Find & create reviews with the new catalog!

A new catalog is coming soon! 

Would you like to find out what movies and music people are talking about and whether or not they liked them?

 The new catalog enables you to follow other users, providing you with their reviews and recommendations.

Would you like to share your opinions and recommend movies and music you’ve discovered with other users? 

With the new catalog, you have the option to add reviews and rate what you’ve been watching and listening to.

Would you like to have a way to save the titles that interest you so that you can read them at a later date? 

The new catalog will allow you to save titles so that you’ll always be able to go back and refresh your memory.

Along with these, and many other features, you will be able to follow the Park Ridge library and read about the movies, music, and books that we’ve been enjoying. 

To create an account & follow us:

1. Go to http://parkridgelibrary.bibliocommons.com/
2. Log in (you will need your library card number and the initial password is: patron)
3. Follow the steps to create an account (create username, enter email, accept terms)
4. Once registered, go to the “Search Catalog” box on the top of the page.
5. Find the dropdown menu that shows, “Keyword,” and change it to, “User.”
6. Type in, “ParkRidgeRS” in the search box (where you’d search catalog) and then select, ‘Search’
7. You will then see, “ParkRidgeRS’s Completed Shelf” in the middle of the screen
8. Select the green button that shows, “Follow”
9. Select the types of reviews you would like to follow, or choose to follow all selections
10. You are now following the Park Ridge Public Library!

 To review your own titles:

1. Go to the “My PRPL” tab
2. Under “My Shelves,” select, “Completed”
3. Select the green button that shows, “Add New Title”
4. Search the catalog by title, format, etc. and select, “Search”
5. Once the title is located, select the green button to, “Add”
6. Rate the title by selecting the “stars” and/or “Add Details,” which will be your review
7. Repeat these steps to add more titles
8. You can also use these steps to add titles, “In Progress” or “For Later” to your Shelf.

To create your own lists:

1. Go to the “My PRPL” tab
2. Under “My Lists,” select, “My Lists”
3. Select the green button that shows, “Create a New List”
4. Add the list’s title, a description (optional), and select, “Create List”
5. Note: You also have the option of making your lists private (Check the box next to “Make this list private” if you don’t want other users to see it)
6. Select the green button on the left-hand side, “Add an item” and choose, “Add a Catalog Item”
7. Search for title, format, etc. and then select, “Search”
8. Once item is located, select, green button “Add”
9. Continue searching for titles, and selecting “Add,” until you’re list is completed
10. Close window by clicking the red button on the top right side
11. You can now add annotations, move items as you wish, or edit your list as necessary

Please note: since the library’s lists and recommendations will be posted through the new catalog, these blogs will no longer be updated.  We look forward to having you follow us through the new site!

The Dickens, You Say

TV and film adaptations of Jane Austen’s novel have been rife lately, but we shouldn’t forget another Brit Lit standby, Mr. Charles Dickens.

TV Section

Barnaby Rudge (1960) A sweet, simple-minded youth is swept up by the mob into acts of horrible violence and barbarism.

Bleak House (1985) At the court of Chancery, the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case grinds on for years with no end in sight, destroying several lives in the process. Stars Diana Rigg and Denholm Elliott.
Bleak House (2005) Stars Carey Mulligan, Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance.

David Copperfield (2000) Starring Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins and Ian McKellen.

Dombey and Son (1983) The story of a powerful man whose coldhearted neglect of his family causes his professional and personal downfall. Stars Julien Glover.

Great Expectations (1981) A boy befriends a girl who has been trained as an instrument of revenge by her mother. Starring Pasty Kensit.

Hard Times (1994) A brother and sister suffer from their cold upbringing. Stars Alan Bates and Richard E. Grant.

Little Dorrit (2008) A man’s search for his mother brings him to a debtors’ prison, where he learns about struggle and hardship in 1820s England.

Martin Chuzzlewit (1994) An old man with a large fortune and an even larger set of family and friends must decide who will inherit his riches. Stars Paul Scofield, John Mills and Pete Postlethwaite.

