Tag Archives: Emily E.

5 Jane Austen Adaptations You Should Add to Your To-Be-Read List

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I love Jane Austen.  I also love adaptations of classic literature into contemporary storytelling.  When these two things merge, I am usually left a very happy reader.  Just in case you’re a fan of those two things as well, here are 5 Jane Austen adaptations you should consider adding to your to-be-read list.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

“Pembrook Park, Kent, England. Enter our doors as a house guest come to stay three weeks, enjoying the country manners and hospitality–a tea visit, a dance or two, a turn in the park, an unexpected meeting with a certain gentleman–all culminating with a ball and perhaps something more.”  Jane Hayes LOVES Pride and Prejudice.  And she’s also very unlucky in life and love.  Then she gets the wonderful idea to visit a Jane Austen inspired immersive amusement park.  Who wouldn’t want to live in Regency Era England for just a few days?  As one would expect, of a light, fun romantic comedy – hi jinks ensues and Jane finds that the romance she’s looking for might not be in the pages of the book she loves so much.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.” Dr. Trisha Raje is a neurosurgeon who is on the outs with her family after a tragic incident during college.  Determined to get back in the family’s good graces, Trisha agrees to help her sister plan an important dinner party, but that puts her in the path of up-and-coming chef DJ Caine.  It’s no surprise, in a book based on Pride and Prejudice that the two aren’t going to get along, but the friendship that blooms and Trisha’s reconciliation with her family is worth the read.  And who can say no to a Bollywood inspired Austen adapatation? (You can also check out the sequel – Recipe for Persuasion for a new Raje family, Austen-inspired tale.)

Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility by Hillary Manton Lodge
Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again. But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

It’s been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology. Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth–an almost unrecognizable Kai.  A an excellent read if you like a little science-fiction with your Austen.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

Based on the super popular web-series, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet tells the story of a college aged Lizzie who starts a video blog as a part of her senior thesis.  She uses the blog to talk about her family and friends, relaying her mother’s desperate attempt to marry off her daughters, her sister Lydia’s precocious ways, and her frustrating interactions with the arrogant William Darcy.  It’s fresh, contemporary, and has the added bonus of being a web-series that you can binge when you’re done!

Interactive Movie Experience: The Wizard of Oz

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After you’ve listened to the staff at GPL read you a new chapter of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum tonight on One More Chapter, consider adding an interactive movie watching experience to the fun!

Interactive movies are a great way to experience classic films that the whole family loves in a whole new way – all you need are a few items and the script of prompts that we’ve included below.  As a scene, action, or song plays in the movie, follow the action provided on the script.  It’s that easy!  Don’t have one of the items on the list?  Get creative and make your own fun!

 

ITEMS

Here are some starter ideas of items you might need.  Feel free to add to or substitute items on the list for your own, personal interactive movie watching experience:

  • Blank paper and crayons
  • A piece of candy (or other sweet treat)
  • Bubbles (Here are instructions for homemade bubbles!)
  • A tissue paper apple (OR a rolled-up pair of red socks would work too!)
  • A cup of confetti (OR mini marshmallows would work and are easier to clean up!)
  • Diploma (an old piece of paper rolled up will do!)
  • Paper heart
  • Paper medal
  • Song lyrics (for extra fun, sing along!)

** And a bowl of popcorn or a favorite movie watching snack

 

THE SCRIPT

There are two types of actions in the script : RECURRING are actions that you’ll do EVERY time they occur in the movie, while ONE-TIME actions occur only once.  To make things easy, ONE-TIME actions are prompted in order by scene.

RECURRING

Everytime the…

  • Song “We’re off to see the wizard” plays, skip along with Dorothy
  • Scarecrow mentions a brain, do a thinking pose OR tap your head
  • Wicked Witch comes on screen, do your best witch laugh/cackle
  • Tin Man mentions a heart, put your hand over your heart
  • Lion mentions courage, do a strong man pose

ONE-TIME

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow song, draw/color a rainbow OR look for items in your house – one for each color of the rainbow
  • Toto escapes from Miss Gulch, yell “Run, Toto, Run!”
  • The tornado comes, spin around like a twister
  • Glinda, the Good Witch, appears, blow bubbles to match her bubble
  • The Lollipop Guild song, have a piece of candy
  • The trees throw apples, toss your tissue paper apple at Dorothy and her friends
  • The Cowardly Lion appears, do your best lion impersonation
  • Merry Old Land of Oz song, laugh along with the residents of Oz

** Note: It’s TOTALLY cool to skip through the scary parts!  Fast forward, take a time out for a snack, or have the kids brush their teeth for bed before Dorothy and the gang make it back to Oz.

