New Non-Fiction Films on DVD

Don’t forget to check out our non-fiction DVD collection located in the reference area. Here are a few of the recent additions to this collection.


Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is the story of an extraordinary ecosystem larger than the state of Texas, and more precious than oil. The heartbeat of this remarkable water world is Niagara Falls. Through the eyes of passionate scientists and naturalists, we uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water. In this realm, tiny shrews hunt in freezing-cold rivers, spectacular shorebird migration unfolds over thundering falls, snowy owls stalk their prey from ice flows, and prehistoric snapping turtles brave a perilous overland journey. All these creatures and many more are part of a remarkable narrative unfolding in one of the most unique ecosystems in North America-Niagara.


Elevate Your Everyday Cooking With Curtis Stone. With Elevate Your Everyday Cooking with Curtis Stone, you’ll finally gain the confidence you need to cook restaurant-quality dishes at home. Filmed on-location in Curtis’s indoor and outdoor kitchens, these eye-opening and mouth-watering lessons are packed with techniques, tips, tricks, and insights that will transform the way you approach seafood, veggies, chicken, and more.

 


Through the Mirror of Chess:a Cultural Exploration. A captivating 4-part series examining the remarkable impact of chess on culture, art, science and sport. Take an exhilarating journey across a wide range of times and places touching on cultural history, chess variants, art, literature, AI, psychology, gender issues, education, social empowerment, prison reform, and more to find out what makes the game so unique. The films offer an experience of cinematic storytelling at its best with an engaging narrative and exciting visuals.


 

River. An exploration of the timeless relationship between human civilization and Earth’s rivers. Spanning six continents, this visual and musical tour-de-force is by turns celebratory, cautionary, and ultimately hopeful that we are beginning to understand rivers in all their complexity and fragility. Narrated by Oscar Nominee Willem Dafoe.

 


James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen. Explores the life and legacy of James Hemings (1765-1801), born into slavery, trained as a chef in Paris to become Thomas Jefferson’s personal chef at Monticello as well as a little-known progenitor of the American tradition of fine cuisine.

 


Filmmakers for the Prosecution. “Filmmakers for the prosecution” recounts, 75 years later, Budd and Stuart Schulberg’s search for the Nazis’ own footage and records to be used as evidence in the Nuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, 1945-1946, and the subsequent intentional loss of the compilation, featuring interviews and new footage.

 


Hidden Volcano Abyss. Examines the 2022 volcanic eruptions on the Pacific islands of Tonga, some of the most powerful in recorded history, which sent shockwaves around the world and unleashed a tsunami on Tonga’s shores. Looks at the resonse of Tonga’s emergeny management organization to this cataclysmic event as a model for the world.

 


Little Richard: I Am Everything. Archival footage, performances, and interviews document the life of Little Richard.

Women in Translation Month

Looking for a new perspective? Try one of these translated titles written by women this month. #WITMonth

Scattered All Over the Earth by Yōko Tawada

Welcome to the not-too-distant future: Japan, having vanished from the face of the earth, is now remembered as “the land of sushi.” Hiruko, its former citizen and a climate refugee herself, has a job teaching immigrant children in Denmark with her invented language Panska (Pan-Scandinavian): “homemade language. no country to stay in. three countries I experienced. insufficient space in brain. so made new language. homemade language.” As she searches for anyone who can still speak her mother tongue, Hiruko soon makes new friends.


The Fawn by Magda Szabó

From the author of The Door and Abigail and for fans of Elena Ferrante and Clarice Lispector, a newly translated novel about a theater star who is forced to reckon with her painful and tragic past. In The Door, in Iza’s Ballad, and in Abigail, Magda Szabó describes the complex relationships between women of different ages and backgrounds with an astute and unsparing eye. Eszter, the narrator and protagonist of The Fawn, may well be Szabó’s most fascinating creation.


Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector

Near to the Wild Heart, published in Rio de Janeiro in 1943, introduced Brazil to what one writer called “Hurricane Clarice”: a twenty-three-year-old girl who wrote her first book in a tiny rented room and then baptized it with a title taken from Joyce: “He was alone, unheeded, near to the wild heart of life.”


