The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Angie and Cassie have been good friends and shared secrets and wishes for years. Now they are both looking for the wonderful man to complete their dreams of family. Angie even applied to a matchmaker. She was rejected. Cassie learned about it and decided to give Dr. Simon Dodson a chance to find the right match for her. Was she surprised at how cold and rude he was in that first interview! Actually, he was always like that. But the more he was business like, the more determined Cassie was to ask personal questions and find the real Simon inside that analytical mind. Before meeting the perfect match Simon asked her to complete three tasks. Each one was intended to help him know for sure that she would meet the desires of another client. One of those assignments turned into disaster with a wardrobe malfunction. The others proved to be unexpected experiences, also. Cassie fortunately had the funds to spend on this thirty thousand dollar experiment. But it would be worth it if Simon could find the man to help her have The Perfect Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Twelve

Merry Christmas!

And since it's Christmas, we're offering 12 more movie recommendations!

1. Greatest Story Ever Told
2. Nightmare Before Christmas
3. Scrooged
4. The Bishop's Wife
   
5. Love Actually
6. Polar Express
7. Home Alone
8. The Ref
9. Charlie Brown Christmas
10. Home For the Holidays
11. The Christmas Letter
12. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Look for these, and all your favorite movies at the library.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Eleven

JOYEUX NOEL

Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar, this French film relates one of the Christmas Truces of World War I. Joyeux Noel is a reminder of the hopes and joys people everywhere hold in common, and to take a moment to remember those that serve far away from home this Christmas Eve.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services
Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Ten

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

This Rankin / Bass production was one of several animated puppet Christmas shows that played on TV in the 1960s and 1970s, and became a well loved classic. The Little Drummer Boy still holds up well, enchanting new generations of children with the wonderful puppets and beautiful message. Enjoy the true meaning of Christmas with this heartwarming video.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Nine

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION

While not to everyone's taste, if you enjoy the silly, or the antics of Chevy Chase, then this is probably the DVD you reach for this season. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation reunites the Griswolds, and hits all the disasters that can happen when relatives gather for the holidays.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Reserve your copy here.

Homewood Library Director, Deborah Fout, Cruises in the Homewood Christmas Parade 2009

Hello from Deborah Fout & Carolyn Crew!
Originally uploaded by HomewoodPix

The Homewood Public Library would like to thank Crown Nissan of Hoover, AL for the use of the fabulous 2010 Nissan Pathfinder in the Homewood Christmas Parade. The SUV was driven by Deborah Fout, Director, with Breanna Fout and Carolyn Crew tossing lots of candy to the people lining the parade route. With an unusual light dusting of snow on December 5th, the turn-out for the parade was good considering the cold and damp weather. Crown Nissan has provided an automobile for the library to use in two parades per year for over 12 years. Thank You Crown! Visit their website www.shopcrown.com or call them at 205.979.5420 or 800.844.5420.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Eight

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

Take Charles Dickens' classic and give it an update, Muppet style! Add Michael Caine to the mix, playing Scrooge, and The Muppet Christmas Carol is sure to please all ages.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by D.W. Intern
Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Seven

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

You can't watch TV this time of year without seeing this Christmas classic playing. It's a Wonderful Life takes this holiday to remind us of what's important in life.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by C.B. in Computer Services
Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Six

DIEHARD

Looking for something a little different in your Christmas movies? Well, Diehard certainly fits the bill. An action movie that takes place at Christmas, it made John McClaine reconsider the holiday trip, even to be with family.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services
Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Five

A CHRISTMAS STORY

This wonderful movie was made in 1983, but is a child's eye view of Christmas in the 1940s -- told with a child's blunt honesty. A Christmas Story was written by humorist Jean Sheperd, and he even narrates the story, as an adult looking back fondly, but clearly, at cherished events that every one can relate to. Your dad may never have won a "special prize," but I'll bet you've heard something like, "you'll shoot your eye out, kid."

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services
Reserve your copy here.

Homewood Cycle & Fitness is our Library Champion!

The Library Champion Award is given annually by the Jefferson County Public Library Association to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to libraries or librarianship in Jefferson County. Homewood Cycle & Fitness is a recipient of the Library Champion Award for 2009. The cycle shop was nominated by the Homewood Public Library and was honored at the annual Jefferson County Public Library Association (JCPLA) Christmas luncheon.

