Books, particularly the classics, have always been a huge source of inspiration for screenwriters. Some of the most enduring novels have inspired many film and TV adaptations, each approaching the story in a different way. Sometimes the adaptations are spot-on, true to both the story and the emotion of the source material. Often, screenwriters and directors take liberties to update the story for modern audiences or translate page to screen.
Last week, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, hit theaters in a glitzy Baz Luhrmann production. Its success at the box office is further proof that some of the best movie plots are waiting in the pages of classic literature.
If you’re in the mood for classic literature on the screen, browse the HCPL catalog and request a movie or mini-series today!
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 I read once – I’m sorry I can't remember where – that Doc Hudson in the movie Cars was the definitive role for Paul Newman.
I heartily agree.
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With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it seemed appropriate to not only celebrate our own mothers, but also make note of favorite TV moms. Since June Cleaver served dinner to her family in high heels and pearls on Leave It to Beaver, TV moms have been an integral part of any family comedy or drama. Through the years, TV moms have evolved and now you’re as likely to find a single mom, a working mom, or a meddling mother-in-law, as you are a stay-at-home mom in your favorite TV show. But no matter what they do or how they do it, TV moms continue to touch the lives of viewers and TV families alike.
If you’re in the mood for some motherly attention this weekend, browse the HCPL catalog and request a TV show today!
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 The Clear Lake City - County Freeman Branch Library invites you to join us for our Adult Programs this May*. We look forward to TGIF Programs, various book clubs (mystery, great books, two science fiction/fantasy clubs, and YA Book Club for Adults, Freeman Needlecrafters, Girl Scout Express, Adult Crafts to Go, Clear Lake Area Writers (CLAW), and SCORE Counseling. As May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we will also be hosting a Passport to India program. Also, check out our SCORE Social Media Marketing and Top Star Marketing & Branding Presentations in May.
We will be closed on Monday, May 27th in honor of Memorial Day.
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 There was a time when the majority of people lived in rural areas. It made sense. There was opportunity for owning land. Maybe you’d farm. Maybe have a ranch. In wooded areas, you might have a lumber business. On coasts, you could fish. Perhaps you could have a business that would cater to these folks. And, of course, there was always the possibility of working for someone in any of these industries.
Then came the Industrial Revolution. People started leaving the rural areas for the cities, where there were manufacturing jobs. And that led to growing businesses of all kinds. Cities were busy and exciting. And that trend has never slowed down. Today, the majority of people live in urban areas.
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Last weekend, 42, the highly-anticipated biopic about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, was released in theaters. A sub-set of the sports film genre, biopics focus on the lives, challenges, and successes of heroes in various sports arenas. Although most take some liberties, a worthwhile biopic tries to present the facts and emotions, the good and the bad, of the subject’s life. While some sports biopics are simply for entertainment, in recent years, many actors in sports biopics have received nominations and awards for their performances (e.g., Christian Bale and Melissa Leo in The Fighter, Robert De Niro in Raging Bull, Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side). The success of biopics at the box office and the continued interest in inspirational sports figures promise a strong future for this particular movie genre.
If you’re in the mood for a biopic of a sports figure this weekend, browse the HCPL catalog and request a movie today!
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 Every year, it seems like summer at the movies starts earlier and earlier. This year is no exception, with Iron Man 3, one of the most anticipated movies of the summer, releasing in theaters on May 3. This summer, viewers can look forward to a variety of movies including comedies, animated movies, movies based on books, superhero movies, thrillers and science fiction. Which movie are you most looking forward to this summer? Vote in the poll or let us know in the comments!
Flickr CC: Movie Reels Photo by: Joe Philipson
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On Thursday, April 4th, famed film critic Roger Ebert died at the age of 70 after a long struggle with cancer. Over the course of his 46-year career, Ebert became the everyman’s film critic. His informative, opinionated film reviews, in print and on the TV show he co-hosted (first with Gene Siskel and later with Richard Roeper), were accessible and enjoyable to all movie-goers, whether passionate or casual.
Throughout his career, Ebert attained many firsts. In 1975, he became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize. Later, he became the first film critic to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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 Spring is in the air! It’s time for greenery and colorful blooming flowers, a few weeks of perfect weather before the blistering heat of a Texas summer, and weddings. Whether formal or intimate, elegant or hipster chic, weddings are usually some combination of romance and stress. In movies, weddings are often presented as days where anything that can go wrong, will. Although this probably isn’t how anyone would want their wedding day to go in real life, it provides plenty of laughs on film!
If you’re planning a wedding or just in the mood for some wedding hijinks, browse the HCPL catalog and request a movie today.
Kimberly's Wedding Movie Picks:
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 It’s not really a new phenomenon. No, it’s always been around. But only in the past few years have we given a new term to it: bromance.
The word “bromance” – a combination of “bro/brother” and “romance” -- came into use referring to the camaraderie between skateboarders. Now we use it when talking about characters in movies and TV shows and books. Two guys who see each other through good times and bad. Even when girlfriends and wives come into the picture, the friendship between the men stays true.
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