The Old Curiosity Shop (1979) Young Nell Trent lives with her ailing grandfather in a run-down antique shop, unaware that her grandfather’s gambling addiction has left them nearly penniless.
The Old Curiosity Shop (1995) Starring Peter Ustinov, Tom Courtney and James Fox.
The Old Curiosity Shop (2007) Stars Derek Jacobi.

Oliver Twist (1985) The adventures of a young orphan in Victorian London.

Our Mutual Friend (1998) A pair of turbulent love affairs plays out amidst a tangled web of wealth, corruption, passion and betrayal in 1860s London. Stars Paul McGann.

The Pickwick Papers (1985) The ramblings, adventures and travels of the members of the Pickwick Club as they wander about the countryside, getting into trouble wherever possible.

Movies

A Christmas Carol (1951) A mister is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Starring Alastair Sim.

Great Expectations (1946) See description above. Directed by David Lean and starring  John Mills, Valerie Hobson and Alec Guinness.

Nicholas Nickleby (2002) The tale of a family left destitute following the patriarch’s death.  Stars Christopher Plummer, Nathan Lane and Alan Cumming.

Oliver Twist (1948) Directed by David Lean and starring Alec Guinness.

Several other adaptations of Mr. Dickens works are available through inter-library loan. The novels themselves can be found in the Reader Services department. ~ Ken

A Not-So-Traditional Christmas

The Salvation Army Santa is ringing his bell.  Lights and decorations are up all over your neighborhood, and it looks as though there will be snow on that special day.  The library has holiday displays in every department, but what if you don’t want to read, see or listen to a cozy feel-good Christmas story?  Here are a couple of options for a not-so-traditional Christmas:

Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips

Here we have the inspiration behind this particular blog.  I noticed the book on our Christmas display and almost laughed out loud.  I had seen the movie years ago, and it’s the juxtaposition of the plot and the setting that makes this an ironic Christmas read.  Who’d have thought that strippers are stripping on Christmas Eve?  (PRPL also has the movie, starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton)

 “Bill Engvall’s Here’s Your Christmas” 

Bill Engvall sings original Country Christmas songs.  If you were amused the first time you ever heard “Grandma got Run Over by a Reindeer,” you’re likely to enjoy Engvall’s take on the holidays.  He shares a wise bit of advice with husbands “A Gift That She Didn’t Want.”  If you enjoy Engvall’s notorious “Here’s your Sign” routines, don’t miss track 10!  He does take a slightly more traditional take on tracks 3 and 5, “Christmas in the Country Holiday,” and “The Christmas Sign.”

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (CDBook, read by David Sedaris, featuring Amy Sedaris  and Ann Magnuson)

Sedaris reading “Santa Land” is certain to ease the ache of even the most footsore and jaded of shoppers stuck in Chicago traffic.  He examines our American holiday traditions and critiques our cultural foibles.   Sedaris’ wit and deadpan reading is at its best on disc 4, track one, titled “Us and Them.”  I dare you to keep a straight face.  

You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs

If you enjoyed reading Burroughs first memoir, Running with Scissors, (or the movie by the same name) you’ll likely feel the same about You Better Not Cry, another memoir of holiday vignettes.  Typical of Burroughs, it’s not just a collection of humorous incidents – be prepared to experience a wide range of emotions. 

~Mary Lou

Thanksgiving Films

Since Halloween and Christmas have seemingly cornered the market on holiday films, people often overlook some great movies that are perfect for viewing around Thanksgiving. 

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
This is arguably the greatest Thanksgiving movie ever made.  Steve Martin and John Candy are at their comedic best.  Whether you are watching it for the very first time, or the one hundredth, it will certainly make you laugh (a lot!) and, in John Hughes’s own creative way, the movie makes us remember to be thankful for the important things in life.   

Pieces of April
Living in a terrible part of the city, a punk rock daughter enlists the help of her offbeat neighbors as she attempts to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for her conservative, suburban family.  Skillfully acted by Katie Holmes, Derek Luke, Oliver Platt, and Patricia Clarkson, its quirky story is certainly a tear-jerker!    

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Charlie Brown’s Halloween and Christmas specials have become annual holiday traditions.  However, this Thanksgiving episode is often overlooked.  While it originally aired in 1973, Charles Schulz’s message of friendship being greater than material items is definitely still identifiable today.  Also, kids of all ages will be amused by what the Peanuts gang throws together for their Thanksgiving feast.     

Home for the Holidays
Recently laid off, single mom, Claudia Larson must fly home for Thanksgiving dinner with her family.  When her brother arrives with a handsome friend, an otherwise nightmarish situation begins to look up for Claudia and her family.  

The New World
While there are few feature films that center on the Thanksgiving holiday, there are even fewer that show what the early English settlers might have experienced.  While promoting historical accuracy is not something that comes naturally to Hollywood, the basic story is fascinating and the scenery is breathtaking.   

Can you think of any others that I missed? 

Have a great Thanksgiving! ~ Mike

Hugh Laurie DVD’s

One of my favorite actors is Hugh Laurie.  Born in Oxford, England and educated at Eton and Cambridge, Laurie began his acting career in college with the comedy revue group, the Footlights.  Traditionally, the Footlights tour across England at the end of the year, during which Laurie bonded with fellow actors  Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson.  Together with Robbie Coltrane, this core group formed a television sketch program called, Alfresco.  In turn, Alfresco, led Laurie first to The Black Adder Series and later Jeeves and Wooster.  While much of Laurie’s work has been on television series, he has done work on films as well: Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, Stuart Little and it’s sequel.  In 2004 Laurie performed as a supporting character in the remake of Flight of the Phoenix and also landed the role of Dr. Gregory House in the Fox drama series House M.D..

It’s the contrast between Bertie Wooster, a gormless young aristocrat in Jeeves and Wooster, and Dr. Gregory House, a brilliant and eccentric diagnostic physian, which leads to my admiration of Hugh Laurie’s acting abilities.  The two characters are polar opposites.  Couple this with Laurie’s ability to drop his British accent—or adopt an American accent, depending on your perspective—so thoroughly and convincingly, and you have a very versatile actor.

Park Ridge Public Library has all three of the above mentioned TV series available for checkout. 

Enjoy! ~Mary Lou

Bill Murray!

One of my favorite actors is Bill Murray because he is hilarious and droll, sometimes at the same time.  One of my all time favorite movies is Groundhog Day (which he stars in) and I find him being funny so many times without meaning to be.  Recently, Bill Murray has been in the quirky films of Wes Anderson like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and I think that is a match made in heaven!  Bill Murray can be as kooky as he wants to be and those movies allow him to be just that. 

My husband would say Caddyshack is one of his favorite Bill Murray movies, but I would have to go with Lost in Translation.  If you missed this one, you should try to check it out sometime.  The beautiful Scarlett Johansson is in the movie too, so it is a win-win situation all around! ~ Lori

Do you have a favorite Bill Murray movie?  List it in the comments!

Rufus Wainwright

The last live concert I saw was Rufus Wainwright, at the Bank of American Theater in Chicago. Wainwright, the son of Canadian folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, brings an emotional and evocative feel to his unique brand of music that includes influences from pop, cabaret, folk, and even Baroque classical. His songs are largely driven his near-virtuoso piano playing, heartfelt lyrics, and velvety, breathy voice.

My favorite albums by this artist are his earlier works, especially his self-titled first album, including tracks such as his melodic tribute to “Barcelona.” Another favorite is the album Want One, which includes the hauntingly personal “Dinner at Eight” about an argument with his father, and the orchestral, alternately celebratory and melancholic “Oh What a World.” While Wainwright is a singular artist, other artists to try if you enjoy Wainwright include his sister, Martha, who recently came out with an album of Edith Piaf songs, and other moody singer-songwriters including Ben Folds, Antony and the Johnsons, and Jeff Buckley. ~ Maggie

Classic Horror Part 2: Boo! Horror Movies of the 1950s and ‘60s

Gothic horror movies fell out of favor after the real life terrors of World War II.  With the coming of the Cold War and the Atomic Age, science fictional monsters ruled the day throughout the 1950s.  At least until a small studio in England, Hammer Films, gave traditional supernatural horrors a new lease on undeath.