Flights by Olga Tokarczuk

From the incomparably original Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, Flights interweaves reflections on travel with an in-depth exploration of the human body, broaching life, death, motion, and migration. Chopin’s heart is carried back to Warsaw in secret by his adoring sister. A woman must return to her native Poland in order to poison her terminally ill high school sweetheart, and a young man slowly descends into madness when his wife and child mysteriously vanish during a vacation and just as suddenly reappear.


All our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg

This powerful novel is set against the background of Italy from 1939 to 1944, from the anxious months before the country entered the war, through the war years, to the allied victory with its trailing wake of anxiety, disappointment, and grief. In the foreground are the members of two families. One is rich, the other is not. In All Our Yesterdays, as in all of Ms. Ginzburg’s novels, terrible things happen–suicide, murder, air raids, and bombings. But seemingly less overwhelming events, like a family quarrel, adultery, or a deception, are given equal space, as if to say that, to a victim, adultery and air raids can be equally maiming. All Our Yesterdays gives a sharp portrait of a society hungry for change, but betrayed by war.


Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Cespedes

Valeria Cossati never suspected how unhappy she had become with the shabby gentility of her bourgeois life–until she begins to jot down her thoughts and feelings in a little black book she keeps hidden in a closet. This new secret activity leads her to scrutinize herself and her life more closely, and she soon realizes that her individuality is being stifled by her devotion and sense of duty toward her husband, daughter, and son. As the conflicts between parents and children, husband and wife, and friends and lovers intensify, what goes on behind the Cossatis’ facade of middle-class respectability gradually comes to light, tearing the family’s fragile fabric apart.


 

For Fans of the Movie Oppenheimer

Learn more about the history of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird

The inspiration for the major motion picture Oppenheimer, this is the definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress.

Get it NOW with NO WAIT on hoopla!

 

Brotherhood of the Bomb: the Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller by Gregg Herken

The story of these three men, builders of the bombs, is fundamentally about loyalty-to country, to science, and to each other-and about the wrenching choices that had to be made when these allegiances came into conflict. Gregg Herken gives us the behind-the-scenes account based upon a decade of research, interviews, and newly released Freedom of Information Act and Russian documents.

 

Trinity: a Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm

Trinity , the debut graphic book by the gifted illustrator Jonathan Fetter-Vorm, depicts in vivid detail the dramatic history of the race to build and the decision to drop the first atomic bomb. This sweeping historical narrative traces the spark of invention from the laboratories of nineteenth-century Europe to the massive industrial and scientific efforts of the Manhattan Project.

 

Bomb: the Race to Build– and Steal– the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Recounts the scientific discoveries that enabled atom splitting, the military intelligence operations that occurred in rival countries, and the work of brilliant scientists hidden at Los Alamos.

 

The First War of Physics: the Secret History of the Atom Bomb, 1939-1949 by J. E. Baggott

The First War of Physics is a grand and frightening story of scientific ambition, intrigue, and genius: a tale barely believable as fiction, which just happens to be historical fact. Rich in personality, action, confrontation, and deception, The First War of Physics is the first fully realized popular account of the race to build humankind’s most destructive weapon.

 

Fallout: the Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the Worldby Lesley M. M. Blume

New York Times bestselling author Lesley M.M. Blume reveals how one courageous American reporter uncovered one of the deadliest cover-ups of the 20th century–the true effects of the atom bomb–potentially saving millions of lives. Fallout is an engrossing detective story, as well as an important piece of hidden history that shows how one heroic scoop saved–and can still save–the world.

 

The Manhattan Project by Daniel Cohen

Discusses the personalities and events involved in the research, development and detonation of the atomic bombs built by the United States in the 1940s.

 

 

: the Secret Story of America’s Unknown Atomic Spy Conspiracy by Joseph

In a book that will force the revision of fifty years of scholarship and reporting on the Cold War, award-winning journalists Joseph Albright and Marcia Kunstel reveal for the first time a devastatingly effective Soviet spy network that infiltrated the Manhattan Project and ferried America’s top atomic secrets to Stalin.  At the heart of the network was Ted Hall, who was so secret an operative that even Klaus Fuchs, his fellow Manhattan Project scientist and Soviet agent, had no idea they were comrades. For forty years only a few Russians knew what Ted Hall really did.  Now Joseph Albright and Marcia Kunstel reveal the astonishing true story of the atomic spies who got away.  Bombshell is history at its most explosive.

