Staff Selections: Keelia McCaffrey

Why do I love the library? Well to put it simply, I just enjoy the idea of a place a person can go - spend their whole life - and learn something new everyday. Libraries can make a community come alive and unify all sorts of people just by being there. The people, events, and selection of any library is precious and fun. I will probably always love libraries, just like I will always love books. I will take my kids to the library and hopefully they will take their kids - Vive la Library! 

Keelia is a reference assistant at Samuels Public Library. 

What is your favorite genre?

Fantasy

Who are your favorite authors?

Alice Croggon, Meg Cabot, Shannon Hale, Kiera Cass, Gail Carson Levine, Rainbow Rowell, and many more

What are you reading right now?

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

What have you read recently?

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, The Elite by Kiera Cass, Underworld by Meg Cabot, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, and the Lunar Series by Marissa Meyer

What is your favorite classic?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

What are your all-time favorite books/series?

The Pellinor Series by Alice Croggon, Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, and I am falling in love with the Lunar Series by Marissa Meyer 

What are your favorite recommendations?

Well I am very into teen fiction with an emphasis on female lead characters. My main character has to be witty and make me laugh, otherwise what’s the point, right? So if you like the same types of books that I do then I would recommend: Tricksters Choice by Tamora Pierce, The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris, Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway, and The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

What is your favorite sub-genre?

I like dark fantasy. And “dark” is a very broad term, but pretty much, for me, it means that I like plot elements with magic, otherworldly creatures like vampires and werewolves, witches, swords and bows, etc.

What are a few books you are looking forward to reading?

The rest of the Bloodline series, Awaken by Meg Cabot, and the last book in the Selection series

What is your favorite short story?

A Rose for Emily by Faulkner

What is your favorite play?

Once Upon a Mattress

What is your favorite magazine?

Cosmopolitan

How do you get you news?

Mostly internet, but sometimes I watch the news on TV

Do you prefer books or e-books?

I tend to like books better. Why? Because I don’t have a kindle or a nook and I like to be able to hold my books in my hand. Maybe it will change later, but for now I like being old fashioned.

What type of plots do you enjoy?

Romantic comedy, and slice of life

Staff Selections: Erly Moya

I have been working at the library for almost a year now and I really enjoy the great people and the peaceful atmosphere. When I set foot inside I am always astounded by how many books I still have to read in order to read them all. Books, to me, help me broaden my imagination and allow me to travel to new worlds and different realms. A place that supplies such knowledge and material for the mind is my local library.  

Erly Moya is a circulation assistant at Samuels Public Library.

What is your favorite genre?

My favorite genre is fantasy. I enjoy being taken out of reality and into a new world.

What are you reading now?

Right now I am reading the Graceling series. It is about a world where kingdoms rule and certain people are born with a grace, or a special ability. Those who are deemed useful to the king are recruited and never see their families again. It follows one girl who recently became queen of her kingdom after her brutal father who manipulated people is killed.

What have you read recently?

I have recently read the Marlowe School trilogy which was kind of slow. There was a lot of character development but the plot was slow throughout the books and then the last couple of chapters was rushed.

What is your favorite classic?

My favorite classic would have to be Animal Farm by George Orwell

What are your all-time favorite books/series?

My all-time favorite books series would be the Harry Potter series and the Inheritance Cycle. I grew up on these books and they are terrific. I always felt very connected to the characters and was able to relate to what they were going through.

What are a few books that you are looking forward to reading?

I have a number of things on my "To Read" list: the Riryia Chronicles, the Game of Thrones series, as well as the Delirium Trilogy. I am also planning on reading the Lord of the Rings hopefully.

How do you choose new books to read?

Since part of my job is to shelve books I am able to peruse the collections we have whenever I go out to shelve. If there is a title or an author I like I look in that section to see if there is anything that catches my attention.

Do you prefer books to e-books? Why?

I prefer hardback books to e-books simply because there's nothing like the feel of breaking in a new book, which is something you can't get with e-books.

What type of plots do you enjoy?

I really enjoy plots that keep me thinking until the very end. There are always questions that need to be answered.

  

What is your favorite aspect of reading books?

The best part about reading for me is being able to leave the real world and go on adventures in faraway places.

  

How much description do you enjoy? A lot or a little? Explain. 

Description is something I enjoy but only to a certain degree. If the author spends too much time describing things and isn't putting enough into plot or character development, chances are I won't keep reading.

Staff Selections: Kristin Noell

In first grade, we had a reading competition where we got a scoop on our bulletin board ice cream cone for every book or chapter of a book we read. I won by a mile, and I’ve never stopped reading. That’s why I started working in libraries at age 14. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, I do not get paid to read all day—I wish! Still, most of my recreational time is spent with a book in my hand, and I’ve been known to sacrifice an entire night’s sleep to finish an especially good one. I average about 175 books per year. I like to remember what I’ve read, what I thought, and what I want to read in the future, so I use Goodreads.com to keep track of my books. I’d be lost without it.

Kristin Noell is the reference librarian at Samuels Public Library. 

What is your favorite genre?

I read nearly everything, but I probably read more historical fiction than anything else. I also enjoy chick lit, mystery, romance, non-fiction (mostly history and travel), suspense, literary fiction, and paranormal fantasy. Basically the only genres I tend not to read are horror, western, and inspirational.

