New Releases on DVD – May 2010

Closing the Ring

Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer star in Richard Attenborough’s bittersweet tale of love, loss, promises and secrets. Fifty years after the death of her true love, Ethel Ann (MacLaine) must finally grieve the painful past unearthed by a found ring. As daughter Marie (Neve Campbell) struggles to understand her cold, alcoholic mother, Ethel Ann and Jack (Plummer) revisit their shared past, and the aching promises made long ago are revealed. Rated R

Crazy Heart

When reporter Jean Craddock (Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal) interviews Bad Blake (Oscar winner Jeff Bridges) — an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend — they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. But can he leave behind an existence playing in the shadow of Tommy (Colin Farrell), the upstart kid he once mentored? Robert Duvall produces and co-stars. Rated R

The Edge of Darkness

As a seasoned homicide detective, Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) has seen the bleakest side of humanity. But nothing prepares him for the toughest investigation of his life: the search for his only daughter Emma’s (Bojana Novakovic) killer. Now, he is on a personal mission to uncover the disturbing secrets surrounding her murder, including corporate corruption, government collusion and Emma’s own mysterious life. Rated R

Endgame

Confidential political negotiations between South African government representative Prof. Willie Esterhuyse (William Hurt) and African National Congress President Thabo Mbek (Golden Globe nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) lead to the peaceful demise of apartheid. Taking place in a bucolic British country estate, the talks are fraught with tension, but together the two men find a common path in this engaging Pete Travis-helmed drama. Rated PG-13

Extraordinary Measures

After their two young children are diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which conventional medicine has no cure, John (Brendan Fraser) and Aileen (Keri Russell) pin their hopes on the work of unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Director Tom Vaughan’s heartfelt drama is based on the true story of the Crowley family, as chronicled by journalist Geeta Anand in her book The Cure. Rated PG

Five Minutes of Heaven

A powerful meditation on guilt, forgiveness and reconciliation, this potent drama stars Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt as two men on opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s political struggle: one a killer, the other the brother of the man he killed. In crafting his keenly sensitive film, director Oliver Hirschbiegel eschews the predictable to deliver a work of tremendous insight and emotional complexity. Not Rated

The Guitar

In one fateful day, Mel Wilder (Saffron Burrows) is fired from her job, abandoned by her boyfriend and diagnosed with a terminal disease. With nothing left to lose, Mel’s determined to make the most of her final days by living the life she always dreamed of. Directed by Amy Redford, this touching story celebrates the emotional and spiritual liberation of a woman who thumbs her nose at death and refuses to go gently into that good night. Rated R

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Christopher Plummer and Heath Ledger star in this quirky fantasy from director Terry Gilliam. When a deal with the devil comes due, the immortal Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) must renegotiate the pact to save his daughter. Now, with the help of his mystical theater troupe and a mysterious stranger, Parnassus attempts to right the wrongs of his past. The Oscar-nominated film is Ledger’s last, with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law all completing his role. Rated PG-13

Invictus

In this drama based on real-life events, director Clint Eastwood tells the story of what happened after the end of apartheid when newly elected president Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup rugby matches to unite his people in South Africa. Based on John Carlin’s book, the film stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon (both Oscar nominated) as Francois Pienaar, the captain of the scrappy South African team that makes a run for the championship. Rated PG-13

It’s Complicated

Ten years after their divorce, Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) enjoy an amicable friendship. When the two unite for their son’s college graduation, their romance is rekindled. But Jake is married, and Jane’s architect, Adam (Steve Martin), has a thing for her. Now cheating on the younger woman for whom he left Jane, Jake wants his ex-wife back. But Jane’s busy getting to know Adam. Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) wrote and directed this Golden Globe-nominated comedy. Rated R

Leap Year

Anna (Amy Adams) chooses February 29 to propose marriage to her “perfect” boyfriend, Jeremy (Adam Scott), sure he’ll accept because of an Irish custom. But after meeting charming innkeeper Declan (Matthew Goode) en route to Dublin, Anna must evaluate her original plans. Anand Tucker directs this charming romantic comedy about finding what one really wants in the most unexpected places. John Lithgow co-stars. Rated PG

Legion

In the wake of an apocalypse of major proportions, a motley crew of survivors (including Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson and Kate Walsh) ekes out a living at an abandoned truck stop in the desert, never suspecting that the pregnant woman walking among them is carrying the Messiah. Paul Bettany co-stars in this thriller as the archangel Michael, who was sent to Earth to steer humankind away from darkness and toward the light. Rated R

The Lovely Bones

When 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) is murdered, she watches from above as her family deals with her tragic death — and as her killer prepares to strike again. Torn between vengeance and healing, Susie’s loved ones are forever changed. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz star in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Alice Sebold’s riveting, best-selling novel; Susan Sarandon and Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci co-star. Rated PG-13

The New Daughter

Luis Berdejo directs this supernatural thriller centered on John James (Kevin Costner), who moves to the country to get a new start — only to be confronted by a new nightmare when his daughter, Louisa (Ivana Baquero), begins acting stranger by the minute. With unsettling events besetting the South Carolina home, John begins to believe that something on the edge of the forest nearby might have the answers he needs. Rated PG-13

Nine

Movie director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) is in the throes of a midlife crisis, struggling to write his film while juggling relationships with wife Luisa (Marion Cotillard), mistress Carla (Oscar nominee Penélope Cruz), muse Claudia (Nicole Kidman), producer Lilli (Judi Dench) and his mother (Sophia Loren).  Stacy Ferguson and Kate Hudson co-star. Rated PG-13

The Spy Next Door

While babysitting for his neighbor, Gillian (Amber Valletta), Bob (Jackie Chan) is thrust into a world of top-secret adventure after one of the kids inadvertently downloads a secret code in this action-packed comedy. Now Bob must guard the children when secret agents descend upon them. Billy Ray Cyrus, Lucas Till and George Lopez co-star, with Lopez playing CIA agent Glaze, who might not be on the up-and-up. Rated PG

Tenderness

After completing his stint in a juvenile detention center for murder, 18-year-old ex-con Eric Poole (Jon Foster) embarks on a hazardous road trip with Lori, a hyper teen (Sophie Traub), close by his side. But little do the troubled pair know that they are being tracked by Det. Cristofuoro (Russell Crowe), a hard-nosed New York cop who’s convinced that Poole is a psychopath capable of killing again. Rated R

Tooth Fairy

When minor-league hockey player Derek Thompson — who has a penchant for knocking out his opponents’ teeth every time he plays — disillusions a fan, he is sentenced to a stint for one week as a bona fide, tutu-clad, real-life tooth fairy. Soon, Derek is inspired to rekindle his youthful dreams. Ashley Judd portrays his love interest, Carly, in this family comedy starring The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson. Rated PG

Valentine’s Day

n this Los Angeles-set comedy from director Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman), the tripwires of modern love are exposed in a carousel involving relationships and the single life on the most romantic day of the year: February 14. Proposals, infidelity, loneliness and more are explored. Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper and Patrick Dempsey lead a star-studded cast. Rated PG-13

The Young Victoria

Eighteen-year-old British royal Victoria (Emily Blunt) ascends to the throne and is romanced by future husband Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) in this lush period film that chronicles the early years of the British monarch’s larger-than-life reign. Produced by Martin Scorsese and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the Oscar-nominated film also stars Miranda Richardson as the Duchess of Kent, Jim Broadbent as King William, and Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne.  Rated PG

New DVDs: TV Series, Nonfiction and Feature Length Films – May 2010

Bang the Drum Slowly

Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro) is a dedicated baseball player who’s hiding a secret: He has Hodgkin’s disease. His only confidante is the team’s star pitcher, Henry Wiggin (Michael Moriarty), who covers for him as he faces not only a waning season but a slowly fading life. Vincent Gardenia received an Academy Award nomination for his role as the team’s coach in this tearjerker based on Mark Harris’s 1950s novel. Rated PG (1973)

Blackbeard: Terror at Sea

A National Geographic special featuring dramatic reenactments of the exploits of the pirate Edward Teach, a.k.a. Blackbeard, who during his career led in the pillage of some forty ships en route to or from the Caribbean. (2006)

Concertos, Sonatas, Trios: Mozart

Anne-Sophie Mutter playing all of Mozart’s major compositions for the violin as “Mozart project.”

Cranford: Return to Cranford

The two-part saga Return to Cranford opens to a struggling Cranford, a traditional English village that in autumn 1844 is airing the conflicts that accompany progress. Miss Matty Jenkyns (Judi Dench), after having closed her business in the last series, is happily babysitting the child of her maid, Martha (Claudie Blakley). This gives the ladies in town something to gossip about, as does every other small event in this chatty group. The same women populate this new Cranford–the snooty Miss Jamieson (Barbara Flynn), nosy Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton), Miss Forrester (Julia McKenzie), Peggy (Jodie Whittaker), and Erminia (Michelle Dockery)–while a few new men added into the mix creates options for love interests throughout.

Damages: The Complete Second Season

Golden Globe winner Glenn Close returns as ruthless attorney Patty Hewes in FX’s critically acclaimed legal thriller that explores the cutthroat world of high-stakes litigation in New York City. Rose Byrne (28 Weeks Later) co-stars as Ellen Parsons, once a wide-eyed associate who’s now a clever, hardened attorney in her own right. Ellen’s out for justice, and she may give her former mentor a run for her money.

A Death in Tehran

From the PBS series Frontline, at the height of the protests following Iran’s presidential election, a young woman named Neda Soltani was shot and killed on the streets of Tehran. Her death was filmed on a cameraphone, then uploaded to the web, quickly becoming an international outrage. Frontline investigates the life and death of the woman who remains a symbol for those wanting to keep the movement alive. (2009)

Emma

Convinced that she’s a superb matchmaker, Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai) — despite warnings from her friend Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller) — persuades her chum Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan) to reject suitor Robert Martin (Jefferson Hall) and find a better husband. After Emma suffers the consequences of her meddling, she learns that love often hides in plain sight. Michael Gambon also stars in this BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel.

Lost: The Complete First Season

Lost: The Complete Second Season

Lost: The Complete Third Season

Lost: The Complete Fourth Season

Lost: The Complete Fifth Season

Stranded on a tropical island after their plane crashes 1,000 miles off course, a group of castaways must learn to survive in their new home, avoid the gigantic something crashing through the trees and determine whether they’re really alone. Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O’Quinn, Dominic Monaghan and Naveen Andrews head the diverse ensemble cast in this landmark series, which won an Emmy for Best Drama.

The Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland Collection

Contents: Babes in Arms (1939), Strike Up the Band (1940), Babes on Broadway (1941), and Girl Crazy (1943)

Midsomer Murders: Set 14

The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, with Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones. Guest stars include Stephanie Cole, Gareth Thomas, Christopher Fairbank, Richard Hope, Peter Eyre, Chris Barrie, Matthew Marsh, and Clare Higgins.