Dog Days of Summer

Dog Days of Summer

With the dog days of summer upon us, it’s the perfect time to check out a dog-themed movie.


Dog. An Army Ranger must escort the dog of his fallen commander to his funeral. Starring Channing Tatum.

 


A Dog’s Purpose. The story shares the soulful and surprising tale of one devoted dog who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. Starring Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad.

 


Best in Show. This ‘mockumentary’ follows five groups and their dogs on the road to the prestigious Mayflower Show. Starring Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard.


Dog Days. A group of people in beautiful, downtown Los Angeles who have absolutely no connection to one another are seemingly brought together by their lovable pet dogs in surprising ways that teach them valuable and inspiring lessons about life and what it means to have a dog. Starring Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, Rob Corddry, Tone Bell, Jon Bass, Michael Cassidy, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Cephas Jones.


A Dog's Way HomeA Dog’s Way Home. As a puppy, Bella finds her way into the arms of Lucas, a young man who gives her a good home. When Bella becomes separated from Lucas, she soon finds herself on an epic, 400-mile journey to reunite with her beloved owner. Starring Ashley Judd, Jonah Hauer-King, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, Bryce Dallas Howard.


The Dog Doc. A pioneer of integrative medicine, veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein attracts four-legged patients from around the world, providing holistic treatments for animals after other vets have given up hope.

 


Sit Stay Ride: the Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs. Across America, there are dogs of all breeds riding in the open air of motorcycle sidecars, whether on short trips around town or extended adventures on the highway. Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs is a delightful and inspiring documentary film about motorcyclists and their beloved canine co-pilots.


Eight Below. A scientific expedition is forced to leave behind their team of beloved sled dogs due to a sudden accident and perilous weather conditions in Antarctica. The dogs must struggle for survival alone in the intense frozen wilderness for over six months. Starring Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Jason Biggs.


The Call of the Wild. The story of a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Starring Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford.

If You are Waiting for the Fourth Wing…

If You are Waiting for the Fourth Wing…

Try out some of these other fantasy titles while you wait for a copy of Fourth Wing.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

 


The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.


King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

In order to end a years-long war between vampires and mortals, Isolde must wed vampire king Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev. But surviving the vampire court doesn’t prove to be nearly as difficult as resisting the intense attraction between her and Adrian.

St. Clair (When Stars Come Out) breathes new life into an old trope as a princess and a vampire king wed to end a years long war in this outstanding series opener. – Publisher’s Weekly


A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, makes her stunning adult debut with A Crown of Ivy and Glass, a lush, sweeping, steamy fantasy romance series starter that’s perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.


by Jennifer Armentrout

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

 


One Dark Window by Rachel Gilig

For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom–but the monster in her head isn’t the only threat lurking.

 


A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin — one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin and his world, forever.


A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

The story of a school for the magically gifted when failure means certain death–until one girl begins to unlock its many secrets.

 

New Books – 1928 Edition

For decades the Sewickley Herald featured columns with information about new books the library had added to the collection.  This article from January 1928, less than five years after our current building opened, features seven books added to the collection. So what ever happened to these books? Does the library still have any of them? Can you still get them today?

We start with China Today Through Chinese Eyes. A New York Times review from the time mentions an article that delves into the Literary Revolution in China, a movement of books beginning to be published in the popular Chinese language away from the traditional Chinese.  The book is no longer part of Sewickley’s collection.  In fact, it can’t be found at any library in Allegheny County.  The closest place to find a printed copy of the book today would be Carlow University’s library in Pittsburgh:  https://www.worldcat.org/title/874929035.

My Lady of the India Pudah by Elizabeth Cooper  can no longer be checked out at the Sewickley Public Library.  However, if you get a public library card in Cleveland you can place a hold on this book today.  Of course, they will have the retrieve it from their offsite storage first!  Who has time for that?  If you really want to read about the Hindu princess Natara you can read it for free on Google Books right now.