The Thing From Another World (1951)  Scientists and Air Force personnel are trapped in an Antarctic base with a murderous space alien.  Directed (unofficially) by Howard Hawks, movies don’t get much better than this.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) A small town doctor is faced with a rash of people saying their loved ones aren’t who they appear to be.  A classic tale of sci-fi paranoia.

Curse of the Demon (1957) A stiff-necked scientist (the perfectly cast Dana Andrews) learns that skepticism can be a dangerous thing.  Simply a terrific movie.

Horror of Dracula (1958) Hammer Studios made supernatural horror fashionable again with glossy, color-saturated films like this classic, starring Christopher as the sanguinary Count and Peter Cushing as the vampire hunter Van Helsing.

House on Haunted Hill (1959) Vincent Price invites a party of strangers to spend the night in the titular spookhouse.  A very fun film directed by showman extraordinaire William Castle.

Black Sunday (1960) Ur-gothic goings on with scream queen Barbara Steele playing a witch/vampire.  Directed by the Italian master of the macabre, Mario Bava.

Eyes Without a Face (1960) A scientist seeks to repair his daughter’s ruined face.  Sadly, this involves skin grafts from unwilling participants.  This gruesome goodie can be found in our French language DVD section.

Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchock’s classic tale of murder at a small roadside motel. Stars Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.

Classic Horror: The Silent Era through the 1940s

Care to catch up on the early days of cinema horror?  The Library can help! Check out the following films, which we own on DVD.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) This German expressionist classic introduced several horror movie tropes, including the mad scientist, the sympathetic monster, and even the first slasher killer.  Found in our German language section.

Nosferatu (1922) An unauthorized version of Dracula, the film was ordered destroyed. Luckily, this masterpiece of supernatural horror survived. Found in our German language section.

The Hands of Orlac (1924) A concert pianist loses his hands, but receives new ones via surgery.  The only hitch: the donor was an executed murderer, and the hands seem to have a mind of their own.  Stars Conrad Veidt of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Casablanca. Found in our German language section.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Horror cinema’s first great star, Lon Chaney, plays a madman stalking a Parisian opera house.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931) Arguably the greatest adaptation of the tale of a high-minded scientist who manages to chemically manifest his evil side.  Fredric March won Best Actor for the dual role.

Dracula (1931) Bela Lugosi stars as the undead Count Dracula, who moves to England and annoys his new neighbors.

Frankenstein (1931): A scientist dares meddle in God’s domain.  Directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff as The Monster and Colin Clive as Frankenstein. The Library offers the entire Frankenstein Legacy Collection, featuring in one set Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Son of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein and The House of Frankenstein.

Modern Family, Season One

Last year, I decided to try out the television series, Modern Family, and I was glad that I did!  It turned out to be a very well-written, wonderfully acted, and hilarious show.  The show follows three branches of the same family, whose stories are interwoven together, with often heart-warming results. 

Jay is the patriarch of the family and is played by Ed O’Neill, who is probably better known for his role as Al Bundy on the television show, Married with Children.  Jay’s storyline is that he has been recently remarried to a young, vivacious Columbian woman who has an inquisitive son from a previous marriage, who also just happens to be a hopeless romantic.   

Jay’s older son Mitchell is in a relationship with a man named Cameron and they are raising an adopted baby daughter.  The actor who plays Cameron, Eric Stonestreet, spent time as an improvisational comic in Chicago and, I believe, he steals every scene in the television show.

The third branch of the family consists of Jay’s daughter Claire, who is married to Phil.  Phil and Claire have three children, two girls and a boy, who often act with greater maturity than their parents.  A great example of this was when Phil, who is afraid of the dark, urged his son to crawl under the house to connect the cable wiring.  Then, when the son gets stuck, what follows is an endearing look at the lengths parents will go to for their children.  

The characters on Modern Family are not perfect and in fact, they are quite flawed. However, it is these flaws that remind the viewer that being a family isn’t about being perfect; it is about being there for one another.

Be sure to watch episode 12, “Not in My House” – my favorite episode!

~ Mike