Staff Picks by Diane
Why is it a pick?
This is the true story of a survivor who at one point was trapped in an apartment on an ottoman with limited ability to move herself and take care of basic needs. Despite this, optimism and love from family and friends pulls her through while using her talents to triumph over circumstances. Collection
Adult Non-fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Here is the story of Hurricane Katrina as told by the author through the personal stories of seven people who lived through the event. Because it is firsthand the glimpse into the lives changed by this event and how each of them coped with the disaster is motivational with insightful illustrations of each person’s story. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
On his first solo adventure without Hellboy, Abe travels to an island off the coast of France to recover an item from a shipwreck; a Lipu dagger from the body of Vrooman the Dutch warlock killed in 1884. Giant eel attacks are just the beginning of his troubles caused by curses awakened in the watery ocean depths. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This is the first book in a new series by Utah author Linda Weaver Clarke dealing with archaeological topics. Taking place in the area around St. George, Julia (a woman reporter) investigates cyanide poisoning, flood damage and community support, inadvertently uncovering more than she bargained for in the process, including artifacts. Collection
Adult Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Dramatic graphics in a dark yet vivid set of frames give this series an arresting tone. The unique style of mixing color and solid lines with fuzzier more muted and surreal backgrounds gives vampires and monster fighting an extra intensity. Buffy fans will appreciate this development in the plot threads. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This astoundingly illustrated and touching story stars a fifty year old professor of architecture who navigates life as a critic. Unfortunately this attitude overflows into relationships, one of which is with his invisible twin brother. His life holds scenes that remain meaningful after the book is closed. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Imagine a couple concerned with the potential of Arctic drilling in the caribou calving grounds becoming a part of the annual migration from April into the Fall. Traveling along and behind in their trip from Old Crow in the Yukon to the Arctic Ocean, their videography and insight into the region is beautiful. Collection
Adult DVD Non-fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This adult graphic novel is a beautiful exploration into love and finding family under the pressure of chronic illness. The artist and writer, Frederik Peeters shares a touching account of love between a man, woman, a little boy and their dealing with HIV. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This book shows off the combined talents of Lars a Swedish artist, and Max a Slovenian writer in a humorous and semi-historic graphic depiction of the effects of war in Serbia upon a futuristic society. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This adult non-fiction graphic novel created by the Duke University Center for the Study of Public Domain concerns the various loopholes and complexities of copyright law. It began with research of fair use limitations by a documentary filmmaker. This expanded into questions of the history of legal changes in understanding and interpreting intellectual property in our creative world. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
An archaeological mystery set in 1927 around Burgundy, France, main character Laetitia Talbot is a feisty young woman who chooses her own path first to Egypt then to a private estate with crumbled ruins from Celtic and Roman times as well as a Christian abbey. Finding adventure, artifacts and a fresh corpse while investigating her godfather’s murder makes a good tale. Collection
Adult Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This is a laugh out loud juxtaposition of Victorian style sepia toned comic strips with modern and somewhat droll captions. Everything from what would happen without the internet to how not to parent is part of the humorous flow with historic style ads and sayings placed oddly throughout. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This beautifully drawn book in sepia tone shows the small quiet world of a fan dealer and salesman in historic Canada. Philosophical thoughts of presenting yourself and product to strangers while traveling by train to rural small towns in the mid-1950’s brings close a lost period of history taking us along too. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This book is an interesting romp through a mind full of imagination containing evaluations of psychological illusions, fables, and definitions of Hell and who gets a ticket to go there. The illustrations are wonderful spanning college to middle-aged America, diverse people and their lives. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
A young woman Chey, dropped by helicopter into the Arctic wilderness, is swept into a flash flood. Stranded as night falls, wild inhabitants of the woods begin to pursue her. Inevitably an encounter with a large wolf-like being changes her life as this strong resilient participant becomes involved in a sequence of events beyond her control. Collection
Adult Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This remarkable film shows the courageous lengths a woman abandoned and robbed by her husband the week before Christmas will go to in order to offer her kids meals that are more than orange drink and popcorn and a new double-wide. Tenderness and insight shown into tangled lives of people from a mixed U.S. Canadian border culture is incredibly moving. Collection
Adult DVD Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This is an engrossing and touching story of a Chinese son who lives in Seattle during World War II. He loves jazz and his best friend Keiko who is Japanese-American. As an adult he discovers a number of possessions of evacuated Japanese internees have been found in a hotel, it brings up many memories of being a person of Asian descent during those days. Collection
Adult CD Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This adult graphic novel written in a storytelling tradition has a young college student traveling to India to represent his family from Chicago at a wedding. He writes home to his parents and sister during his visit and becomes more informed and understanding about his Indian name and culture as will the reader. The appendix has interesting facts and background about the country too. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This collection of four paranormal romance and crime author’s short stories contains a common theme of tattoos in some of the characters, both good and bad. Original and startling differences in their approach make it an enjoyable introduction to their longer individual series including werewolves, vampires and demons of many varieties. Collection
Adult Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Common characteristics are found of Isadora and Greek goddesses in her non-conformity to the fashion standards of New York of the early 1900’s. This version of the life of “The Barefoot Dancer” will delight dancers and show off the journey of a free spirit and artist who challenged many restrictions during her life. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Looking closely into the soul and life of this legendary singer this book begins with an intimate take on his life as an unknown songwriter behind bars in Folsom prison. His family and past become real through the stark black and white drawings done by Reinhard Kleist, author and artist, a fan from Berlin. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This book is a convoluted tale of the author’s research into a mysterious branch of her Southern family tree with origins including Native American, Turkish and Mediterranean mixes as well as carefully documented Virginian descendents, and her results are analyzed translating stories to science in a final DNA report Collection
Adult Non-fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This primarily black and white illustrated book by Ho Che Anderson holds the eye with scenes and moments in time from the life of Martin Luther King. Effectively written lessons in the history of civil rights in America are accompanied well using strong visual impact. Collection
Adult Graphic Novel
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
Main character Stephen Fry is a solicitor in a small English village, also the brother of two confused siblings. The local folks are a mixed group of bee-raising, amateur theatre and nudist colony advocates that keep things lively. Laughs found on the path of human relationships are plentiful. Collection
Adult DVD Fiction
Picked by
Diane
Why is it a pick?
This is a simple, sweet romantic movie with awesome scenery of Ireland. The quirky and inherently funny Amy Adams is a key character bravely trying to find her way between the pretentions of Boston and her fears of the unknown on the windy wet coast of Ireland. Collection
Adult DVD Fiction
Picked by
Diane
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