borrow: [DVD]

After he's mistaken as a dangerous beast and torn from his home, a peace-loving bull named Ferdinand rallies a misfit team of friends for an epic adventure to return to his family.

 

Acts of Violence

Borrow: [DVD]

Detective Avery (Bruce Willis) uncovers a human-trafficking syndicate and fights the corrupt bureaucracy that has been protecting it.

 

Downsizing

Borrow: [DVD]

When scientists find a way to shrink humans to five inches tall, Paul and his wife decide to get small and live large in a luxurious downsized community. With endless possibilities in the tiny world, Paul realizes we are meant for something bigger.

 

Pitch Perfect 3

Borrow: [DVD]

Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, all the Bellas return in the final chapter in the beloved series.

 

Small Town Crime

Borrow: [DVD]

John Hawkes leads an all-star cast in this gritty, darkly comic thriller about a disgraced ex-cop taking one last shot at redemption by trying to solve a murder case.

 

DVDs - Coming Soon: 

 

The Greatest Showman

Borrow: [DVD]*

Hugh Jackman stars in this bold and original musical - inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum - celebrating the birth of show business and dreams coming to life.

 

The Post

Borrow: [DVD]*

Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep team for the first time in this exhilarating true story about how the Washington Post exposed a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades.

 

Paddington 2

Borrow: [DVD]*

Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt's 100th birthday. Hilarity ensues when the gift is stolen.

 

Sweet Virginia

Borrow: [DVD]*

The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal stars in this neo-noir crime thriller where hitman and troubled small-town motel owner collide in an unsettling tale of sex and violence.

 

All the Money in the World

Borrow: [DVD]*

After the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, in a race against time, his mother works to convince his wealthy grandfather to pay the ransom. Inspired by historical events. Certain scenes, characters and dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.

 

12 Strong

Borrow: [DVD]*

Weeks after 9/11, U.S. Special Forces go to Afghanistan ordered to take the city of Mazar Sharif. To survive, the U.S. must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghan horse soldiers

 

Hostiles

Borrow: [DVD]*

In 1892, a legendary Army captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory.

 

Forever My Girl

Borrow: [DVD]*

A country music super-star returns to his hometown after leaving his love behind 8 years ago.

 

The Commuter

Borrow: [DVD]*

Liam Neeson stars as a man who gets caught up in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute home and works against the clock to stop a deadly attack to save the lives of his fellow train passengers.

 

Father Figures

Borrow: [DVD]*

Upon learning that their mother has been lying to them for years about their allegedly deceased father, two fraternal twin brothers hit the road in order to find him.

 

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Borrow: [DVD]*

In the epic Maze Runner conclusion, Thomas leads the Gladers on their final mission - they must break into the legendary Last City, which turns out to be the deadliest maze of all!

 

Proud Mary

Borrow: [DVD]*

Mary is a hit woman working for an organized crime family, whose life is turned around when she meets a boy during a professional hit.

 

Den of Thieves

Borrow: [DVD]*

A gritty Los Angeles crime saga which follows the intersecting and often personally connected lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank of downtown Los Angeles.

 

Beast of Burden

Borrow: [DVD]*

Pilot Sean Haggerty (Daniel Radcliffe) must deliver cocaine across the US-Mexico border for his final run as a smuggler to save his wife

 *Caution: Once DVDs are released, the links above may stop working. Please visit our catalog at AuroraLibrary.org to find them, if inactive. 

Sources: The New York Times, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, Goodreads, EarlyWord, Novelist, DVDs Release Date

Posted by [email protected]  On Apr 04, 2018 at 3:10 PM
  

March new releases banner

Post by Kristin S.

Spring is almost upon us, which means it's time to head outside with a new book to work on that sun tan or hunker down at night during a storm with a great movie. Check out the recent bestsellers and newly released DVDs below. Stop in to your Aurora Public Library to pick up your copy or read and watch online!

Books that recently premiered on the New York Times Bestseller List:

New Fiction

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A former prisoner of war returns from Vietnam and moves his family to Alaska, where they face tough conditions.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A newlywed couple's relationship is tested when the husband is sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Still Me by Jojo Moyes

Borrow: [Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Louisa Clark moves to New York and is torn between high society and the life she enjoys at a vintage clothing store.

Look for Me by Lisa Gardner

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren teams up with a torture survivor to find a missing teenager whose family members were gunned down.

Night Moves by Jonathan Kellerman

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Homicide detective Milo Sturgis enlists the psychologist Alex Delaware to help solve a John Doe case.

Dark in Death by J. D. Robb

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

Lieutenant Eve Dallas must find a killer inspired by police thrillers before another victim is murdered.

Fall from Grace by Danielle Steel

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]

A widow left out of her husband's will tries to make a new life as a fashion designer.

The Kremlin's Candidate by Jason Matthews

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A counterintelligence chief and her lover, who is a C.I.A. agent, learn of Vladimir Putin’s plan to assassinate a United States official.