General Manager, Faris Malki, and wife, Ellie Jo, accepted the award for Homewood Cycle & Fitness. For the past four years, the cycle shop has donated a bicycle that is awarded to a lucky child who reads at least five books per week during the Summer Reading Program at the library. Because of this incentive and others like it, over 900 children are registered in Homewood Public Library's Summer Reading Program each year. We truly appreciate the Malkis and Homewood Cycle & Fitness for supporting the library and our community with this fantastic contribution!

Homewood Cycle & Fitness
2834 South 18th St.
Homewood, AL 35209
205.879.3244

Go by and visit them!

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Four

DR. SEUSS'
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!

With less than a week left, the Christmas Eve deadline is staring everyone in the face, and Present Buying Panic is starting to creep into lives everywhere. Before you get grumpy take a couple of hours and watch the Christmas classic, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas to give you a little perspective on the more commercial side of Christmas.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Three

WHITE CHRISTMAS

A big part of Christmas is the caroling, and today's recommendation will definitely get you in the mood for singing. White Christmas is a light hearted classic and you just can't go wrong with names like Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Irving Berlin and Michael Curtiz!

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day Two

ELF

Before Jon Favreau directed Iron Man, he hit box office gold with Will Farrell and Buddy the Elf. With an all star cast that includes James Caan, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner, as well as Andy Richter, Amy Sedaris, and Zooey Deschanel, the whole family can enjoy this humorous take on Christmas elves and family.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by L.J. in Circulation
Reserve your copy here.

12 Days of Christmas Joy -- Day One

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

Christmas is coming! And we'll be counting down the days with our favorite holiday videos. Starting with a classic favorite, Miracle on 34th Street. That question all children and parents face at some point is answered wonderfully in this timeless movie. It's been remade a couple of times, but nothing beats the 1947 original. It features one of Natalie Wood's first performances, and she shines as the little girl who wants to believe in Santa Claus. Maureen O'Hara plays her mother perfectly, and for generations Edmund Gwenn WAS Santa.

And remember, you can find all your favorite Christmas movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite Christmas movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

Facebook's New Privacy Settings Explained

Video explaining facebook's new account privacy settings.

CLICK HERE

Oh wow! Teen (Lego) Block Party

Oh wow!
Originally uploaded by HomewoodPix

Teens created Lego masterpieces at this Block Party. The library provided all the Lego blocks & snacks, & even had 2 prizes for the best Lego creations!

A Fatal Feast: a Murder, She Wrote Mystery by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

Jessica truly enjoys living in the small town Cabot Cove, Maine. She realizes just how small it is when everyone she meets comments on her writer's block or her trouble meeting her writing deadline. Her anticipation of the Thanksgiving celebration is heightened this year because her Scotland Yard friend will be visiting. Her guest list for the holiday grows by the moment as she plans a traditional Thanksgiving menu for George Sutherland to experience. All the motels and B & Bs are booked so Seth is host to the Inspector during his stay. Everyday in the mail Jessica receives a letter of the alphabet pasted on an otherwise blank sheet of paper. This really made Jessica wonder what was going on. Then Jessica and George happen on the body of one of her dinner guests. The murder weapon was the carving knife used by Jessica and George at the Thanksgiving charity meal. As Jessica's unfinished book awaits, she and George try to help Mort Metzger find out who killed Hubie and why. George's visit really wasn't relaxing.

Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft released its Office 2010 suite in beta in November, and is available for download at microsoft.com. Office 2010 will work with XP SP3, Vista, and Windows 7, with a 64 bit version available for Vista & Windows 7.

To match the ease of use and popularity of Google Docs, Microsoft will offer free online versions of Word, Power Point, Excel, and OneNote.

You can download the beta version here, with the final version made available in the first half of 2010.

--kb

Job Hunting at Your Local Library is Up

Yet another news story about how libraries are playing a huge roll to help people hunt for jobs during these hard economic times. Go to liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/12/07/on-the-job-carrollton-texas-library to see the video and read the article.

The Carrollton Public Library system in north Texas is highlighted in this video, but it could just as well have been almost any local library in Jefferson County.

Libraries and job hunting stats:

62% of libraries provide help for people looking for work online

66% say online job hunting is one of the most important services offered

70% say helping online job hunters is up this year

Books about resume writing and job interviewing are hot items and computer classes to brush up on skills are very popular.

