Beautiful Ugly
Author: Alice Feeney
Call #: CD FIC-FEE
Reviewer: Sonja Downey
Date: April 9, 2025
Author Grady Green has finally achieved his biggest dream. He made the New York Times Best Seller list. When he calls his wife to tell her his amazing news, he inadvertently becomes witness to her abduction. One year later Grady is still grieving too hard to be able to write a single sentence let alone an entire book. On his editor's advice he seeks refuge on a remote Scottish island.
From the moment he arrives on the island, everything feels utterly wrong. And when he sees a women in the forest that looks remarkably like his abducted wife, he wants nothing more than to get off the island. The next ferry, however, is not leaving for quite a while...
Alice Feeney wove another excellent suspense novel that plays with her readers' minds. The audio book is read by British actor Richard Armitage. I like Armitage's deep tenor and he does a perfect job portraying Grady's confusion, fear and desperation to make it off the island. All in all a very enjoyable audio book that beckons to be listened to in one sitting without interruptions.
HERE
Rated PG-13
Call #: DVD HER
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Reviewer: Robert Rhodes
Date: April 9, 2025
Robert Zemeckis is not exactly a household name in the likes of Steven Spielberg, but the films he has directed have certainly been viewed by a majority of households around the world. His filmography consists of titles such as Forest Gump, Back to the Future, The Polar Express, Romancing the Stone, Cast Away, etc. His list of movies is impressive and all recognizable.
His latest endeavor, HERE, is a bittersweet tale of romance, family and time seen through a single camera vantage point, anchored and non-moving. The idea is to give the viewer a chance to experience what it would be like to see history played out before them as though you were standing in one spot for millions of years. Sounds a bit interesting, right?
The story begins in a prehistoric era when dinosaurs ruled the earth. It then shifts to how the earth transformed out of the ice age into the beginnings of humankind. Fast forward – wars break out, houses are being built and before you know it, you are standing in the living room of a house, where all of these events occurred, on the exact same spot. It is in this living room that we learn what HERE is. It’s HERE that we witness the comings and goings of all that occupied this space over the decades. It’s HERE that we are taught the lessons of life, love, and loss that many of us experience from day to day. It’s HERE that we are reminded to live in the moment and to not let our dreams die or be taken away from us. It’s HERE that the pains and happiness of relationships are shared by everyone regardless of the era we exist in. The list goes on and on.
Robert Zemeckis has made a beautiful movie with HERE –as he usually does. He is 72 years old and I feel as though a story like this could only be completely understood by mature adults that have reached a point in their lives where all of these things coexist. Younger viewers may or may not get it, but once they’ve had enough HERE under their belts, it will all make sense. Enjoy!
The Women
A Novel
Author: Kristin Hannah
Call number: FIC HAN
Reviewer: Andy Jackson
Date: April 8, 2025
Because of significant advances in medical treatment between the end of World War II and the beginning of the Vietnam War, the odds were very high that a soldier wounded in combat would survive their physical trauma. There were many factors that influenced this development, but Kristin Hannah shows how nurses were a big part of it.
Her main character, Frances "Frankie" McGrath impulsively joins the Army Nursing Corps in order to serve in the same unsettled undeclared war as her brother, a Navy pilot. Frankie soon learns that her decision will have long lasting implications for her and her family that she could never have predicted. Hannah immerses us in Frankie's world, which includes treating soldiers with unspeakable combat wounds. She also evolves from the "people pleasing" young woman who arrived in Vietnam into a highly skilled M.A.S.H. unit nurse who even finds romance after the long shifts in operating rooms.
The realism of the era that the novel conveys is impressive and complements the timeline of Frankie's life. There are many references to specific songs and historical events (some of which the characters are directly a part of) that propel the story along. But ultimately, the plot is about Frankie's journey and how many in her generation sacrificed everything and seemingly received nothing in return. Even worse, the treatment of Vietnam veterans when they returned was unfortunately accurate and still unsettling. To make it more complicated for the women who served in Vietnam in various roles, they were not accepted by the military establishment for far too long.
Ultimately, much of The Women is a love story, but the novel is much more than that. As a nation that still grapples with the war 50 years after we officially withdrew from Vietnam, it shows how much we need healing.
