I was just waking up on Sunday morning when I usually watch film noir movies on Turner Classic Movies (TMC). I caught The Breaking Point (1950) in the middle, so I wasn’t sure what I was watching. It had all the suspense and stern dialog that is common for noir films. Still I could not recognize it from hundreds of films I’ve seen. The lead actor, John Garfield, was very good but I haven’t seen him in many films with famous actors. Patricia Neal is in it and she is much younger than I have … [Read more...] about Film Review: The Breaking Point
Staff Reviews: Books, Films, Music, and More
Review: Idaho Dyslexia Handbook
Executive Director Jenny Emery Davidson recommends the Idaho Dyslexia Handbook. For four days last week, 118 teachers from around southern Idaho convened in The Community Library’s Lecture Hall to analyze how children learn to read. One of the texts serving as a touchstone for the Sun Valley Early Literacy Summit, in its fifth year, has been the Idaho Dyslexia Handbook. It is a slim, taut, powerful guide to how reading happens in the brain, and how all children, including children with … [Read more...] about Review: Idaho Dyslexia Handbook
Review: HOPE
Director of Philanthropy Carter Hedberg recommends HOPE by Cristina Mittermeier. The old adage that a photograph is worth a thousand words feels especially apt when reading Cristina Mittermeier’s most recent book, HOPE. Having recently finished it, I found myself thinking not only about the extraordinary quality of the photography but also about the unique power of images to convey stories that words alone often cannot. Mittermeier’s photographs are dramatic, luminous, and frequently … [Read more...] about Review: HOPE
Review: Theo of Golden
Librarian Janet Ross-Heiner recommends Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Theo of Golden transforms the propulsion of human experiences into a more quiet, contemplative form of writing. I am thrilled to invite you into experience Theo. Theo’s life of artistry, family, and persistence of vision with recognition and reflection is a beautiful story to behold. Theo of Golden is a peaceful respite and a hope-filled story. A gentle story about connecting with people on a human level—vital to our … [Read more...] about Review: Theo of Golden
Review: In the Woods
Librarian Andrea Nelson recommends In the Woods by Tana French. Back in December of 2023, I wrote a Library recommendation that deviated from the typical book review. I recommended everything Tana French has ever written. I wasn’t mocking the time-honored tradition of librarian book reviews; I simply could not decide which was my favorite. Since then, my husband Rod has urged me to pick a Tana French novel for the Community Library Book Club. Those of you who regularly attend our … [Read more...] about Review: In the Woods
Review: The Proving Ground
Children’s Library Assistant Polly Hopkins recommends The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly. I never really imagined I’d quote O.J. Simpson of all people, but he made a pretty spot-on statement in his 1995 memoir when he wrote that, “in America, you get as much justice as you can afford.” This was regrettably confirmed for me via some recent first-hand experience. Toward the end of that experience, maybe a little serendipitously, I started listening to the audiobook of The Proving … [Read more...] about Review: The Proving Ground