Who are your favorite authors?

How long do you have? There are many, many authors that I love and whose new books I eagerly anticipate! Alphabetically, they include (but are not limited to): Sarah Addison Allen, Bill Bryson, Emma Donoghue, Helen Fielding, Ken Follett, Kimberley Freeman, Tana French, Philippa Gregory, Kristin Harmel, Charlaine Harris, Tony Horwitz, Linda Howard, Sarah Jio, Catherine McKenzie, Michelle Moran, Jo Nesbø, Deanna Raybourn, Beatriz Williams… I’m sure there are more!

What are you reading now?

I’m probably already reading something different by now, but as I’m writing this, that would be The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley.

What have you read recently?

In the last month or so, I’ve read The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol, Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen, Juliet by Anne Fortier, Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole, Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø, Betwixt and Between by Jessica Stilling, the Redhead series by Alice Clayton, The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd, The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins… and I think that’s enough!

What is your favorite classic?

Gone with the Wind, hands down – it’s probably my favorite book, period. I believe I’ve read it about a dozen times, the first of which was when I was 11. I can still remember lying on my bed in my childhood bedroom and reading the first few pages (a lengthy description of the Georgia countryside) and feeling like I was at the beginning of a big, important journey. Corny but true! I also love Peter Pan, East of Eden, Dracula, and Frankenstein.

What are your all-time favorite books/series?

So many! Here are a few books: Atonement by Ian McEwan, Bookends by Jane Green, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Every time I promise myself I’ll never start a new series, a great sounding one comes along. Here are several that I’ve greatly enjoyed over the years (or am currently enjoying): Dublin Murder Squad mysteries by Tana French, Fire and Ice mysteries by Michael Ridpath, Harry Hole mysteries by Jo Nesbø, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Mobile Library mysteries by Ian Sansom, Nayir Sharqi and Katya Hijazi mysteries by Zoë Ferraris, Nora Gavin mysteries by Erin Hart, the Redhead series by Alice Clayton, Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris, and Virginia Wine mysteries by Ellen Crosby. Again, I feel like I’m forgetting some. This must be what it feels like to give an acceptance speech at the Oscars!

What are your favorite recommendations?

Of course it’s always fun to recommend one’s favorite books to others, so see my favorite books and authors for many of my favorite recommendations. In my opinion, the two best books of 2013 (that weren’t by my usual favorites) were Life after Life by Kate Atkinson and The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. I think The Rosie Project has an especially broad appeal across genders and genres. One of the most powerful, beautiful, and sadly unfinished works I’ve read in my life is Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky, who wrote about the occupation of Paris as it was happening and ultimately died in Auschwitz before her book was complete—for history and/or historical fiction lovers, it is a perfect read. And really, my favorite part of my job is helping readers find the right book for them. I love happy readers! I have the tools at my disposal to help you find your next favorite book, even if it’s something I would never read personally, so please ask me for help.

What is your favorite sub-genre?

Recently, I have been reading a lot of what I call parallel narratives. I’m not sure if they have an official name or not. Basically, they are novels with two storylines, usually one set in the past and one in the present. They’re often tied together by a family connection or secret, a geographic location, an object, or a theme. Some great authors that write in this sub-genre are Anne Fortier, Kimberley Freeman, Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, Kate Morton, and Beatriz Williams. Standalone books I’d group with these include The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig, The Confidant by Hélène Grémillon, I Gave My Heart to Know This by Ellen Baker, The Island House by Posie Graeme-Evans, and The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes.

What are a few books that you are looking forward to reading?

One is Where Monsters Dwell by Jørgen Brekke, a Scandinavian mystery that takes place in Trondheim, Norway and Richmond, Virginia! I’m also looking forward to the U.S. publication of Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough—I love her historical fiction. The new Diana Gabaldon, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, has had its publication pushed back several times, but is supposed to finally come out in June. And of course, many (or even most) of my favorite authors seem to have books coming out this year!

How do you choose new books to read?

Lots of ways! Of course I read industry reviews and prepublication notices to help me choose which books to buy for the library, so if anything piques my interest, I make a note of it. I also take recommendations from friends and favorite authors. If anything is making big news, like 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James or The Dinner by Herman Koch, I try to read it so that I am better able to talk to patrons about it.

What is your favorite poem?

A few favorites are “Ego Tripping” by Nikki Giovanni, “Her Kind” by Anne Sexton, “I carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou, “Travel” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, and just about everything by Langston Hughes, such as “I Thought It Was Tangiers I Wanted.”

What is your favorite short story?

A few collections I love are Astray by Emma Donoghue, The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and Close Range by Annie Proulx. I also enjoy Sherman Alexie’s stories. In school, I remember being fascinated with “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce.

What is your favorite play?

I mostly like musicals on the stage. I did enjoy my Shakespeare class in college. And I liked the movie Proof, based on the play by David Auburn.

What is your favorite magazine?

I don’t have much patience for magazines. I used to subscribe to Premiere, an incredible film magazine, before it was discontinued. Now I go to Entertainment Weekly for that kind of news. We have dozens of magazines at the library, and if something on the cover calls to me, I’ll check it out—whether it’s cooking, celebrity gossip, news, travel, or whatever!