City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A New York City detective and an F.B.I. special agent track down a killer.

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Flavia de Luce, a young British sleuth, gets involved in solving a murder after experiencing a family tragedy.

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A C.I.A. analyst's job and family are threatened when she discovers Russian agents in the United States.

Munich by Robert Harris

Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

Two former friends who attended Oxford accompany Hitler and Neville Chamberlain to a meeting in 1938 and are forced to make a consequential decision.

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

The fourth book of the Red Rising Saga. A hero of the revolution finds his fate tied up with others as the war continues.


New Nonfiction

Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A case for using reason, science and humanism to counter pessimistic views of Western civilization.

All-American Murder by James Patterson and Alex Abramovich with Mike Harvkey

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

The story of Aaron Hernandez, the New England Patriots tight end convicted of first-degree murder.

Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler

Borrow: [Print]

A divinity school professor examines her tacit beliefs when she learns she has colon cancer.

Directorate S by Steve Coll

Borrow: [Print]

How the United States failed to understand a secret wing of a Pakistani intelligence agency and doomed two wars.

Lost Connections by Johann Hari

Borrow: [Print]

The journalist describes nine causes of depression and anxiety, and offers potential solutions.

How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

Borrow: [Print]

The decline of democracies in Europe and Latin America and ways to avoid authoritarianism.

Trumpocracy by David Frum

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A former speechwriter for George W. Bush argues how America might become an illiberal democracy.

The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú

Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]

A memoir by a former U.S. Border Patrol agent who is the grandson of a Mexican immigrant.

Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman

Borrow: [Print]

A history of Israel’s targeted assassination programs, with accounts from current and former members of the Israeli government.

Brave by Rose McGowan

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

The Hollywood actress details growing up in a cult and the traumas of the entertainment industry.

The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers

Borrow: [Print] [eAudiobook]

A Yemeni-American doorman travels to a civil war-engulfed Yemen in the hopes of restoring a nearly lost art of coffee cultivation.

Jackie, Janet & Lee by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

A biography of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; her mother, Janet Lee Auchincloss; and her sister Lee Radziwill.

It's Even Worse Than You Think by David Cay Johnston

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist describes how he believes the scope of the Trump presidency differs from all the others.

Happiness is a Choice you Make by John Leland

Borrow: [Print]

Wisdom and stories from six New Yorkers age 85 and older that challenge notions of aging.

Together We Rise by Women's March Organizers and Conde Nast

Borrow: [Print]

Photographs and profiles of the organizers and participants of the 2017 Women’s March.

The Square and the Tower by Niall Fergusen

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

The historian uses network theory to understand the past and the present.

When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Kahn-Cullors and asha bandele

Borrow: [Print] [eBook]

Reflections on love, justice and humanity from a founder of Black Lives Matter.

 

 DVD New Releases (Dec-Jan):

Thor: Ragnarok

Borrow: [DVD]

Thor must race against time to stop Ragnarok - the destruction of his world and the end of Asgardian civilization at the hands of the ruthless Hela.

Daddy's Home 2

Borrow: [DVD]

When it comes to raising their kids, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) finally have this co-parenting thing down. That is, until their dads come to town, putting their newfound partnership to the ultimate test in this hilarious comedy.

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Borrow: [DVD]

The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other classic characters from A Christmas Carol.

Same Kind of Different as Me

Borrow: [DVD]

The inspiring story of an international art dealer who must befriend a dangerous homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage, a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the most remarkable journey of their lives.

The Star

Borrow: [DVD]

Bo, a brave donkey, and all his new hilarious animal friends go on the adventure of their dreams filled with lots of laughter.

The Disaster Artist

Borrow: [DVD]

The true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau (James Franco); a celebration of friendship and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Based on the best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy's cult-classic disasterpiece The Room.

Molly's Game

Borrow: [DVD]

Molly's Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.

The Phantom Thread

Borrow: [DVD]

Set in the glamour of 1950's London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) meets Alma and finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love.

Call Me by Your Name

Borrow: [DVD]

Amid the summer splendor of 1980's Italy, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire that will alter their lives forever.

Coco

Borrow: [DVD]

In DisneyPixar's extraordinary adventure, a boy who dreams of becoming a great musician embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries behind his ancestor's stories and traditions.

Battle of the Sexes

Borrow: [DVD]

The true story of the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs.

The Darkest Hour

Borrow: [DVD]

As Hitler's forces near the United Kingdom, it is up to Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) to decide between negotiating peace or fighting against impossible odds.

Lady Bird

Borrow: [DVD]

A warm, affecting comedy about a high school senior (Saoirse Ronan) who must navigate a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother over the course of her eventful and poignant senior year of high school.

 

Sources: The New York Times, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, Goodreads, EarlyWord, Novelist

Posted by [email protected]  On Mar 13, 2018 at 10:09 AM
  
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