See a Book, Read a Movie
The Bourne Series│Robert Ludlum│ Fic, Q, Cass, CD, DVD, Spa
A retrograde amnesiac, Jason Bourne must discover who he is and why several groups, including an
assassin and the CIA, are trying to kill him. In this spy fiction thriller, Jason Bourne’s only clue to his own
identity is a bank account number surgically embedded in his hip. While attempting to retrace his steps,
Bourne attracts the attention of several people who either fear him, warn him of danger, or try to kill him—
these people all assume that Bourne already knows why. Bourne slowly begins to realize that he may have
been a professional assassin prior to losing his memory.
Persepolis│ Marjane Satrapi│955 Satr, DVD
Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir about her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The story
is told in a graphic format, with expressive black and white illustrations. Marjane witnesses the horrors of war
and totalitarianism, and with her Marxist-inclined parents, Marjane favors the overthrow of the Shah.
However, Marjane and her family soon realize that the new regime is more unfair than the last, and so
Marjane is sent from her homeland in order to escape the horrors in Iran.
Dances with Wolves
│ Michael Blake│ W Fic , Q, DVD
Civil War Lt. John Dunbar is sent to an abandoned fort on the American Frontier where his only neighbor is
a Sioux tribe. Not only is there a language barrier between the tribe and John Dunbar, there is also a mutual
fear and distrust. However, as time goes by John Dunbar and the Native Americans gradually become
friends. He learns about their history and culture, and meanwhile falls in love with a white woman who had
been raised by the tribe. Although John Dunbar forms an alliance with the Sioux, he must eventually face a
crucial decision that will cause him to look into his heart before choosing his destiny.
Get Shorty│ Elmore Leonard│ Fic, Cass, Vid, DVD
Chili Palmer, a small-time loan shark whose mob boss just got whacked, is trying to escape his bad debt. He
travels from Miami to Las Vegas and hooks up with Harry Zimm, a once leading director trying to make a
comeback. As Chili tries to narrow his debt, he gets caught up running against a sharp-dressing hood with
whose money Harry Zimm has played with too often . The plot is mixed with murder and romance, as well
as Elmore Leonard’s ability to make any mobster as cool, and funny, as Chili Palmer.
Jurassic Park│ Michael Crichton
│Fic, DVD, Vid
On an island far away lives a race of dinosaurs. Bioengineers had cloned fifteen species of dinosaurs, and
the secret island had been designed and built for tourists to see the large reptiles. Whilst Hammond, the
creator of Jurassic Park, wants to show off his new dinosaur theme park to a selected audience—a
mathematician, a dino’ expert, and his two grandchildren. Chaos soon ensues when a rival genetics firm
attempts to steal the island’s frozen dinosaur embryos, and it’s up to two kids, a safari guide, and a
paleontologist to set things right.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford│Ron Hansen│ W Fic, DVD
Jesse James is a fabled American outlaw whose many adventures captured the imagination and admiration
of an entire nation. This unforgettable story exploits the interweaving paths of Jesse James and the “dirty
little coward” Robert Ford who coveted Jesse’s legend. In a tale of blood and betrayal, Run Hansen delivers
a captivating story about one of America’s most glorified outlaws.
The Hours│Michael Cunningham│Fic, Q, Cass, Vid, DVD
The Hours is both a homage to Virginia Woolf as well as an intertwining story about two contemporary
women. In 1923 Woolf awakens from a dream that will soon lead to Mrs. Dalloway, and in present time we
are introduced to 52-year-old Clarissa Vaughan who is planning a party for her oldest love, a poet dying of
AIDS. We are also introduced to Laura Brown, Los Angeles native, who is the pregnant wife of a man who is
obsessed with reading Virginia Woolf. Like its literary inspiration, The Hours represents the consciousness
of human kind and the precious moments of life that we sometimes overlook.
The Last King of Scotland│Giles Foden│FIC, CD, DVD
This novel chronicles the horrors that took place in the life of Idi Amin, former dictator of Uganda. The story
is told from the viewpoint of Nicholas Garrigan, Amin’s personal physician. Garrigan is the only son of a
Scots Presbyterian minister and accepts a position within the Ministry of Health. This leads to his arrival in
Kampala, where the overthrow of President Obote has just taken place. Garrigan witnesses Idi Amin Dada’s
ascendancy to power, and soon enough finds himself caught between his duty to his patient and the
pressure from his own government to help them control Amin.
Legally Blonde│Amanda Brown│YA Fic, DVD, Vid, Spa
Elle Wood’s long time boyfriend Warner breaks up with her because he needs a girlfriend that is more
“serious”. As Warner takes off to Harvard Law, Elle decides she is going to prove to Warner that she can be
serious, and smart. She follows him to Law School and decides to take on the job as a summer intern for the
infamous lawyer Christopher Miles. Elle finds that she is beginning to forget all about Warner, and instead
focuses on her new life as a Harvard student. Can she help Christopher Miles solve his murder case while at
the same time prove to Warner how serious she can really be?
The Rules of Attraction│Bret Easton Ellis│Fic, DVD
A story about college students for college students, The Rules of Attraction is a series of brief, first-person
accounts about a love triangle that takes place in a fictional New England college. The story is a whirlwind of
adolescent fantasies—sex, drugs, and parties. Ellis delivers a contemporary feel about wealth and youth
and the power of attraction.
Taking Lives│Michael Pye│ Fic, Q, Vid, DVD
The story begins with a young student named Martin Arkenhout. Martin is taking a break from his
studies to explore the United States. During his travels he gets a kick out of viciously murdering
various strangers. After the killings Martin steals the identities of his victims in an attempt to
displace his own persona. His favorite identity? Professor Christopher Hart, an art teacher with a
special affection for Dutch art and valuable manuscripts. The theft of one such manuscript gains
the attention of private investigator John Costa. Martin is then hotly pursued across the globe,
paying his own price for the professor’s purported crime.
King Solomon’s Mines│ H. Rider Haggard│ Fic, DVD
The story revolves around the adventure of an elephant hunter as his crew heads into the depths
of South Africa in search of a fabled diamond mine, and also to rescue the brother of the English
gentleman who accompanies them. They are guided by a native who is much more than he
seems. And as they enter Zulu territory, the crew is drawn into the local politics. They soon
discover that their European methods are not at all effective, and they quickly find themselves in
deadly peril from a merciless king who conspires against them.
CS 7/08