This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and February’s is gold dust. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it ) on the cover!
Continue reading “What a Wonderful World: February”Author: berryvillelibrary
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Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: January
Our theme for the library this year is What a Wonderful World, and to that end, we’re focusing on seeing the wonder in our world. Usually, every month at the desk, we have an article available for patrons to read and discuss with Julie, our library director, but this year, we’re handing out poems instead. Our trusty library goose is also helping us pen a monthly column that focuses on some of the gems in our poetry collection.
Our January poems available at the desk are the lyrics to the song “What a Wonderful World” in honor of our theme and Wendell Berry’s “The Peace of Wild Things.”
We don’t have any Wendell Berry poetry collections at the Berryville Library–though we do have his work available in our system–but I wanted to draw attention instead to a poetry collection we have from a local author who has spoken at the library.
Continue reading “Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: January”Book Buzz: Inspiring Historical Fiction, Magical Realism Westerns, Arkansas Gangsters, and More
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For January, we’re looking at WWII fiction inspired by a true story; a magical realism Western that focuses on the Chinese experience in 1800s America; a look at the gangster past of Hot Springs, Arkansas; and a new feature–a monthly spotlight on new audiobooks.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Inspiring Historical Fiction, Magical Realism Westerns, Arkansas Gangsters, and More”Movie Review: The Irishman (2019)
I’ve written on here before about being a Martin Scorsese fan. In recent years, Scorsese has moved away from the organized crime movies he became known for, and though I’ve enjoyed a lot of those movies, I’ll always have a soft spot for his iconic mob movies. Scorsese’s 2019 effort–The Irishman–generated a lot of buzz when it was being made. The buzz tended to be less about the movie itself and more about the process/circumstances surrounding the making of the movie. It marks Scorsese’s return to the organized crime genre, reunited him with two longtime collaborators (Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the latter coming out of retirement), included his first collaboration with Al Pacino, employed de-aging effects to the cast, was released on Netflix, and clocked in at 3 hours, 30 minutes.
Much less attention was paid to the story the movie told, that of Frank Sheeran. A trucker who worked as a hit man for Pennsylvania mobster Russell Bufalino, he claimed to know the real story behind the 1970s disappearance of mob-connected union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Could any movie live up to all this hype?
Continue reading “Movie Review: The Irishman (2019)”What A Wonderful World: January
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and January’s is spring green for a fresh start. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it 🙂 ) on the cover!
Continue reading “What A Wonderful World: January”Looking for Something New To Read? We’re Here to Help!
One of the basic goals for this blog has always been to deliver reading (and viewing) recommendations to our patrons and readers. This pandemic may have slowed some things down, but it sped up our progress towards this goal. We’ve just added a new feature that will hopefully help provide even more help, any time of day or night!
Continue reading “Looking for Something New To Read? We’re Here to Help!”Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from everyone at the Berryville Book Buzz and Berryville Public Library!
Continue reading “Happy Holidays!”Book Buzz: Bank Robbers, Famous Dresses, and Historic Poets
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For December, we’re looking at various books about famous women–biographical fiction about Bonnie Parker of Bonnie and Clyde fame, a historic romance centered around Grace Kelly’s wedding dress, and a biography of 18th century African American poet Phillis Wheatley.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Bank Robbers, Famous Dresses, and Historic Poets”Guest Blogger: Penelope the Goose, Part 2
Our year-long Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World program has been a fun way to highlight different places across the globe. I’ve been writing posts that highlight books in these settings, but our faithful, fashionable, and intrepid library goose Penelope has actually been seeing the sights herself. (If you’ve been to the library, you’ve no doubt admired Penelope and her elegant wardrobe as she guards the circulation desk.) She’s back home in Arkansas now, and she posted regular updates on our Facebook page along the way, but she also wanted to share an update here since she’d blogged earlier this year. And who am I to say no to our favorite goose?
[Note: There is some vigorous debate among the library staff about whether or not our dear Penelope is a goose or a duck, and she is kind of evasive on the topic herself. . . .]
As you can see, Penelope picked up some friends as traveling companions along the way. . . .
Continue reading “Guest Blogger: Penelope the Goose, Part 2”Miracle on Spring Street Christmas Movie Challenge
Love watching Christmas movies? Love the library? Want to help us raise $5,000 for the library during the holidays? You can watch movies and help the library with our Miracle on Spring Street Christmas Movie Challenge. 😀
Continue reading “Miracle on Spring Street Christmas Movie Challenge”
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