  • Wicked Witch of the West melts, toss your cup of confetti at the Wicked Witch
  • The Wizard gives Scarecrow his diploma, hand out diplomas
  • The Wizard gives the Cowardly Lion his courage, hand out paper medals
  • The Wizard gives the Tin Man his heart, hand out paper hearts
  • Glinda shows Dorothy how to get home, tap your heels together and repeat with Dorothy, “There’s no place like home.”

If you plan your own interactive Wizard of Oz family movie night, we’d love to see pictures!  Share them with us using #mygpl on Facebook or Instagram OR leave a comment with a picture on one of the One More Chapter Facebook posts each night.

Your Next Favorite Book | Subscription Box

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Have you heard of OwlCrate?  Or Fab Fit Fun?  Or Loot Crate?  Not familiar?  A subscription box is a paid packaged experience – a monthly delivery of cool stuff in a box.  And we’re super excited to announce our very own GPL subscription box…but it’s FREE!

Here at GPL, we’re always looking for fun ways to connect readers with our collection of books.  Thus was born the idea of a book “subscription” box, a personalized connection between YOU the reader and US, your friendly neighborhood librarians.  We want to help you find “YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK”, and we know it’s in the library’s collection!

So how will this subscription box thing work?

First – Fill out the registration form located here.
When you register, you’re eligible for a 2 month subscription.  We have enough boxes for 10 adult and 10 teen readers at a time.  Not one of the first 10 to sign up?  No worries!  We’ll add you to the waiting list and let you know when it’s your turn.

Second – Complete the “What’s your reading style?” quiz we’ll send you in a welcome email.
We want to get to know you a little better!  We’ll hand-pick a title from our collection for you to read based on your reading tastes.

Third – Pick up your box!
On the 1st Monday of the month, your box will be available for pick-up at the 2nd floor Help Desk.

Now for the fun …you won’t know what we’ve picked out for you!  When you get home, you’ll get the awesomely exciting experience of opening the box to see.  Along with the book, you’ll also receive 2-3 FREE goodies to keep.

Okay, that sounds easy and all, but what’s inside the box?

Every box will include :

  • A specially selected book from our collection chosen according to your personal reading style
  • 2-3 fun bits of swag you get to keep (ex. candy, buttons, bookmarks, fun socks, keychains, etc.)
  • A “What did you think?” card to let us know how we’re doing on selecting titles just for YOU
  • And an activity to make your reading experience interactive (maybe a photo challenge, recipe, or craft idea!)

And just to make the box even more FUN…

If you return the book, Review & Evaluation card, and the box by the 4th Monday of the month (don’t forget, you get to keep the swag!), you’ll receive a FREE book at the end of your subscription.

At the end of your 2 months, you can participate again by filling out the register form!

Sign up today!

Introducing The Studio!

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After years of planning and dreaming, we’re excited to offer our community a new destination for expanding imaginations and learning new skills.  The Studio, GPL’s new maker space, was designed to encourage self-guided making and education.  The library is providing resources to help you on your own unique making journey.

So, what is there to do in The Studio?  (Great question!)

Kits

Whether you’re a crafter or tinkerer, there’s a kit for you!  The Studio is equipped with 15 different kits that can be checked out and used in the room.  Some of the kits include ALL of the equipment you will need to complete a project.  Other kits provide tools that you can use alongside your own supplies.  Each kit also includes a resource guide, suggestions for further discovery with books from our collection, and links to tutorials and instruction manuals.

