Author: Tricia

What’s Past is Prologue: Shakespeare in Modern Fiction

Tricia

William Shakespeare. The man, the bard. How has a man who died over 400 years ago remained relevant? Though not everyone’s cup of tea, Shakespeare has demonstrated an impressive staying power in both his persona and his works. Films like West Side Story, The Lion King, and My Own Private Idaho keep the basic plots of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Henry V, but update the stories so they make sense to modern audiences. Other films like Shakespeare in Love feature Shakespeare as a character, imagining what life was like for the Queen’s favorite playwright.

This trend also extends to modern fiction, where books often feature Shakespeare in a variety of ways. Sometimes his plays are reimagined in a new, innovative story; sometimes Shakespeare’s personal adventures are explored, and other times Shakespeare exists in fiction as he exists today: an incredibly important and resilient linchpin in English literature. With his birthday less than a month away, read more to find some Shakespearean books that you can check out in his honor.

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DIY Projects for Your Home

Tricia

“DIY,” or “Do-It-Yourself,” refers to a movement where individuals make unique items with their own personal style and touches, often in lieu of hiring a professional or buying a pre-made product. If this sounds daunting, let us assuage your fears with these fantastic DIY books and manuals in our collection here at the Sewickley Public Library, featuring nearly any type of project you could imagine.

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Hidden Gems: Spectacular Documentaries in the Library Collection

Tricia

The non-fiction film collection at the Sewickley Public Library is easy to miss, mostly because the DVD’s are shelved in the reference area with the rest of the library’s non-fiction, separate from the location for television and movies. Next time you visit us at the library, take a peek at our non-fiction DVD’s and see if there’s anything that catches your eye. If you’d like some suggestions, here are some exemplary documentaries available in the Sewickley Public Library collection.

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Sewickley Public Library Guide to Preservation

Tricia

Whether you’re an amateur collector of antiques or the proud owner of an old family heirloom, the restoration and preservation of antique items can quickly get confusing and overwhelming. If you’re looking to preserve family heirlooms or other types of antiques, here is some helpful information about the process, including a list of preservation resources in the area generously provided by the Conservation Technicians at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh!

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From Screen to Page: Six Great Books Based on Movies

Tricia

In a time where almost every new movie seems to be based on a book or some other form of source material, a particular refrain has grown common among readers everywhere: “the book was better.” But there are still rare scenarios in which a movie is turned into a book after its release, often as an adaptation of the screenplay.

These adaptations are not always good, and are often ignored by literature fans due to their Hollywood connections. However, some novelizations have managed to rise above this stereotype, with some even becoming equally as famous as the films that spawned them. Here are six books based on movies that are actually worth the read.

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Defeat the Winter Blues with Some Good Books

Tricia

With the winter season now in full swing, the excitement and beauty of snow tends to be overshadowed by the less attractive parts of winter: it’s cold, it’s dark, and most time is spent indoors. If you find that you’re struggling to feel like yourself this season, you’re not alone. Studies show that over 20% of the population deals with varying forms of the winter blues¹.

Here are some great books to help get you out of a seasonal funk, bring back your confidence, or maybe just put a smile on your face.

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Game Day Grub: Cookbooks to Prep for Super Bowl Sunday

Tricia

With the Super Bowl right around the corner on February 3, the time to perfect your Super Bowl party appetizer has once again come. Whether you’re looking for an entirely new idea or trying to find ways to jazz up a well-loved recipe, here is a list of cookbooks specifically tailored to your party food needs. From wings to cookies, these books have you covered!

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Staff Picks: Best of 2018

Tricia

As 2018 comes to a close, we wanted to look back on the great books and films that were released this year. Many big news sources like GQ, The Washington Post, and Publisher’s Weekly have announced their picks for the best of 2018, but how do these lists measure up to the favorites of our staff? Here are some of the Sewickley Library staff’s favorite books and movies from 2018!

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New Years Resolutions at the Library

Tricia

As 2019 creeps closer and closer, the pressure to think of some good New Years resolutions grows.  What goals would you like to accomplish? What challenges do you want to set for yourself? Do you want to make more than one resolution? While we don’t have all the answers, here’s some ideas for New Years resolutions that can be accomplished right here at the Sewickley Library.

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