By
Laurie Lyda Rowan Public Library
Now that the local forecast includes an
impending blast of truly cold weather, courtesy of the break-up of the Arctic’s
polar vortex, it’s time to take advantage of Rowan Public Library’s circulating
collections and stock up on movies and books! A library card accountholder can
check out 15 DVDs and 25 items total for two-week circulating collections. Even
during bad weather, renewals for accounts in good standing are easily
accomplished with a phone call or visit to your online account. (Online access
requires your four-digit PIN/password; if you don’t know it, contact your
nearest RPL branch for assistance.) One caveat, though, is that if another
customer has placed a hold on an item, renewal is not possible.
For those who enjoy well-crafted,
suspenseful, and dark series, “The Fall,” starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie
Dornan, is a must-see. Anderson’s Stella Gibson is sophistication and steel,
while Dornan’s Paul Spector is chillingly compelling. Watching Gibson’s
cat-and-mouse game with Paul Spector – or is it Spector’s game with Gibson? –
is a macabre delight. There are three seasons total, and the first two are part
of RPL’s collection.
Fans of the classic whodunit with a
British flair have several connected series to choose from. “Inspector Morse,” based
on Colin Dexter’s series of detective novels, is a series of 33, two-hour
episodes featuring Morse (John Thaw) and his partner, Sergeant Lewis (Kevin
Whately). Whately went on to star in “Inspector Lewis,” a series also comprised
of 33 episodes. This time, Whately’s Lewis teams up with James Hathaway (Laurence
Fox) to solve crime. In 2012, yet another series in this show universe was
launched with “Endeavor,” a prequel to “Inspector Morse.” Starring Shaun Evans
as Endeavor Morse, the show’s fourth season will air in 2017. Many seasons from
all three shows and several of Dexter’s novels are available in RPL’s
collection.
In “Broadchurch,” the murder of an
11-year-old rips apart a close-knit, small community, exposing shocking secrets
and lies. Local Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman) and new-to-town
Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) navigate figurative minefields
as they must learn to work together and deal with ramifications from the
investigation that neither could have expected. It’s a haunting, well-done
show, and when I finished series/season three, I was still hoping for more.
Alas, creator Chris Chibnall has confirmed that the third season is the final
one. RPL carries all three seasons of
the British version.
If you’d rather read an engrossing
narrative than watch one, Emily Bronte’s 1847 “Wuthering Heights” is a classic.
Originally published under the pseudonym “Ellis Bell,” the gothic tale has
inspired countless critical studies. Whether you’re looking for an analysis
topic or a story to pass the time, “Wuthering Heights” offers a complex
narrative structure, supernatural elements, mystery, and complicated,
controversial characterizations. You can find the novel and several film
versions, including the 2009 adaptation starring Tom Hardy, in RPL’s
circulating collection.
One of my current favorite
contemporary mystery writers is Ruth Ware. According to her website, she
describes her novels as “psychological crime thrillers,” and I think that’s apt
-- I’ve voraciously read all four: “In a Dark, Dark Wood” (2015), “The Woman in
Cabin 10” (2016), “The Lying Game” (2017), and “The Death of Mrs. Westaway”
(2018). Each is unique, with distinctive narrators and complex, knotty
storylines that typically deliver from the first pages to the carefully crafted
dénouement. You can locate all four novels through RPL.
Those looking to expand their
reading horizons should also check out “Novelist.” A link to this readers’
advisory tool can be found at the top of the RPL catalog’s home page. To access
from home, have your library card number and PIN handy; you can obtain direct
access at any branch or ask a staff member for assistance. Part of NC Live,
“Novelist” offers readers the chance to explore titles similar to their
favorites and to specifically search for genres, elements, reading levels, and
more. It’s a great resource, and one that can aid the discovery of your next
favorite.
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