How do you get your news?

Mostly by listening to people talk. Sometimes I’ll catch the evening news or check out CNN.com, but usually I let the news come to me.

Do you prefer books to e-books? Why?

A lot of people are surprised that e-books don’t outrage me as a librarian. I read books on my Nook and I read books in print. I would never willingly give up print books, but e-books do have their place—for instance, when I’m packing for a trip and can take 10 books in one small device, or when I’m reading a 1000 page Ken Follett novel that would otherwise give me hand cramps!

What type of plots do you enjoy?

Everything from the twisty and complex to the expositional and seemingly plotless!

Describe your favorite main character/character traits that you like to find while reading.

I like variety in characters. For example, one of my favorite characters is Jo Nesbø’s detective Harry Hole, and he’s an alcoholic cop who has problems with authority—one of the last people I’d want to know if real life, but an incredible character study. (Harry is one of the best written characters I’ve ever read. That Nesbø knows how to write!) It’s also fun every now and then to find a character that reminds me even the tiniest bit of myself—either a twenty something, a reader, a librarian, a Virginian, or something like that.

What is your favorite aspect of reading books?

I love the feeling of having lived thousands of lives in my relatively short one. I’ve “seen” places, “met” people, and “had” experiences that I would probably never have done otherwise.

If you could ask your favorite author a question, what would you ask?

Probably “What goes on in your head?” or something similar! I’m just constantly amazed by the depth and breadth of creative, brilliant stories that these special human minds are capable of producing.

Are you a great lover and reader of books like Kristin? Well then you should check out Goodreads.com! It is a great tool to help you keep track of books read, get ideas for new books, and getting opinions from people who have read the book before!

Staff Selections: Danielle Furr

Hello readers! This year we will be featuring library staff at the beginning of each month to recognize all the hard work they do here. For the month of February our staff selection falls on Danielle Furr.  

Danielle Furr is a circulation assistant at Samuels Public Library

I have been coming to Samuels Library for as long as I can remember. It was always the highlight of the week to come in with my family and fill up bags with new books to read, or old favorites to reread. I love working here now, being on the other side of the desk when families check books out. I also love seeing the same excitement in their eyes that was in mine when coming to the library twenty years ago. To me, libraries are a chance to broaden your horizons and learn new things about the world around you and I feel blessed to have a part in that experience for our patrons.

Favorite genre: SciFi/Fantasy

Favorite authors: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Alexandre Dumas, Sir Walter Scott, Michael J. Sullivan, Karen Hancock, Ted Dekker, Merrie Haskell

Currently reading: The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott and Missing Member by Joann Powers

Recently read: The Belgariad by David Eddings, the first two books in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, and Death at Seaworld: Shamu and the dark side of killer whales in captivity by David Kirby

Favorite classic: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Dracula by Bram Stoker, and Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

All-time favorite books/series: The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings/Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Martyr's Song series by Ted Dekker, and the Black Stallion books by Walter Farley

Books I'm looking forward to: The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville (finally the conclusion to the series after over ten years of waiting!)

How do I choose new books to read: Recommendations by other staff members, and books that look interesting as I check them in.

Favorite Poem: She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron and Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

Favorite Short Story: The Lady or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton

Favorite play: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Books vs e-books: I definitely prefer books. I like the weight in my hands and the smell of paper and the sound of turning pages.

Character traits that you like most in a book: I like characters who are willing to adapt to situations and take charge of their own responses and actions, and think for themselves. Also I like underdogs who refuse to give up no matter what gets thrown at them. I have put down books in disgust before because the main character is too whiny or too wrapped up in pleasing someone else.

Favorite aspect of a book: I like the escapism--the chance to use your imagination and go somewhere entirely new and forget about real life for the time that you are immersed in a story.

How much description do you enjoy in a book: It depends on how well done it is and whether or not the plot gets bogged down in descriptions. On the whole, however, I prefer to let my imagination do most of the work and a lot of the time, even if the author does describe characters, I still form my own mental image of how I think they look that is often completely different from how the author described them!



If you like J.R.R. Tolkien as much as Danielle, then here is a read alike guide. This guide, and many like it can be found in our library. Just as at the Adult Reference desk and we will be happy to assist you. 

Click to Enlarge! 

Staff Selections: Michal Ashby

Hello readers! This year we will be featuring library staff at the beginning of each month to recognize all the hard work they do here. This month our staff selection falls on Michal Ashby. 

Michal Ashby is the Children’s librarian at Samuels Public Library

As the head of the youth services department for the past 7 years I have had the pleasure of watching the children in this community grow. It has been so rewarding to watch them grow from story time children to independent readers who love the library! This library means so much to me; in truth it feels like my second home. Last year when I had my first child, I received a tremendous amount of warmth and support from both parents and staff!  I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful community!

Favorite genre: Historical Fiction

Favorite authors: Rosalind Laker, Jean Plaidy, Isak Dinesen, F.G Cottam, Frances Mayes, Anais Nin, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Mary Downing Hahn, Carrie Ryan, Holly Black, Charles Higson, Kate Mosse, Mandy Aftel

Favorite classic: Pride and Prejudice

Favorite poems: Lola Ridge "New Orleans" and "Patterns" by Amy Lowell

Favorite plays: Glass Menagerie (T.Williams) and Death of a Salesman (A. Miller)

If you could ask your favorite author a question, what would you ask? I would ask Isak Dinesen about the most important thing she learned from her life… and if she had a piece of advice...what would it be?