Homewood Public Library offers FREE computer classes and if you'd like to learn more, visit our Training Lab webpage or contact Sandra Swindle @ 332-6632 or sswindle@bham.lib.al.us.

If you'd like to request a new/different computer class or other item or program, please fill out our Sound Off! Suggestion Form.

Turkey Shoot Movie Created by Teens @ HPL

Created by Justin Dobbs and Shannon Gragg for the Turkey Shoot Contest.
Thanks guys, great job!

One of the best video book ads (from the New Zealand Book Council)

May advertising awards and chocolate fish* rain down upon the clever people at Colenso BBDO for creating an ad for the New Zealand Book Council that manages to avoid the multitude of cliches available to do with books and reading, and just does something creative and original. ~from the Market Intelligence for Librarians website.

*the internationally recognised token of appreciation amongst librarians

Homewood Public Library Earns a National Four Star Rating!

We have earned a FOUR STAR RATING for library service in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. This system scrutinizes statistics that describe library service outputs, such as visits, circulation, public Internet computer usage, and program attendance. Read more about the survey here!

Homewood Public Library is one of only five libraries in Alabama to receive such an honor and one of only twelve in the Southeast. This four star rating follows the three star rating that we received in the last Library Journal survey. See Full Results here!

Read The Birmingham News article at al.com.

Thanks go to our hard working director and staff and to Homewood's city officials who continue to support the library even in a diffi­cult economy!! And to our patrons who visit us and use our services!! Thanks!!!

Sweetwater Run by Jan Watson

The people who lived in Eastern Kentucky in 1893 had a hard life and family and friends were everything to them. When Dimmert Whitt was convicted of stealing his own mule his wife was devastated. How could she exist without him for two years while he was in the prison? Cara had family that included Fairy Mae, Darcy, Ace and Dance and the little ones. While Dim was serving his sentence many unexpected things happened to him and to the folks who loved him most. Darcy's gift of sewing helped support them but she wanted her own family. Her dreams of meeting a man to love was uppermost in her mind and when she met Henry Thomas her course was set. What she did not know was that Henry had his sights on the Whitt family land. That little fact set the rest of the story in motion. The actions of Darcy and Henry made a huge difference in the lives of Cara, Dance, Ace, Darcy and Fairy Mae as well as all the children and Ace's parents. How could people who seemingly had so little be so caring and generous? Even Henry was about to find out.

What? It defies gravity?!?

What? It defies gravity?!?, originally uploaded by HomewoodPix.

Teens had a blast at our Mad Science program! Green slime? Yes!

tickled over her pumpkin!!!

tickled over her pumpkin!!!, originally uploaded by HomewoodPix.

Families carved their very own pumpkins at this special evening program. What fun!

Windows Updates Today

Windows Update

It's Patch Tuesday for Windows users. New security patches and updates released today. Make sure and run Windows update on your machine, especially new Windows 7 users, this will be the first patch release since the Windows 7 release.

--kb

All About Food!

In honor of Thanksgiving, the Teen Scene @ HPL is featuring books about food! Eat stuffing and read about getting stuffed at the same time. And (oh yeah) enjoy your holidays!


Food, Girls and Other Things I Can’t Have: A Novel by Allen Zadoff - 15-year-old Andrew Zansky, the second fattest student at his high school, joins the varsity football team to get the attention of a new girl.


Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith - When multiple murders in Austin, Texas, threaten the grand re-opening of her family's vampire-themed restaurant, 17-year-old, orphaned Quincie worries that her best friend-turned-love interest, Keiren, a werewolf-in-training, may be the prime suspect.


Big Fat Manifesto by Susan R. Vaught - Overweight, self-assured, high school senior Jamie Carcaterra writes in the school newspaper about her own attitude to being fat, her boyfriend's bariatric surgery, & her struggles to be taken seriously in a very thin world.


Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne - Overweight 13-year-old Celeste begins a campaign to lose weight in order to make sure she does not win the Miss HuskeyPeach modeling
challenge, in which her mother & aunt have entered her--against her wishes.


Big Mouth by Deborah Halverson - Sherman Thuff has his hopes set on being a competitive eater, but when his training regimen begins to seriously interfere with his enjoyment of life
& he even starts losing his friends, he decides to rearrange his priorities.


