Staff Reviews: Books, Films, Music, and More

Museum Collections Specialist Ellie Norman recommends Pearl (2022).

Ti West’s Pearl (rated R) is a gripping origin story that provides a chilling and emotionally charged exploration of the title character’s descent into madness.

As a prequel to West’s 1970s-set X, the film stands alone as a twisted psychological drama, focusing on Pearl’s repressed life in 1918 Texas while her husband is away at war. Stifled by the demands of caring for her ill father and her overbearing mother, Pearl finds solace only in the world of cinema, where her dreams of stardom fuel both her longing for escape and her growing instability.

While marketed as a “Technicolor slasher,” Pearl is more of a slow-burn character study than a conventional horror film. It delves deep into Pearl’s psyche, portraying her as a tragic figure whose unfulfilled dreams and isolation drive her toward violence.

This existential fear of being stuck in a meaningless life, with ambitions slipping away, is universal, making Pearl’s story hauntingly relatable even as it spirals into chaos.

Mia Goth delivers a mesmerizing performance, portraying Pearl with a perfect blend of innocence, desperation, and rage. Her portrayal elevates the film, making Pearl both sympathetic and terrifying. The supporting cast, though limited, complements her intensity, but this is Goth’s film from start to finish.

Visually, Pearl is a feast for the eyes. West’s direction and use of vibrant, retro-inspired cinematography evoke classic films like The Wizard of Oz, while the score amplifies the film’s unsettling tone. For fans of X, Pearl offers a fascinating backstory, but it also stands tall as a poignant and disturbing tale of unfulfilled dreams and unchecked desire. 

Just in time for Halloween, Pearl makes for perfect viewing during horror movie season, blending slasher thrills with unsettling psychological tension. It’s available to check out from The Community Library’s video section and also accessible on the streaming service Kanopy, free with your library card.

Find it in our collection here.

Nicole Lichtenberg recommends The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan.  

I am utterly captivated by this album. Chappell Roan has the vocal range of Christina Aguilera, the joyful tawdriness of Prince, the active, enthusiastic consent of a Title IX compliance program, and she manages to keep the DIY aesthetic of punk and garage music while somehow simultaneously brandishing a very high production value.

It’s difficult to bring something new to an album alternately reveling and wallowing in the highs and lows of interpersonal relationships, and yet, Roan succeeds.  

What’s more: My Spotify algorithm has had a narrow focus, on account of “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus being my alarm clock song, and my love of the Atlanta-based punk band, Microwave (I walked down the aisle to the song “Trash Stains” and thank you again, Stephen McDougall Graham, for playing it on the violin so that my mom wouldn’t notice I walked down the aisle to a song called “Trash Stains”).

Playing this album a few times has completely refreshed my other recommendations. That’s right: It’s fun to listen to, and it can clean out the cobwebs on your metadata. I don’t know what else you could want.  

This album is great for many situations, such as driving somewhere early in the morning, cleaning your house, feeling joy, and more, but it’s important to note that it does contain fairly graphic sexual content, so it’s not appropriate for children or elevators.   

You can find this album anywhere fine music is played or on CD here at The Community Library. Have fun!  

Communications Manager Kyla Merwin recommends Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Sooner or later, anyone who spends much time with me will see a Diet Coke in my hand. I’m a self-confessed “Coke” addict. I love the stuff. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks.

According to James Clear in his best-selling book, Atomic Habits, the first question I need to ask myself is this: Do I want to be the type of person who drinks Diet Coke all day every day? Answer: Yes. Yes, I do.

Ergo, I will fail at any attempts to stop drinking Diet Coke – even though I know it’s bad for me – because I cannot see myself as a non-Diet Coke drinker (yet).

At the core of Clear’s strategy is the notion that your habits shape your identity and visa versa. Put another way, to break an old habit or create a new one, you must focus on who you want to be rather that what you want to achieve.

Behavior that isn’t consistent with the self will not last, says Clear. The pull to act in a manner consistent with the person you see yourself as is very strong—stronger than the mere act of goal setting.

Once your pride gets involved, you’ll fight “tooth and nail to maintain your habits,” says Clear.

At this point, Clear gives you concrete tools to build good habits and break undesirable ones (like, say, four-five Diet Cokes a day). Such tools include:

Four Laws of Behavior Change: Habits are created from a feedback loop that involves a cue, followed by a craving, then a response, and finally the reward. Clear’s laws are to make the habit obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.

Habit Stacking: By tagging a new habit to an existing habit, you create a natural momentum that will help you build a desirable habit. If you want to build a daily habit of gratitude, for example, you can link a gratitude statement to your morning cup of coffee.

The Goldilocks Zone: To help you maintain good habits, Clear points to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. If your actions are too easy, you’ll get bored. If they are too hard, you’ll give up. To stay motivated, you have to find actions that are “just right”—that is, right on the edge of your current abilities.

For me at this time, giving up Diet Coke is way too far past my current abilities; I don’t yet see myself as a non-Diet-Coke-drinker. In the meantime, though, I’m building a new good habit of gratitude every morning when I hear the crack-fizz of the pop can opening.

Find it in our collection in print, ebook, eaudiobook, and on CD here.

Circulation Supervisor Cándida Miniño recommends This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo.

In This Is Your Brain on Food, Dr. Uma Naidoo explains how food is a powerful tool in managing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even ADHD.

In this book, the author informs how different nutrients affect our mood and cognition. She discusses the roles of various food groups, from omega-3 fatty acids to gut-friendly probiotics, and does so while sharing her own experiences and case studies from her practice.

Naidoo offers strategies for incorporating brain-boosting foods into our regime, giving general guidelines that let us add provisions to our meals without having the strictness of a diet.

If you prefer meal plans, she curated recipes you can implement in your daily life.

My favorite parts in the book are the cheat sheets for each chapter, that tell you the foods to embrace and to avoid depending on the issue you want to improve.

This book is a reminder that our relationship with food can profoundly impact our minds, and it encourages us to take control of our health—one meal at a time.

Find it in print and eaudiobook here.