Wood River Museum Collections Specialist Ellie Norman recommends the film, The Substance, starring Demi Moore. I first saw The Substance at last winter’s Sun Valley Film Festival, and it immediately stuck with me. Coralie Fargeat’s latest film is an audacious, bloody, and bitingly intelligent horror movie that digs deep into our cultural obsession with youth and beauty. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-famous television personality whose career begins to fade as she ages. … [Read more...] about Film Review: The Substance
Staff Reviews: Books, Films, Music, and More
Banned Book Week | Challenges to the Freedom to Read
Director of Library Operations Pam Parker recommends All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson and Plainsong by Ken Haruf. Statistically, book challenges may have dropped in 2024 over 2023. Yet these numbers cloud another reality—thousands of titles are no longer reaching their intended audiences due to the widespread use of challenges that have opened the door to an increasing number of book bans. According to PEN America, some16,000 instances of bans have occurred in public schools and … [Read more...] about Banned Book Week | Challenges to the Freedom to Read
Book Review: Circling Home
Librarian and English Language Learning Instructor Janet Ross-Heiner recommends Circling Home: What I Learned from Living Elsewhere by Terry Repak. Recently, I met Terry Repak – a fascinating and engaging woman – who I welcomed into the Wood River Museum of History and Culture. I had seen her book on a shelf at the Library, not knowing it was hers at the time. Having now read it, I invite you to experience Terry’s palpable and finely crafted memoir: Circling Home: What I Learned … [Read more...] about Book Review: Circling Home
Launchpad to the Whole Wide World
Every Book in the LibraryBy Kyla Merwin, Communications Manager Autumn has arrived in the Wood River Valley in a flurry of change. Leaves are turning from green to gold, students are returning to school with their packs full of books, optimism, and #2 pencils, and southbound birds are spreading their wings. With September has also come the happy annual occasion of Library Card Sign-up Month. When my grandmother first took me to the public library in Missoula, Montana, I was agog with … [Read more...] about Launchpad to the Whole Wide World
Staff Review: Doll’s Houses
Director of Operations Yira Massey recommends Doll’s Houses by Halina Pasierbska and our collection of doll houses created by Carol Dumke. I’ve always been fascinated with doll houses. They are so pretty, nostalgic, and whimsical. Some can be very elaborate, and it’s fascinating to look into all the rooms and be mesmerized by all the intricate little details, the thought, time, and patience it took to create them. You can instantly be transported in time to a different era. Did you … [Read more...] about Staff Review: Doll’s Houses
Book Review: Immortal
Circulation Supervisor Cándida Miniño recommends Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan. Immortal is a beautiful standalone romantasy with an enchanting cover that succeeded in luring me to peruse the book. Liyen, the heir to the land of Tianxia, is the main character in the story. The land of Tianxia guards the borders of the immortals from other mortals' incursions and is in exchange protected by the immortal queen from netherworld creatures. When Liyen is poisoned, her … [Read more...] about Book Review: Immortal