The Perfect Gift

A spoiled schoolgirl, her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister each receive an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly, but mysterious “drifter” named Jess. Not Rated

Poldark: Series One

This sweeping miniseries follows Capt. Ross Poldark (Robin Ellis) as he returns to England after fighting in America’s War for Independence. In Cornwall, Poldark discovers that his beloved Elizabeth (Jill Townsend) is engaged to his cousin and his fortune has been lost. Ross struggles to revive his estate, reconcile himself to a future with a new bride, Demelza (Angharad Rees), and overcome a bitter feud with rival George (Ralph Bates). (1975) Not Rated

Private Practice: The Complete First Season

Private Practice: The Complete Second Season

In this “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff, neonatal surgeon Addison Forbes Montgomery (Kate Walsh) leaves the drama of Seattle Grace Hospital for a new life in Santa Monica, Calif., at the Oceanside Wellness Group. Though her new co-workers have no shortage of emotional baggage, they’re standout physicians — and Addison goes along for the ride. The series also stars Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Paul Adelstein and Audra McDonald.

Rudy Maxa’s World: India

Plunge right into northern India’s intoxicating mix of riotous pandemonium and sublime beauty, from Old Delhi’s teeming streets, pungent spices, and glorious jumble of shops to the magnificent man-made wonder, the Taj Mahal. Rajasthan beckons with its irresistible lure of brilliant colors, scorching days, ghostly twilights, and the fiery spirit of its people.

Rudy Maxa’s World: Thailand

Explore all of Bangkok’s nooks and crannies. Get picture-taking tips from a photojournalist, and visit the fruit and vegetable markets where Thai cooking begins. In the heart of Thailand’s Golden Triangle, take an idyllic long-tailed boat ride along the Kok River, luxuriate in out-of-this-world guest houses and a tented resort, and go bargain hunting at the Night Market.

Shipwreck! Captain Kidd

This National Geographic documentary follows a group of underwater archaeologists as they explore the wreckage of the Quedagh Merchant– a 17th-century ship loaded with valuables from the East Indies that the notorious Captain Kidd captured and scuttled off the coast of Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic.

The Treaure of the Sierra Madre

Wrapped in a classic tale of adventure, this Academy Award winner helmed by John Huston follows a trio of gold prospectors who set out to strike it rich and agree to split the take … until paranoia and greed consumes one of them. Delivering superb performances as the three miners are Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt and Walter Huston, who copped a Best Supporting Actor Oscar while son John scored statuettes for his direction and screenplay. Not Rated (1948)

The Tudors: Season 3

The sexually insatiable King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) romances third wife Jane Seymour (Annabelle Wallis) and ruthlessly quashes an uprising of rebels protesting England’s break with Rome in the third season of Showtime’s Golden Globe-nominated historical drama. But dissension within his own ranks leads Henry to question the loyalty of his closest allies. Grammy winner Joss Stone joins the cast as Anne of Cleves, Henry’s fourth wife.  Not Rated

Weeds Season 5

Showtime’s hit dramedy lights up another season of good times after a tumultuous fourth-year finale that found suburban mom-turned-drug lord Nancy Botwin (Golden Globe winner Mary-Louise Parker) sharing some shocking news with Tijuana, Mexico, Mayor Esteban Reyes (Demián Bichir). While Andy (Justin Kirk) continues to wrestle with his feelings for Nancy, Shane (Alexander Gould) shows interest in taking up the family business. Not Rated

New Mystery Books – May 2010

Among Thieves David Hosp, M HOS – In the early hours of March 18, 1990, two men entered Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, tied up the guards, and escaped with 500 million dollars’ worth of paintings.  Based on a true story.

 

 

Apple Turnover Murder Joanne Fluke, M FLU – It’s June in Lake Eden, and for Hannah Swensen, that means bridal showers galore, a massive fundraising event and a killer who never learned that charity begins at home.

 

 

Death at the Alma Mater G.M. Malliet, M MAL – Detective St. Just is called in when the glamorous—and despised—Lexy Laurant is found strangled on the grounds of St. Michael’s College, Cambridge during a fundraising weekend.

 

 

Diary of a Confessions Queen Kathy Carmichael, M CAR – Seven years ago, Amy Crosby’s husband disappeared.  She presumes he’s dead, but when she begins legal proceedings to have him declared deceased, things take a chaotic turn.

 

 

The Double Comfort Safari Club Alexander McCall Smith, M MCCA – A wonderful new installment in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are traveling to a safari camp to carry out a delicate mission.

 

 

Drink the Tea Thomas Kaufman, M KAU – Street-kid Willis Gidney grows up to become a private investigator on the gritty streets of Washington, D.C.   Unfortunately, while investigating a missing person, he is accused of murder.

 

 

Eye of the Red Tsar Sam Eastland, M EAS – A decade after the assassinations of the Romanov family, former secret agent Pekkala is now Prisoner 4745-P and banished to a forest on the outskirts of humanity.

 

 

The God of the Hive Laurie R. King, M KIN – Shocking events force Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes to separate and go on the run, wanted by the police and pursued across the Continent by a ruthless enemy.

 

 

Haunt Me Still Jennifer Lee Carrell, M CAR – The author of Interred with Their Bones returns with a tale of an ancient web of murder that surrounds Shakespeare’s Macbeth,

 

 

Hazard Gardiner Harris, M HAR – Inspector Will Harris is sent to investigate a mining accident and told to clear things up quickly.  But Will senses something suspicious, and decides to follow through, whatever the cost.

 

 

Holly Blues Susan Wittig Albert, M ALB – Ex-lawyer and herbalist Chian Bayles finds that an unwelcome holiday guest creates a very thorny situation for her and her husband.

 

 

If the Dead Rise Not Philip Kerr, M KER – International corruption and dangerous double-dealing involve Bernie Gunther as he is caught in the tense atmosphere surrounding the German 1936 Olympics.

 

 

The Inheritance Simon Tolkien, M TOL – When a famed Oxford historian is found dead in his study one night, all the evidence points to his son, Stephen.

 

 

Known to Eviln Walter Mosley, M MOS – Leonid McGill knows something suspicious is going on as soon as the phone rings.  Alphone Rinaldo, New York’s ultimate fixer has a problem, and he is not someone that a private investigator can say no to.

 

 

Laughed ‘Til He Died Carolyn Hart, M HAR – Intrigue and foul play are no strangers to the  South Carolina sea island of Broward’s Rock.  Mystery bookstore owner Annie Darling and her husband Max are plunged into a web of danger and deceit.

 

 

A Murderous Procession Ariana Franklin, M FRA – The fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series finds Adelia Aguilar traveling with the King Henry II’s ten-year-old daughter to Palermo, Sicily for her wedding.

 

 

Naked Moon Domenic Stansberry, M STA – Before Dante Mancuso became a San Francisco private investigator, he worked for a secret corporate security firm.  When Dante left, it was not on good terms, buthis past is not quite over.

 

 

Off Track Clare Curzon, M CUR – Superintendent Mike Yeadings is confronted with the aftermath of a vicious and mistaken attack.  During his investigation, grim secrets of national importance begin to emerge.

 

 

Question of Belief Donna Leon, M LEO – The 19th Guido Brunetti mystery finds the stellar commissario longing for a vacation in the mountains, but forced to bake in the Venetian heat as a violent crime puts his vacation plans on hold.

 

 

Requiem In Vienna J. Sydney Jones, M JON – After a singer is killed during rehearsals at Vienna’s Court Opera, the evidence suggests something even more sinister: someone may be trying to murder the famous composer, Gustav Mahler.

 

 

The Shadow of Your Smile Mary Higgins Clark, M CLA – As the last of her line, Olivia Morrow knows that she faces a momentous choice: expose a long-held family secret, or it take it with her to the grave.

 

 

The Spellmans Strike Again Lisa Lutz, M LUT – The latest in the zany world of the Spellmans.  Former wild child Isabel has finally agreed to take over the family business.

 

 

The Spies of Sobeck P.C. Doherty, M DOH – It’s 1477 B.C. and treacherous forces are on the rise in Egypt.  Queen Hatusu’s Chief Judge Amerotke must confront murder and treason.

 

 

This Body of Death Elizabeth George, M GEO – On compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Thomas Lynley is called back to Scotland Yard when the body of a woman is found stabbed in an isolated London cemetery.

 

 

The Tulip Virus Daniëlle Hermans, M HER – A fast-paced mystery that revolves around real-life events surrounding the economic collapse of the tulip bubble in 17th century Holland.  Much later, in 2007, a murder seems to mirror an earlier one centuries before.

 

 

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag Alan Bradley, M BRA – Flavia de Luce who was featured in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie returns to untangle two deaths — separated by time, but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.

New Fiction Books – May 2010

American Taliban Pearl Abraham, F ABR – How does a young American man find himself drawn into an extreme form of Islam?

Arcadia Falls Carol Goodman, F GOO – Meg Rosenthal is driving toward the next chapter in her life. A fresh start at a boarding school in Arcadia Falls, New York, may not have the happy outcome she is hoping for.

The Barbary Pirates William Dietrich, F DIE – Swashbuckling American explorer and ladies’ man, Ethan Gage, finds himself in a desperate race with the Barbary Pirates for an ancient secret super weapon, the mirror of Archimedes.

Bone Fire Mark Spragg, F SPR – Ishawooa, Wyoming, is far from bucolic nowadays.  Sheriff Crance Carlson doesn’t need a reminder, but gets one anyway when he finds a young man murdered in a meth lab.

Born Under a Million Shadows Andrea Busfield, F BUS – Eleven-year-old Fawad, a charming Afghan boy has known more grief than most.  Ever the optimist, his hope for a better life is realized as his mother becomes a housekeeper for three western women.  Star reviews.

The Bradshaw Variations Rachel Cusk, F CUS – How do our choices, our loves and the family life we build, be an echo—a variation—of a theme played out in our own childhood?

Caught Harlan Coben, F COB – The story of a missing girl, the community stunned by her loss, the predator who may have taken her, and the reporter who suddenly realizes that she can’t trust her own instincts.

The Chester Chronicles Kermit Moyer, F MOY – Chet Patterson is an Army brat who grows up during the fifties and sixties.  A look at a time and place through the life of an astute observer.  Great reviews.

Claude and Camille: A Novel of Monet Stephanie Cowell, F COW – The story of the great impressionist painter and the love of his life.

Down to the Wire David Rosenfelt, F ROS – Chris Turley, reporter for a small paper, has several important scoops.  Soon, it seems that his luck at being at the right place at the right time is not a coincidence.

Every Last One Anna Quindlen, F QUI – Mary Beth Latham is a happily married woman with three teenage children.  When a shocking act of violence blindsides her, she must face those things that we fear the most.

Fragile Beasts Tawni O’Dell, F ODE – When their hard-drinking, but loving, father dies in a car accident, teenage brothers Kyle and Klint Hayes face a bleak future, but Candace Jack, their Pennsylvania town’s eccentric matriarch, offers them a home.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon Sarah Addison Allen, F ALL – When Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, she finds that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life.

The Line Olga Grushin, F GRU – The line begins to form on the whispered rumor that a famous exiled composer is returning to Russia to conduct his last symphony at an unknown date.  As a whole year progresses, the anonymous souls in the line become actual individuals.  Based on a true story.

Losing Charlotte Heather Clay, F CLA – Sisters Charlotte and Knox Bolling grew up intimately connected, but their bond frayed as one of them rebelled from their Kentucky upbringing.