For other food picks, check out our Book Chat page for teens.

Fiction About Family

The Adult Services department is featuring books about Fiction about Family this month. Here's some of the suggested titles that are available.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt - A memoir about the author's childhood in New York and Limerick, Ireland. Living in a poor family, McCourt shares tales of humor and tragedy in a poignant, yet refreshing novel. This book won a Pulitzer Prize for autobiography and is often listed as a "Must Read Book" for teens and adults.

Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray - Ruth, a Minneapolis housewife, has the ultimate solution to de-stress - simply bake a cake! When her husband loses his job and her estranged father announces he must move in due to injury (much to the horror of her divorced live-in mother), Ruth's family must readjust to their new life, eating cake along the way. Recipes are included in this light and tasty read.

How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper - Doug Parker is still mourning his wife a year after her tragic plane crash, but at least his writing career gets a boost when he writes about his grief. Unfortunately, this brings many women to door hoping to comfort his sad soul. His twin sister Claire is determined to set him up on blind dates, and stepson Russ only wants to be adopted. Tropper combines comedy with sadness in this story about moving on.

No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuels - Jewel Sabatino left her home in Colorado at 17 and never looked back. But 21 years later when her best friend Michael becomes terminally ill, she brings him home to her parents with her 17-year-old son in tow, with the plan being to return to New York soon after. But as she becomes more involved with her family (and Michael's brother Malachi), she discovers there really is no place like home.

For more reading suggestions, visit our Author of the Month page.

Tasty Reads Book Club November Meeting

The adult book club Tasty Reads will discuss the book Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. We will meet in the Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom on November 10th from 6:30-8 to discuss the book and have some tasty snacks!

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society follows Juliet Ashton, a single 30-something writer living in London after WWII. She becomes friends with a community on the British island of Guernsey and learns more what life was like when the Germans occupied the island during the war, as well as learning more about herself. Written entirely in letter form, this highly acclaimed book is funny, touching, and true-to-life.

Reserve your copy in our catalog today, and come on out to discuss what you thought of it. For more information, call 332-6624.

We'd love to see you there!

Ms. Jackson & Ms. Heather participate in the Oreo DoubleStuff Race @ HPL

Oreo DoubleStuf Racing at HPL

Children's Books We Are Thankful For

The Seals On the Bus by Lenny Hort - You might know the song “The Wheels On the Bus,” but this book is about the SEALS on the bus! Join lots of animal friends for a wild bus ride full of all sorts of sounds. There are monkeys, tigers, geese, bunnies, and even more animals riding all around the town. What will the people do after the bus gets turned into a zoo? You'll have to read to find out! ~Ms. Dona

Bad Bears and a Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater - Irving and Muktuk are polar bears who live at the Bayonne New Jersey zoo with another bear names Roy. Irving and Muktuk are known to be bad bears, unlike Roy who has earned extra privileges for good behavior. One day they spy a dangerous looking bunny near their enclosure, so they hide. When Roy's brother Larry invites the bears to a party, he invites the bunny to the party too! What will the two bad bears do? ~Ms. Becky

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot It's a series! - Allie Finkle is a 9 year old girl whose adventures begin when her parents announce that the family will be moving. Being the new girl is not easy to say the least! She has to face a new school, new friends, new everything. It's even worse when another new girl comes along and takes over! Thank goodness Allie has been writing down rules to help her handle all of these difficult situations. ~Ms. Laurie

The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket It's an audiobook! - In this volume, Violet, Klaus and Sunny have been falsely accused of murder, and they are on the run. The Baudelaires have to hide among the House of Freaks at the mysterious Caligari Carnival. Though most carnivals can be fun, this one is dangerous! These three orphans must use their smarts and skills to keep out of the clutches of the evil Count Olaf and his band of henchmen. ~Ms. Candice

Bill and Pete to the Rescue by Tomie dePaola - Bill's cousin, Little Jane Allison Crocodile, has been kidnapped by the Big Bad Guy's Big Bad Brother from Louisiana! It is up to Bill and Pete to travel all the way from the Nile to New Orleans to save her. Too bad Pete gets captured by the Rich Lady who wants him for her very own pet. Lucky for them, a whole bunch of alligators live in the Louisiana Bayou, and they are happy to form a rescue mission. ~Ms. Heather

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor is the perfect town. All the homes have the latest amenities. Kids study hard. Everyone is happy. Even problem kids turn perfect within weeks due to the soothing environment that pipes music all over town. What they don't tell you is what is actually in that music - subliminal Messages that brainwash anyone who listens long enough.

Oscar knows better. His dad is the creator of Candor, and he knows the secrets of the Messages - including how to fight them. He even makes a tidy business on the side helping new kids escape before they are sucked in. Then he meets Nia, a new girl with a rebellious spirit. He's hoping he can bend his rules to have her stay, yet prevent the inevitable brainwashing. Can he manage it without giving into the Messages himself?

Candor balances a great writing style with an interesting plot that will keep you reading until the last page. Pam Bachorz does a wonderful job in painting this dystopic town in her first novel. Think The Stepford Wives for teens with a twist. Things are not always right when they are perfect.

Reserve your copy at the library today!

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Thirteen!

Happy Halloween!

And since it's Halloween, we're offering 13 movie recommendations!

1. Saw
2. House of 1000 Corpses
3. Dawn of the Dead
4. Friday the 13th
5. Hellraiser
6. The Omen
7. Killer Clowns from Outer Space
8. The Monster Squad
9. Bride of Frankenstein
10. The Abominable Dr. Phibes
    
11. Alien
12. The Thing (John Carpenter's remake)
13. Drag Me To Hell

Look for these, and all your favorite movies at the library.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Twelve

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

If you loved the old Universal horror movies with Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester, then you'll love Mel Brooks' affectionate spoof of those of films. Shot in black in white, the film faithfully recreates the sets and style of Universal's classic horror movies. Young Frankenstein boasts a brilliant comedic cast, and includes a cameo by Gene Hackman.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Eleven

NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Tim Burton's wonderfully original animated film has become a classic, for both Halloween and Christmas. Enter Jack Skellington's bizarre and humorous world as he tries to take over a more ... friendly holiday.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by B.F. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Ten

RINGU

As the video cover says, The Ring was a Hollywood remake of this Asian horror movie, and its success spawned a host of remakes and English language films directed by Asian directors. This movie is slower and not as effect laden as it's remake, but Ringu has a much higher creepy factor and disturbs on many more levels. You'll be jumpy, but not for typical horror movie reasons. And watch it with the subtitles, not dubbing. As always the acting really shines in the original language.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Nine

30 DAYS OF NIGHT

If you liked Twilight, and pretty vampires, then you probably won't care for today's selection. These vampires are messy eaters, to say the least, and decidedly inhuman. But the special effects that make them so are subtle and disturbing. And Ben Foster's performance as The Stranger, his reactions to the vampires' pending arrival, adds another layer of uneasiness to the creatures.

Barrow, Alaska, where a winter night lasts 30 days, serves as the 'haunted house' our heroes are trapped in. While the vampires stalk them like any iconic boogey man and provide the adrenaline startled jumps.

30 Days of Night is based on a graphic novel by the same name by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by B.F. and S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Eight

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

This is another movie that you shouldn't see alone. Not because it's full of frightening moments, but because watching it has become a social event where audience participation is required! And while Rocky Horror Picture Show gained its cult status and its interactive ritual with weekend midnight showings, it also has been a perennial favorite of Halloween parties and theater showings.

Theaters like The Alabama in downtown Birmingham. They'll be showing it on Thursday night, October 29. Plus, they'll have a contest for best Rocky Horror Picture Show costume before the movie. For more information visit the Alabama Theatre website.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by K.B. and S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Seven

SLEEPY HOLLOW

Today's pick might not be full of scares, but this modern retelling of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is certainly appropriate for Halloween. Like all of Tim Burton's movies, Sleepy Hollow is visually beautiful with his signature mix of quirky and macabre. From the lovely leads, Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, to the headless horseman, to the mysterious woods inhabited by spooky trees and crones, you'll find plenty to capture your attention. If that isn't enough, there's an all star cast that includes Christopher Walken, Christopher Lee, Jeffery Jones, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, and Ian McDiarmid, amongst others. And Burton's long time music collaborator, Danny Elfman, adds that final bit of magic with his fantastic score.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Six

28 DAYS LATER

Horror takes a slightly SF flavor in today's recommendation. But Director Danny Boyle is only replacing a supernatural explanation with a science fiction explanation. The scary parts are still based off our fears. The fear of viruses, of being alone, of losing those we love, of authoritative government, and of the terrible transformation engendered by anger. The last, of course, are the once human creatures who provide all the adrenaline scares of relentless chases and ambushes in the dark.

28 Days Later is also visually haunting. The image of a busy metropolis like London with completely empty streets is eerie and memorable. and Cillian Murphy, with his wide blue eyes, perfectly reflects the loneliness and confusion of a Rip Van Winkle, thrust into a post apocalyptic world. This isn't the type of horror movie that has you checking under the bed, but it does leave you thinking about other more real horrors.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by B.F. and S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Five

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

And we are back with another iconic bogeyman -- Freddy Krueger, played with great zest by Robert Englund. And featuring Johnny Depp in his first movie role.

Like all successful horror movies, Nightmare on Elm Street plays on our primal fears. In this case, nightmares and dying in our sleep. Director Wes Craven took full advantage of all the terrible impossibilities that occur in our dreams, to deliver a imaginative and visceral film. But he also filled it with plenty of gotcha moments that made you jump ... and scream! Definitely a movie you do NOT want to watch in the dark or alone.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by E.E. in Adult and R.B. in Circulation
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Four

SHAUN OF THE DEAD

In a change of pace, today's recommendation mixes a bit of humor with the scares. Actually, this British import is much more funny than scary -- unless you are terrified of zombies!

Bill Nighy, playing Shaun's hated step father, as usual, tries to steal every scene he is in. But the heart of the movie is Simon Pegg, playing Shaun, an everyday bloke who is just trying to rescue his ex-girlfriend and prove his love... in the midst of a city wide zombie attack. Shaun is joined on this quest by his slacker best friend, Ed, whose help is somewhat questionable, but sincere.

Shaun of the Dead is a fun satirical commentary on friendship, love, and society AND a good old fashion zombie movie. You can't beat that with ... a cricket bat.

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by H.M. in Adult and S.S. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Three

THE EXORCIST

No list of horror movies would be complete without this disturbing film. When it was first released, it was a true original, and nothing like it had been seen before. It scared some people right out of the theater and off of horror movies entirely. And even today, the movie still scares! Besides the physical horror of what happens to young Regan, played by Linda Blair, the audience is treated to a host of dark psychological and spiritual terrors. Or as one viewer said, "It's just freaky!"

The Exorcist was the first Oscar winning horror movie (for the screenplay), and also won the Golden Globes for Best Picture as well as acting awards. And it had a great cast and crew with Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Linda Blair and director William Friedkin. And who could ever forget Mike Oldfield's creepy Tubular Bells playing when the supernatural reared it's head?

And remember, you can find all your favorite horror movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by M.H. and D.G. in Circulation.
Reserve your copy here or here or here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day Two

THE SHINING

Apparently, there's alot of love for classic horror movies here at HPL. And why not? With creative talent like Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Stanley Kubrick, and based on a book by horror master Stephen King, there's lots to love! And while not as closely connected to the holiday, as yesterday's recommendation, The Shining is also set at the end of the year, when the nights are long ... and the chills aren't all caused by the cold weather!

So grab a blanky and some hot cocoa, and cuddle up on the couch with your dog and revisit the Torrance family as they spend the winter in a haunted hotel. Just make sure you know where your hubby is. Especially if his name is Jack!

And remember, you can find all your favorite scary movies at the library. Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Recommended by O.N. in Administration and K.B. in Computer Services.
Reserve your copy here.

13 Days of Halloween Horror -- Day One

HALLOWEEN

It's that time of year when the leaves are turning, if not falling, and the weather is starting to cool, and pumpkins start appearing on people's doorsteps. Yes, Halloween is around the corner, and you can find all your scary movies at the library! Check back here every day for staff recommendations of their favorite horror movies.

Of course, you can't talk about horror movies or Halloween without talking about John Carpenter's original Halloween. Staring Jamie Lee Curtis as the terrorized Laurie Strode, it made the white mask wearing Michael Myers into a movie icon. It's a classic, that made you jump in your seat when you first saw it years ago, and still does the same now. And unlike many movies today, it relies more on the psychological tension than the gore. And don't forget the score music also by John Carpenter that just ramps up the nerve wracking suspense even more.

Recommended by D.E. in Security and J.R. in Circulation.
Reserve your copy here.

Grace Will Lead Me Home by Katherine Valentine

Dorsetville is home to a variety of characters. It is a small town where people know one another, genuinely care about each other and help when there is need. Father James and Father Dennis are part of the community and people love them. But their housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, has had enough of their sloppy habits around the house. She quit suddenly and the search began for a new housekeeper for the rectory. The women who took the job were certainly unique and nothing like Mrs. Norris. Deputy Hill is well intentioned and wants to be a good lawman but he just has a way of making situations worse instead of better. What will he do next that the sheriff will need to fix? When an ex-convict moves into the rectory he is given another chance at life. The people in Dorsetville are much like the people in Jan Karon's Mitford. They are just folks living life as best they can while being themselves. Often things go better with God's grace.

THE SOLOIST DVD Review

I'll admit up front, that I picked up this movie for Robert Downey Jr. Yes, I'm one of those old school movie watchers who will follow actors into some really bad movies, because I enjoy watching them work. Fortunately, this was not a really bad movie -- far from it. The Soloist was different from what I expected, more of a message movie, but it still engaged me and held my interest for 117 minutes. Of course, this was mainly due to the two leads, Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Fox.

Robert Downey Jr. was a bit restrained here, playing a real person (LA Times reporter Steve Lopez) in a real situation (dealing with loneliness and his own fears), but with his usual mesmerizing energy. Jamie Fox continues to be a revelation, as he exercised his chameleon abilities to sink entirely and believably into the role of homeless musician Nathaniel Ayers. And both actors play beautifully off each other in this story of a reporter looking for a story and finding a person, damaged, but demanding to be seen as a human being. It's a story where most of the action is interior, within the characters -- as they both work toward regaining contact with the people around them and each other. The movie isn't escapist fare. There's nothing entertaining about a schizophrenic gifted musician surviving among the 60,000 homeless in Los Angeles. Nor does it have the usual neatly tied up happy ending. In the movie, friendship and compassion do not conquer all, but instead are celebrated for their existence in such an enervating environment. And yet it is not a depressing movie, just one that makes you think, feel and appreciate a bit more.

Reserve your copy of the DVD.
Reserve your copy of the book by Steve Lopez this movie is based upon
Reserve your copy of the audio book by Steve Lopez this movie is based upon

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft has just released a free antivirus/malware package for Windows users called Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/.

Also visit the Microsoft Malware Protection Center for definition info, security news, and safety tips at http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/.

--kb

The Digital Photography Book 1: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’! by Scott Kelby

   

As a new owner of a Nikon D90, I’m very anxious to learn everything I can about photography and my new camera. I’ve messed around a little bit with photography and a lot with Photoshop and think I have a pretty good eye for composition. But, now comes the hard part, this camera has so many buttons and settings and I haven’t a clue for what many of them are used. The Digital Photography Book 1: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’! by Scott Kelby along with another book that I’m now reading, Nikon D90: Digital Field Guide, by J. Dennis Thomas (that’s another review), are bringing everything to life for me.

Scott Kelby is who I’d call an expert in the digital photography field and phenomenal Photoshop user. He has authored several books, and serves as Editor-in-Chief for a couple of magazines, is President of a professional association, and co-host of a TV video podcast. The way he lays out this book is different. It is not full of concepts, theory and technical jargon, but, it is a book of recipes, which I totally love! He tells you, if you want to get this particular shot, then you push that button or change this setting, which really starts you on the road to taking great photos, FAST. And the humor he injects is a pleasant surprise, although sometimes I think he might rattle on a tad too much when I’m really getting into what he’s saying and have to wait because he stops to tell a dumb story, especially at the beginning of the book.

So if you’re a beginner dSLR user/photographer like me and want to know which aperture to use for a portrait, why you would ever use a flash outdoors, the trick for shooting waterfalls, how to avoid the dreaded “blinkies”, and what shutter speed to use when shooting sports, then this is the book for you. I can’t wait to see what Scott has to say in Books 2 and 3.

Well, darn it, I don’t find Book 1 in our catalog, but I do find: The Digital Photography Book 2: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’! by Scott Kelby and The Digital Photography Book 3: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’! by Scott Kelby in the catalog. So go for it!

You can find The Digital Photography Book 1: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’! by Scott Kelby at Amazon if you would like to purchase it. You can even purchase a boxed set of all three books.