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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

And the Oscar Goes To........


On the morning of January 24 in Los Angeles the nominees were announced for the 84th annual Academy Awards. Among those honored were the following movies in Merrick Library's DVD collection:

"Moneyball" - Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Adapted Screenplay

"Warrior" - Best Actor (Nick Nolte)

"Beginners" - Best Actor (Christopher Plummer)

"The Help" - Best Picture, Best Actress (Viola Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer)

"Bridesmaids" - Best Supporting Actress (Jessica McCarthy) and Best Original Screenplay

"Kung Fu Panda 2 - Best Animated Feature Film

"Rango" - Best Animated Feature Film

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" - Best Art Direction, Best Makeup and Best Visual Effect

"Rio" - Best Original Song (Real in Rio)

"Midnight in Paris" - Best Picture, Best Director (Woody Allen), Best Art Direction and Best Original Screenplay

"The Tree of Life" - Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Director (Terrence Malick)

"Jane Eyre" - Best Costume Design

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" - Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects

"Real Steel" - Best Visual Effects

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" - Best Visual Effects

"The Ides of March" - Best Adapted Screenplay

Monday, January 23, 2012

Author Signing @ Book Revue


Scott Starkey

Saturday, January 28th, 2012, 4pm

Author Scott Starkey will be here speaking and signing his new novel for kids ages 8-12, How to Beat a Bully Without Really Trying.

When luck gives a new kid a false reputation as a tough guy, can he find the strength to live up to his image?

Rodney Rathbone is a self-admitted coward. Things scare him, and he can’t help it. So naturally he’s terrified when he moves to a new town and the bully is ready to pounce. But just as Rodney is about to flee, a baseball flies in from out of nowhere and knocks out the bully. Now everyone thinks Rodney’s invincible—when really he feels just the opposite. Can he figure out to live up to his new reputation and make
friends along the way?

Told with warmth and heart, this debut novel from a middle-school teacher that will speak to the hidden insecurities—and strengths—of every middle-grade reader.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Are You A Fan of Downton Abbey??



If you are a fan of Downton Abbey, you might want to try these titles.......



"Birdsong" by Sebastian Faulks


"Howard's End" by E.M. Forster


"The Missing of the Somme" by Geoff Dyer


"The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy" by David Cannadine




Thursday, January 19, 2012

New DVD Arrivals!





Just Out:
"Dolphin Tale" - based on the true story of efforts to save a critically injured dolphin - stars Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick, Jr.

Out January 24:
"50/50" - how one man perseveres to keep a positive attitude upon hearing he has cancer - stars Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Seth Rogen and Angelica Huston

"Final Destination 5" - can Sam keep his premonition of a fatal bridge collapse from becoming real? - stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell and Miles Fisher

"Paranormal Activity 3" - what's in their house is more than something that bumps in the night - stars Lauren Bittner and Molly Ephraim

"Real Steel" - it might take a robot boxer to pay off debt and reunite a near-future family - stars Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lily

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Browse our Golden Collection....




On January 15 the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards were presented live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The following winners can be found in Merrick Library's DVD collection:

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Best Motion Picture Screenplay: Woody Allen (Midnight In Paris)
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Best Actress in a Television Miniseries: Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
Best Television Miniseries: Downton Abbey

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement to actor Morgan Freeman. The 74-year old Mr. Freeman received the Award from actress Helen Mirren, his co-star in the recent movie Red (available in the Merrick collection), and actor Sidney Poitier who was given the DeMille Award in 1982.
In addition to Red, Merrick Library has the following movies on DVD featuring the talents of Morgan Freeman:

10 Items Or Less
The Big Bounce
Bopha!
Bruce Almighty
The Bucket List
The Contract
The Dark Knight
Dolphin Tale
Driving Miss Daisy
Edison Force
Evan Almighty
Gone Baby Gone
Invictus
Lucky Number Slevin
March Of The Penguins
Million Dollar Baby
The Shawshank Redemption
An Unfinished Life
Unforgiven
Wanted

New DVDs!!


"Courageous" - will the faith of four police officers help them to effectively deal with the aftermath of a major tragedy? - stars Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel and Eleanor Brown

"The Ides of March" - political drama of scandals and major primaries starring and directed by George Clooney with Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New Audiobook Arrivals!

