Come and Get It (via Curbside Service)!

Though our building remains closed to the public, we’re still providing items to patrons–and we’re also still getting new items (though the timing of their arrivals is still sometimes disrupted by the pandemic)! I love when new items come into the library–I like to scope out what is new and, um, am not above snatching something that looks especially interesting if nobody else has a hold on it. And I know a lot of our patrons love to browse our new shelf. Of course, that’s not possible right now since patrons can’t come in, so I thought the next best thing would be to bring the new shelves to you–digitally. 🙂

Sneak Peek at 2020

For 2020, we’ll still be bringing you weekly book, movie, and TV reviews but adding some fun new features as well.

Movie Review: The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)

Had your fill of holiday cheer? This movie might be for you. . . .

Movie Review: The Old Man and The Gun (2018)

Forrest Tucker is a polite, dapper, and immensely charming 70-year-old man, with old-fashioned manners. He is, as one person who met him briefly explains, “Well, he was also sort of a gentleman.”

He also compulsively robs banks.

Old Favorites: Horror

Now that we’re well into October, it’s that time of year where reading or watching something terrifying just seems . . . right.

I’m not necessarily an avid horror reader or watcher ordinarily, though I do like being scared. My taste veers more toward psychological horror and the horror classics, but I am certainly willing to try other sub-genres.

Some of my favorites?

Movie Review: The Great Escape (1963)

In the middle of WWII, the German military was not especially enthused with the idea of tying up resources guarding troublesome POWs who kept wanting to escape. Now, to my mind, it would probably be more logical to separate all the troublesome prisoners from each other, but instead, the Germans decided to lump them all together in a special high-security POW camp. Probably not too surprising when you gather together dozens of escape artists, they end up orchestrating, well, a great escape. . . .

You Like Westerns, We Like Westerns–Want to Watch More Westerns?

Our library patrons in Berryville really like Westerns. It’s one the most popular book genres we circulate, and of course, our Western movies also are checked out regularly.

And for any of you regular readers, you know I like Westerns, too.

But even when you love something, that doesn’t mean you’re immune to being stuck in a rut. We now have a solution to that for our Western-movie-loving patrons.

The Mule (2018)

I was raised on a steady diet of Clint Eastwood’s iconic 60s and 70s movies. These were mostly his Westerns, both those of the spaghetti and non-spaghetti persuasion, as well as his cop movies. Though Eastwood has gone on to be a noted director for a wide range of acclaimed films–many of which I have enjoyed–I always still think of Clint as, well, The Man with No Name, Dirty Harry, and Josey Wales.

The Man With No Name (though he does actually have a name in all the movies 😉 )

As Eastwood’s career has shifted behind the camera, his own appearances on the other side of the lens have become somewhat rare. Mary-Esther recently suggested I review his latest movie–The Mule (which he stars in, directed, and produced)–and I’m glad I did! It was an interesting change of pace for him that still plays to his strengths as a performer. Thanks for the great suggestion, Mary-Esther!

Old Favorites: Larry McMurtry

We’re focusing on newer books, movies, and television shows for 2019, but that doesn’t mean we’re entirely ignoring old favorites! After all, what’s that saying–what’s old may just become new again (or something like that)?

Larry McMurtry celebrated his 83rd birthday earlier this month. Anyone who’s known me any length of time knows I’m a big Lonesome Dove fan. But there is a lot more to McMurtry’s work than that series, great as it is on its own, or even just his Western novels. And if you’re interested in exploring more of his work, well, the library has you covered. . . .

Movie Review: Move Over, Darling (1963)

Confession: Until recently, I had never watched a Doris Day movie.

Now, that’s not to say I had anything against Doris Day! I just had never had the opportunity to watch one of her movies and had never given it much thought beyond that.

A couple of our patrons, Joan and her daughter, are big Doris Day fans. Not too long ago, I was helping them find some Doris Day movies when it came out that I had never watched one. They encouraged me to give one a try, and I thought in light of Day’s recent passing at the age of 97, it would make for a good opportunity for a movie review.

So, a big thank you to Joan and her daughter–I did enjoy the Doris Day movie I watched. 🙂