Like the same authors as Michal? Want to read similar authors or genre of books? Try the Literature Map! It’s a free tool on the internet that allows readers to type in any author and it generates other authors who have a similar writing style! Neat, right? 

Samuels Says - "What Movies Do You Love Most?"

For our display this month, we asked the staff: "What movies do you love most?" (We even created a nifty Samuels Choice Award-- a.k.a 'The Sammy'-- to honor the recipients.)  As you can see from the lists, we ended up with a very diverse selection of great movies.  So without further ado, here are the Sammy-Award nominations for Best Movie Ever-- and we'd love to hear your nominations too! Drum roll, please!

Ben:

Favorite genres: Anything good

Favorite/actor/actress/director: Meh... no favorites

Favorite DVDs:

2001: A Space Odyssey (DVD F Two)

Band of Brothers (DVD F Ban)

Batman Begins (DVD F Bat)

Casablanca (DVD F Cas)

The Dark Knight (DVD F Dar)

Deep Impact (DVD F Dee)

Iron Man (DVD F Iro)

Jaws (DVD F Jaw)

Jurassic Park (DVD F Jur)

Jurassic Park III (DVD F Jur)

Jurassic Park: The Lost World (DVD F Los)

Lincoln (the recent one) (DVD F Lin)

Lord of the Rings trilogy (DVD F Lor)

The Matrix trilogy (DVD F Mat)

Planet of the Apes (the original) (DVD F Plan)

Saving Private Ryan (DVD F Sav)

Star Trek (the movie and any of the episodes from the past) (DVD F Sta)                

Star Wars, Episodes I-VI (DVD F Sta & DVD J Sta)

The Avengers (DVD F Mar)

The Day After Tomorrow (DVD F Day)

WarGames (DVD F War)

Betty: 
Favorite genres: romantic comedy, suspense (not super scary)

Favorite actor/actress/director: Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves
Favorite DVDs:

The Lake House (DVD F Lak) 
Two Weeks Notice (DVD F Two) 
Speed (DVD F Spe) 
While You Were Sleeping (DVD F Whi) 
Martian Child (DVD F Mar) 
Pearl Harbor (DVD F Pea) 
Libel (DVD F Lib) 
The Blind Side (DVD F Bli) 
The Sixth Sense (DVD F Six) 
Mamma Mia! (DVD F Mam)

Boo:

Favorite genres: mystery/suspense, romantic with history

Favorite/actor/actress/director: Denzel Washington, Paul Newman, Johnny Depp, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Tom Hanks, Jimmy Stewart, Sean Connery, Russell Crowe, Halle Berry, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Vivien Leigh, Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz

Favorite DVDs:

Julie & Julia (DVD F Jul) 
Steel Magnolias (DVD F Ste) 
Dances with Wolves (DVD F Dan) 
Gone Baby Gone (DVD F Gon) 
The Help (DVD F Hel) 
North and South (DVD F Nor) 
The Birds (DVD F Bir) 
Indiana Jones (DVD F Ind) 
Fried Green Tomatoes (DVD F Fri) 
Forrest Gump (DVD F For) 
On Golden Pond (DVD F On) 
Oliver! (musical) (DVD F Oli & DVD E Oli) 
South Pacific (DVD F Sou) 
Pirates of the Caribbean (all) (DVD F Pir) 
Mrs. Doubtfire (DVD F Mrs.)
Secondhand Lions (DVD F Sec & DVD J Sec) 

A River Runs Through It (DVD F Riv) 
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (DVD F Div) 
Five People You Meet in Heaven (DVD F Fiv) 
Ghost (DVD F Gho) 
Grease (DVD F Gre) 
Gran Torino (DVD F Gran) 
Hoosiers (DVD F Hoo) 
Field of Dreams (DVD F Fie) 
The Way We Were (DVD F Way) 
Shenandoah (DVD F She) 
War Horse (DVD F War) 
Mamma Mia! (DVD F Mam) 
Gone with the Wind (DVD F Gon) 
E.T. (DVD F E.T. & DVD J E.T.) 
While You Were Sleeping (DVD F Whi) 
Schindler’s List (DVD F Sch) 
The Great Escape (DVD F Gre) 
To Kill a Mockingbird (DVD F To)
All Disney :) but especially Beauty and the Beast (DVD E Bea) and Snow White and the Seven  
      Dwarves(DVD E Sno) 

Titanic (DVD F Tit) 
Shrek (DVD F Shr)

Cheryl:
Favorite genres: action/adventure, shoot ‘em up, funny

Favorite DVDs:

Jaws (DVD F Jaw)

Bullitt (DVD F Bul)

The Devil Wears Prada (DVD F Dev)

Ocean’s Twelve (DVD F Oce)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (DVD F Mr.)