Within the pages of very rare books some centuries old lie the secrets of the paranormal. Abby Radwell's unusual psychic talent has made her an expert in such volumes-and sometimes taken her into dangerous territory. After a deadly incident in the private library of an obsessive collector, Abby receives a blackmail threat, and rumors swirl that an old alchemical text known as The Key has reappeared on the black market. Convinced that she needs an investigator who can also play bodyguard, she hires Sam Coppersmith, a specialist in paranormal crystals and amber-"hot rocks." Passion flares immediately between them, but neither entirely trusts the other. When it comes to dealing with a killer who has paranormal abilities, and a blackmailer who will stop at nothing to obtain an ancient alchemical code, no one is safe.



Once the center of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse, the 1800s Gilded Age palace known as the Pendleton, has been re-christened in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building. But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, and elevators plunge into unknown depths.



Pak Jun Do is the haunted son of a lost mother—a singer “stolen” to Pyongyang—and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. There the boy is given his first taste of power, picking which orphans eat first and which will be lent out for manual labor. Recognized for his loyalty and keen instincts, Jun Do comes to the attention of superiors in the state, rises in the ranks, and starts on a road from which there will be no return.

Considering himself “a humble citizen of the greatest nation in the world,” Jun Do becomes a professional kidnapper who must navigate the shifting rules, arbitrary violence, and baffling demands of his Korean overlords in order to stay alive. Driven to the absolute limit of what any human being could endure, he boldly takes on the treacherous role of rival to Kim Jong Il in an attempt to save the woman he loves, Sun Moon, a legendary actress “so pure, she didn't know what starving people looked like.”Part breathless thriller, part story of innocence lost, part story of romantic love, The Orphan Master's Son is also a riveting portrait of a world heretofore hidden from view: a North Korea rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love. A towering literary achievement, The Orphan Master's Son ushers Adam Johnson into the small group of today's greatest writers.


It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy's magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth's sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy's sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball. Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth's disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery.


Sometimes we can under-estimated the power of a simple word. For best selling author Debbie Macomber, focusing on a single word a year has helped her change her life. When she chose to focus her life on the word 'balance,' she was able to advance her writing and move up in the literary world. Here, she explains how choosing words like 'purpose' or 'believe' can help you figure out what's really important in your life, and how it can help you to achieve your goals.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

And The Winner IS......


On January 11 CBS presented the 2012 People's Choice Awards live from the Los Angeles.

The following is a list of motion picture award winners that can be found in Merrick Library's DVD collection:

Favorite Movie, Favorite Action Movie, Favorite Book Adaptation, Favorite Ensemble Movie Cast: Harry Pottter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II

Favorite Movie Actor, Favorite Animated Voice: Johnny Depp (The Tourist, Rango)

Favorite Movie Actress, Favorite Comedic Movie Actress: Emma Stone (The Help)

Favorite Movie Icon: Morgan Freeman (Invictus, Red)

Favorite Action Movie Star: Hugh Jackman (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

Favorite Drama Movie: Water For Elephants

Favorite Comedic Movie Actor: Adam Sandler (Just Go With It)

Favorite Movie Star Under 25: Chloe Grace Moretz (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kick-Ass)

Favorite Movie Superhero: Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)

The following People's Choice music Award winners can be found in Merrick's compact disc collection:

Favorite Male Artist: Bruno Mars (Doo-Wops and Hooligans)

Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Song of the Year ("E.T."), Favorite Tour Headliner - Katy Perry (Teenage Dream)

Favorite Album of the Year: Born This Way (Lady Gaga)

Favorite Pop Artist: Demi Lovato (Unbroken)

Favorite Hip-Hop Artist: Eninem (Loud, Recovery)

Favorite R&B Artist: Rihanna (Talk That Talk)

Favorite Band: Maroon 5 (Hands All Over)

Favorite Country Artist: Taylor Swift (Speak Now)
Nokia

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

New DVD!


"What's Your Number" - Ally Darling must find out if one of nineteen ex-boyfriends had turned into her dream man - stars Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Blythe Danner and Ed Begley, Jr.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Firday Films @ the Library!



Friday Films - This Friday January 13th, the Merrick Library will be showing The Help.

The Help. Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer.



Refreshments will be served.
Location: Multipurpose Room A

Author Signing



Paul Wortman


Thursday, January 12th, 2012, 7pm @ Book Revue


Local author Paul Wortman, PhD, discusses his new book, Think Jung!How I Found Meaning in My Life: A Memoir.


This book contains a series of memoirs illustrating the application ofCarl Jung's concepts to understanding the meaning of major events inthe author's life. The concepts are explained as they are applied tosignificant experiences. In addition, major dreams are presented andanalyzed from a Jungian perspective along with illustrative poems.Readers should be able to use this information in examining andfinding meaning in their own lives.
Paul M. Wortman was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. Hegraduated from Yale University and then received a Ph.D. in psychologyfrom Carnegie-Mellon University. He has taught at Duke andNorthwestern Universities, The University of Michigan--Ann Arbor, andStony Brook University (SBU) where he is an Emeritus Professor. Hecurrently teaches courses on Jungian psychology in the Osher LifelongLearning Institute at SBU.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

New DVD Arrivals!!



Out January 10:

"Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season" - the multi-award winning HBO series about life and corruption in 1920s Atlantic City - stars Steve Buscemi, Kelly MacDonald and Michael Pitt

"Killer Elite" - a suspense thriller that literally takes you around the world! - stars Jason Stratham, Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro

"Moneyball" - the true story of how a winning baseball team was put together WITHOUT a huge budget - based on the bestseller by Michael Lewis and starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill

Friday, January 6, 2012

Books on the Big Screen!!


"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" Novel by Jonathan Franzen

A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Book Signing


Mark Ribowsky

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, 7pm @ Book Revue
Author Mark Ribowsky will speak and sign his book, Howard Cosell: The Man, the Myth, and the Transformation of American Sports. A deeply misunderstood sports legend, once the most hated and lovedman in America, gets his due in this absorbing, revelatory biography.


Howard Cosell was one of the most recognizable and controversialfigures in American sports history. His colorful bombast, fearlessreporting, and courageous stance on civil rights soon captured theattention of listeners everywhere. No mere jock turned "pretty-boy"broadcaster, the Brooklyn-born Cosell began as a lawyer beforebecoming a radio commentator. "Telling it like it is," he coverednearly every major sports story for three decades, from the travailsof Muhammad Ali to the tragedy at Munich. Featuring a sprawling castof athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Sonny Liston, Don Meredith, andJoe Namath, Howard Cosell also re-creates the behind the-scenes storyof that American institution, Monday Night Football. With more than forty interviews, Mark Ribowsky presents Cosell's life as part of an American panorama, examining racism, anti-Semitism, and alcoholism,among other sensitive themes. Cosell's endless complexities arebrilliantly explored in this haunting work that reveals as much about the explosive commercialization of sports as it does about amuch-neglected media giant.

New Audiobook Arrivals


Henry Skrimshander is a rising baseball star at Wetish College whose life goes off course when he throws a wayward ball. Henry starts to doubt himself, even as team captain Mike Schwartz pushes Henry's career. Meanwhile, Henry's gay roommate pursues a risky affair; college president Guert Affenlight falls hopelessly in love; and Guert's daughter, Pella, returns to campus after ending a disastrous marriage.




After a shocking loss, Stone Barrington is at loose ends, unsure if he wants to stay in New York and continue his work as a partner at Woodman & Weld. It comes as a welcome relief when he's summoned to Washington, D.C., by President Will Lee. The president has a special operation that calls for Stone's unique skill set, and it's a mission that will reunite him with his former partner in crime and in bed, Holly Barker.




Launching a private investigation when their mentor dies under suspicious circumstances, medical students Pia Grazdani and George Wilson uncover a sinister operation through which private life insurance policies are being manipulated to allow investors to benefit from the deaths of others.






Coming out of retirement to run for president, Jack Ryan finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes attack from his opponent as his close comrade, John Clark, is the subject of treacherous charges, at the same time Jack Ryan, Jr. and other members of Campus struggle to stop terrorists.








Lacking the money to open a bed and breakfast in her parents' summer house in Michigan, former magazine editor Kate takes a questionable undercover job from a brewery owner who wants to find out who has been sabotaging his company, a situation that is compromised by Kate's distaste for beer and her crush on her employer.




Bertie Fisher and her older sister, Mabel, have no one but each other. Until a misunderstanding puts them at odds. What happens when nothing turns out as you planned? From the Depression through World War II and Vietnam, and smaller events both tragic and joyful, Bertie and Mabel forge unexpected identities and raise daughters - and sisters - of their own, learning that love and betrayal are even more complicated than they seem.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Conversation Starters: 2011's Top 5 Book Club Picks



Conversation Starters: 2011's Top 5 Book Club Picks

According to NPR Books, people who join book clubs usually do like to read, and they are always looking for that perfect book that will please everyone or, at the very least, get both the very rigorous and the somewhat frivolous on the same page. Here are five fascinating books that will be sure to catalyze serious and lively conversation.

State of Wonder
by Ann Patchett

The Sense Of An Ending
by Julian Barnes

We The Animals
by Justin Torres

Caleb's Crossing
by Geraldine Brooks

The Sojourn
by Andrew Krivak