From the Royal Shakespeare Company and on the big screen, British actor Albert Finney delighted audiences on both sides of the pond. His lovable gruffness was perfect for roles like Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" and the indomitable Winston Churchill in "The Gathering Storm." Check out the range of his work with DVDs from our collection. 

A few years ago, local author Josh Malerman brought the story of "Bird Box" to life. Now it's traveled from Michigan suburbs and backwoods to the small screen and folks can't get enough! So take off your blindfold for these other books and films that will have you shutting your blinds...

 

Bird box by Josh Malerman

Written with the narrative tension of The Road and the exquisite terror of classic Stephen King, Bird Box is a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat horror thriller, set in an apocalyptic near-future world--a masterpiece of suspense from the brilliantly imaginative Josh Malerman.

Black mad wheel by Josh Malerman

 From the author of the hit literary horror debut Bird Box comes a chilling novel about a group of musicians conscripted by the US government to track down the source of a strange and debilitating sound.

The Danes--the band known as the "Darlings of Detroit"--are washed up and desperate for inspiration, eager to once again have a number one hit. That is, until an agent from the US Army approaches them. Will they travel to an African desert and track down the source of a mysterious and malevolent sound?

Penny Marshall brought joy and tears to American screens big and small over the past 40 years. Marshall first broke out as Laverne on "Laverne & Shirley" and went on to direct "BIG" and "A League of Their Own" to name a few. Join us in celebrating her life with some materials from our library collection. 

Mr. Bush served from 1989 to 1993, "capping a career of more than 40 years in public service. A decorated Navy pilot, he was the last of the World War II generation to occupy the Oval Office. He had been a two-term congressman from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, United States envoy to China, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and vice president, under Ronald Reagan. And he achieved what no one had since Martin Van Buren in 1836: winning election to the presidency while serving as vice president." (NY Times)

Click here to see pictures of Mr. Bush's visit to the library in 1992

Suffice it to say that Stan Lee was the Godfather of modern comic books. He had a hand in the creation or proliferation of almost every popular Marvel Comics series since the 1960s, and on into the blockbuster film successes of the 21st Century.  Lee's co-creation credits include the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and Marvel's most successful character, Spider-Man, all of whom lived in a thoroughly shared universe. He also gathered several of their newly created characters together into the team title The Avengers and would revive characters from the 1940s such as the Sub-Mariner and Captain America. 

He has left an indelible impression on hardcore fans and popular culture. He will be missed, though his legend will clearly live on for decades to come. 'Nuff Said!

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Walking Dead comic, we will be giving out a limited amount of Dead swag. We will have the free goods on display in the Teen Space (right across from the graphic novels). So come by on Saturday 10/13 and remember the early biter gets the meat!

Today we lost a Detroit superstar and an American legend in Aretha Franklin. But she will live on with her indomitable sound. 

A frank examination of Aretha Franklin, Mark Bego's definitive biography traces her career accomplishments from her beginnings as a twelve-year-old member of a church choir in the early 1950s, to recording her first album at the age of fourteen and signing a major recording contract at eighteen, right up through her headline-grabbing 2010 health scare. Originally positioned to become a gospel star in her father's Detroit church, Aretha had a privileged urban upbringing--stars such as Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington, and Sam Cooke regularly visited her father, Rev. C. L. Franklin. It wasn't long before she was creating a string of hits, from "Respect" to "Freeway of Love," and becoming one of the most beloved singers of the twentieth century. 

Aretha : from these roots by Aretha Franklin

America's Queen of Soul recounts the story of her life, from her childhood as a minister's daughter in Detroit to her rise to success, offering insights into the faith and determination that have taken her to the top.

SEMCOG announces the launch of Southeast Michigan ParkFinder, a new mobile app that makes it easier than ever to explore recreation opportunities throughout the seven-county region. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) created a mapping app to help you find parks in the region on your smart phone or on the web. Simply go to maps.semcog.org/ParkFinder to use the map and get access to the ParkFinder app for iPhone and Android smart devices. 

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