The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Cover of "The Graveyard Book"

This is a darkly entertaining, witty adventure of a young boy who is raised by the inhabitants of a graveyard. As he is raised from infanthood into a young adult, he gets to know all of the spirits and creatures of this place. Most graveyard inhabitants befriend him and become his protectors against a murderous sect who view this child as a threat to the sect’s existence. It is excellently written and will send superb goosebumps down any reader’s spine as we are taken on this chillingly fascinating adventure.

– Joanie, BPL

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life by John McCain and Marshall Salter

Cover of "Why Courage Matters"

In this collection of true life stories of exemplary people who stood up to injustice, corruption and evil we get to understand why they chose to fight courageously for what they believed was right. One conclusion the authors come to is that courage does not exist without fear. The people in these stories knew they were facing a danger that would expose them to torture or death. They realized that they needed to fight for their beliefs despite sacrificing their comforts of a regular life and sometimes knowing they would be killed for standing up for what they know is right. These are uplifting stories and we see how these brave heroes live their lives with dignity, honor and integrity. We see how people, despite being fearful, are able to live a life with a noble purpose and to move beyond the fear in order to take action to defend decent moral values.

– Joanie, BPL

Library Book Drop Hours

Beginning on Thursday May 28th the book drop at the library will be open for limited hours. This will allow you to return all of the materials that have spent quality time in your home over the last 11 weeks! 😉
The book drop will be opened on a scheduled basis to start due to the expected volume of materials that will be returned. Each item returned will be disinfected and quarantined for 5 days prior to being checked in and re-shelved.
Book Drop Hours:
Thu May 28 9-5:00
Fri May 29 9-5:00
Sat May 30 9-12:00
Mon June 1 9-5:00
Tue June 2 9-5:00
Wed June 3 9-5:00
Please try to return your items during these days/times.
We realize that this first step in the reopening process may seem less than thrilling, but it is an important one as we work to plan and organize for the next step in the process.
We appreciate your kindness and understanding as we move forward with this new system AND we can’t wait to see you in person (hopefully soon!)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Cover of Wuthering Heights

One of my quarantine books was Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I had gotten it through a Blind Date With a Book program from another library, taken in by the vague promise of a semi-haunted gothic manor in the countryside. Imagine my surprise when I unwrapped it to find Wuthering Heights. They tricked me into taking out a classic!

Wuthering Heights is a book that I somehow never read in school, and something that never sounded appealing to me – the idea of a tragic romance wasn’t really my style, and I was used to seeing romanticized images of the famed characters of the story, Cathy and Heathcliff. However, I was determined to finally read it, and what better time to do so than when you’re stuck indoors most of the day due to quarantine?

I was wrong about this book. It’s not a romance. There is romance of a sort in here, but this is a dark, bleak book, and very uncomfortable. It’s a book about abuse, anger, obsession, and revenge. It’s difficult to like any of the characters in the book save maybe a few – and even there I’m not quite sure. Because of the subject matter, it wasn’t an easy book to read. I’m not even sure I can honestly say I enjoyed reading it. Do we ever really enjoy reading or watching difficult, dark things? But I don’t think that makes them any less worthy of our attention.

So, how do I feel about it? This is a question I’ve been thinking over the past few days since finishing the book. I believe I liked the book, in a sense. I feel it was a good book, perhaps even a great book. I don’t know if I’ll ever revisit it because it was so dark. But I’m glad that I read it, and when a book has you thinking about it days after you’ve finished, I think that says something about it. There’s a sort of wildness to the book that is difficult to explain.

Included in my edition were a couple forwards by Charlotte Brontë, author of Jane Eyre and perhaps the most famous Brontë sibling. It also included an introduction by another author. All of this was interesting to read in order to get an insight in both Emily Brontë’s life and of the entire Brontë family. This has made me a whole lot more interested in learning more about the family, and of Emily Brontë.

If you ask me in a week, or in a month, or in a year, it wouldn’t shock me if my opinion of this book changes over time. I do recommend checking it out at some point if this book at all intrigues you (maybe not during quarantine – perhaps go for something lighter!). And if you do end up reading it, I’d also recommend looking up Kate Beaton’s funny webcomic portrayals of scenes from the book in her comic Hark! A Vagrant.

– Anne, BPL

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

Cover of Murder In the Mystery Suite

This is book one of six in the Book Retreat Mystery series.

Jane Steward, a widow with 6 yr old twin boys, runs Storyton Resort. Storyton is a resort that caters to people who love to read. It is situated in the hills of Virginia. Jane runs the resort with her Great Aunt and Uncle. Business is slow and to generate more revenue, Jane comes up with the idea of having a themed week. All guests are to come dressed as their favorite literary detective. The week goes well until one of the guests turns up dead.

