Happy April Fools’ Day from Enoch Pratt Free Library! Amid all of the jokes and pranks, we’ve selected a few of our favorite books by popular comedians. We hope that you enjoy, learn, and of course laugh from these Nonfiction picks. Happy reading!
By Emilie Pichot, Librarian Associate
Here’s a look at some of the recent films that I’ve enjoyed on Hoopla.
Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood
In her first full stand up special, Haddish talks about growing up in the foster care system, dealing with bullies, homelessness, and taking Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith to the swamp. Favorite part: when she talks us through her method of seeking revenge on her cheating boyfriend and uses a ton of puns.
The Cook, the Thief, his Wife & Her Lover
By Peter GreenawayThis is a highly chromatic, sensual, and grotesque tale that follows Helen Mirren’s character as she falls in
love with another man in the restaurant her husband, a gangster, owns, but abuses. Watch if you love food, luxurious costume design, and sweet revenge.
Beware the ending is not for those with weak stomachs! Favorite Scene: When Mirren’s character’s outfit changes color between the restaurant hallway and restroom. So fun!
This film is rated NC-17.
Burning
By Chang-dong Lee
A new, award-winning slow-build thriller about a young man in Seoul who runs into an old childhood friend from where he grew up in the countryside. She brings him into her life and eventually introduces him to Ben, a man with lots of money but little empathy.
This film is a critical view into contemporary Korean society, and how globalism and capitalism has affected its culture, particularly its young people. Scary scene: When Ben talks about seeing people cry. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
This film is not rated, however includes nudity, sexual activity, language, and implied violence.
Mandy
By Panos Cosmatos
This film is a wildly and ridiculously entertaining saturated 80’s throwback with a synth and metal score, bright neon colors, and references to Hellraiser. Don’t watch if you’re looking for Mandy to have any character development, though, but if you like the idea of watching a campy hyper masculine fantasy with pretty colors and gore, you’ll enjoy this.
Favorite scene: When Mandy laughs at the antagonist. #goals
Not Rated, however includes lots of violence and gore, substance abuse, and a cult.
March has some great releases for fans of young adult novels. Look forward to a new release from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed and the debut novel by Justin A. Reynolds. Find out more below.
Internment
By Samira Ahmed
Set in a horrifying near-future, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.
With the help of friends in the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom.
Opposite of Always
By Justin A. Reynolds
After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.
Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book?
By Ally Carter
Have you always wanted to write a book, but don’t know where to start? Fear not, this book has answers! With honesty, encouragement, and humor, bestselling author Ally Carter is ready here to answer the questions that writers struggle with the most.
Don’t forget to check out these books too.
By Emilie Pichot, Library Associate
Hi there! Here are my thoughts on recent films that I streamed on Kanopy. Both films offer different perspectives on France.
Too Black to Be French?
By Isabelle Boni-Claverie
This documentary takes us through the manifestations of racism in French society, historically and today, zeroing in on how successful and rich black people experience racial discrimination and how French society tries to cover up their colonial history by claiming to be colorblind.
For instance, in France statistics on race are not collected or tracked, which may appear to signal a society without racism, however it only works to make the racism invisible and more difficult to combat. This film is not rated and is in French with English subtitles.
Stream Too Black to Be French? on Kanopy here.
Playtime
By Jacques Tati
This film is a lush and humorous depiction of modernity and industrialization. Machines, objects, and functional spaces are characters, too, making sounds, shining lights, and interacting with the protagonist and other human characters throughout the film.
The film brings you into this world with sort of a fly on the wall perspective, letting you observe, from a distance, the protagonist and the rest of the world interact in this metallic, manufactured, slippery, and loud landscape. Favorite scene: So many! But one that stands out is when a tourist asks a vendor for a photo but takes too long to set it up perfectly without any photo-bombers in view and gets asked by a new tourist on site to stand next to the vendor to be in their photo of “the real Paris.” This film is not rated and is in French with English subtitles.
Stream Playtime on Kanopy here.
How to find films on Kanopy: It’s quite easy to use. Go ahead and log into your Kanopy Account. Click and hover over browse to select a film that interests you.
Happy streaming!
Just keep swimming, we mean reading! The Read to Reef Book Club is back this month and Enoch Pratt Free Library is excited to offer these fun books that are sure to make a splash.
Not familiar with Read to Reef? In March, the program allows Baltimore-area children in fifth grade and younger to receive a Read to Reef bookmark at their local branch of Enoch Pratt Free Library (while supplies last).
After students read five aquatic or conservation-themed books they can exchange their completed bookmark for up to four admission tickets to the National Aquarium. For a full list of the instructions and details on Read to Reef, please visit here.
Dive into these picks:
You might want to also check these books out.