Inglourious Basterds (DVD F Ing)

Moneyball (DVD F Mon)

10,000 BC (DVD F Ten)

Friday Night Lights (DVD F Fri)

The Fugitive (DVD F Fug)

Ghostbusters (DVD F Gho)

The General’s Daughter (DVD F Gen)

The Hunt for Red October (DVD F Hun)

High Plains Drifter (DVD F Cli)

The Incredibles (DVD J Inc)

Iron Man (DVD F Iro)

Mansfield Park (DVD F Man)

Ice Age (DVD J Ice)

Jurassic Park (DVD F Jur)

Pride and Prejudice (DVD F Pri)

Kill Bill (DVD F Kil) 

Danielle:

Favorite genres: Romance, SciFi/Fantasy, Musicals

Favorite actor/actress/director: Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Hayao Miyazaki, Peter Jackson

Favorite DVDs:

Lord of the Rings trilogy (DVD F Lor)

Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle) (DVD F Pri)

North and South (DVD F Nor)

Beauty and the Beast (DVD E Bea)

The Avengers (DVD F Mar)

Labyrinth (DVD J Lab)

The Princess Bride (DVD F Pri)

Star Wars—Original Trilogy (DVD F Sta & DVD J Sta)

Star Trek (2009) (DVD F Sta)

The Dark Knight (DVD F Dar)

August Rush (DVD F Aug)

My Fair Lady (DVD F My)

The King and I (DVD F Kin)

The Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler & Emmy Rossum) (DVD F Pha)

Midnight in Paris (DVD F Mid)

Les Miserables (2012) (DVD F Les)

Howl’s Moving Castle (DVD F How) 

Mary Poppins (DVD E Mar) 

Helen:

Back to the Future Trilogy (DVD F Bac)

Batman movies (DVD F Bat & more )

The Best of Mr. Ed (DVD F Mis)

The Blind Side (DVD F Bli)

The Bodyguard (DVD F Bod)

The Bourne Movies (DVD F Bou)

Braveheart (DVD F Bra)

City Slickers (DVD F Cit)

The Count of Monte Cristo (DVD F Cou)

Dances With Wolves (DVD F Dan)

Driving Miss Daisy (DVD F Dri)

E.T. (DVD J E.T.)

Elf (DVD J Elf)

Field of Dreams (DVD F Fie)

The Firm (DVD F Fir)

The Fox and the Hound (DVD E Fox)

Fred Claus (DVD J Fre)

Indiana Jones series (DVD F Ind)

The Karate Kid movies (DVD F Kar & DVD J Kar)

Lord of the Rings (all) (DVD F Lor)

The Mask of Zorro (DVD F Mas)

The Patriot (DVD F Pat)

Pretty Woman (DVD F Pre)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (DVD F Rob)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (DVD F She)

Snow White and the Huntsman (DVD F Sno)

Spider-man (all) (DVD Spi & DVD Ama)

Jan:

Favorite genres: romantic comedy, drama

Favorite DVDs:

Top Ten:

Foyle’s War Series (DVD F Foy)

The Natural (DVD F Nat)

Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson version from 1999)(DVD F Sen)

West Wing Series (DVD F Wes)

While You Were Sleeping (DVD F Whi)

All the President’s Men (DVD F All)

Anne of Green Gables (DVD E Ann)

Doc Hollywood (DVD F Doc)

Downton Abbey Series 1,2, and 3 (DVD F Dow)

Roman Holiday (DVD F Rom)

The rest:

Doc Martin series (DVD F Doc)

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (DVD F Hac)

Shall We Dance? (DVD F Sha)

Groundhog Day (DVD F Gro)

The Help (DVD F Hel)

The Lake House (DVD F Lak)

Little Dorrit (DVD F Lit)

Nine to Five (DVD F Nin)

The Right Stuff (DVD F Rig)

Romantics Anonymous (DVD F Rom)

Runaway Bride (DVD F Run)

Sabrina (1995 version) (DVD F Sab)

Remains of the Day (DVD F Rem)

Pride and Prejudice (2006) (DVD F Pri)

Two Weeks Notice (DVD F Two)

Night at the Museum (DVD F Nig & DVD J Nig)

National Treasure 1 &2 (DVD J Nat)

The Blue Planet (DVD 551.46 Blu)

Ballet Shoes (DVD J Bal)

Horatio’s Drive (DVD 917.304 Hor)

Lewis & Clark (DVD 978 Lew)

John Adams (DVD Bio Adams John)

Benjamin Franklin (DVD Bio Franklin Benjamin)

Anne of Green Gables, The Continuing Story (DVD E Ann)

Annie (DVD J Ann)

Apollo 13 (DVD F Apo)

Hugo (DVD J Hug)

Barefoot in the Park (DVD F Bar)

Cars (DVD E Car)

Cranford (DVD F Cra)

Funny Face (DVD F Fun)

Dave (DVD F Dav)

Dolphin Tale (DVD J Dol)

Driving Miss Daisy (DVD F Dri)

Finding Nemo (DVD E Fin)

Gandhi (DVD F Gan)

The Glenn Miller Story (DVD F Gle)

Julie & Julia (DVD F Jul)

We Bought A Zoo (DVD F We & DVD J We)

Marley & Me (DVD F Mar)

Pixar Short Films Collection, Volume 1 (DVD E Pix)

Ratatouille (DVD E Rat)

You’ve Got Mail (DVD F You) 

Jeanne:

Favorite genre: romance (duh!)