I LOVE this book! As I write this review, I have not yet finished it. I was enjoying it as I do most all cozy mysteries, but without giving anything away, I got about a quarter of the way through the story and WOW! Something happens that adds a whole new dimension to the story. The book is very well written, the characters are wonderful and surprising. I can’t say enough about this book. Now I must stop this review and go finish reading the book. I hope you all give this a try and enjoy it as much as I do. I will definitely read the whole series.

– Carol, Mystery Buff BC

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Cover of Phoebe and Her Unicorn

A while back, I was browsing through the stacks of a bookstore, looking for a good new comic to read. I love, love, love graphic novels and was hoping to find something new, and I soon found myself looking through the kids’ section, waiting for something to catch my eye. Cue Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson. The pink and sparkly cover featuring a happy girl and unicorn immediately caught my attention. And upon opening it, I saw an introduction from Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn, claiming, “…Phoebe and Her Unicorn is nothing less than the best comic strip to come along since Calvin and Hobbes.” Very high praise, and, being a Calvin and Hobbes fan myself, I decided to check it out.

This book is the first of a number of collections of the comic strip. We’re introduced to a precocious 9-year-old girl named Phoebe who one day meets an arrogant, self-absorbed unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils (no, really). After inadvertently saving the unicorn, Phoebe is granted one wish, and the result is a friendship between the unusual pair. The rest of the book introduces Phoebe’s family and classmates as she navigates the world with her new unicorn pal.

I love this comic! It’s legitimately funny and took me by surprise. I highly recommend it!

– Anne, BPL

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

The Five People You Meet in Heaven - cover

This book had me from the first page and I didn’t put it down till I reached the last. No matter what your beliefs about afterlife, this is an incredible story of humanity, love and loss. You’ll find yourself wanting more from each character that you meet. The gruff main character Eddie will pull at your heartstrings as you learn more and more about, his life and those that helped shaped him.

Keep the sequel (The Next Person You Meet in Heaven) close to you – you’ll want it immediately after you turn the last page of this book.

– Amy, FOBPL

Hoopla: Streaming movies, music, tv shows & more!

Film projector

Hoopla is a great resource for finding streaming movies, TV shows and music, in addition to a great collection of ebooks and comics! If you are a resident of Massachusetts, that means you can sign up for a Boston Public Library eCard and gain access to all of these great things through their Hoopla collection! For more information on how to sign up, check out this link: https://www.bpl.org/ecard/

If you have any questions about how to sign up or download an ebook once you have signed up, please feel free to reach out to Boston Public Library staff or to us, the Brimfield Public Library! You can reach us on facebook, through our virtual Reference Desk, or by email at library@brimfieldma.org.

One Summer by Nora Roberts

This book is a sweet bit of fluff. Wanderlust is mixed with a reluctant but blooming romance between 2 gifted photographers given the assignment of traveling the United States to take photographs of what inspires them. On the road, in only the company of one another, these 2 artistic but totally different personalities, learn to appreciate each other’s very different perspectives on what makes the perfect photograph.

Just as film develops to reveal moments captured by the photographers lens, these 2 characters develop a mutual respect for one another and an intense love for one another. Their journey reveals a past of severe Post-trauma for one, a past of dreams lost for the other but a strength within them both to break down the barriers they have carried with them for too many years and love again.

– Joanie, BPL

Jumanji Movie Marathon

Jumanji movie covers

Our JUMANJI MARATHON

JUMANJI

We first enjoyed Robin Williams and crew in the original Jumanji DVD Rated PG.

Robin Williams played Alan, Bonnie Hunt was Sarah, and Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce were the unwitting children when all of them were swept into the game. The story is of a young boy who disappears for 26 years, and returns to his home amid total chaos and wonderful and terrifying adventures.

JUMANJI: Welcome to the Jungle

New Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan Rated PG 13 (stronger language)

Four teenagers in detention, all completely opposite in characteristics, and an old video game console in the basement. What could go wrong? SO many things!! I don’t want to warn you, just be ready!!

Keep your eyes open for the nuances that link the stories together.

JUMANJI: The Next Level

Same Cast as Jungle, Rated PG 13 again.

This story opens a short time later, but the game has changed, and the graphic continue to improve. I won’t give away the changes, but they are ”not in Kansas anymore”. You will need to be attentive to all the switches, and you will again find links and bridges to the other stories.

We highly recommend an evening of popcorn & Jumanji, chuckles and gasps (and sweaty palms) – and the drum beats go on!!!

– Beth, Mystery Buff BC