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War Karl Marlantes, F MAR – Young Second Lieutenant Waino Mellas is dropped into an isolated, anonymous hill, dubbed the Matterhorn, between Laos and the DMZ to lead a rifle platoon of forty Marines.  The year: 1969.

Men and Dogs Katie Crouch, F CRO – In the spring of 1985, Hannah Legare’s much loved father disappears during a fishing trip.  Still haunted by his loss twenty years later, Hannah returns home to find out what really happened.

One Amazing Thing Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, F DIV – An earthquake rips through a passport and visa office in an unnamed American city, trapping nine assorted people.  As they struggle to survive, each one tells a tale from their life, that “one amazing thing.”

Pearl of China Anchee Min, F MIN – Based on the life of Pearl S. Buck and the story of  the friendship of a lifetime.

The Room  and the Chair Lorraine Adams, F ADA – Today’s dangerous world is portrayed through the portraits of the people involved in America’s global war.

The Sheen on the Silk Anne Perry, F PER – Arriving in ancient Constantinople in the year 1273, Anna Zarides has only one mission: to prove the innocence of her twin brother, Justinian who has been exiled to the desert

. Solar Ian McEwan, F MCE – The noted author examines Michael Beard, a renowned physicist who has begun to coast on his laurels, but who finds his personal life in shambles.

Think Twice Lisa Scottoline, F SCO – As identical twins, Bennie and Alice are very different.  At least that is what Bennie believes, until she is pushed to the extreme edge when Alice steals Bennie’s life and her identity.

A Week in December Sebastian Faulks, F FAU – London, the week before Christmas, 2007.  Over seven very eventful days, the author follows the lives of seven major characters.  By the author of Charlotte Gray.

Wild Ride Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer, F CRU – An entertaining paranormal novel that shows why the wildest ride at the Dreamland Amusement Park isn’t the roller coaster.

The Winter Thief Jenny White, F WHI – Istanbul, January 1888.  Magistrate Kamil Pasha tries to discover who’s behind the smuggled guns in the city’s port and why a bomb exploded in the Imperial Ottoman Bank.  Intrigue and spies abound during that waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

New CDs – April/May 2010

All In Good Time Barenaked Ladies, CD 781.66 BAR 2010 – 2010 album from the acclaimed multi-platinum Canadian Pop-Rock group, their first without co-vocalist Steven Page. Since their inception, they have racked up eight Juno awards and multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 14 million albums worldwide, written a plethora of hit singles and amassed an international fanbase whose members number in the millions. All In Good Time, their 11th studio album was produced by longtime collaborator Michael Phillip Wojewoda and mixed by Bob Clearmountain.

Emotion &  Commotion Jeff Beck, CD 781.66 BEC 2010 – For his first studio album in seven years, Grammy-winning guitarist Jeff Beck returns with an eclectic mix of tracks that find the guitar virtuoso accompanied by a handpicked cast of talented musicians, as well as several songs accompanied by a 64-piece orchestra. Rhino unleashes the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer s restless genius with EMOTION & COMMOTION.Beck recorded EMOTION & COMMOTION late last year at Sarm Studios in London with award-winning producers Steve Lipson and Trevor Horn. To create the album s diverse sound, Beck used a number of musicians, including appearances by frequent collaborators Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Jason Rebello (keyboards), and Tal Wilkenfeld (bass). The album also includes contributions from a trio of singers: Imelda May (‘Lilac Wine’), Olivia Safe (‘Elegy For Dunkirk’), and Grammy-winner Joss Stone (‘I Put A Spell On You’ and ‘There s No Other Me’).

A Reality Tour David Bowie, CD 781.66 BOW 2009 – Bowie fans can rejoice over the news that A REALITY TOUR is finally being released as a double-CD, an audio remastering of his hugely successful 2004 tour including three previously unreleased tracks from the concert: China Girl, Breaking Glass and Fall Dog Bombs The Moon.

Broken Bells Broken Bells, CD 781.66 BRO 2010 – Broken Bells is, The Shins’ James Mercer & Danger Mouse. Featuring “The High Road” and “The Ghost Inside” Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Danger Mouse.

Here Lies Love David Byrne, CD 781.63 BYR 2010 – ‘Here Lies Love’ is a 22 song double-disc song cycle – improbably poignant, decidedly surreal, surprisingly thought provoking – about the rise and fall of the Philippines’ notorious Imelda Marcos. It was conceived by David Byrne; composed by Byrne and British deejay/recording artist Fatboy Slim, a/k/a Norman Cook; and performed by a dream cast drawn from the worlds of indie rock, alt country, R&B and pop.

The Canadian Tenors The Canadian Tenors, CD 781.63 CAN 2009 – The Canadian Tenors have crisscrossed the globe thrilling millions of music lovers with their magical voices, their wonderful sense of humor, and their memorable music. The foursome have received rave reviews and standing ovations around the world from the Tel Aviv Opera house where they shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli to Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Coliseum with David Foster and Friends to Toronto s Air Canada Centre where they headlined at ONE NIGHT LIVE with STING and Sheryl Crow. They have performed over 80 concerts for over 150,000 people on three separate continents and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities as they share a passion for bringing awareness to impoverished children world-wide.

Genuine Negro Jig Carolina Chocolate Drops, CD 781.643 CAR 2010 – The Carolina Chocolate Drops are as much about revelation as revival. On its Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, the trio brings exuberance, humor, virtuosity and an infectious acoustic groove to its exploration of a near-forgotten brand of banjo-driven string-band music originating more than a century ago in the foothills of North Carolina, the Piedmont region where band members Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson were raised. In this rural area, musicians, both black and white, once shared and swapped tunes.

The Age of Miracles Mary Chapin Carpenter, CD 781.642 CAR 2010 – The Age of Miracles is the 3rd Zoe/Rounder release from world renowned singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter. The Age of Miracles has been a work in progress since 2007. The album is a personal exploration of regret and resilience but also a larger, more universal expression of wonder at the times we are living in. Carpenter is backed by an incredible band that includes Matt Rollings (piano, B-3 organ), Russ Kunkel (drums), Duke Levine (electric and acoustic guitar), Glenn Worf (bass), Dan Dugmore (steel and 12 string guitar) and Eric Darken (percussion). It also features guest vocals by Vince Gill and Alison Krauss.

American VI: Ain’t No Grave Johnny Cash, CD 781.642 CAS 2010 – American VI: Ain’t No Grave, is the sixth and final installment of Johnny Cash’s critically-acclaimed American Recordings album series. As with the previous five albums in the American Recordings series, American VI was produced by Rick Rubin. American VI is deeply elegiac and spiritual, with each song its own piece of the puzzle of life’s mysteries and challenges – the pursuit of salvation, the importance of friendships, the dream of peace, the power of faith, and the joys and adversities that entail simple survival. It is an achingly personal and intimate statement, as, from the end of the line, Johnny Cash looks back on a most extraordinary life.

The Pursuit Jamie Cullum, CD 781.65 CUL 2010 – This album contains tracks spanning across the Pop, Hip Hop and Jazz genres, including the lead single ‘I’m All Over It’, an outstanding take on Rihanna’s ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ and the spectacular ballad ‘Love Ain’t Gonna Let You Down’ as well as many more. Cullum mixes Jazz with melodic Pop and Rock into a crossover style that calls to mind such artists as Harry Connick, Jr., and Norah Jones. In that vein, Cullum will just as often cover a swinging Jazz standard as a modern Rock song, and his original compositions deftly move from earnest ballads to songs of sardonic wit.

The Open Door EP Death Cab for Cutie, CD 781.66 DEA 2009 – 2009 EP from the Indie favorites containing four new tracks and one unreleased demo. The band’s platinum selling album Plans was a huge success, which came after their DVD collection Directions, which sold over 30,000 copies. Following up those was no easy task, but Narrow Stairs has already been praised by MTV.com as the band’s most daring and adventurous effort to date. Now, although the four new tracks are a little different from those on the last album, The Open Door can be considered a companion piece to Narrow Stairs.

Big To-Do Drive-By Truckers, CD 781.66 DRI 2010 – ATO Records is pleased to announce the release of The Drive-By Truckers label debut, The Big To-Do. The album, which will be the band’s tenth in their thirteen-year career, is scheduled to be released March 16, 2010. The Big To-Do features thirteen new tracks from the Drive-By Truckers and was produced by their long time producer, David Barbe (Sugar, Bettye LaVette). ‘It s very much a rock album,’ says Patterson Hood of the Trucker s upcoming release. ‘Very melodic and more rocking than anything we ve done since disc 2 of Southern Rock Opera.’

Women and Country Jakob Dylan, CD 781.642 DYL 2010 – Women + Country is Jakob Dylan’s highly anticipated sophomore album following his critically acclaimed solo debut, Seeing Things. Women + Country is soulful yet striking, ripe with sublime beauty. Paired with Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe award winning producer T Bone Burnett (Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Crazy Heart) and joined with the stirringly rich vocals of Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Women + Country creates a compelling and powerful experience for the listener.

Fearless Love Melissa Etheridge, CD 781.66 ETH 2010 – Fearless Love, her triumphant tenth album, expands on the multiple strengths that have made Etheridge one of the most beloved figures in modern rock. It follows her revealing 2007 set The Awakening with a rousing tone at once tough and tender, as only Etheridge can be. It’s that force of presence that has earned her, among other accolades, the 2007 Academy Award for best original song (“I Need to Wake Up” from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth) and two Grammy Awards.

Irm Charlotte Gainsbourg, CD 781.63 GAI 2009 – January 26th, 2010 marks the Because Music / Elektra release of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s third studio album titled IRM. The title is derived from M.R.I, which reflects the medical procedure Charlotte had to go through after suffering a head injury in a water skiing accident in 2007. The album is Charlotte’s most personal to date, and is produced by acclaimed Grammy nominated artist/multi-instrumentalist Beck.

My Best Days Danny Gokey, CD 781.642 GOK 2010 – The debut Country album from the 8th season finalist of American Idol featuring the single “My Best Days are Ahead of Me”. During his bid for the Idol title, Gokey impressed the judges with his vocal versatility, but it was his buoyant personality and perseverance in the face of adversity that earned Gokey a special place in the hearts of Idol devotees.

Plastic Beach Gorillaz, CD 781.66 GOR 2010 – Five years on from the release of Demon Days, Murdoc Niccals and co. return with Plastic Beach. The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This Plastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet.

Somewhere Down the Road Amy Grant, CD 781.7 GRA 2010 – Amy Grant returns with a plethora of NEW music ! Somewhere Down The Road is a unique album full of 6 brand new songs, 2 previously unreleased songs, a new recoding of a classic song “Arms Of Love”, and rounded out with 3 of her best loved story-songs. The theme for the album is stories & journeys. Amy has always been a great storyteller and many of her most impactful songs have come from her own journey as she sings about the honesty of life, it’s joys and struggles, and ultimately the hope she has found in faith and love. The songs on Somewhere Down The Road read like journal entries that will resonate with anyone who grapples with wanting answers to life’s toughest questions.

