Staff Picks of 2020
See what the Cedar Rapids Public Library staff was reading and watching in 2020.
Jumanji: The Next Level
Our staff is taking time right now to share reviews of some of the books, movies, and music they’re enjoying during their time at home. The views are uniquely their own. Be sure to tell us what you think! Growing up, I read and greatly enjoyed the imaginative book Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg. A… View more
Road Trip Movie Mood
Summer is optimal road trip season – the weather’s warm, everything’s open, and if you had to sleep in your car you could. The best road trips are always those that plan themselves, they meander and go back to the two lane road. From this distance you can get a better view of individual lives that… View more
Best of Book to Screen
Hulu’s adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is the latest example of fine literature being adapted for the small screen. In the past few years, dozens of successful books have turned into thoughtful, exciting, or fantastic screen versions of themselves. The Handmaid’s Tale, a streaming television event on Hulu, has already proven itself… View more
Movies: Oldies but Goodies
By the time February arrives in Iowa, cabin fever runs amuck. This week’s bitter cold temperatures prompted the following recommendations from some of the Cedar Rapids Public Library staff. Since you’ll probably stay inside this week, some of us think you should watch a DVD or Blu-ray that’s truly worth your time. Sarah’s pick is… View more
Movies, Movies, Movies!
Here are just a few of the best movies released on DVD and Blu-ray this month that the Metro Library Network has purchased. Remember to check the Media Boxes at the Ladd and Downtown libraries first for hot new releases! Still Alice Julianne Moore gives a mesmerizing performance as Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed… View more
Rent music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
On this day in 1996, Rent opened at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway. On the final night of dress rehearsal, one day before the show opened, Jonathon Larson, Rent’s composer and librettist, died. He had worked on Rent for seven years. There are just not enough adjectives to describe the gut-wrenching musical performances that played… View more
It’s Holiday Movie Time!
Tis the season! We’ve got your favorite December movies, from White Christmas to The Polar Express, so hurry in and check them out for a few days so you can come back and get some more. Here are just a few of our staff movie recommendations. They’re all available through the Metro Library Network. Home… View more
Babe (1995)
I saw the Blu-ray of Babe on a library shelf a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t help saying “awwww”. Fortunately, all of my colleagues know I seldom contain my enthusiasm when I really like something, so my little outburst of nostalgia went relatively unnoticed. I have great memories of watching this movie with my… View more
Hannibal Season One
The first episode of this series was so disturbing that I wasn’t sure I could keep watching it. I’m glad I stuck with it. It is outrageously scary and horrifying but extremely well acted and produced. The series follows famous fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter years before The Silence of the Lambs. The real hero of… View more