Greenwood Public Library Blogs

Are You a Fan of Hamilton? Then Check These Out!

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I tend to be one of those people who often question when something is getting a lot of hype.  Is it really as good as everyone says?  The Broadway musical Hamilton was no exception for me.  A few years ago I saw that the soundtrack was available through hoopla for free (sadly it doesn’t seem to be anymore), so I decided to see what all the hype was about.  I have to say, I was blown away!  I’ve been a HUGE fan of the show ever since.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of the recording of the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, and I’m so excited it’s being released today on Disney+!  The mix of American history with modern music, and references to issues such as immigration and racial equality are wonderfully done and make for a memorable show.  I highly recommend listening to the soundtrack if you haven’t already.  If you’re already a fan, like me, I’ve put together a list of nonfiction books, fiction books, and musical soundtracks that you may enjoy.

 

Nonfiction Books

Alexander Hamilton
by Ron Chernow

This is the book that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the musical, and definitely the one most recommended for fans of the show.

 

 

Washington’s Immortals
by Patrick K. O’Donnell

The little-known story of the Washington-led “Immortal 400” who found in several battles during the Revolutionary War.

 

 

Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams
by Louisa Thomas

A biography of Louisa Catherine Adams, the wife of John Quincy Adams.

 

 

 

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
by Sarah Vowell

A humorous and insightful account of the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette.

 

 

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
by Joseph Ellis

A look at the intertwined lives of the founding fathers – John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.

 

 

Hamilton: The Revolution
by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

A look into the creation of the musical, including emails, photographs, and notebook entries.

 

 

 

Fiction Books

America’ First Daughter
by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

A historical novel about Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter inspired by original letters.

 

 

The Hamilton Affair
by Elizabeth Cobbs

A fictional account of the love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.

 

 

Alex & Eliza
by Melissa de la Cruz

Young adult novel following the tale of Hamilton and Eliza.

 

 

 

The Traitor’s Wife
by Allison Pataki

An historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, wife of treasonous Benedict Arnold.

 

 

New York
by Edward Rutherfurd

Spanning centuries, this novel explores the history of the city of New York.

 

 

 

Musical Soundtracks

In the Heights

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway debut.

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ Superstar

A cultural icon of a show that has a controversial history while delivering some solid rock numbers.  Both Hamilton and Jesus Christ Superstar are narrated by the sympathetic antagonist.

 

 

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

While not rap, this show uses modern music to tell a historical tale, much like Hamilton.

 

 

 

Dear Evan Hansen

Like Hamilton, this show tells the story of an underdog who rises in success and fame only to make a big mistake.

 

 

 

The Last Five Years

Lin-Manuel Miranda actually directly quotes this show including the line “nobody needs to know.”  Both shows have a theme of infidelity.

 

 

 

Plus, if you haven’t already watched the documentary on the making of Hamilton, be sure to check out Hamilton, One Show to Broadway, which is available on hoopla.

 

 

 

Review: Who Speaks for the Damned

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Who Speaks for the Damned
by C.S. Harris
5 stars

Who Speaks for the Damned is C.S. Harris’ fifteenth entry in the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series.  Set in the Regency Era, the series centers around the aforementioned Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin.  Devlin is a nobleman who was once accused of murder and in the process of proving himself innocent, discovered he has rather a knack for ferreting out the truth.  Thus, he now investigates murder in the ranks of the nobility, always seeking justice for the dead.

This time Devlin is investigating the murder of Nicholas Hayes.  Hayes is the third son of the Earl of Seaforth, and was tried and convicted of a noblewoman’s murder 20 years ago.  Transported to Australia soon after his conviction, he was believed to be dead.  What, then, is his corpse doing turning up in Pennington’s Tea Gardens in the heart of London?  Why did he risk hanging by returning to England’s shores?  Who went to the trouble to murder Hayes, when all they needed to do was turn him in to the Crown to be hanged?

As Devlin investigates, several possibilities emerge as to why Hayes felt it necessary to return.  Did he seek to clear his name of a murder he did not commit?  Could he have sought revenge on those men he believed instrumental in helping to secure his murder conviction?  Perhaps he returned seeking to punish those he believed drove his brother to suicide just days before his sentence was passed.  Or was his return due to his wish to secure the future of the child traveling with him, a child believed to be his son and heir but who has now gone missing?

As Devlin unravels the intricacies of Hayes’ past and his present demise, the reader is immersed once again into the world of early 1800s London thanks to Harris’ excellent plotting, strong attention to detail, and character-driven writing.  Devlin, while a man of moral rectitude, is as human and as flawed a protagonist as you will find, which endears him to the reader all the more for it.  Hero, Devlin’s wife, is a strong, capable woman whose work among the poor of London’s streets attempts to highlight and correct the gaping chasm between the rich and the poor of the times, serving to illustrate them for the modern reader.  Jarvis, adviser to kings, Hero’s father, and Devlin’s constant nemesis, doesn’t disappoint in his constancy as a man of questionable morals who does whatever is necessary to ensure that no hint of scandal tarnishes the throne of England or besmirches the nobility.  I think of Jarvis as the Dolores Umbridge of the Regency Era—you love to hate him.

This series is one of the best historical mystery series being written today, and this fifteenth entry to the series is a most enjoyable read.  Harris’ plotting is fast-paced yet never formulaic.  The characters are likable and relatable, and the story-line unfolds with twists and turns aplenty.  Readers of this series will not be disappointed, and those new to the series will be delighted with their discovery of such a well-crafted, devour-able novel.  I never miss a Sebastian St. Cyr novel, and once you read one, you won’t want to miss one either.  They just keep getting better, and Who Speaks for the Damned is no exception.  A riveting read.