Favorite DVDs:

Casablanca (DVD F Cas)

Doctor Zhivago (DVD F Doc)

The Sound of Music (DVD F Sou)

Life is Beautiful (DVD F Lif)

Il Postino (DVD F Il)

M (DVD F M)

Amelie (DVD F Ame)

Das Boot (DVD F Boo)

Rebecca (DVD F Reb)

Shakespeare in Love (DVD F Shak)

The Sting (DVD F Sti)

The King’s Speech (DVD F Kin)

The Graduate (DVD F Grad)

Best Years of Our Lives (DVD F Bes)

My Mother’s Castle (DVD F My)

The African Queen (DVD F Afr)
 

Jessica:

Favorite genres: I like a variety.

Favorite actor/actress/director: No favorite actor/actress, but I really like Sofia Coppola and Wes Anderson as far as directors go.  Does Hayao Miyazaki count as a director? Because he is also brilliant.

Favorite DVDs:

Amelie (DVD F Ame)

Big Fish (DVD F Big)

My Neighbor Totoro (DVD E My)

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (DVD F Lif)

Lost in Translation (DVD F Los)

The Lord of the Rings series (DVD F Lor)

Girl, Interrupted (DVD F Gir)

Castle in the Sky (DVD E Cas)

Alice in Wonderland (animated version) (DVD E Ali)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (DVD F Per)

Moonrise Kingdom (DVD F Moo)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (DVD F Aus)

Donnie Darko (DVD F Don)

Food, Inc. (DVD 338.1 Foo)

Harry Potter series (DVD F Har & DVD J Har)

Hook (DVD F Hoo)

Howl’s Moving Castle (DVD F How)

MirrorMask (DVD F Mir)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (DVD F Mon)

Monty Python’s Life of Brian (DVD F Mon)

The Princess Bride (DVD F Pri)

Shaun of the Dead (DVD F Sha)

Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (DVD 381.149 Wal)

Love, Actually (DVD F Lov)

Paris, Je T’aime (DVD F Par)

The Little Mermaid (DVD E Lit)

Exit Through the Gift Shop (DVD 751.7 Exi)

Joan:

Favorite genres: mystery (older ones especially); suspense, but without a lot of violence (or cars blowing up); comedy; comedy, but in good taste, not raunchy

Favorite actor/actress/director: Hmmm… so many… Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Bradley Cooper, Sally Field, Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Hitchcock, the list goes on and on.

Favorite DVDs:

Gone with the Wind (DVD F Gon)

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (DVD F Gue)

The African Queen (DVD F Afr)

Any of the Agatha Christie movies (DVD F Aga & more)

Most of the Hitchcock movies

Lincoln (the new one) (DVD F Lin)

Life of Pi (DVD F Pi)

Beasts of the Southern Wild (DVD F Bea)

Argo (DVD F Arg)

Les Miserable (the new one) (DVD F Les)

West Side Story (DVD F Wes)

Up (DVD J Up)

The Help (DVD F Help)

Midnight in Paris (DVD F Mid)

Moneyball (DVD F Mon)

The King’s Speech (DVD F Kin)

Crazy Heart (DVD F Craz)

The Blind Side (DVD F Bli)

The Sound of Music (DVD F Sou)

South Pacific (DVD F Sou)

Bullitt (DVD F Bul)

The Great Escape (DVD F Gre)

Out of Africa (DVD F Out)

Lilies of the Field (DVD F Lil)

Forrest Gump (DVD F For)

Walk the Line (DVD F Wal)

Moulin Rouge (DVD F Mou)

Casablanca (DVD F Cas)

The Bridge On the River Kwai (DVD F Bri)

Chicago (DVD F Chi)

Driving Miss Daisy (DVD F Dri)

In the Heat of the Night (DVD F In)

My Fair Lady (DVD F My)

Mary Poppins (DVD E Mar)

The Little Mermaid (DVD E Lit)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (DVD F One)

Rain Man (DVD F Rai)

Rebecca—either version (DVD F Reb)

Slumdog Millionaire (DVD F Slu)

The Sting (DVD F Sti)

Titanic (DVD F Tit)

Cool Hand Luke (DVD F Coo)

John:

Favorite genres: noir, comedy, cult classics, foreign, b movies 

The Maltese Falcon (DVD F Mal)

Annie Hall (DVD F Ann)

Night and the City (DVD F Nig)

Duck Soup (DVD F Duc) or anything in The Marx Brothers: Silver Screen Collection (DVD  F Mar)

Any of the Preston Sturges comedies—especially Hail the Conquering Hero (DVD F Hai), The Lady 

     Eve (DVD F Lad), The Great McGinty (DVD F Gre), or Sullivan’s Travels (DVD F Sul)

Back to the Future (DVD F Bac)

Any Wes Anderson: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (DVD F Lif), Royal Tenenbaums (DVD F  

     Roy), Fantastic Mr. Fox (DVD J Fan), Moonrise Kingdom (DVD F Moo)

The Thing From Another World (DVD F Thi)

The Princess Bride (DVD F Pri)

Ratatouille (DVD E Rat)

Pandora’s Box (DVD F Pan)

Rashoman (DVD F Ras)

Breathless (DVD F Bre)

Winter’s Bone (DVD F Win)

Lost in Translation (DVD F Los)

Strictly Ballroom (DVD F Str)

Sneakers (DVD F Sne)

You Can’t Take it With You (DVD F You)

