Reading up on the Oscars

Now that the Academy Awards have all been given out, it's time to do some catching up! You can always request DVDs of any of the movies by searching our catalog, but did you also know that fully half of the Best Picture nominees were based on books? See below:

• The King's Speech - based on the book of the same name by Mark Logue
• 127 Hours - based on the true story (!), Between a Rock and a Hard Place, by Aron Ralston
• The Social Network - also based on the true story The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich
• True Grit - based on the classic western novel by Charles Portis
• Winter's Bone - based on the 2006 novel by Daniel Woodrell

Happy reading!

Alan

What's on the menu for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, hands down. It has everything a holiday should, and nothing it shouldn't -- you get food, a day off, more food, time with family, and glorious leftovers without having to buy a single gift, send a card, or decorate. So I like it because it's probably the least-commercialized of the "major" holidays. But mainly the food.

That said, here are a few ways you can use your library to make the most of your Thanksgiving holiday:

• How to Cook a Turkey: and All the Other Trimmings -- Get the basics down first...
• The Healthy Hedonist Holidays -- ...unless you're doing something different. This is "a year of multicultural, vegetarian-friendly holiday feasts."
• Thanksgiving: the Biography of an American Holiday -- Get some background information about this uniquely American holiday's fascinating history.
• Thanksgiving: the True Story -- Don't forget something to read to the kids.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving -- Finally, get something to watch...
• I Love Coffee! -- while you enjoy your after-dinner coffee.
  

Click on any of the titles above to request a copy in our catalog. Happy reading/eating!
-Alan

Christopher Paolini

Fantasy fans: Christopher Paolini will be signing books at Market Common in Myrtle Beach Monday, October 25. Click here for event details.

If you're reading, re-reading, or would like to read Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, check out some of the formats we carry:

• Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr in print
• Eragon, the 2007 film version
• Eragon or Eldest on CD audiobook
• Eragon on Playaway(Never used Playaway? It's a self-contained digital audiobook -- just plug in headphones, no other equipment required!)

And, of course, this wouldn't be a library blog post without recommending some further reading! If you enjoy the world of Eragon and have already read Tolkien, try some of these other series that are great for readers of any age:

• Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman
  

Happy reading!
-Alan

Memorial Day

All Horry County libraries will be closed Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day.

Memorial Day commemmorates the men and women who died while in military service. You can read more about the holiday from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your library can also help you learn more about our military history and the stories of our soldiers. Try some of the following:

• The War, Ken Burns' documentary series telling the stories of people in four ordinary towns and showing how World War II affected every area of life. Available as a DVD series, book, and audiobook on CD.
• Band of Brothers, historian Stephen Ambrose's story of the E Company of the US Army's 506th Regiment.
• Patriotic Holidays of the United States explains the history and development of Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and many other celebrations.

-Alan

Family Movie

Looking for a way to beat the heat (and/or the rain, if it's anything like today)? Join us this Saturday, May 29, at 10:30 for our monthly Free Family Movie.

We will be showing Aliens in the Attic. Watch as the Pearson kids try to save their vacation home from a group of invading aliens!

LOST

Sunday, May 23 is the final episode of ABC's Lost, my (Alan's) favorite show. It's the kind of show that may not make sense at first, and has to be watched in order, and sometimes even rewatched, to get the full effect.

Now, this is where the library comes in: did you know we have Lost Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5 on DVD? Click on any of those links to request a copy. Just a single hundred-hour marathon and you'll be up to speed before the finale!

-Alan

Blockbuster Movies and the Books Behind Them

Entertainment Weekly's cover story last week is about the summer's biggest movies. You might be surprised to learn how many of them have literary beginnings. A book lover knows that a novel captures a richness and depth that's missing from most movies, and a movie lover knows that a great film can bring source material to life in surprising new ways. So be both: start now and you can read these before opening day!

• Twilight: Eclipse -- based on the insanely popular books that need no introduction.
• Eat, Pray, Love -- based on Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir, is "a celebrated writer’s irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life."
• Sex and the City 2 -- the sequel to 2008's big hit continues with the characters from Candace Bushnell's series of novels.
• Robin Hood -- read one of the many iterations, for kids or for adults.
  

-Alan

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is tomorrow! As always, there are a few ways your library can help you enjoy the day:

• Read Don Yoder's end-all book on the subject
• Read your child Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather
• or, alternately, Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day!

Or, my personal favorite, sit back and relax with a classic.

-Alan

Teen Program

It’s “Twilight” Time

A program for Teens

Teens, join us in the Socastee Library Meeting Room on Tuesday evening, February 9, 2010, for the romantic and suspenseful story of Bella and Edward .

Movie is based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer. Rated PG-13.

5:30 – 6:00 (Photo Op) photos taken with stand-up characters from the movie – bring your camera!

Play a game of movie-related trivia.

6:00 – 7:30 – Movie, refreshments, door prize

Call the library -843-215-4700 for more information and to sign-up for this program.

Linda