Read alikes:

A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

The Inheritance by Charles Finch

 

Written by Casey, a member of our Patron Services department. She loves mysteries, especially Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, and historical fiction. She also loves horror and fantasy novels.

Belly Laughs with Safety Last

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I grew up assuming all black and white movies were boring. Fortunately, through my movie buff husband I’ve learned the error of my ways. I’ve now seen Sunset Boulevard, High Noon, Casablanca, and Arsenic and Old Lace to name a few, and enjoyed them all.

The biggest surprise delight for me was Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last!. I, of course, new Charlie Chaplin was a famous silent film star, but apparently there were loads more including Harold Lloyd.

Safety Last! is a cute romcom about a young man who leaves his small town for the big city. He wants to earn enough money to marry the sweetheart he left behind but finds that’s not as easy of a task as he’d hoped. My young son and I, both skeptics of an old silent film that was made nearly 100 years ago, watched it with my husband recently. We laughed out loud numerous times watching Lloyd’s antics. In fact, I’d never heard my son do deep belly laughs watching a movie. Listening to him and watching the movie was a double pleasure.

If you’re in need of a fun family movie, I highly recommend watching Safety Last!. A benefit of it being from 1923: it’s in the public domain! You can find it for free to view on YouTube:

 

Best Family-Friendly Flicks on hoopla Right Now

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With all the streaming services popping up these days, there’s certainly no shortage of shows to choose from for family movie night. Yet one of the challenges of having so. many. options. is knowing what to choose.

Which titles are available on which platform? What’s streaming for free and what requires a paid subscription? Which options are family-friendly? And if something says it’s “family-friendly,” is it appropriate for your family?

GPL patrons with Evergreen accounts can stream thousands of titles for free using hoopla. If you’ve never used hoopla before, or you’ve used it mostly for audiobooks & ebooks, now is a great time to check out their available films.

Here are a few of the best family-friendly flicks you can access on hoopla right now. I’ve included the MPAA rating for each film, as well as Common Sense Media’s (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/) age rating, to help you determine whether a title is appropriate for your family.

Happy streaming!

It Takes Two – PG, 5+

Although Elizabeth, of Marvel Cinematic Universe fame, may be the better known Olsen these days, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen churned out a plethora of family-friendly flicks in the 90s, with this title being arguably one of their better offerings. It’s predictable, yet sweet.

 

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – G, 6+

It doesn’t get much more wholesome than this silly, whimsical ride from 1968. Fun fact: The screenplay was written by beloved children’s author Roald Dahl.

 

 

 

Heidi – NR, 7+

This warm-hearted remake of the classic children’s tale is absolutely gorgeous to watch. Please note that this is a German production that is dubbed for English-speaking audiences.

 

 

Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars – NR, 7+

Though this is the second film in a trilogy based on the work of L.M. Montgomery, you don’t have to have previous knowledge of the subject matter to enjoy this joyful, sweet film. Anne is a great role model for young viewers, and the fact that she has several mature, responsible adults to go to for advice is a refreshing change from most coming-of-age films. (The third film in the series, Fire and Dew, is also available.)

 

All Dogs Go to Heaven – G, 8+

As someone who loved this movie as a kid but hadn’t seen it in decades, some of the behavior (drinking, smoking, and a horrible, though thankfully brief, racist caricature) was shocking to see in a kids’ movie. Overall it’s still an enjoyable film, though, and these moments provide parents an opportunity to open discussions with children about what is and is not appropriate behavior.

 

Ella Enchanted – PG, 8+

A fun, fairy tale-inspired romp about a young woman cursed to do whatever she’s told. The star-studded cast and fun musical numbers should keep the whole family entertained.

 

 

The Black Stallion – G, 8+

The shipwreck that opens the film may be harrowing for young viewers. Otherwise, this tale about a young boy who befriends the horse that saved his life is as wholesome and heartwarming as the classic novel from which it was adapted.

 

 

Harriet the Spy – PG, 9+

This book-turned-movie has some tough to watch bullying scenes, some of which feature the protagonist herself as the perpetrator. But, by the end of the film, everyone has (mostly) learned their lesson. Plus, Michelle Trachtenberg is charming as Harriet, and many parents will find the 90s kid culture nostalgic.

 

 

If I Had Wings – PG, 11+

I was surprised by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this underdog tale about two unlikely friends overcoming a physical disability while navigating common problems kids face like bullying, strained parental relationships, and finding their identity. This film is better suited to older kids thanks to some language and allusions to racism.

 

13 Going on 30 – PG-13, 12+

This Jennifer Garner-led film is a delightful revisiting of the ‘kid in an adult body’ trope in the style of Big or Freaky Friday. Though there are some adult situations and innuendo you may not want younger viewers exposed to, it’s worth a watch with older kids for the soundtrack alone (and that “Thriller” dance scene).

 

 

For more info on how Hoopla works, check out our page (http://www.greenwoodlibrary.us/stream-hoopla).

 

 

Ways to Have a Better Conversation

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We live in a very polarized society.  It seems like everyone has an opinion, and very strong ones at that about the social and political topics that have been in the news.  I found a great resource for how to engage with others, especially those that have differing opinions. Celeste Headlee, a journalist and author, gives a very short TED Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation. It is from a few years ago but it is just as relevant today as it was in 2015.  Good conversation is key to all aspects of our lives, be it social, political or just every day relational.

Click here to view this video on the Ted Talk webpage.

If you’d like to learn more, check out Celeste Headlee’s book We Need to Talk : How to Have Conversations That Matter which we have here at GPL.