True Gretch
What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between
Author: Gretchen Whitmer
Call number: 921 WHI c. 2
Reviewer: Andy Jackson
Date: April 4, 2025
To claim that I've met Governor Whitmer would be an exaggeration, but when she was in the state Legislature, I did pass her in the hallway of the Michigan state capitol building one summer morning as she was waiting to make a speech to educators who had gathered outside on the lawn. In that brief moment, it seemed to me that she was destined for even higher office because of her charismatic presence, and obviously that has been evident to many others as well.
However, True Gretch is mostly an attempt to de-mystify "that woman from Michigan" (as President Trump referred to her in 2020). Her candid lessons about life and leadership are heavily infused with self-deprecating moments that range from the embarrassing, physically painful, and sometimes humorous. And while politics are certainly not ignored in this non-linear memoir, they are not the focus. She celebrates some of her political victories and shows how the losses/mistakes have taught her more than the triumphs.
I found this to be a fast read. It is less than 200 pages and if its goal was to humanize the Governor of Michigan, then it accomplishes its mission.
Alien: Romulus
Call #: DVD ALI
Reviewer: Robert Rhodes
Date: March 25, 2025
![Alien: Romulus [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81fBb0Z1egL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Alien: Romulus is the ninth film of Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise. I was a bit reluctant to watch this film due to the fact that so many have been made. After eight Alien films, how could they possibly come up with a new storyline that has yet to be touched upon? Hollywood finds a way.
If you are familiar with the Alien franchise of films, Alien: Romulus squeezes in between the original Alien and its sequel Aliens. It’s really an unnecessary story but one that brings a bit more depth to the original two films. Alien: Romulus brings a group of younger actors to the deep space horror film without eliminating the dark and dreary feel of Scott’s original story. I do like how the look and feel of these films kept continuity throughout the decades.
The story follows a small band of young coal miners on a distant world that has no sunlight and less possibility of getting off planet until their work quota has been met according to company standards. Even then, the company finds sinister ways of changing that quota without advanced knowledge. With a stolen mining vessel, a small band of friends discovers a simple way to remove a few cryogenic freeze pods from a derelict spacecraft orbiting the mining planet. Once the pods are obtained, they can place themselves within them and plot a course to freedom. Simple plans don’t often go so simply when they discover that the orbiting spacecraft houses not just a few, but a multitude of the alien species known as the Xenomorph. What ensues is not only a fight for survival but a fight so keep the dream of a new life alive.
Alien: Romulus does, in fact, bring us an entirely new story along with a refreshing group of young actors. Like its predecessors, it singles out the weak characters from the strong without compromising much else. The visuals are beautiful and frightening along with the usual sequences of horrific alien encounters that we’ve all come to expect from these films. Hang On!
Lincoln at Gettysburg
The Words That Remade America
Author: Garry Wills
Call number: 973.7 WIL
Reviewer: Andy Jackson
Date: March 22, 2025
Many years ago, when I was at an Advanced Placement English Language conference, a presenter from Depaul University in Chicago showed us a "coded message" in the form of an extended metaphor that President Lincoln had utilized in a speech that most Americans are familiar with: "The Gettysburg Address". He cited Lincoln at Gettysburg as his main source for the information that he was confident would bring new life to our lessons regarding rhetorical strategies.
Whether my lessons had a new birth is debatable, but Wills's work is unrivaled as an analysis not only of Lincoln's speech, but also the context of it. The first chapters provide details (sometimes quite graphic) about the aftermath of the three day battle that elicited over 50,000 casualties, which quickly overwhelmed the town of 2400 residents. Wills also explores the "culture of death" of the mid-19th century, famed orator Edwin Everett's approach to the National Cemetery dedication on November 19, and Lincoln's measured approach to messaging, among other things.
Ultimately, Lincoln at Gettysburg is not an easy read with a simple message. In fact, some readers may be disappointed to learn about the iconic President's true thoughts regarding race relations. But discovering how he accomplished his mission of restoring the Union through his words and actions is well-worth the journey.
