KC Public Library Blog
Program Notes: Odd Man Out (1947)
Odd Man Out, about the “troubles,” as Ireland’s long-standing friction with the British is often described, is aiming for something less topical and more universal, perhaps even poetic, than a straightforward examination of politically-inspired terrorism.
Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
In Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson, Christine Lucas wakes every morning to a fresh, new day, literally. She suffers from amnesia and every night all of her memories, long and short term, reset and in the morning she wakes up as a blank slate, not knowing anything about her self.
Program Notes: The Circus (1928)
During the 1920s Charlie Chaplin was the most famous person in the world. And The Circus, which finds the Tramp signing on as a clown at a rundown traveling show, was one the biggest moneymakers of the silent era.
Katz in the Cradle
March 8, 1879: Isaac Katz, who, along with his brother Mike, will found the Katz Drug Co. in Kansas City, is born in western Ukraine.
Program Notes: Broken Embraces (2009)
Sex, cinema and fate – three of Pedro Almodóvar’s favorite subjects – are lovingly examined in his Broken Embraces. So, for that matter, is Penélope Cruz, the Spanish auteur’s main muse.
Readin' O' the Green
Ireland is a country full of storytellers. It seems every citizen of the Emerald Isle was born with a golden tongue and a quick mind. KCPL has pulled together a Pinterest board of some of Ireland's most famous writers and poets. It's the Readin' O' the Green for March!
Program Notes: Dark City (1998)
Written and directed by Alex Proyas, Dark City is a spectacularly visionary movie that has since achieved cult status, a bizarre blend of surreal imagery, ‘40s film noir, and gonzo sci-fi.
Program Notes: My Left Foot (1989)
At this stage of his career, Day-Lewis' total immersion into the characters he plays is legendary. But it was obvious nearly a quarter-century ago when he won his first statuette for playing Christy Brown in My Left Foot.
American Canopy by Eric Rutkow
They provide shade on a hot summer day. They grow fruits and nuts for eating. They supply material for building, paper, fuel, and many other items. Trees play an important role and have helped influence the course of United States history.
End of the Marriage Penalty
March 2, 1944: Due to a wartime shortage of teachers, the Kansas City school board allows married women to teach.
Program Notes: The Flower of My Secret (1995)
The Flower of My Secret is at heart a traditional "women's picture," but thanks to Almodóvar's unique style it comes off as a minor miracle, both for its heroine and for its writer/director.
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
In The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty, Louise Brooks is a young free spirit who doesn’t care what society thinks of her. Cora Carlisle, on the other hand, is a middle-aged married woman with unflinching morals. In 1922, Louise makes an important trip to New York with Cora as her traveling companion. It is a journey that will profoundly change both women forever.
Blue Note Books
How do you put on a page the sharp, sweet tang of a jazz tune? Sure, someone could stick musical notes on a ledger sheet. There is another way to absorb the mood of a jazz riff, though. These books use bright colors, stylized illustrations, font changes, rhythmic text, and onomatopoeia (said sounds) to make you feel like your home is a club and your story time is a jam session.
Arranged for listeners/ readers from younger to older:
Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
In the 16th century, a man of infinite faith and superior education questioned both and penned a classic of spiritual reading that resonates today.
Whittaker's Chambers
February 22, 1901: Charles Evans Whittaker, who will go on to become the first person from Kansas or Missouri to serve on the Supreme Court, is born on a farm near Troy, Kansas.