Blog

    I watch Hard Times (1975, rated PG, 93 minutes) every year, because it’s a heroic story, because it’s complete unto itself, because it generously invites the viewer to […]...

  About 55 years ago, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton got crazy in Hollywood and filmed Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967, not rated, 108 […]...

  The breaking of a heart can take so long… I watched Ethan Frome (1993, rated PG, 99 minutes), then I read the book, then I watched the movie again, it’s easier […]...

  Emperor of the North (1973, rated PG, 118 minutes) is a heroic film. Do yourself a favor: plan to watch it twice. Get the picture: a tramp named “A No. […]...

Dirty Dancing (1987, rated PG-13, 100 minutes) invites you to go deeper than the “ugly duckling/Prince Charming/red hot final dance” story—the powerful elements of the film are Baby’s naiveté, and her […]...

  Conspiracy is an almost flawless portrayal of naked evil being done by powerful men, each of whom has lost or abandoned his moral compass. It is dry, withering, completely transparent, […]...

  Here’s the big bad spoiler: there’s a love story in Brokeback Mountain (2005, rated R, 135 minutes). It has cowboys. It has scenic mountains. It has pickup trucks and big empty […]...

If you’re a fan of Henrik Ibsen’s stark, unforgiving play, you’ll love this film version of A Doll’s House (1973, rated G, 95 minutes). Both have the same undercurrent of desperation. […]...

Recently, a patron recommended Clock Dance by Anne Tyler.  She remarked, “this book has Anne Tyler’s wonderful quirky characters.” I quickly checked out the book and am happy to report […]...

Even if you’ve never watched it, by now you’ve probably heard something about Bridgerton. The new Netflix TV series debuted on December 25 and quickly became one of Netflix’s top shows. […]...

On January 25, the American Library Association announced the 2021 Youth Media Awards. As the ALA website explains: Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials […]...

IT’S A CINCH BY THE INCH Reaching your goals one step at a time By Martha E. Fagan, RN, BSN As threatened in my two previous blogs I’m finally writing […]...