The Critic
Rated R - 2024
Call No.: DVD CRI
Reviewer: Robert Rhodes
Date: March 19, 2025
Ian Mc Kellen plays Jimmy Erskine, an old and well established newspaper theatre critic in 1930’s London, whose brash and overly nasty writing style has made him often feared by up and coming actors. Erskine is also not very well liked by the son of the newly deceased newspaper owner, Richard Brooke played by Mark Strong, who has decided to change the overall format of the newspaper to make it more family friendly. This new formatting of the newspaper does not bode well for Erskine and the foul way he writes his theatre reviews. Unless he changes his ways, Erskine is facing the loss of his job even though he feels the reader’s appreciate his column. Erskine’s need for thrill seeking at night with men in the local park doesn’t help his reputation or his already fragile employment prospects. Enter Nina Land played by Gemma Arterton– a beautiful, struggling actress that has caught the attention of the married newspaper editor Brookes. Nina reluctantly agrees to help Erskine set up what becomes a disastrous blackmail scheme aimed at Brookes so that Erskine can keep his job. In return for her acting skills, Erskine promises Nina excellent reviews along with major success as a theatre actress and possibly Hollywood – all of the things she has dreamt of since childhood.
Along with beautiful cinematography, set designs, music and powerful acting by Ian McKellen we experience a tale that reminds us that life can be so delicate that a simple decision can either thrust us into prosperity and success or take a turn for the worse and become our downfall. In the film The Critic, this message isn’t exactly up front and center. It did, however, stand out to me and served as a reminder to always think things through before making that one, important decision. Enjoy the film!
Check and Mate
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Call number: Y FIC HAZ
Reviewer: Andy Jackson
Date: February 28, 2025
Like many of you, I was an enthusiastic viewer of the limited Netflix series The Queen's Gambit that originally aired in 2020. There were echoes of that series in Check and Mate, but also some twists and drama that separate it as well.
The main character is Mallory, an 18-year-old with many responsibilities thrust upon her. Through a variety of circumstances, she must care for her two sisters and her mother after a family tragedy has occurred before the novel even begins. Mallory (Mal) has many talents, but her superior chess abilities are what really set her apart--even though playing the game reminds her of things that she would rather forget.
There is much to like about this YA novel, not the least of which is Hazelwood's clear understanding of chess strategy and protocols. You don't have to be a chess enthusiast to enjoy this story, but it is nice that it is realistic and authentic. And a substantial part of the plot has little to do with chess, but instead a budding romance with Nolan Sawyer, who appears as Mal's chess rival very early in the book.
For the most part, the main plot is somewhat predictable, but that was ok with me. It was nice to openly root for Mal and Nolan in chess matches and on the relationship front as well.
Check and Mate was our teen book club choice for February, and I would recommend it to mature (grades 10-12) audience, especially.
MICONIC
Author: Leipprandt, Tyler
Photographer: Leipprandt, Tyler
Call number: NEW 977.4 LEI
Reviewer: Randy Morgan
Date: February 20, 2025
Tyler Leipprandt is a photographer and the state of Michigan is his muse.
Tyler bought a drone with the intention of becoming a self taught aerial photographer. He was quickly immersed by YouTube rabbit holes that propelled his ambitions to new levels. Now his main objective is to capture photos people had never dreamed of. In the book MICONIC, Tyler shares the adventure behind so many mesmerizing photos of our great state.
As a library, we love expanding our collection and receive a lot of recommendations from patrons. This helps us to provide the community with resources they will enjoy and utilize. A patron came in with a mission to find this book and asked me to help locate a copy. And Now it sits on our shelf!
Please note that Tecumseh District Library has many resources and ways to find the materials you are looking for. MeLCat is another great resource that is available for books not in our collection.
Additional information about Tyler and his photography can be found at https://www.michiganskymedia.com/#/
Ash's Cabin
Author: Wang, Jen
Illustrator: Wang, Jen
Call number: NEW Y GN WAN
Reviewer: Randy Morgan
Date: February 12, 2025
It is hard to find solitude as a highschooler living in the Bay Area. Fortunately, Ash and the family have an annual vacation near the Shata- Trinity National Forest, where Ash’s finds comfort and creates fond memories. Grandpa often talked of a secret cabin, and Ash is determined to find it.
Author and illustrator Jen Wang created a delicate masterpiece with a nature inspired water- color that inspires a sense of serenity only found in the forest. Ash’s coming of age story is filled with challenges surrounding family, activism, and gender identity, which leads into feelings of isolation.
This story demonstrates the differences between isolation and solitude. It is important to note that isolation/ loneliness is complex and includes feeling inept, depressed, and/ or ostracized. Though this book is highly relatable, it is a work of fiction. Please be safe and inform people if you choose to go off grid.