A Room with a View (DVD F Roo)

Almost any live-action Disney movie from the 1950s or 1960s, such as That Darn Cat (DVD E  

     Tha), Blackbeard’s Ghost (DVD E Bla), The Parent Trap (DVD E Par), Swiss Family Robinson 

     (DVD E Swi), or The Shaggy Dog (DVD E Sha)

Any of the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies, though especially Swing Time (DVD F Swi) and Top 

     Hat (DVD F Top)

Mulholland Drive (DVD F Mul)

Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (DVD E Rock)

Chinatown (DVD F Chin)

Requiem for a Dream (DVD F Req)

Star Wars—Original Trilogy (DVD F Sta)

Ghostbusters (DVD F Gho)

Pulp Fiction (DVD F Pul)

Any Coen Brothers—especially A Serious Man (DVD F Ser) or Fargo (DVD F Fargo)

King Kong—the original (DVD F Kin)

Night of the Living Dead (DVD F Nig)

Goldfinger (DVD F Gol)

The Great Muppet Caper (DVD F Gre)

Rear Window (DVD F Rea)

Wonder Boys (DVD F Won)

Winchester ’73 (DVD F Win)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (DVD F Ind)

The Conversation (DVD F Con)

Bringing Up Baby (DVD F Bri)

Dr. Strangelove (DVD F Dr.)

Harold and Maude (DVD F Har)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (DVD F Sev)
Z (DVD F Z)

Kathy J.:

Favorite genres: chick flicks, some action/suspense, comedy

Favorite actor/actress/director: Sandra Bullock, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery

Favorite DVDs:

Veggie Tales—all of them! (DVD E Veg)

Little House on the Prairie (DVD E Lit)

Bourne Series (DVD F Bou)

Star Wars IV, V, VI (DVD F Sta & DVD J Sta)

Mission Impossible movies (DVD F Mis)

Sleepless in Seattle (DVD F Sle)

You’ve Got Mail (DVD F You)

The Natural (DVD F Nat)

An Affair to Remember (DVD F Aff)

The American President (DVD F Ame)

Air Force One (DVD F Air)

Toy Story movies (DVD E Toy)

It’s a Wonderful Life (DVD F It’s)

The Wizard of Oz (DVD F Wiz)

The Ten Commandments (DVD F Ten)

The Color Purple (DVD F Col)

Big (DVD F Big)

Ocean’s 11,12,13 (DVD F Onc)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (DVD F Rob)

Field of Dreams (DVD F Fie)

Hook (DVD F Hoo)

Men in Black 1 and 3 (DVD F Men)

WarGames (DVD F War)

Katie:

Favorite genres: action, comedy, romantic comedy, tearjerker, documentary, book-to-movies

Favorite actor/actress/director: Kristen Wiig, James Franco, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Ellen Page, Ewan McGregor, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, Daniel Craig

Favorite DVDs:

A Beautiful Mind (DVD F Bea)

Vantage Point (DVD F Van)

Good Will Hunting (DVD F Goo)

Big Fish (DVD F Big)

Grease (DVD F Gre)

Sister Act (DVD F Sis)

The Jane Austen Book Club (DVD F Jan)

The Lovely Bones (DVD F Lov)

One Day (DVD F One)

Anonymous (DVD F Ano)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (DVD F Cur)

All of the Lord of the Rings movies (DVD F Lor)

All of the Harry Potter movies (DVD J Har/DVD F Har)

Something’s Gotta Give (DVD F Som)

Julie & Julia (DVD F Jul)

Juno (DVD F Jun)

Into the Wild (DVD F Int)

Eighty-eight Minutes (DVD F Eig)

Amelie (DVD F Ame)

Casino Royale (DVD F Cas)

The Departed (DVD F Dep)

Elizabeth (DVD F Eli)

Inception (DVD F Inc)

Ratatouille (DVD E Rat)

Alice in Wonderland (with Johnny Depp) (DVD F Ali)

You’ve Got Mail (DVD F You)

Blue Planet/Earth DVDs (DVD 551.46 Blu & DVD 590 Ear)

Finding Nemo (DVD E Fin) 

Kristin:

Favorite genres: historical, drama, musical, golden age (1930s-1940s), French

Favorite actor/actress/director: Too many!

Favorite DVDs:

Amelie (DVD F Ame)

Gone with the Wind (DVD F Gon)

Never Let Me Go (DVD F Nev)

Melancholia (DVD F Mel)

The Artist (DVD F Art)

Atonement (DVD F Ato)

The Pillars of the Earth (DVD F Pil)

Birdsong (DVD F Bir)

The Big Bang Theory (DVD F Big)

Lost (DVD F Los)

It Happened One Night (DVD F It)

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (DVD F Bur)

Bridget Jones (1 &2) (DVD F Bri)

Casino Royale (DVD F Cas)

Cold Mountain (DVD F Col)

Any Elvis movies :)

Rebel Without a Cause (DVD F Reb)

East of Eden (DVD F Eas)

Giant (DVD F Gia)

Elizabeth (DVD F Eli)

Forrest Gump (DVD F For)

Indiana Jones series (but not Crystal Skull) (DVD F Ind)

Jurassic Park (DVD F Jur)

Mamma Mia! (DVD F Mam)

Moulin Rouge (DVD F Mou)

The Phantom of the Opera (DVD F Pha)

Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3 (not 4)(DVD F Pir)

The Princess Bride (DVD F Pri & DVD J Pri)

Roman Holiday (DVD F Rom)

Slumdog Millionaire (DVD F Slum)

Star Wars (DVD F Sta & DVD J Sta)

Titanic (DVD F Tit)

A Very Long Engagement (DVD F Ver)

Water for Elephants (DVD F Wat)

Edward Scissorhands (DVD F Edw)

Cary Grant—Bringing Up Baby (DVD F Bri), North by Northwest (DVD F Nor), Monkey Business   

     (DVD F Mon), His Girl Friday (DVD F His), An Affair to Remember (DVD F Aff)

W./E. (DVD F W./E.)

My Week with Marilyn (DVD F My)

Beginners (DVD F Beg)

Anonymous (DVD F Ano)

Midnight in Paris (DVD F Mid)

True Grit (DVD F Tru)

The Social Network (DVD F Soc)

Walk the Line (DVD F Wal)

The Court Jester (DVD F Cou)

The Young Victoria (DVD F You)

Food, Inc. (DVD 338.1 Foo)

Remember Me (DVD F Rem)

Scoop (DVD F Sco)

Pillow Talk (DVD F Pil)

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (DVD F Mis)

Oklahoma (DVD F Okl)

Melissa:

Favorite genres: Funny, unusual, foreign, documentaries

Favorite actor/actress/director: Hitchcock

Favorite DVDs:

Napoleon Dynamite (DVD F Nap)

Pollyana (DVD E Pol)

Chocolat (DVD F Cho)

Amadeus (DVD F Ama)

Rear Window (All Hitchy, really)(DVD F Rea)

Anonymous (DVD F Ano)

Secondhand Lions (DVD F Sec & DVD J Sec)

Fried Green Tomatoes (DVD F Fri)

Waking Ned Devine (DVD F Wak)

Election (DVD F Ele)

Food, Inc. (338.1 Foo)

Exit Through the Gift Shop (DVD 751.7 Exi)

Moonrise Kingdom (DVD F Moo)

Amelie (DVD F Ame)

Paris, Je T’aime (DVD F Par)

My Dog Skip (DVD F My)

Little Miss Sunshine (DVD F Lit)

The Bourne Trilogy (DVD F Bou)

Fargo (DVD F Far)

Back to the Future (first in the series only) (DVD F Bac)

The Sound of Music (DVD F Sou)

Mamma Mia! (DVD F Mam) 

Nicki:

Favorite genre: Foreign Films

Favorite DVDs:

Monsoon Wedding (DVD F Mon)

Cinema Paradiso (DVD F Cin)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (DVD F Cro)

Il Postino (The Postman) (DVD F Il)

My Mother’s Castle (DVD F My)

Tamara:

Favorite genres: all—mysteries, comedy, sci-fi, fantasy

Favorite actor/actress/director: Cary Grant and Harrison Ford, Katharine Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock

Favorite DVDs:

The African Queen (DVD F Afr)

Alien (DVD F Ali)

The Princess Bride (DVD F Pri)

Bleak House (DVD F Ble)

Addams Family (DVD E Add)

Back to the Future (DVD F Bac)

Blade Runner (DVD F Bla)

Blazing Saddles (DVD F Bla)

The Blues Brothers (DVD F Blu)

The Breakfast Club (DVD F Bre)

Bridget Jones’s Diary (DVD F Bri)

Casablanca (DVD F Cas)

Chariots of Fire (DVD F Char)

Chicago (DVD F Chi)

Duck Soup (DVD F Duc)

Fried Green Tomatoes (DVD F Fri)

The Great Dictator (DVD F Gre)

High Anxiety (DVD F Hig)

His Girl Friday (DVD F His)

Anne of Green Gables (Megan Follows)(DVD E Ann)

Chicken Run (DVD E Chi)

The Muppet Movie (DVD E Mup)

Swiss Family Robinson (DVD E Swi)

Star Wars—original—the good one (DVD F Sta & DVD J Sta)

Jumanji (DVD F Jum)

North by Northwest (DVD F Nor)

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (DVD F Mr.)

Topper (DVD F Top)

The Thin Man series (DVD F Thi)

Wyatt:

Favorite genres: Sci-fi, horror, action, comedy

Favorite actor/actress/director: John Cusack, Michael J. Fox, Bill Murray, Robin Williams, Patrick Stewart 

Favorite DVDs:

The Back to the Future Trilogy (DVD F Bac)

Blade Runner (DVD F Bla)

Die Hard (DVD F Die)

District 9 (DVD F Dis)

Ghostbusters (DVD F Gho)

Groundhog Day (DVD F Gro)

Hook (DVD F Hoo)

Wallace and Gromit (DVD E Wal)

Gran Torino (DVD F Gran)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (DVD J Fan)

Big (DVD F Big)

Moonrise Kingdom (DVD F Moo)

The Muppets (DVD J Mup)

Minority Report (DVD F Min)

Rocky (DVD F Roc)

Inception (DVD F Inc)

Planet of the Apes (1968) (DVD F Pla)

Alien (DVD F Ali)

Howl’s Moving Castle (DVD F How)