August 2022
Amy's Pick
Her Heart for a Compass by Sarah Ferguson (2021)
In this thoughtful novel by the Duchess of York, a young woman in Victorian England defies the expectations for a duke's daughter. Instead of an arranged marriage, her heart yearns for something more. She follows an unconventional path, realizing both disappointment and satisfaction in her choices. A fabulous read!
Laura's Picks
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher (2022)
Marra needs to accomplish three impossible tasks in order to rescue her sister from the abusive prince who married her: build a dog of bones, sew a cloak of nettles, and capture moonlight in a jar. But she'll also need friends: a dustwitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, and the help of a demon-possessed chicken. This isn't your ordinary fairy tale, but Marra isn't an ordinary princess either.
River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross (2022)
The girls of Cadence are going missing. Someone, or some spirit, has taken them, but who? Between mischievous spirits and hostile clan feuds, no one is sure who to trust. Jack the bard is summoned by the clan leader to sing to the spirits for help, but the secrets he uncovers will change everything. Fans of Juliet Marillier will especially love this tale of Celtic magic.
John's Picks
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits (1985)
The fifth studio album by Dire Straits and the most commercially successful release of their career. Containing their best-known single, "Money for Nothing," the album was the first to be certified ten-times platinum in the United Kingdom. One of the bestselling albums in U.K. history, it is a testament to chief songwriter Mark Knopfler's abilities and the band's skill in performing those songs.
The Batman (2022)
Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, the film follows Batman as he investigates a string of murders leading to corruption in Gotham City. Costarring Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman and Paul Dano as the Riddler, this film tells a new age story of the famed superhero in classic noir style
The Artist (2011)
A French dramedy directed by Michel Hazanavicius and starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo as two actors in the Depression-era film industry. A mostly black-and-white silent film, it tells the story of George Valentin (Dujardin), a fading silent film star struggling to adapt to the new "talkies" emerging from Hollywood, of which Peppy Miller (Bejo) has become newly successful. Winning Best Picture, and rightfully so, this is one of the most unique films out there and definitely worth the watch.