Downtown Church Patty Griffin, CD 782.254 GRI 2010 – Hailed as one of Americana and folk music’s most esteemed artists, Patty Griffin has sold over a million records and was awarded with the Americana Music Association’s highest honor as “Artist Of The Year” in 2007. Griffin has received multiple Grammy nominations and has toured the country relentlessly, creating avid followers wherever her music is heard. She is a natural songbird that can hush an audience with her performances, but Griffin’s power is in her passionate storytelling with a voice that is mournful yet uplifting. Patty Griffin’s new album, Downtown Church, is a collection of Gospel-infused songs produced by longtime friend, bandmate and acclaimed producer Buddy Miller at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Downtown Church brings to life Gospel songs that have influenced contemporary music in a way that only Patty Griffin can do.

The Open Road John Hiatt, CD 781.66 HIA 2010 – Looking at life through the rearview mirror was the inspiration for John Hiatt s brand new album, The Open Road. A classic Hiatt record, the rockin songs sizzle with the heat from two-lane blacktop on a summer s day. Hiatt and his touring band (Kenny Blevins on drums, Patrick O Hearn on bass and Doug Lancio on guitars) recorded a set that gives Garage Rock a new meaning. All the other years, my songs are about coming home, Hiatt says. But within these 11 new songs including Haulin and the title track The Open Road home is never the destination.

Freight Train Alan Jackson, CD 781.642 JAC 2010 – After 20 years of writing and recording hit after hit, country music has become synonymous with Alan Jackson. The superstar has sold over 50 million albums and has claimed nearly 100 industry awards – including three CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards. Freight Train, Jackson’s 18th album was produced by longtime collaborator Keith Stegall and features 12 brand new songs, one of which is Jackson’s hot new single, “It’s Just That Way.” Eight of the album’s dozen tracks bear Jackson’s songwriting credit, including one he penned with Roger Murrah, with whom he wrote one of his biggest hits, “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.” In a moving tribute to the legendary Vern Gosdin, who passed away last year and for whom Jackson has long expressed admiration, Jackson enlisted Lee Ann Womack to record “Till the End,” Gosdin’s 1977 classic duet with Janie Fricke.

Black Ribbons Shooter Jennings, CD 781.642 JEN 2010 – Highly anticipated 2010 album from singer/songwriter Shooter Jennings. Black Ribbons features a unique collaboration between Jennings and best-selling author Stephen King. The 70-minute concept album sees King provide the voice of Will O’ The Wisp, a late-night talk show radio host who is in the last hour of his final broadcast before the airwaves is overtaken by ‘government-approved and regulated transmissions.’

Animal Ke$ha, CD 781.649 KE$ 2010 – 2010 debut album from the American singer/songwriter who achieved fame as featured vocalist on Flo Rida’s hit single ‘Right Round’. Animal was executive produced by Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, and Avril Lavigne) and includes collaborations with producers Max Martin and Benny Blanco. The album’s first smash single, ‘TiK ToK’, has had TV placements in the Project Runway promo spots, Melrose Place and So You Think Can Dance.

The Fame Monster Lady Gaga, CD 781.63 LAD 2009 – Says Lady Gaga, “In the midst of my creative journey composing The Fame Monster, there came an exciting revelation that this was in fact my sophomore album. I would not add, nor take away any songs from this EP, it is a complete conceptual and musical body of work that can stand on its own two feet. It doesn’t need The Fame.” “We may have an economy, but MUSIC HAS NO ECONOMY. I will release four or more singles from The Fame Monster, tour the world with The Monster Ball Tour, and most importantly I insist on honoring my fans with an affordable new album, an album that is as loyal to them, as they have been me.” “For those who do not have my debut album, there are a series of collectible double-disc editions that include both albums and artwork conceived by the Haus of Gaga in collaboration with our mentor Hedi Slimane. Hear the music, see the show, live and love yourself…Lady Gaga.”

Orchestrion Pat Metheny, CD 781.65 MET 2010 – Orchestrion was influenced by the primitive but evocative player-piano technology of yesteryear that has fascinated Metheny since he was a child. The player piano inspired inventors of that age to create the orchestrion, a large mechanical multi-instrument device that imitated the sound of an orchestra. Metheny brings this concept into the 21st century, composing and playing five ambitious pieces with his tailor-made, sophisticated, musically dynamic ensemble. Orchestrionics is what Metheny calls this new method of performing. The resulting album, recorded in midtown Manhattan s MSR studio after months of experimentation at home, is a marvel of the digital era, yet the record sounds beautifully, stirringly, human. In other words, timeless.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much Mika, CD 781.66 MIK 2009 – 2009 sophomore album, the follow-up to his multi-million selling debut, produced by Mika and Greg Wells (Katy Perry, P!nk). The Boy Who Knew Too Much features guest contributions by Imogen Heap and Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett, and contains the brilliant first single ‘We Are Golden’. The album straddles a line between childish na‹vet‚ and world-worn sophistication; Mika likens this transformation as the shift from childhood and his debut’s innocence to something more akin to adolescence. The arrangements are bigger and more beautiful than ever before, and the album is underpinned by an open-hearted and accepting idea of what living in the 21st century means in all its contradictory, complicated glory.

Still Standing Monica, CD 781.643 MON 2009 – Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award winning recording artist, Monica, is set to release her new album Still Standing on March 23, 2010. Producers joining her in the studio on the new project include Neyo, Missy Elliot, Jermaine Dupri, Brian Cox, Stargate, and Carlos McKinney.

My Dinosaur Life Motion City Soundtrack, CD 781.66 MOT 2009 – 2010 release from the American Punk Pop band. My Dinosaur Life marks the band’s major label debut and finds them reuniting with producer and friend Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, who first teamed up with the band when he produced their hit record Commit This to Memory. Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Sonic Youth) was brought in to mix the album and the end result is another step forward: 12 new songs that are lyrically contemplative and poignantly honest while still cleverly culturally astute and music that harkens back to early Motion City Soundtrack while employing the musicianship and maturity the band has gained over the past seven years.

The Outsiders Needtobreathe,CD 781.66 NEE 2009 – Needtobreathe’s third studio album, The Outsiders is slated for an August 25, 2009 release. Recorded from the end of 2008 through April 2009 with Jim Scott, John Alegia and Rick Beato, fans will be reintroduced to the versatility they knew from their previous album, The Heat. The Outsiders truly finds NEEDTOBREATHE coming into their own, seamlessly blending ambient, arena-ready soundscapes with a decidedly Southern sensibility.

Country Music Willie Nelson, CD 781.642 NEL 2010 – Willie Nelson goes back to his roots with a songbook of classic Americana. Country Music was recorded in Nashville, TN and produced by T Bone Burnett. Nelson wrote one track on the album, “Man With The Blues” and, with T Bone Burnett, co-arranged three traditional songs, “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down,” “I Am A Pilgrim,” and “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.” The album also features many popular old-time/bluegrass/folk songs including Ernest Tubb’s “Seaman’s Blues, Merle Travis’ “Dark As A Dungeon,” and Doc Watson’s “Freight Train Boogie”. Willie Nelson collaborated with many musicians on Country Music including old-time banjo master Riley Baugus, double bassist Dennis Crouch, and T Bone himself, all musicians featured on Raising Sand, the 2009 Grammy® award-winning Album of the Year by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

Have One on Me Joanna Newsom, CD 781.66 NEW 2010 – 2010 three CD release from the acclaimed singer/songwriter, the long-awaited follow-up to her album The Y’s. Featuring Ryan Francesconi and Neal Morgan from Joanna’s Ys Street Band, Have One On Me is an extravagantly packaged collection of fantastic new Joanna Newsom songs: her most colorful record to date. Joanna’s music has more of an affinity with the Folk revival of the ’60s, or the Bluegrass movement at present, than with most contemporary Folk (or Anti-Folk) scenes. Affinities aside, her style could hardly be called Bluegrass; nor does it evoke the pastoral tonalities of ’60s Folk: she sings about whalebones, sleep, grammar, mollusks, accumulation, automobiles, owls, burning boats, string collections, milk, teeth, bridges, balloons, cake, colors, and kin, all in an otherworldly, ragged-sweet voice that defies convention.

Now 33: That’s What I Call Music Various Artists, CD 781.63 NOW 2010 – 2010 release, the 33rd installment in this groundbreaking compilation series. To date, the NOW series has generated sales of over 200 million albums worldwide, and has sold over 74 million copies in the United States since its debut. Every album in the NOW series has reached the Billboard Top 10, and it is the only non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection to reach #1 Billboard status on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales Chart. 21 tracks including cuts from Kesha, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Young Money, Jay Sean and many others.

Ollusion Omarion, CD 781.643 OMA 2010 – Grammy® – nominated entertainer Omarion makes his long awaited return to the scene with his third studio album, Ollusion Throughout each record on the forthcoming release, Omarion showcases his growth as an artist and entertainer. Omarion is back with an updated sound and truly consistent album that proves he has grown up, as his fans have. The triple threat known for his vocal, dancing and acting abilities, penned and co-produced all of the songs on Ollusion.

Harmony The Priests, CD 782.22 PRI 2009 – 2009 sophomore albu from the singing global superstars who broke the Guinness world record for the fastest selling classical debut album of all time. The Priests, brothers Fathers Martin and Eugene O’Hagan and Father David Delargy, were young school friends when they first sang together at the age of 12 (Martin and David) and 15 (Eugene). Their love of singing continued whilst studying for the priesthood in Rome. Once ordained, all three took up parish commitments. Singing was both part of prayer plus, in their spare time, they performed in local operas, musicals and choirs. In February 2008, a record company scout knocked on their door and asked them to make a demo. The rest, as they say is history. The Priests never allow their music commitments to stand in the way of their day jobs and parish obligations.

Soldier of Love Sade, CD 781.643 SAD 2010 – Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. The highly anticipated new body of work SOLDIER OF LOVE features 10 new songs including the latest single, “Soldier Of Love”.

Here I Am Marvin Sapp, CD 781.642 NEL 2010 – An original member of Commissioned, Marvin Sapp is one of Gospel music’s most recognizable voices to date. In 2007, his fourth solo release Thirsty became a Gold Certified success, spurred on by the history-making lead single “Never Would Have Made It”. “Never Would Have Made It” was named the longest running #1 single at radio across all genres, spending more than 40 weeks in the top spot. Marvin’s new release Here I Am is a live recording that showcases the raw vocal abilities of the “pastor who sings”. The first single, “The Best In Me”, is already being hailed as an inspirational classic.

Volume Two She & Him, CD 781.66 SHE 2010 – What began as a fascinating, no-strings-attached collaboration on 2008’s Volume One has evolved into a bona fide, touring band, and She & Him are here to stay. Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward are a comfortable and complementary musical pair; hearing them again on Volume Two feels like getting together with two old friends. This time, the harmonies have grown more angelically layered, the string arrangements more dramatic, the songwriting even sharper and more confident. All songs (except 4 and 7) written by Zooey Deschanel. Produced by M. Ward.

Slash Slash, CD 781.66 SLA 2010 – “Slash”, Slash’s first solo release, is a collection of new songs written in partnership with some of the most notable and legendary artists in music. After first enlisting the services of producing partner Eric Valentine (Queens of Stone Age, The All-America n Rejects), Slash compiled a premier rhythm section in bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nai ls). The album features an all-star roster of guest musicians including Ian Astbury of The Cult, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca , Fergie, Dav e Grohl, Myles Kennedy of Alterbridge, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmeister of Motorhead, Ada m Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKaga n, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockda le of Wolfmother. Slash handled the majority of arranging and song writing duties and handpicked each guest artist to collaborate with on rounding out each track.

The Cricket’s Orchestra Meaghan Smith, CD 781.63 SMI 2009 – The Cricket’s Orchestra, the full-length debut album from acclaimed Canadian musician Meaghan Smith, is the follow-up to Smith’s highly acclaimed 2008 EP The Cricket’s Quartet, which The Washington Post declared as ”…one of the best finds of late ’08.”

Tonight TobyMac, CD 781.7 TOB 2010 – TobyMac’s new record TONIGHT is the highly anticipated follow up to the best-selling album Portable Sounds. Continuing Toby’s unique ability to blend musical influences TONIGHT has an amazing mix of rock, pop, urban and hip hop sounds and styles. It features the smash hit single “City On Our Knees”

True Blood Original TV Soundtrack, CD 781.546 TRU 2009 – Elektra Records and HBO have joined forces to put together a riveting collection of songs that connect TRUE BLOOD fans with the hit HBO series. The TRUE BLOOD soundtrack includes the show theme song ‘Bad Things’ by Jace Everett and features artists such as C.C Adcock, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams, Allen Toussaint, The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Watson Twins and more. The songs featured on the soundtrack were included in Season 1 of the series.

Raymond v. Raymond Usher, CD 781.643 USH 2010 – 2010 release, the seventh album from the multi-million selling R&B artist. Following the success of his platinum selling 2008 release Here I Stand, Raymond v Raymond takes you on a journey through the dichotomy of man. Raymond v Raymond opens up another chapter of Usher’s coming of age as he tells the story of balancing the challenges of day to day life as an evolving man while jumping back on the scene as a sex symbol and fearless superstar entertainer. With the help of some of the biggest producers in music including Polow Da Don, Jim Jonsin (Lollipop), Danja (Sober), and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raymond v Raymond is sure to paint a vivid portrait of growth, triumph, defeat and happiness.

In the Dark The Whigs, CD 781.66 WHI 2010 – With their stunning third album, In The Dark, The Whigs have gone widescreen. Bursting with energy, emotion, and unpredictable experimentation, the Athens, GA-based trio tear open the artistic envelope, bringing both nuance and eclectic strength to songs like ‘Hundred/Million’ and the raucous first single, ‘Kill Me Carolyne’. In The Dark is both atmospheric and ambitious, without losing the pedal-to-the-metal power that earned them universal praise as one of America’s finest young Rock ‘n’ Roll bands. Both an accessible album and one that captures the band’s on-stage passion (something that has become synonymous with the band’s live show), In The Dark reveals another layer in the band’s songwriting and highlights what fans and critics have fallen in love with.

Under Great White Northern Lights The White Stripes, CD 781.66 WHI 2010 – In the summer of 2007, shortly after the release of their 6th album ‘Icky Thump’, The White Stripes headednorth of their hometown of Detroit to embark on an ambitious journey across Canada. White called upon filmmaker Emmett Malloy to come and document this trek for the band. Malloy had directed videos for the band in the past, and seemed eager to hit the road with them. Equipped with a couple of 16mm cameras, and a few other documenting devices, the band and crew all headed north. The end result was ‘Under Great White Northern Lights’. ‘Under Great White Northern Lights’ is a visual and emotional feature length film documenting The White Stripes making their way through Canada and culminating with their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia. The film documents the band playing shows all over Canada; from local bowling alleys, to city buses, and onward to the legendary Savoy Theater for the 10th Anniversary show.

I Got Your Country Right Here Gretchen Wilson, CD 781.642 WIL 2010 – Multi-Platinum recording artist Gretchen Wilson exploded onto the country music scene with her smash hit Redneck Woman and has since scored three No 1 albums with ‘Here for the Party’, ‘All Jacked Up’ and ‘One of the Boys’. She recently left her long time record label home at Sony music and started her own Redneck Records label. Her first single, Work Hard, Play Harder, is reminiscent of the music that first brought her to national and international prominence. Her first album on Redneck Records is entitled ‘I Got Your Country Right Here’ and will hit stores March 30, 2010.

IrmCharlotte GainsbourgCD 781.63 GAI 2009January 26th, 2010 marks the Because Music / Elektra release of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s third studio album titled IRM. The title is derived from M.R.I, which reflects the medical procedure Charlotte had to go through after suffering a head injury in a water skiing accident in 2007. The album is Charlotte’s most personal to date, and is produced by acclaimed Grammy nominated artist/multi-instrumentalist Beck.

New Releases on DVD – March and April 2010

According to Greta

Dumped on her grandparents (Ellen Burstyn and Michael Murphy) for the summer by her indifferent mother (Melissa Leo), acerbic and self-destructive teenager Greta (Hilary Duff) disrupts the elderly couple’s staid life on the Jersey Shore in this coming-of-age melodrama. But eventually, a romance with a charming short-order cook (Evan Ross) and the unconditional love of her grandparents help Zoe face down her demons. Rated PG-13

Adam

When beautiful teacher Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into a nearby apartment, strangely awkward Adam (Hugh Dancy), who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, breaks through his limited social abilities and flirts with the young woman in this moving romance. Beth responds to Adam’s unusual courtship, and as they overcome the obstacles to intimacy, they learn how to face life’s other challenges. Max Mayer directs, while Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving co-star. Rated PG-13

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) are back, along with their careworn manager, Dave (Jason Lee), and this time they have competition: The Chipettes (Anna Faris, Christina Applegate and Amy Poehler), hired by Dave’s nemesis, Ian Hawke (David Cross). Cameron Richardson, Zachary Levi and Wendie Malick also lend their voice talents for this good-time live-action/CGI sequel. Rated PG

Bad Lieutenant

Corrupt Det. Terence McDonaugh (Nicolas Cage) — whose bad habits include pain drugs, reckless sports gambling and accepting sexual bribes — investigates the murder of five Senegalese illegal immigrants in New Orleans. Co-starring Val Kilmer as McDonaugh’s partner, Xzibit as drug supplier Big Fade and Eva Mendes as prostitute Frankie Donnenfield, director Werner Herzog’s action drama is a loose update of Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film, Bad Lieutenant. Rated R

Birdie & Bogey

Birdie urges her father, Danny, to once again play on the PGA tour. But just when things are going well, Birdie’s life is threatened by a deadly disease and Danny must find the strength to carry on. Cast: Janine Turner, Mike Norris, Carey Scott, Sheree J. Wilson, Amanda Alch. Not Rated

The Blind Side

Oversized African American Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Sean (Tim McGraw), Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL. Bullock’s performance garnered a Best Actress Oscar nomination and Best Actress Golden Globe Award. Kathy Bates co-stars. Rated PG-13

The Box

A disfigured NASA employee named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) informs Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis that they have 24 hours to decide if they want to push a button inside a box that will give them a cool million — but a complete stranger will die at the same time. Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) writes and directs this thriller based on sci-fi writer Richard Matheson’s short story. Rated PG-13

Brothers

When severely traumatized Capt. Sam Cahill (Golden Globe nominee Tobey Maguire) returns home alive from a military mission in Afghanistan after he was presumed dead, he learns that his brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), has gotten dangerously close to his grieving wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and his kids. Mare Winningham and Sam Shepard also star in this wartime drama about human frailty and battles fought on the home front. Jim Sheridan directs. Rated R

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Things get freaky fast for 16-year-old Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia) when his friend (Josh Hutcherson) takes him to a circus that’s chockfull of sideshow oddities. There, he meets vampire Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) and receives a life-changing bite on the neck. As the newest member of the mysterious Cirque du Freak troupe, Darren keeps company with Madame Truska (Salma Hayek) and sparks a war between the vampires and their rivals. Rated PG-13

Cold Souls

Paul Giamatti stars as himself, an actor in the throes of anxiety over an upcoming performance — until he gives his soul to a mysterious company that promises to freeze and store it until he wants it again, along with his anxieties. But when his soul goes missing, Giamatti embarks on a journey to track it down. Along the way he learns a thing or two about engaging every human emotion, however difficult. Sophie Barthes directs. Rated PG-13

The Damned United

Arrogant Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) helms England’s soccer champs Leeds United in 1974 alongside confidant and assistant manager Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), but he manages to bungle the deal in a mere 44 days, winding up fired. Written for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and based on David Peace’s critically acclaimed novel, this fictionalized account of the notorious sports legend co-stars Jim Broadbent. Rated R

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

After witnessing a murder, high-powered — and estranged — wife Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and husband Paul (Hugh Grant) Morgan must say good-bye to sophisticated Manhattan when they enter the witness protection program together and land in Wyoming. At odds, they attempt to adjust to small-town life in this charming comedy that also stars Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen and Elisabeth Moss. Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) writes and directs. Rated PG-13

An Education

Jenny’s (Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan) Oxford-bound teen life is undistinguished in 1961 London until she’s given a different kind of education after being immersed in the beguiling but hazardous world of cultured and much-older David (Peter Sarsgaard). Even Jenny’s father, Jack (Alfred Molina), is intrigued by him, but her school’s unimpressed headmistress (Emma Thompson) works to keep Jenny’s entire future from crumbling under David’s influence. Rated PG-13 (2009)

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

When Mr. Fox’s nightly raids on three nearby farms raise the ire of the selfish farmers, he must outwit the men’s increasingly outrageous plans to catch him in this animated adaption of the Roald Dahl book. As the farmers’ schemes take a toll on his hungry family, Mr. Fox must find a new way to get his paws on the bounty. Wes Anderson directs, and George Clooney and Bill Murray lend their voice-over talents in this Oscar nominee. Rated PG

The Informant

While gathering evidence against his employer, ADM in Decatur, Ill., to help the FBI build a price-fixing conspiracy case, wealthy, affable executive Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon, in a Golden Globe-nominated role) begins to piece together a fantasy world of his own. Based on Kurt Eichenwald’s acclaimed nonfiction book about a true-life Corporate America whistle-blower, Steven Soderbergh’s dark comedy co-stars Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey. Rated R

Men Who Stare at Goats

Journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) latches onto an unbelievable story in Iraq when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man of mysterious origins who reveals he was a “warrior monk” trained by the U.S. Army to develop psychic powers. Jeff Bridges co-stars as Lyn’s mentor, the man who dreamed up the top-secret operation. Kevin Spacey and Rebecca Mader co-star in this Grant Heslov-helmed wild spoof. Rated R

Motherhood

Financially strapped Eliza Welch (Uma Thurman) wants to throw her 6-year-old daughter a great birthday party, but all of Manhattan, her goofy dog, and her 2-year-old dynamo of a son seem to be conspiring against her. Besides the pressure of the party, Eliza must battle an invasive film crew, fend off a flirtatious messenger boy and keep up appearances at the playground. Katherine Dieckmann directs; Minnie Driver and Anthony Edwards co-star. Rated PG-13

New Moon

In this sequel to Twilight directed by Chris Weitz (American Pie), Forks, Wash., resident Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is reeling from the departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and finds comfort in her friendship with Jacob Black, a werewolf (Taylor Lautner). But before she knows it, she’s thrust into a centuries-old conflict, and her desire to be with Edward at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks. Rated PG-13

Old Dogs

On the verge of a game-changing business deal, a divorced dad (Robin Williams) and his womanizing best friend and partner (John Travolta) are thrown for a loop when they’re tasked with caring for a rambunctious pair of 6-year-old twins. Helmed by Walt Becker, this family comedy also stars Seth Green, Kelly Preston, Matt Dillon, Rita Wilson and Bernie Mac, in his final big-screen appearance. Rated PG

The Other Man

Over dinner, Peter’s (Liam Neeson) wife, Lisa (Laura Linney), essentially reveals that she’s been cheating on him — and then disappears the following day. Obsessed with learning the details, Peter tracks down Ralph (Antonio Banderas), Lisa’s lover. Believing Ralph doesn’t know who he is, Peter plays little games with him in an effort to quell his own despair. Rated R

Pirate Radio

In 1966, hard-partying British DJs have the time of their lives running a radio station on a ship in the North Sea, broadcasting generation-defining (but banned) music to millions. The crew includes Quentin (Bill Nighy), the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Gavin (Rhys Ifans) and Dave (Nick Frost). But they face getting shut down by Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh). Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directs. Rated R

Precious

Viciously abused by her mother (a riveting, Oscar-winning Mo’Nique) and pregnant by her father, Harlem teen Precious Jones (Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe) has an unexpected chance at a different life when she enrolls in an alternative school. Teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) encourages her, but Precious must battle unimaginable barriers everywhere in her life. Lee Daniels directs this drama that features appearances by Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz. Rated R

Princess and the Frog

Down in New Orleans during the fabulous Jazz Age, young Princess Tiana (voice of Anika Noni Rose) searches for true love and comes face-to-face with snooty debutante Charlotte (Jennifer Cody), ancient voodoo priestess Mama Odie (Jennifer Lewis) and the evil Dr. Facilier (Keith David). But with the help of her mother (Oprah Winfrey), a crooning alligator and other friends, Tiana’s fairy-tale dreams may come true after all in this Oscar nominee. Rated G

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

When her husband (Alan Arkin), who’s 30 years her senior, relocates the family to a retirement community, flawless wife and mother Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) slides toward a nervous breakdown as she reflects on her tumultuous past and befriends her neighbor’s enigmatic son (Keanu Reeves). With a powerful cast that also includes Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder, this pensive drama is adapted from director Rebecca Miller’s novel of the same name. Rated R

A Serious Man

Larry Gopnik (Golden Globe nominee Michael Stuhlbarg) has hit a “rough patch,” according to a colleague, and it would seem so: people are dropping dead all around him, his wife (Sari Lennick) wants a “get” and his whining kids (Aaron Wolff and Jessica McManus) only add to the heavy load. Larry is just looking for some help. Can a few rabbis guide him to life’s answers? Richard Kind co-stars in Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s 1960s-set, dark Jewish-culture send-up.

Serious Moonlight

When Louise (Meg Ryan) discovers that her husband, Ian (Timothy Hutton), is about to run off to Paris with a much younger woman, Sara (Kristen Bell), she does what any self-respecting wife would do: She duct-tapes him to the toilet, which is where he remains when their home is burglarized. Rated R

Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey Jr., in a Golden Globe-winning role, stars as the legendary London sleuth Sherlock Holmes, joined by Jude Law as Dr. Watson, in this Guy Ritchie-helmed reinvention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective series. Based on a comic book by producer Lionel Wigram, the story follows Holmes and Watson as they face off against the villainous Blackwood (Mark Strong). Rachel McAdams co-stars as sharp beauty Irene Adler. Rated PG-13

2012

When typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters suddenly threaten to destroy the world, Jackson (John Cusack), his estranged wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), and others surmise that the secret may lie in ancient Mayan prophecies that describe global calamity in the year 2012. Roland Emmerich co-writes and directs a star-studded ensemble cast that also includes Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Danny Glover. Rated PG-13

Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) racks up miles flying around the country firing employees on behalf of companies. But he faces losing the job he savors to recent college grad Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) — and losing the ability to escape emotional ties to anything. A connection he builds with Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), however, might change his outlook on the future. Golden Globe winner Jason Reitman’s smart comedy also stars Jason Bateman. Rated R

Where The Wild Things Are

Max (Max Records) imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts — Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander — crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways. Producer Tom Hanks and director Spike Jonze bring Maurice Sendak’s whimsical story to life; James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Forest Whitaker and Catherine O’Hara lend their talents. Rated PG

New DVDs: TV Series, Nonfiction and Feature Length Films – March and April 2010

All That Jazz

Bob Fosse’s autobiographical film celebrates the raunchy underbelly of show business. Successful director-choreographer Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) is at the top of the Broadway heap. But he stands powerless as his world slowly collapses around him; his obsession with work has almost destroyed his personal life, and only his bottles of Dexedrine keep him going. Soon, it’s clear Gideon will have to make a choice — his art or his life. (1979) Rated R

An Angel for May

When Tom (Matthew Beard), a boy living in contemporary Yorkshire, is swept through a time warp with his dog, he arrives in World War II-era England and meets May (Charlotte Wakefield), a girl suffering from the trauma of losing her family during a bomb strike. As Tom tries to find his way back to his own time, the two form a bond that teaches both some important lessons. Tom Wilkinson co-stars in this heartwarming family drama. (2002) Not Rated

The Belle of Amherst

Julie Harris reprises her Tony Award-winning Broadway role as 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson in this one-woman interpretation of the great literary figure’s life. Against the backdrop of Dickinson’s 19th century Amherst, Mass., home, Harris declaims from the reclusive poet’s poems, letters and diaries to offer a delicate portrait of the artist as both a real human being and long-suffering genius. (1976) Not rated

Big Love: The Complete Third Season

After a tumultuous year that saw the Hendrickson family exposed as polygamists — and Roman (Harry Dean Stanton) exposed as the snitch — Bill (Bill Paxton) and his trio of wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin) have regrouped for a third season of this Best Drama Emmy nominee. Roman has been arrested; his son (Matt Ross) has stepped in to fill his shoes; and Barb has joined the board of the family business. TV-MA

Billy Elliot

When 11-year-old Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) trades boxing school for ballet lessons, his father (Gary Lewis) — a hardworking miner from Northern England who despises the idea of his son running around in toe shoes — is less than pleased. But when the boy wins an audition for the Royal Ballet School, he experiences a change of heart. Stephen Daldry directs this Oscar-nominated drama that spawned a Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name. (2000) Rated R

The Bridges of Madison County

When her family is off at the state fair, vaguely discontented Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep) meets National Geographic shutterbug Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood), who’s in Madison County to shoot Iowa’s covered bridges. What begins as a guarded friendship soon erupts into an intense affair that rekindles Francesca’s forgotten passions. But she finds her emotions in conflict when the time comes to choose her future. (1995) Rated PG-13

Broken Arrow

When rogue stealth-fighter pilot Vic Deakins (John Travolta) deliberately drops off the radar while on maneuvers, the Air Force ends up with two stolen nuclear warheads — and Deakins’s co-pilot, Riley Hale (Christian Slater), is the military’s only hope for getting them back. Traversing the deserted canyons of Utah, Hale teams with park ranger Terry Carmichael (Samantha Mathis) to put Deakins back in his box. But can they pull it off? (1996) Rated R

A Chorus Line

Based on the smash hit Broadway musical with a score by Marvin Hamlisch and starring Michael Douglas, A Chorus Line tells the story of a group of young dancers auditioning for a part in a new show. It includes such song hits as “What I Did for Love,” “Dance 10, Looks 3” and “At the Ballet.” The stage version won many Tony Awards and even a Pulitzer Prize. (1985) Rated PG-13

Easter Parade

Judy Garland and Fred Astaire sing and trip the light fantastic to 17 Irving Berlin tunes in this romantic classic. The simple plot concerns a hoofer (Astaire) who teams with an inexperienced chorus girl (Garland) in order to show up his former dance partner, Nadine (Ann Miller). Berlin’s tunes, which include “We’re a Couple of Swells” and “Happy Easter,” sparkle in Astaire and Garland’s able hands (and feet). Peter Lawford co-stars. (1948) Not Rated

Fargo

Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her turn as pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson — a serious sleuth who’s sharper than her folksy accent suggests — in this black comedy. William H. Macy co-stars as a car dealer who conspires with hotheaded kidnappers (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife (Kristin Rudrüd) so he can pocket part of the hefty ransom. (1996)  Rated R

Five Easy Pieces

Jack Nicholson, a promising concert pianist, chucks it all to work on a California oil rig.  Years later he returns home to confront the cultured and dysfunctional family he left behind when he learns his father is ill.  (1970) Rated R

For Me and My Gal

Judy Garland puts Gene Kelly (in his MGM screen debut) through his musical paces in this tuneful delight about a couple of vaudeville hoofers on the rise. But things go inconveniently dark when America enters World War I and Kelly gets his draft notice to report for duty. Will he dodge the draft now that stardom is just within reach? Includes the title tune (a great duet for Judy and Gene) and “Ballin’ the Jack.” Busby Berkeley directs. Not rated (1942)

G.I. Jane

Ridley Scott directs this intense look at Lt. Jordan O’Neil (Demi Moore), a Navy topographer chosen as a litmus test for women in combat. O’Neil enters the elite but punishing Navy SEALs force — though with its 60% dropout rate, no one actually expects her to succeed. Watch as a steely-nerved and tightly muscled Moore attempts to prove everyone wrong. Viggo Mortensen co-stars as a crusty instructor who dishes out the grueling training regime. (1997) Rated R

Glee: Season One, Volume One: Road to Sectionals

High school Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) agrees to take over the school’s glee club, whose misfit members are eager to reverse the group’s reputation as the worst in the country. Featuring several musical numbers in each episode, the Golden Globe-winning series also stars Chris Colfer as drama queen Kurt, Amber Riley as diva Mercedes, Cory Monteith as quarterback Finn and Lea Michele as perfectionist Rachel. Vol. 1 includes the first half of Season 1.

Goodnight Mister Tom

Bitter old Tom Oakley (John Thaw) is transformed after taking in young war refugee William Beech (Nick Robinson), who’s evacuated to Tom’s village during the London blitz in this affecting Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s novel. Ill-tempered Tom grudgingly agrees to harbor Willie and slowly coaxes the cheerless boy from his shell as the two form an unlikely bond. But Willie’s joy is shattered when his mother beckons him home. Not Rated

A Greater Yes: The True Story of Amy Newhouse

After climbing Pampa High School’s popularity chain, taking her volleyball team to the state championship, and founding the school’s first drug-, alcohol- and violence-free club, Amy Newhouse must now fight the biggest battle of her life — cancer. Not Rated (2008)

Herb and Dorothy

Chronicling the story of unlikely art collectors Herb Vogel and Dorothy Vogel, filmmaker Megumi Sasaki demonstrates that it’s not necessary to be wealthy in order to build a significant collection in this fascinating documentary. A postal clerk and a librarian, the Vogels share a passion for art, which they pursued over decades, becoming two of the most important collectors of minimalist and conceptual art with more than 4,000 pieces.

The Hex: The Complete First Season

Shy teenager Cassie (Christina Cole) dreams of hanging out with the popular kids at her British boarding school, but has to make due with her best friend and fellow outcast, Thelma (Jemima Rooper). Everything changes, however, when Cassie discovers she’s descended from an ancient supernatural clan and is drawn into a dangerous yet intriguing world. Michael Fassbender, Amber Sainsbury and Jamie Davis co-star in this gothic fantasy from England. (2004) Not Rated

Inside the Pentagon

The Pentagon is the military nerve center of the United States, reaching out to far-flung battlefields with information, technology and a culture that permeates more of America and the world than many realize. This National Geographic documentary depicts the Pentagon’s 58-year history, taking viewers into the restricted inner workings of the Pentagon, and includes coverage of the response following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. (2002)

Ironweed

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep star in this moody Depression-era drama about Francis Phelan, a former pro baseball player haunted by his past and now living the squalid life of a nomadic drunk. Crippled by guilt and sorrow, Phelan reunites with his erstwhile lover and drinking pal (Streep) on the bleak streets of 1938 Albany, N.Y. Hector Babenco directs this Oscar-nominated adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Kennedy. Rated R (1987)

Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?

In this engaging discussion on moral and political philosophies, professor and author Michael Sandel invites you into his Harvard University classroom to spark debate on long-standing beliefs about democracy, equality, justice and more. A popular course at Harvard, Justice applies the philosophies of Aristotle, Kant and others to modern-day dilemmas such as same-sex marriage, affirmative action, surrogate motherhood, loyalty and human rights. (2009)

The Last Brickmaker in America

Haunted by the death of his wife and the obsolescence of his life’s work, brickmaker Henry Cobb’s (Sidney Poitier) existence is invigorated when he becomes the unexpected mentor to a troubled 13-year-old boy (Cody Newton). Helmed by Gregg Champion, this touching made-for-television drama also stars Jay O. Sanders and Wendy Crewson as Danny’s self-centered parents, Mike and Karen Potter. Rated PG (2001)

A Leap of Faith

Rick and Lindsay meet at a rehabilitation camp for the blind, they each have a challenge to overcome.  Lindsay is coping with blindness, and Rick must prove that he can be trusted.  Although they clash at first, it isn’t long before they are leaning on each other for strength. Not rated (1995)

Lost Episodes of Victor Borge: Volume 1

Lost Episodes of Victor Borge: Volume 2

Victor Borge in all his glory, these are comedy routines from Borge’s TV specials never before released on home video.

Lovejoy: The Complete Season Six

Sharp-eyed antiques dealer and sleuth Lovejoy (Ian McShane) has his hands full in the sixth and final season of this popular BBC mystery series, which finds both Charlotte (Caroline Langrishe) and Tinker (Dudley Sutton) disappearing in separate instances. Lovejoy also runs afoul of a loan shark, searches for a priceless samurai sword, tangles with the police yet again, and finds himself torn between two women.  Not Rated

Lovejoy: The Christmas Specials

Even shady antiques dealers have to deal with Christmas, and Lovejoy (Ian McShane) is no exception. But when it involves a savage attack, a hunt in Prague and a mission to clear a name in North Carolina, holiday cheer takes on a whole new meaning. (1992 and 1993) Not Rated

Mrs. Winterbourne

Pregnant 18-year-old Connie (Ricki Lake) has been kicked out by her boyfriend. On a train, she meets Hugh Winterbourne (Brendan Fraser) and his pregnant wife, Patricia (Ricki Lake again). When the train wrecks and Connie wakes up in the hospital — mistaken for the widowed Patricia — Hugh’s mother (Shirley MacLaine) takes her in. Playing along with the charade, Connie soon falls in love with Hugh’s twin brother, Bill (Brendan Fraser again).  Rated PG-13 (1996)

Prizzi’s Honor

Jack Nicholson stars as dim-bulb Mafia hit man Charley Partanna, who falls hard for sultry freelance killer-for-hire Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner). But the lovebirds are facing double trouble: The woman Charley jilted — Maerose Prizzi (Anjelica Huston), the don’s daughter — desperately wants her man back, and Irene happens to have pilfered a boatload of Prizzi dough! Huston snagged a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her venomous portrayal. Rated R (1985)

Pulp Fiction

A burger-loving hit man (John Travolta), his philosophical partner (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster’s moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper fueled by director and co-writer Quentin Tarantino’s whip-smart dialogue. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time, resulting in one of the most audacious and imitated films of the 1990s. Rated R (1994)

The Sixth Day

Ah-nuld” is back and brawnier than ever! This time, Schwarzenegger is a helicopter pilot who finds himself on the “To Do” list of a murderous tycoon (Tony Goldwyn). The good news is that the hit gets botched. The bad news is that Goldwyn has cloned Arnold, who must fight to get his life back. An action-packed spin on the ethical quandary of cloning, The 6th Day is future-perfect. RatedPG-13 (2000)

Smart Start Yoga

Instructors, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman use several guided chair and standing yoga poses as well as a seated meditation session to help restore calm and can be used anywhere at anytime.

Something to Sing About

Tommy (Darius McCrary) worries that he’ll never get a break. An ex-con with the voice of an angel, Tommy finds his luck changing when Memaw (Irma P. Hall), a kindly grandmother who hears him singing one day, takes him in. Soon, he’s found God, lands a job and has a chance for his big singing break. He’s also caught the eye of Memaw’s beautiful granddaughter. But Tommy’s old friend doesn’t believe he’s changed, and he must fight for his new life. Not Rated (2000)

Sophie’s Choice

Aspiring author Stingo (Peter MacNicol) shares a Brooklyn boarding house with winsome Polish émigré Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her mercurial lover, Nathan (Kevin Kline) — a union unsettled by Nathan’s violent behavior and Sophie’s disturbing recollections of her wartime experience. Stingo uncovers the truth about Sophie, however, when her accounts of her stint at a Nazi concentration camp unravel, laying bare the real source of her torment. Rated R (1982)

Station Jim

Train station porter Bob Gregson (Charlie Creed-Miles) finds a stray dog he dubs Station Jim. Soon, the pup is a favorite among the local orphanage children. So when the orphanage is threatened by closure, Station Jim must help save the facility with a few dog tricks of his own. But can Jim do all this and foil a plot against the queen? Laura Fraser and Thomas Sangster co-star in this family film set in Victorian England. Not Rated (2001)

Vanilla Sky

David Aames (Tom Cruise) has it all: wealth, good looks and a gorgeous woman (Cameron Diaz) on his arm. But just when he’s found true love with warmhearted Sofia (Penélope Cruz), his face is horribly disfigured in a car accident, and he loses everything … or does he? Director Cameron Crowe delivers a bizarre yet beautiful take on love, beauty and morality inspired by Alejandro Amenábar’s Spanish-language film Open Your Eyes, also starring Cruz. Rated R (2001)

The Warrior 

After venturing into China on a diplomatic mission, a group of Korean envoys is captured, accused of espionage and sent to a remote desert to die. Refusing to accept their fate, they make their way back to Korea. That journey leads to the rescue of a beautiful Ming princess (Ziyi Zhang) and a fierce battle with bloodthirsty Mongol warriors. Sung-su Kim directs this lavish production, one of the most expensive in the history of Korean film.     Rated R (2001)

Windows 7  for Dummies

Teaches how to use Windows 7, including how to keep track of files, create music CDs, fix common problems, and customize a Windows 7 desktop. (2009)

Yanks

Acclaimed director John Schlesinger stages this epic romance across the dramatic backdrop of World War II. Stationed in England at the end of the war, three American soldiers (Richard Gere, William Devane and Chick Vennera) find romance with three local women: Jean Moreton (Lisa Eichhorn), Helen (Vanessa Redgrave) and Mollie (Wendy Morgan). Jazz fans should keep an eye out for singer Annie Ross in a brief role as a bus driver. Rated R (1979)

New Nonfiction Books – April 2010

Ancient Greece: A History in Eleven Cities Paul Cartledge, 938 CAR 2009 – Ancient Greek civilization was defined by the city—around 1,000 cities then existed. This is its most enduring legacy along with the concepts of aristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny and democracy.

As If an Enemy’s Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution Richard Archer, 973.3 ARC 2010 – On October 1, 1768, British troops landed in Boston and occupied the city for seventeen months.  The presence of these troops caused a symbolic and psychological shift of profound consequence.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine Michael Lewis, 330.973 LEW 2010 – When the crash of the U.S. Stock market became public knowledge in the fall of 2008, it was already old news.  The real crash had already taken place in the bond and real estate derivative markets.

Blood, Iron, and Gold: How the Railroads Transformed the World Christian Wolmar, 385.09 WOL 2010 – The railroad truly marked the dawn of a new age.  The birth of the railroads changed the face of the world and the way people lived.

Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw’s Adventures in Moonshine Max Watman, 363.41 WAT 2010 – A lively look at the characters who make up white whiskey’s lore throughout American history.  The story begins in Monongahela, PA where drunk and armed outlaws gathered in the summer of 1794.

Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory Peter Hessler, 951.96 HES 2010 – A look at the new China as the automobile and new roads are transforming the nation.  Over a period of years, the author drove 7,000 miles through cities and rural areas.  Fascinating.

The Devil and Sherlock Holmes David Grann, 814.6 GRA 2010 – The author of The Lost City of Z relates his attemps to solve a dozen real-life mysteries.

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell, 364.162 SEL 2010 – The Antwerp Diamond Center was one of the most secure buildings in the world.  On February 15, 2003, Italian thieves made off with at least half a billion dollars in diamonds, cash and valuables.

For the Soul of France: Culture Wars in the Age of Dreyfus Frederick Brown, 944.081 BRO 2010 – A look at the twilight years of the nineteenth century and the decades-long struggle in France, following its defeat by Prussia in 1871.

Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy Joseph Stiglitz, 330.973 STI 2010 – The Nobel Prize-winning author traces the origins of the Great Recession and demolishes the contention that America needs more bailouts.   A look ahead at choices that can make a difference.

The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives Shankar Vedantam, 154.2 VED 2010 – What if our actions are driven, not by our conscious values and beliefs, but by hidden motivations we are not even aware of?

Jane’s Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World Claire Harman, 823.7 HAR 2010 – A look at the wondrous world of Jane Austen.

Making Rounds with Oscar:  The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat David Rosa, 636.8 DOS 2010 – It seemed that Oscar was an ordinary cat when he arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island.  But he possesses an extraordinary gift.

Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease Gary Greenberg, 362.25 GRE 2010 – Many people ask themselves if their unhappiness is a disease that can, and should, be treated by medication. The author presents an insightful look at this question based on his experiences as a psychotherapist and as a depression patient.

Megadisasters: The Science of Predicting the Next Catastrophe Florin Diacu,904.5 DIA 2010 – Catastrophes catch us by surprise.  Here’s a look at the groundbreaking science behind the efforts to forecast major disasters and minimize their destruction.

No Apology: The Case for American Greatness Mitt Romney, 320.6 ROM 2010 – The former Massachusetts governor outlines his ideas for a renewed America.

