Teens getting killed. They have been making movies with that very premise for over 30 years. A main character (a female, usually being played by that actress you kind of recognize) and her group of friends (a jock, a nerd, a cheerleader, etc.) are picked off one at a time by a killer in a costume or mask who will reveal his or her identity and motive during the last 20 minutes of the film.

In all honesty, Scream’s plot really isn’t much different than all slasher film plots. The heroine this time is the damaged Sidney Prescot, played by Neve Campbell, whose mother was murdered one year prior to when the movie begins. And while she and her friends fit the typical slasher film archetypes, there is one difference between them and virtually every other character who has ever been written into a horror movie: they have seen horror movies. They know the cliches; they know what not to do; they know the "rules one must abide by in order to successfully survive a scary movie." Screenwriter Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven cram so much wit, humor, and blood into this simple story that you are guaranteed to have a blast.

Scream was one of the defining movies of the 90s. It was a phenomenon reinventing a genre that hadn’t been marketable since the mid-80s. It spawned two sequels and endless rip-offs. An intelligent spoof on horror movies that is still extremely scary, Scream is one of my all time favorites.

Mike Dwyre – East Columbia Branch

Imagine for a moment that you took a few years off from a project, turned your attention to other things, and realized what you were missing while you were gone. The four members of Imperial Teen did just that — working respectively on individual projects before reuniting to reflect on their separation. The result, The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band (a title summing up their individual projects), is a collection of pop tunes that are instrumentally aggressive, yet lyrically reflective. Together they embrace a variety of pop styles, showcasing the talents of the band. The collection is consistently brilliant and I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll immediately find an earworm or two.

As a listener, you get the idea that there’s something autobiographical here. "Shim Sham", "The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band", and the hard-driving "One Two" tell the story of the band getting back together and re-starting the creative process. These lead into "Room with a View," which ought to be the thirtysomething’s national anthem, as the band gives up on pretending to be twenty and confronts the truths of their new situations. “Used to stop at the red light / and now we go to the gym.” There’s plenty of reflection here, as the band’s “family drama” plays out in song; however, the mood stays positive and optimistic, and the song turns into a celebration.

It may be true that you can never go home again, but Imperial Teen’s The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band shows that you can certainly pick up threads of the past and weave them together to recapture the magic. For something that is both great sounding and substantial, don’t miss The Hair, The TV, The Baby & the Band by Imperial Teen!

John Jewitt – Savage Branch

I don’t usually read memoirs, especially ones about recovery. I don’t watch docudramas about medical or emotional trauma either. I tend to become horrified and depressed, instead of edified and entertained. However, Cooking & Screaming: Finding My Own Recipe for Recovery found its way onto my reading stack…I think it was a combination of the clever title and bold cover. This fascinating and honest book might even have converted me into reading other memoirs (but not watching them).

Just before graduating from UC Berkeley at age 21, author Adrienne Kane suffered a major stroke. In this memoir, Kane recounts the frustrations of physical therapy and her gradual reintroduction to independence. As she takes the reader through her road to recovery, she mixes family anecdotes, California atmosphere, and medical prognoses into an upbeat concoction, all about a strong-willed woman facing life’s challenges.

Each chapter begins with a recipe, which relates somehow to the chapter’s theme. The first chapter opens with a pasta and zucchini dish (which I have copied to try myself) from Kane’s college days. Throughout the book, recipes vary in complexity from basic spaghetti sauce to a duck dinner made in memory of Julia Child. It was fascinating to see how each recipe reflected an important chapter in the author’s recovery.

Kane discovers her passion for food and feeding people as she copes with her disabilities. Cooking and sharing her thoughts about food come to define her vocation, almost by accident. This was a delightful read…the author’s voice is highly personal, the topic astounding on many levels, and the meals mouthwatering-ly inspiring.

Kristen Blount – Administration Office

Scott Douglas

Ever wonder what is going through the mind of your friendly neighborhood librarian as you ask your really important question and the librarian stares intently, but seems somewhat distracted? Now you can find out. Or at least know what Scott Douglas would say when faced with the same situation.

In Quiet Please, Dispatches from a Public Librarian, Scott Douglas discusses his years at the Anaheim California Library system, where he began as a volunteer. Douglas continued his career path by enrolling in library school, and eventually obtained a job at the information desk. His journey covers all facets of library work, with commentary along the way.

This humorous account of Douglas’ daily encounters at work will appeal to both library customers and library employees. The author meets a variety of people from many walks of life who all love their libraries, as much as Scott seems to love them. Toward the end of the book, the library branch closes, and a few people stop in to say their goodbyes. And life goes on.

Although his tone is often grouchy, the reader does feel that Scott is genuinely interested in his fellow employees and the daily customers. As somewhat of a humorous inside joke, Douglas gives each chapter the Dewey Decimal number that corresponds with its subject. He also digresses from his autobiography to provide additional information about that subject matter. For example, he gives a short history of Anaheim when he discusses working in that Dewey Decimal section.

I recommend Quiet Please, Dispatches from a Public Librarian, for those interested in learning about how a library works behind the scenes and/or for those who like to read about quirky people.

Robert Bates- Glenwood Branch

Having worked at Howard County Library for many years, one of the most exciting things about blogging will be sharing some of the many titles that have resonated with me throughout my career. I’d like to start by recommending the DVD The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. I hadn’t seen the movie since its release, so I wanted to watch it again before writing a review. Coincidentally, my oldest daughter happened to be at home. Although we have completely different tastes, I assured her that if she could spare 83 minutes, she would thank me profusely for introducing her to Mark Bittner and his family of parrots. If only to stop my relentless pressure, she finally agreed. From the moment she saw Mingus, a cherry-headed conure, dancing to the bluesy notes of Bittner’s guitar, she was hooked.

Hoping for a musical career which never materializes, Mark Bittner settles in San Francisco. He eschews a traditional lifestyle, choosing instead to move from job to job while bunking down on roofs and equally unusual places. He regularly notices a flock of wild parrots and begins to research what they are, where they came from, and how they can thrive in an urban environment. His interest morphs into a vocation as he names, befriends, and tends to the needs of the birds. By the end of the film, the parrots have become his family.

A small film like The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill and a gentle man named Mark Bittner can go a long way toward making you appreciate the small things in life. I might even go so far as to say it could bolster your faith in humankind.

When the film was over, I gushed, "Wasn’t it GREAT, Britt!!" "It was okay, Mom," she reluctantly agreed. Later that night she was talking on the phone to a friend. As I benignly eavesdropped, I heard her say, "There’s this AMAZING movie you’ve just GOT to see…"

Fritzi Newton – Miller Branch