  1. Button Maker – Design, cut, and create your own buttons!  The kit comes with supplies to make 10 FREE 2.25” buttons.  Local craft and education stores carry supplies if you need to make more than 10.
  2. Chalk Pastels – Explore new art techniques with the provided assortment of colorful pastels, paper, and eraser.
  3. Children’s Loom – Give super-simple weaving a try with our kids loom.  Practice yarn is available, but feel free to bring in your own skein to complete a personalized item.
  4. Circuit Scribe – Discover exciting lessons with conductive pins and magnetic accessories.
  5. Cricket Loom – For the more advanced weaver.
  6. Dry Embossing – Dry embossing, also called relief embossing, is done by tracing a stencil with a special tool, called a stylus. The result is a stunning, raised pattern on the object you are embossing.  Styluses, stencils, and practice cardstock are provided.  Feel free to bring your own stationary!
  7. Hand Lettering – Practice the art of hand lettering with markers, practice sheets, and useful resources.
  8. Keva Planks – Learn about design and structure with unique building blocks.
  9. Jewelry Kit – Make your own jewelry with the beads and tools provided or bring in your own colorful supplies.
  10. Leather Crafting – Give leather crafting and stamping a try!  We provide the tools, you provide the leather.
  11. Light Box – Need to trace something for the DIY project you’re working on at home?  Give our powerful light pad a try!
  12. Oil Pastels – Explore another new art technique with the provided assortment of colorful pastels, paper, and eraser.
  13. Origami – Give the ancient art of paper folding a try.  The kit comes with 10 pieces of practice origami paper.
  14. Ozobots – Dive into robots and coding (with technology or screen-free) with our Ozobots!
  15. Perler Beads – Create beautiful designs with our perler bead kit.  Beads and iron provided.

Community Equipment

The Studio includes access to equipment whether you want to try before you buy or finish a project you’ve dreamed about for years without having to invest in expensive resources.  Much like our kits, the library provides access to some supplies and practice materials, but patrons are encouraged to bring in their own materials to complete projects.

  1. Apple iPads – For use with our Ozobots, watching tutorials for equipment, and creating digital media in our A.V. Studio
  2. Cricut Machine – Create files on design.cricut.com and then come to the library to print them off
  3. Epson Perfection Photo Scanner – Digitize your old photos or 35mm negatives
  4. Singer Sewing Machine – Give sewing a try with our entry-level sewing machines
  5. VHS Converter – Turn your old family videos into DVDs or digital copies
  6. COMING SOON : 8mm Film Converter – By POPULAR demand, the library will be adding an 8mm film converter!

A.V. Studio

Create YouTube videos, record podcasts, produce music tracks, and take professional photographs in our A.V. Studio.  The room may be checked out for 2 hour blocks of time (per individual/group) up to twice per week.  The room includes access to cameras, microphones, lighting and more!

  1. Apple iPads – For use with our Ozobots, watching tutorials for equipment, and creating digital media in our A.V. Studio
  2. Canon Camera – For photography and video recording
  3. Eris Speakers / Yamaha Mixing Board – For musical arrangement and recording
  4. Green Screen –  Can be paired with apps on our iPads or designed in post-production
  5. Marantz Microphones – Four professional microphones available to be check out and used in the space
  6. Photography Light Box – To improve brands and highlight products for students and businesses
  7. Rangers Tripod – Can be used as a regular tripod or converted to a monopod
  8. SD Card/Reader – For temporary storage of your A.V. Studio creations
  9. Studio Lighting – And COMING SOON
  10. Zoom Audio Record – Up to 4 microphones for audio recording

All this AND free family programming every week!  Be sure to check out the calendar on the back of the Scoop or visit www.greenwoodlibrary.us/studio for complete details.  The Studio is open and ready – so let’s start making!

Questions?  Contact Emily Ellis | Assistant Director | eellis@greenwoodlibrary.us

Review: My Plain Jane

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My Plain Jane
by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
3 stars

It felt like I waited FOR-EV-ER for My Plain Jane by the writing crew known as “The Lady Janies” to hit the shelves.  Their first book, My Lady Jane, is one of my all-time favorite reads so to say I was super eager to get my hands on their latest story would be an understatement.
My Plain Jane is Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters .  Yes, you read that correctly.  The story begins in a terrible, horrible, no good very bad school where orphaned Jane Eyre befriends the budding novelist Charlotte Bronte.  Charlotte likes the quirky Jane, but things get a little crazy when she discovers that her new friend has the ability to communicate with ghosts.  The story unfolds much like the classic tale except for the introduction of a dashing supernatural investigator and an epic ghost hunt, which, you have to admit, sort of fits.  Jane finds herself working  as a governess at the home of Mr. Rochester when things start to get a little creepy.  And there unfolds a dastardly plot years in the planning.
While some of the charm and humor that I loved so much in My Lady Jane was missing, the interludes from the narrators still tickled my funny bone.  The introduction of Charlotte Bronte into the story as a main character was also genius and a fun explanation for how she came up with her much beloved tale.  You should definitely do yourself a favor and check out The Lady Janies and their strong, fierce female characters – especially if you’re in the mood for a laugh.

 

Read-alikes

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld