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A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar is the true life account of mathematician John Nash's crippling descent into the abyss of schizophrenia and his recovery and how he was eventually awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics. John Nash attended Princeton University, and though he was a little odd, he would go on to marry. 

The Tick is the creation of Bill Edlund, who first created a comic strip, then went on to make it into an animated cartoon, and next a one-season, live-action, comedy TV show. This review is about that live-action show. The Tick is a ridiculously strong superhero who is also quite clueless about everything and played perfectly by Patrick Warburton. He relies heavily on his sidekick, Arthur, who is the brains of the operation. Along with other interesting characters like Captain Liberty and Batmanuel, they fight an eclectic assortment of supervillains. My favorite episode was never aired and stars Armin Shimerman as The Terror. If you like quirky characters, this show is just right for you.

Starring Patrick Warburton, David Burke, Nestor Carbonell, and Liz Vassey.

In a dystopian future, society is divided into five factions based on each individual's dominant attributes. Beatrice Prior has reached the age of sixteen, the age at which she must choose the faction where she will spend the rest of her life. But she has traits from many factions. Which should she choose? This is the first book in a young adult adventure trilogy which takes an extreme look at the rites of passage of adolescents as well as focusing a lens on class distinctions in society. Also a movie. 

This TV comedy series follows the political career trajectory of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) who works in the Parks and Recreation department of a small town in Indiana. The show features a full cast of quirky characters from April (Aubrey Plaza), the sulking twenty-something receptionist; to Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the ultra-masculine, libertarian, meat-eater; to Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe), the always upbeat, vegetarian, political middle manager. Parks and Recreation will put a smile on your face.

Starring Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, and Rob Lowe.

If you have never read any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, this is as good a place to start as any. Vimes is an inspector on the Anhk-Morpork city watch, content to while away his time in a drunken stupor. But when a dragon appears on the scene along with a rookie cop determined to do everything by the book, it turns his world on end. With a cast of absurd characters placed in ludicrous situations, Guards! Guards! is sure to lighten your spirits. 

Casablanca is a classic film set during WWII, which has some of the most quoted lines in movie history, is a must see for movie buffs. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) is an American expatriate bar owner in Morocco, and when his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) asks for his help to flee the city from the Nazis with her husband, he has to decide how much he is willing to risk. The witty dialogue between the deadpan Rick and Captain Renault (Claude Rains) is worth the price of admission alone.

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, and Paul Henreid.

In his book (also a hit YouTube series) Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Emmanuel Acho seeks to answer a lot of the questions that white people have about black people but are afraid to ask. Acho's well-crafted answers are insightful and shine a light on the systemic racism and racist views that are still prevalent in society today. This is a must read for everyone.

Acho's conversations are available to watch on the Uncomfortable Convos website.

Available as an ebook and eaudiobook on eMediaLibrary (Libby).

The Crimson Pirate is a family classic that you can watch with your kids. It follows pirate Captain Vallo as he sails about the 1700s Caribbean pursuing money-making schemes ranging from seizing British vessels to kidnapping. But when he falls for the beautiful Consuelo, he changes his pirate ways. This swashbuckling comedy is good, clean fun.

Starring Burt Lancaster, Nick Cravat, and Eva Bartok.

The Eyre Affair introduces us to the alternate reality where Thursday Next, a female detective assigned to the literary department, exists. This first book of eight finds Thursday trying to find out who is plucking characters right out of the pages of famous novels. Fforde's writing is both imaginative and outlandish making this series fun yet suspenseful. With time travel and the ability to leap into books both possible, Fforde's series can take a turn in any direction. You will fall in love with Thursday Next.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde is available on eMediaLibrary as an eBook and eAudiobook.

This daring adventure follows British Captain Jack Aubrey around the waters of South America during the Napoleonic Wars. He is in pursuit of an elusive French warship which puts his crew to the test. This visually captivating film will transport you to another place and time.

Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, and Billy Boyd.

Master and Commander (PG-13) is available for checkout on DVD.

Jacob is nearly sixteen and virtually friendless with little direction in his life when a sudden traumatic event changes everything. He embarks on an adventure to a mysterious island to try to find answers to his family's past. This young adult novel, which includes unusual period photos, sets an eerie tone that will give you goosebumps.

This dark, four-season remake of the 1978 TV series is full of surprises. Twelve colonies of humans in a distant star system are wiped out by the cylons, a race of metal, humanoid-like machines. The remnants of humanity, traveling aboard a ragtag fleet of ships, including Battlestar Galactica, set off to search for the 13th colony--Earth. But not all cylons are metal. Some look just like humans. In fact, some cylons are programmed to think they are human. Can you tell who is a cylon?

Starring Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, and Jamie Bamber.

Set against the backdrop of the financial crisis of 2008, Up in the Air (Rated R) follows Ryan Bingham as he flies around the country doing his job--firing people. His spartan lifestyle, which keeps him almost constantly airborne en route to the next city, suits him just fine. But when a new business model and a romantic entanglement threaten his comfortable existence, his goals shift unexpectedly.

Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick.

The Book of Unknown Americans follows the Rivera family as they move from Mexico to the United States in order to get the best care for their daughter. The novel includes a cast of characters from throughout Latin America each with a unique and telling story to share. Grappling with issues like anti-immigrant sentiment, poverty, and the difficulties of assimilating into a new culture, this well written book puts a human face onto every person who ever tried to come to this country in search of a better life.

The library will have a book discussion on this title on February 17, 2022.

Laila Lalami, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, interweaves her personal experiences as a Muslim immigrant from Morocco with the realities that all migrants to this country must face. She argues that people who do not look the right way or do not practice the right religion have their citizenship called into doubt.

The library will have a book discussion on this nonfiction title on February 3, 2022.

Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America is also available as an ebook on eMediaLibrary.