The End of Your Life Book Club is the true story of Mary Anne and Will, a mother and son, finding the power of books as she is dying of cancer. For two years, they read an array of genres and deeply discuss topics such as gratitude, listening, and love.
Penny Marshall, star of Laverne and Shirley, has lived by a few simple rules: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have FUN.” My Mother Was Nuts, Marshall’s intimate memoir, talks with humor and heart about how she stumbled into acting and directing.
Barb of Fiction/AV/Teen Services recommends Wonder by R.J. Palacio:
Wonder is a beautifully written novel filled with characters that touch your heart. Auggie Pullman was born with severe facial deformities. He learned to hide from the alarmed stares of others. Auggie has always been home-schooled, but entering the fifth grade, his parents have enrolled him in a private school. Predictably, Auggie has some terrible experiences at school when a bully tries to turn the other kids against him, but luckily he has loving parents, a sister, and caring teachers to help him along the way. This is a thought-provoking, fast read and a great book to open up discussions about love, support, and judging people on their appearance.
Sally Koslow’s Slouching Toward Adulthood is part serious investigation and part hilarious memoir. If you have twenty-something children living at home after college, you will love this witty take on why so many “carefully nurtured wunderkinds” are now moving so slowly into adulthood.
I must recommend two new CDs because they are both so fabulous! If you want to get lost in the 1920s, check out the soundtracks for Midnight in Paris and Boardwalk Empire. These two outstanding albums let you toe-tap to swell Jazz Age songs.
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, by Deborah Feldman, is a compelling memoir that shares what female life is like within the Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism. This book is an intriguing story of a young woman intent to live her own life despite her community’s objections.
Bad Reputation, by Matt Hader, is a fast-paced read following small-town outcast, John Caul, who at seventeen accidentally burnt down the high school gym the night before the new season. For twenty years, the townspeople shun him and call him Sparky, which makes John plan a lighthearted revenge…
Barb of Fiction/AV/Teen Services recommends Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well by Billy Graham:
In Billy Graham’s eloquent book, the renowned author speaks of specific areas to help us understand our roles as we age. By sharing his stories, we learn about building strong foundations and understanding the gifts of aging. He talks about facing life’s transitions, including the passing of years, retirement, when a loved one passes on and making wise decisions. This book is not just for those who are nearing the end of their lives. It is a handbook on how to prepare for your older years while you are still young. This is an easy-to-read book full of stories of Billy Graham’s life as he “nears home and finishes well.”
If you like funky, soul music try The Very Best of Tower of Power. Tower’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other. Their horn-driven sound combined with superb lyrics and an outstanding lead vocalist leads to one of the most dynamic groups you’ll ever hear.
Watch the epic 1976 mini-series, Rich Man, Poor Man. The story follows the trials and tribulations of two brothers, ambitious Rudy and bad luck Tom, from WWII to the late 60’s. It is an entertaining, nostalgic movie that represents the beginning of the TV mini-series genre.
