Kira recommends "Lights Out"

My best friend and I are horror movie addicts, and we've watched everything from The Blair Witch Project to The Collector to REPO: The Genetic Opera to The Greenskeeper. Anyone who watches a lot of horror movie​s knows that they can range from cheesy to okay to amazing, and anywhere in between. This movie was at the latter end of the spectrum. There's not a whole lot of ideas that haven't been seen before in horror movies- evil creature comes through a ouija board, mentally ill child kills everybody, a demonic cult lies beneath an innocent-looking town- or, of course, a monster can only exist in the shadows, so you're safe until the lights go out. What makes this movie good is that instead of going down the same path that other horror films have already gone, Lights Out takes a new spin, and is genuinely scary. I won't ruin anything for you, but if you like scary movies, or even if you just want your blood to rush without blood and gore flying everywhere, this is a good, terrifying horror movie for you.

Gretchen recommends "Law of Attraction"

Law of Attraction is a combination legal thriller and romance with compelling characters.  Author and former federal prosecutor Allison Leotta, originally from Michigan, uses her legal background to craft the first of her Anna Curtis novels.  Anna’s first case brings back disturbing memories of her childhood, also bringing to light the complex cycle of domestic violence.  What follows is a fast-faced whodunit with surprising twists and turns, leaving room for new legal battles and relationships for Anna in the series.  This title was well-received by the North Branch mystery book discussion group.  Recommended for adults.

Margaret recommends "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris"

Master historian, David McCullough, tells the story of the generations of American artists, writers, and doctors who traveled to Paris between 1830 and 1900. What they learned in Paris helped to shape America from art to inventions to written works to medicine. Learn about people such as Samuel F.B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph and Morse code. What you learn may surprise you. McCullough brings each of the many men and women artists, inventors, writers, and doctors to life and demonstrates truly how amazing they were. Our very own Detroit Institute of Arts own some of the works of Mary Cassatt, James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Alexander Healy and more mentioned in the book. It is well worth the visit to explore. Enjoyed by our South Branch book club, an informative read.

Jeannie recommends "Deepwater Horizon"

Book: Fire on the Horizon by John Konrad

New DVD: Deepwater Horizon

Both the book and the movie share subject matter of the disaster aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. I highly recommend reading the book first, and then check out the movie (both of which are available at CMPL). I forgot how the book moved me until I saw the movie, and bonus if you like Mark Wahlburg!

Lisa recommends "Baby Shower Gift Books"

Have you been invited to a baby shower? Do you need to bring a book? We've got some great options for you to buy for your family's newest addition!

I Kissed the Baby!

Hello, Animals!

Yummy Yucky

You Are My Sunshine

The Babies and Doggies Book

Peek-a-Choo-Choo!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Juliane recommends "Sing Street"

If 80s nostalgia is calling to you, you will love this movie!  One of the best independent films to come out of 2016, “Sing Street” is a coming of age movie that blends Irish scrappiness with rock music in a joyous melody of angst, passion, unrequited love, and escapism.  We watch as one young man – intent on impressing a young woman – invents a band and spins up a hype cycle complete with costumes and music videos.  You can’t help tapping your feet to the original song, “Drive it Like You Stole It” and rooting for the band to make it big.  Watch out for the ending, the irrepressible hope sneaks up on you (with a tear or two) but more like a wind in your sail and less of a knock-you-off-your-feet!

Emily recommends Hot Reads for Cold Nights

Looking for a hot read on a cold night? We've got you covered! Here are some great books to pick up in print and even audio and eBook this winter. We've even included with the call number:

Bear and the nightingale by Katherine Arden SF ARDEN

Behind closed doors by B.A. Paris FIC PARIS

Chemist by Stephenie Meyer FIC MEYER

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett FIC PATCHETT

Couple next door by Shari Lapena FIC LAPENA

Dear Mr. M by Herman Koch FIC KOCH

Fall guy by James Lasdun FIC LASDUN

Fractured by Catherine McKenzie FIC MCKENZIE

Girl before by J.P. Delaney  FIC DELANEY

Guineveres by Sarah Domet FIC DOMET

Her every fear by Peter Swanson FIC SWANSON

History of wolves by Emily Fridlund FIC FRIDLUND

Hopefuls by Jennifer Close FIC CLOSE

Jerusalem by Alan Moore FIC MOORE

Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman FIC BACKMAN

Moonglow by Michael Chabon MYS CHABON

Motion of puppets by Keith Donohue FIC DONOHUE

Mothers by Brit Bennett FIC BENNETT

News of the world by Paulette Jiles FIC JILES

Perfect girl by Gilly MacMillan FIC MACMILLAN

Stranded by Bracken MacLeod FIC MCLEOD

Today will be different by Maria Semple FIC SEMPLE

Underground railroad by Colson Whitehead FIC WHITEHEAD

We are unprepared by Meg Little Reilly FIC REILLY

Book of joy: lasting happiness in a changing world by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu 

294.3444 B

Thank you for being late by Thomas Friedman 303.483 F

Shoe dog by Phil Knight 338.76887 K

Perfect horse: the daring U.S. mission to rescue the priceless stallions kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts 940.5421 L

Lost city of the monkey god by Douglas Preston 972.85 P

American dreamer by Tommy Hilfiger BIO HILFIGER

Born to run by Bruce Springsteen BIO SPRINGSTEEN

Good vibrations: my life as a Beach Boy  by Mike Love BIO LOVE

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance BIO VANCE

Love warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton BIO MELTON

Magnolia story by Chip Gaines BIO GAINES

Princess diarist by Carrie Fisher BIO FISHER

Scrappy little nobody by Anna Kendrick BIO KENDRICK

Settle for more by Megyn Kelly BIO KELLY

Talking as fast as I can by Lauren Graham BIO GRAHAM

They’re playing our song: a memoir by Carole Bayer Sager BIO SAGER