Care and Feeding of Children by  L.E. Holt is a republication of Holt’s original 1894 publication.  Luther Emmett Holt was the head physian at New York’s Babies Hospital and this book was later “selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it,” according to a 2015 republication.  This book can’t be found at Sewickley or in our system either, but you can find another book by L.E. Holt called Food, Health and Growth from 1922 if you want to venture into Oakland and check out the Carnegie Library’s closed reference collection.

George Washington by Rupert Hughes is a two volume set on our first US president.  The first volume is subtitled The Human Being & The Hero, 1732-1762, the second volume is The Savior of the States 1777-1781. One would think that a library is sure to hold onto a biography of our first president, right? Sadly, no libraries have held onto this one either! You can access the full text for free thanks to archive.org and Trent University.  Don’t worry you can still find close to 20 George Washington biographies at SPL.

The Meadows by J.C. Van Dyke explores the natural beauty of the Raritan Valley in…New Jersey.  John Charles Van Dyke was an art historian, critic, and nature writer who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Although no libraries around kept this 95 year old book there has been at least one positive Good Reads review from a fellow New Jersian.

At last we come to Best Plays of 1926-1927.  The book surely featured the play Show Boat, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein (pre-Richard Rodgers).  Although we can’t see a scanned, digital version of the book to confirm Show Boat’s inclusion we can request the book with a library card.  That’s right, this is the one book from 1928 that remains at a library in Allegheny County.  You can request the book from the Wilkinsburg Public Library and pretend it’s predepression (1928) Sewickley once again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Additions to the TV Series Collection

New Additions to the TV Series Collection

If you are looking for a new television series to start or ready to catch the next season of a favorite series, here are some of the recently added titles in our TV Series on DVD collection.


The Flight Attendant. The Complete Seasons 1 & 2. Cassie Bowden is a globe-trotting flight attendant with a devil-may-care attitude who relishes flying off at a moment’s notice to her next great adventure. But Cassie’s seemingly glamorous world is suddenly thrown into a tailspin when her illegal escapades catch up with her.

 


The Man Who Fell to Earth. Season One. An alien crashes deep into the oilfields of New Mexico with a mission: he must find the brilliant scientist Justin Falls, the one woman on earth who can help save his species. An unlikely duo, together they discover that in order to save his world, they must first save ours. An inspired continuation of the novel by Walter Tevis and the iconic 1976 film starring David Bowie.

 


Ghosts. Season One. Freelance writer Samantha and aspiring chef Jay throw both caution and money to the wind to leave NYC and convert a rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast, only to find that it’s inhabited by a close-knit, eclectic group of spirits of deceased former residents. Adding to the supernatural surprises, Samantha discovers that she can see and hear ghosts everywhere, including those with whom she now shares a home. Old-school haunting and oddball humor fuel this sharp-witted, quirky comedy series that gives new meaning to the real estate phrase, ‘It’s got great bones.’


Star Trek, Strange New Worlds. Season One. Season 1 is based on the years Captain Christopher Pike manned the helm of the USS Enterprise. The series features fan favorites from Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery – Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The series follows Captain Pike and the crew in the decade before Captain Kirk boarded the USS Enterprise, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.


The Suspect. Joe O’Loughlin is a successful psychologist with a loving family, but a recent medical diagnosis has thrown his life off balance. When the police ask him to assist in the case of a murdered young woman, ghosts from his past begin to resurface.

 


Yellowstone. Season 5. Determined to protect his land and legacy at any cost, John Dutton takes his fight to the halls of government in the most explosive season of Yellowstone yet. But with greater power comes further scrutiny…of his family, his land, and the morally questionable measures he’s taken to protect them both. As new threats emerge and old enemies return, John, Beth, Kayce, Rip, and Jamie learn that power has a price.


Sanditon. Season Three. The final season continues the story of high-spirited heroine Charlotte Heywood and her friend, Georgiana Lambe. What adventures, scandals, intrigue, and – above all else – romance await them?

 

 


City on a Hill. Season Three. Having left the FBI, Jackie Rohr lands a new gig running security for a wealthy family in Boston’s high society Beacon Hill. Life is good until secrets begin to unravel. ADA Decourcy Ward sees an opportunity to rip out the machinery perpetuating a broken criminal justice system. Siobhan Quays encounters the city’s corruption firsthand, all while coping with the traumatic events of her past year. As Jenny Rohr can attest, some experiences will haunt you beyond your breaking point.


All Creatures Great & Small. Season 3. It’s the spring of 1939. Big changes are happening at Skeldale House and everyone has to learn how to adjust. Tristan is now a qualified vet while James enters a new stage of his life with Helen and at the practice.

 


Vienna Blood. Season 3. 1900s Vienna is a hotbed of philosophy, science and art, where a clash of cultures and ideas collide in the city’s grand cafes and opera houses. Brilliant Dr. Max Liebermann is a student of Sigmund Freud, and together with Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt, they investigate a series of unusual and disturbing murders.

 


His Dark Materials. The Complete Third Season. The third and final season of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Material trilogy returns with an adaptation of the final book in the best-loved book series, The Amber Spyglass. Season Three opens with Lyra unconscious, having been given a sleeping draught by her mother, as Will, still carrying the Subtle Knife, continues his quest to find her in this epic story of love and truth.

Popular 2023 Books

Popular 2023 Books

What are people reading this year (so far…)?

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

A deliciously funny, sharply observed debut of family, love, and class, this zeitgeisty novel follows three women in one wealthy Brooklyn clan.

 


Hello Beautiful by Ann Naplintano

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him–so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.


The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

“A triumph of historical fiction” ( The Washington Post ), an instant New York Times bestseller, and a Reese’s Book Club pick, set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.


The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

Told from the perspectives of four people whose actions changed the course of history, this masterful work of historical fiction takes readers back to 1811 Richmond, Virginia, where, on the night after Christmas, the city’s only theater burned to the ground, tearing apart a community.


The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him–he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die.


Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda–because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die


The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Proctor Bennet works for the Department of Social Contracts as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the “retirement” process — and, when necessary, enforcing it.  He receives a disturbing and cryptic message from his father, who is himself about to be retired, that causes Proctor to question everything he once believed.


Lone Woman by Victor LaValle

In 1915, Adelaide Henry, after her secret sin killed her parents, sets out for Montana, dragging an enormous steamer trunk that’s locked at all times, to become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land where she hopes to bury her past.


 

Literal Beach Reads

Literal Beach Reads

These books will literally whisk you away to the beach!

Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket : After tragedy strikes, Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.

 


Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Emma Rosenblum’s Bad Summer People is a whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue, set against an exclusive summer haven on Fire Island.

 


The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton

New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead – and why.


The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

A Big Chill for our times, celebrating decades-long friendships and promises–especially to ourselves–by the bestselling and beloved author of The Guncle.

 


Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

When a woman who’d rather do anything than read meets a swoon-worthy bookworm, sparks fly, making for one hot-summer fling in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new rom-com.

 

Quick Read Classics

Are you thinking of tackling a classic book this summer?  Not quite ready for War and Peace or Middlemarch?  How about a short classic?  Check out one of those well-known books you’ve always meant to read!  And all are under 200 pages!

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

This best-selling sensation when first published in 1934, is still one of the best, most important, and most interesting crime novels in the canon.

 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

A controversial tale of friendship and tragedy during the Great Depression — and a gateway into the work of  Steinbeck.

 

 

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Set among the bohemian bars and nightclubs of 1950s Paris, this groundbreaking novel about love and the fear of love is “a book that belongs in the top rank of fiction.”

 

 

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

The novel that first made Willa Cather famous–a powerfully mythic tale of the American frontier told through the life of one extraordinary woman.

 

 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

Holly Golightly knows that nothing bad can ever happen to you at Tiffany’s. In this seductive, wistful masterpiece, Capote created a woman whose name has entered the American idiom and whose style is a part of the literary landscape–her poignancy, wit, and naïveté continue to charm.

 

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

The most widely read book in modern African literature tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a fearless Igbo warrior in Nigeria.

 

 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

One of the most important and enduring works of the twentieth century.  A southern love story told with wit and pathos — perhaps one of the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the cannon of African-American literature.

 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers.

 

Page 1The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark

The girls of Spark’s novel live in the May of Teck Club in London, disturbed but not destroyed by WWII—both the Club, that is, and the girls.