No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller  Harry Markopolos, 364.16 MAR 2010 – For ten years, the author and his investigative team tried to warn the government, the financial industry and the press that the largest hedge fund in history was a total fraud.  He warned that Bernie Madoff was a crook, but could find no one who would listen.

The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York Deborah Blum, 614.13 BLU 2010 – In early-twentieth-century New York, poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime. The appointment of chief medical examiner Charles Norris in 1918 was the beginning of  the discipline of forensics.

Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity James Hansen,363.738 HAN 2009 – A leading scientist states that climate change is happening more rapidly than previously acknowledged.

That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week:  Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and Life Ana Homayoun, 649.132 HOM 2010 – The author, an academic counselor who has helped unfocused boys learn how to consistently meet their personal and academic challenges, explains how to get back to the basics.

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty G. J. Meyer, 942.05 MEY 2010 – The reality, in all its wild excesses, of the young Henry Tudor, who claimed the throne in 1485 and his descendants, including the notorious Henry VIII and the remarkable Elizabeth I.

The Vikings: A History Robert Ferguson, 948.022 FER 2009 – Legend and fact from the distant age of the mysterious and violent Scandinavian Vikings.

Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History David Aaronovitch, 909.826 AAR 2010 – An insightful examination of a dozen modern-day conspiracies.  Read this one along with American Conspiracies by Jesse Ventura.

Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization Steven Solomon, 333.91 SOL 2010 – The control of water wealth throughout history has been pivotal to the rise and fall of great powers, the achievements of civilization and the quality of  the lives of ordinary people.

You Say More Than You Think: A 7-Day Plan for Using the New Body Language to Get What You Want Janine Driver with Mariska Van Aalst, 153.69 DRI 2010 – What does your body say to the outside world?  How do your actions help, or hurt, you?

New Mysteries – March 2010

Bellfield Hall: Or, The Observations of Miss Dido Kent Anna Dean, M DEA – Miss Dido Kent is called on to help her niece, Catherine, find her fiancé who mysteriously vanished from Bellfield Hall in the early 1800s.

Blacklands Belinda Bauer, M BAU – Twelve-year-old Steven is determined to find the body of his uncle and begins to write to an imprisoned serial killer.

Blood Vines Erica Spindler, M SPI – Alexandra Clarkson’s worst nightmares are about to come true. Creepy suspense.

Broken Places Sandra Parshall, M PAR – Murder. Blackmail. Old secrets that refuse to stay buried.  Summer has become deadly in the mountain community of Mason County, Virginia.

Cook the Books Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, M CON – Gourmet Girl Chloe Carter is compiling a book of recipes.  When she comes across the body of one of Boston’s top chefs, killed by a grease fire, she knows it was no accident.

Death by the Book Lenny Bartulin, M BAR – Jack Susko is enjoying a quiet life as the owner of a secondhand bookstore.  When Hammond Kasprowicz, a wealthy collector, offers Jack some easy money, he doesn’t turn it down.

Death Without Tenure Joanne Dobson, M DOB – After six years in the English Department at Enfield College, Kate Pelletier is hoping to be tenured. Unfortunately, her rival for the coveted position is found dead.

The Devil’s Star Jo Nesbø, M NES – Oslo is sweltering in the summer heat when a young woman is murdered in her flat.  Detective Harry Hole is assigned the case with a colleague he neither likes nor trusts.  Cool Scandinavian crime.

Doors Open Ian Rankin, M RAN – Three friends descend upon an art auction.  Soon they seize on an impossible idea: steal the art.  There has to be a way, or is there?

Faces of the Gone Brad Parks, M PAR – Four bodies, each with a single bullet in the back of the head, is the story facing investigative reporter, Carter Ross, with the Newark Eagle-Examiner.

The Fifth Servant Kenneth Wishnia, M WIS – In 1592, Prague is a relatively safe city for its Jewish people.  However, when a Christian girl is murdered on the eve of Passover, a Talmudic scholar must bring the true killer to justice.

The Fourth Assassin Matt Beynon Rees, M REE – Palestinian Omar Yussef travels to New York for a UN conference and is looking forward to visiting his son, Ala.  The latest title in a great series, beginning with The Collaborator of Bethlehem.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest Stieg Larsson, M LAR – The last book in the wildly popular series featuring Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.

Her Highness’ First Murder Peg Herring, M HER – In London, several young women are found dead, their corpses dressed as nuns. When one of her ladies  becomes a victim, Princess Elizabeth decides to act.

The Information Officer Mark Mills, M MIL – Summer 1942: Malta has become most bombed place on the planet.  After a young Maltese woman is murdered, presumably by a British officer, the fragile spirit of the Maltese people may be shattered.

Last Nocturne Marjorie Eccles, M ECC – Chief Inspector Lamb struggles to learn why two men took their own life.  A postmortem reveals some surprising results.

The Man from Beijing Henning Mankell, M MAN – January 2006: In the Swedish hamlet of Hesjövallen, nineteen people have been massacred.  The only clue is a red ribbon found at the scene.

The Merry Wives of Maggody Joan Hess, M HES – Sheriff Arly Hanks of Maggody, Arkansas must solve the death of the winner of the town’s hole-in-one contest. More amusing mayhem from a long-running series.

Murder in the Palais Royal Cara Black, M BLA – Just as P.I. Aimée Leduc is about to leave for New York City, her partner, René Friant, is wounded by a near fatal gun shot.  Even more horrifying is that eyewitnesses identify Aimée as the culprit.

Murder on the Cliffs Joanna Challis, M CHA – Daphne du Maurier herself is at the center of this mystery along the rugged cliffs of Cornwall.  Atmospheric.

A Night Too Dark Dana Stabenow, M STA – Another suspenseful outing for Aleut detective Kate Shugak, especially when she finds a body.  A very popular series.

Paganini’s Ghost Paul Adam, M ADA – A Parisian art dealer is found dead the day after a sold-out concert featured the playing of Paganini’s violin.  Great reviews.

Short Squeeze Chris Knopf, M KNO – Jackie Saitkowski is a smart-aleck attorney whose legal turf is the buzzing Hamptons real-estate market.  But when a new client turns up dead, things take a more dangerous turn.

Split Image Robert B. Parker, M PAR – The body in the trunk of car was just the beginning.  Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone team up.

The Teaberry Strangler Laura Childs, M CHI – It was a beautiful evening for the shop owners of Charleston, until Theodosia, tea shop owner, finds one of them dead.

Wake Up Dead Roger Smith, M SMI – On a hot night in Cape Town, American Roxy Palmer and her gunrunner husband, Joe, are carjacked, leaving Joe lying in a pool of blood.  Roxy makes a fateful choice that changes her life forever.

Winterland Alan Glynn, M GLY – The worlds of business, politics, and crime collide when two men with the same name, from the same family, die on the same night.

New Books on CD – March/April 2010

Altar of Eden James Rollins, CD F ROL – Science, history and suspense are combined in this stand-alone novel that delves into the mystery of genetically modified animals that were kept at the Baghdad city zoo.

Ayn Rand and the World She Made Anne C. Heller, CD B RAND – Known for her novels, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, Rand was one of the 20th century’s most influential advocates of laissez-faire capitalism and individual rights.

Brava Valentine Adriana Trigiani, CD F TRI – Following up on the popular Very Valentine, shoemaker Valentine Roncalli is at the center of another hilarious and poignant story.

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage Elizabeth Gilbert, CD B GILBERT – Following the success of her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, the author presents the latest chapter in her life.

The Imperial Cruise James Bradley, 973.911 BRA – In the summer of 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt dispatched the largest diplomatic mission in American history.  The agreements that were made had repercussions for World War II.

Invictus John Carlin, CD 306.48 CAR – President Nelson Mandela faced a bitterly divided country. The 1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa, became an inspired vehicle for reconciliation.

Iron River T. Jefferson Parker, CD F PAR – Charlie Hood joins a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms task force patrolling the “iron river,” where illegal guns flow from United States dealers to Mexican drug cartels.

Kisser Stuart Woods, CD F WOO – Stone Barrington is back in New York and looking forward to some downtime.  What do you think?  Will he get to take a break?

La’s Orchestra Saves the World Alexander McCall Smith, CD F MCC – During World War II, Lavender (or La) flees London and organizes a small orchestra in her small town.  A heartwarming story by a favorite author.

The Last Surgeon Michael Palmer, CD F PAL – Dr. Nick Garrity, who runs a mobile clinic for the homeless, finds himself pitted against a ruthless psychopath.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates CD 973.68 LIN – A stirring dramatization of the famous seven debates during the race for the senate in 1858.

Marriage and Other Acts of Charity: A Memoir Kate Braestrup, CD B BRAESTRUP – The author of Here If You Need Me turns her attention to the subjects of love and commitment.

The Midnight House Alex Berenson, CD F BERCI – A agent John Wells must find who is killing members of a secret interrogation team that operated at a secret base called the Midnight House.

Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation Daniel J. Siegel, CD 616.89 SIE 2009 – You can focus attention on the internal world of your mind in a way that will change the wiring of your brain.

Noah’s Compass Anne Tyler, CD F TYL – After waking up in a hospital bed with a major headache,retired teacher Liam Pennywell can’t seem to remember how he got there. From the noted author.

Point Omega Don Delillo, CD F DEL – A fictional look into the mind and heart of a “defense intellectual,” a man involved in the management of the country’s war machine.

The Politician Andrew Young, CD 973.93 YOU – The highly publicized account of the rise and precipitous fall of presidential hopeful, John Edwards, as related by his former aide.

Roses Leila Meacham, CD F MEA – In a small East Texas town, Mary Toliver regrets that she didn’t marry Percy Warwick, a timber tycoon.  This decision affects their families for the next two generations.

Secrets of Eden Chris Bohjalian,CD F BOH – The murder and suicide of  Alice Hayward and her husband tortures the thoughts of her minister, Stephen Drew.

Split Image Robert B. Parker, CD M PAR – The body in the trunk of the car was just the beginning.Sunny Randall and Jesse Stone team up.

Swan Thieves Elizabeth Kostova, CD F KOS – Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe has a solitary, ordered life,until artist Robert Oliver attacks a painting in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient.

Tea With Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies’ Table, Our Journey Throughthe Middle East Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, CD 956.05 DEK – A fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey with a novelist and a Middle East expert.

Treasure Hunt John Lescroart, CD F LES – Mickey Dade is glad to be pulled from his desk job at the PI firm , The Hunt Club, and put on the case of the murder of Dominic Como.

What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures Malcolm Gladwell, CD 814.6 GLA 2009 – From the author of The Tipping Point, comes the best of his writing from The New Yorker, as he writes about the “hidden extraordinary.”

Where the God of Love Hangs Out Amy Bloom, F CD BLO – A collection of connected stories centers on the theme oflove, in its many forms and complexities.

Wishful Drinking Carrie Fisher, CD B FISHER – The actress examines her turbulent life, from her Hollywood upbringing to her battle with alcohol.

The Wolf at the Door Jack Higgins, CD F HIG – Someone is targeting the members of an elite intelligence unit known as “the Prime Minister’s private army.”  Sean Dillon has an idea who it might be, but proving it may be quite difficult.