First Came the Book

 

12-6-2024

Conclave is not just a movie.

A few months ago, I saw a trailer for the movie starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. Since I adore two of those actors, I’ll let you guess which two, and knew a story that intriguing must have originated as a book. Not only was I correct, but ETLPL owns a copy. Robert Harris’ book was published in 2016 so it’s been around long enough we keep it in the Lower Level. Proof that good books you may have missed can be found down the stairs too. I finished it last week. It was a good book  

While we’re talking movies, I should mention that Wicked also started out as a book series by Gregory Maguire. There are four books in the series and we do own a version of them all. It’s been over two decades since I read the first one. I don’t remember my impressions of it, but it was highly recommended to me.

I’ll be interested in seeing both movies, but not yet. I’m just finishing listening to Dune and that movie series is available for free checkout at the library. It will be a few months before the above movies will be available on DVD.

Speaking of my recommendations, Mom has to wait once more for Joy Ellis books as I’ve started more ETLPL readers on her series. A new Nikki Galena book was just released in November. Place your holds for Echoes on the Fens.

The recent drop in temperatures may have been the inspiration for this article. Books and movies with a soft blanket seem and excellent way to spend the evening. The weather hasn’t turned wintery enough to consider closing the library, memories of last January and 29 hours without power (read heat) at my home tells me it is best to be prepared.

Prepared means having electronic access to any required means of posting the closure from home. Those postings include the East Troy Village website, East Troy Lions Public Library website and Facebook page, and Today’s TMJ4. If I made the drive to work before making the decision, there will also be a posting on the door.

Our incredibly long answering machine message states that we do not close just because the East Troy Community School District has done so. There are many reasons for this beginning with the fact that the schools often close the night before based on weather predictions. Late starts aren’t as likely given the library already opens two hours after the start of most school days. Instead, I usually base it on my drive to work and how well the snowplows are able to keep up. DPW and Benchmark do an excellent job cleaning the snow for us, but there are times when the library parking lot cannot be a priority.

Hopefully we won’t need to put this information to the test anytime soon, but I’ll make certain to have some movies handy just in case.

Reading Now: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (Book club meets next week December 10th or 13th.)

Listening to Now: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (Quite honestly, it's on the PBS Great American Read list and my first reaction is listening is less painful than reading this one. We'll see if I making it past the first chapter changes my impressions.)