The Downton Abbey Book Club Part 2

Last spring, we came up with some reading recommendations for our favorite (or least favorite) characters from the popular BBC series, Downton Abbey. With the recent premiere of the 5th season this past Sunday, we thought we'd look at a few more characters. (*Note: If you haven't caught up to the end of season 4, there will be spoilers ahead!)

Character: Tom Branson
Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Tom Branson, the former chauffeur, married into the aristocracy and the Crawley family. He could never feel like he really belonged at Downton, especially after the death of his wife, Lady Sybil. Since he's agreed to stay at Downton for his daughter Sybbie, we felt he could use some advice on how to get along best with the family upstairs. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People offers fundamental techniques in handling people and tips on making people like you.

Character: Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham

Book: We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates

As the mother figure of Downton, Cora has known disappointment, tragedy and loss. However, her love for her family is as fierce as it is strong.  We think she would relate well with the story of the large and fortunate American family in Joyce Carol Oates' We Were the Mulvaneys. The youngest son, Judd, tries to piece together the fragments of the Mulvaney's former glory and understand their downfall and estrangement. Ultimately, the family manages find a way back to each other through love and healing.

Character: Daisy Mason, Assistant Cook

Book: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

If she were a modern girl, we could imagine the hopelessly romantic Daisy curling up with a good YA read. Daisy has harbored crushes on both Thomas and Alfred, and has attracted the attentions of William Mason and Ethan Slade. Humble but ambitious, she would relate well to Sarah Dessen's Emaline in The Moon and More. Emaline has been with Luke all through high school, but meets Theo in her prospects for an ivy league education. Like Daisy, Emaline yearns for something better, but still feels a connection to her past.

Character: Lady Mary Crawley

Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

Lady Mary may have a strong will and can be arrogant and cold at times, but we've learned that she too makes mistakes and has known heartbreak and disappointment. We think she would enjoy and benefit from Lena Dunham's collection of essays, Not That Kind of Girl. Falling in love, being alone, having to prove yourself in a room full of men - Lena has been there, and so, too, has Lady Mary. She may particularly relate to “Take My Virginity (No Really, Take It)” in which Dunham details her first time, and how the experience didn't quite match up to her expectations.

Staff Pick - God's Not Dead

I didn't know what I expected when I decided to watch this movie, but I had seen several of my Facebook friends had posts earlier this summer after they had been to the theater to see it.

A Philosophy professor decides he will pass every freshman student without all the dusty old arguments, if they will simply write God is Dead on their first project. As he collects the papers, everyone is compliant, until Josh refuses to write what he does not believe, even for a passing grade.

The professor issues a challenge for Josh to defend his belief to the entire class and for the rest of the semester, he must stand up for his faith in God even though he risks his relationships and possibly his future. 

I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded and I was also impressed with the way the connecting relationships were handled. I thought it was a great story.

If you'd like to check out God's Not Dead on DVD, you can find it in our catalog by clicking here.

-Cindy

Staff Pick - Marvin Gaye's "Number Ones"

Marvin Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown Records in the 1960s with a string of hits, including "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".

In 1970, Gaye recorded his new composition "What's Going On" after he witnessed an act of police brutality at an anti-war rally in Berkeley.  Upon hearing the song, Motown’s Berry Gordy refused its release thinking the song "too political" for radio.   Finally released in 1971, it reached number one on the R&B charts within a month, staying there for five weeks, selling over two million copies. 

-Wikipedia

"What's Going On" is the song I think of when the TV news reports on the continuing problems in our society today. The CD “Number Ones” is a good way to introduce yourself to this man’s music, and if you already know him, a good way to revisit the hits that made him famous.

If you'd like to check out Marvin Gaye's "Number Ones," you can find it in our catalog by clicking here.

-Nancy J.

Staff Pick - The Happy Room

In The Happy Room by Catherine Palmer, the Mossman children believed their parents had abandoned them after being sent to a boarding school at a young age. Peter turned from God in anger, while Julia embraced her faith. 

They are drawn together by their sister's tragic illness, and they must face the truth of their past. They make peace with each other and their parents and discover God has never left them. 

I found this to be a very interesting read. The characters are children of missionary parents to Kenya, and this book includes description of the culture and language of its people. 

One thing I took away from this book is that despite anger and bitterness toward family, there is room for forgiveness and peace!  I would love to read more books by this author!

If you'd like to check out The Happy Room, you can find it in our catalog by clicking here.

-Staci

Blue Zones Power 9: Loved Ones First

This is the eighth post in a nine-part series in which we are sharing resources available at the library to help you get on track with the Blue Zones Project.

Sometimes maintaining a positive relationship with family can be a challenge, especially during the stressful holiday season. According to the Blue Zones website, "centurions put their family first." Healthy relationships with grandparents, life partners and children can lead to happier, less stressful lives. But how do we achieve that? Here are a few items in the library's collection that may help:

Putting Family First
by William Doherty and Barbara Carlson

Successful strategies for reclaiming family life in a hurry-up world. The authors outline realistic ways in which to regain family connections and enable more meaningful home relationships, presenting tips for time-crunched parents on such topics as family meals, outings, conflicts, and making time for a marriage.

The Five Languages of Apology
by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas

In this book, you will learn how to recognize your own primary apology language while speaking the languages to those you love. Understanding and applying the five languages of apology will greatly enhance all of your relationships.

The Relationship Cure
by John Mordechai Gottman and Joan DeClaire

A five-step guide for building better connections with family, friends, and lovers. One of the nation's top relationship doctors outlines his program for repairing damaged relationships between spouses, lovers, co-workers, and family members.

12 Simple Secrets of Happiness
by Glenn Van Ekeren

Finding joy in everyday relationships. The author's 12 secrets involve generosity, hope, kindness, friendship, empathy, love, forgiveness, acceptance, understanding, encouragement, communication and gratitude.

The 5 Love Languages of Children
by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

Kids desperately need to know how much you love them. But if you don't know their special "love languages," you might as well be speaking gibberish.

All book descriptions adapted from worldcat.org