Never Ever Judge a Book by Its Movie!

(Updated December 2003)

If we would only admit it, we would find that most of us are movie fans. However, we all know that the movie is never as good as the book. Following is a list of books that have been made into movies. Give them a try. You might find that you love the book (even if you hated the movie).

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

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About Schmidt by Louis Begley.
RC 44886 .
Following the death of his beloved wife, retired lawyer Albert Schmidt repairs to the family's Long Island beach mansion. When Schmidt's estranged yuppie daughter betroths a Jewish lawyer, Schmidt's staid life goes out of control as he begins a new love and seeks a second youth. Strong language and descriptions of sex.

Absolute Power by David Baldacci.
RC 41882.
At 66, with several jail terms behind him, Luther Whitney has decided this will be his last robbery. Everything goes according to plan, until Christine Sullivan comes home unexpectedly. Luther quickly hides in the walk-in safe and discovers it contains a one-way window. Soon Luther finds himself witnessing a brutal murder involving the President of the United States. Contains strong language and some descriptions of sex.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
RC 28162, BR 12711.
A novel of manners set in New York society in the 1870s, an age of convention, propriety, and tribal solidarity. Newland Archer is torn between his attraction to a woman separated from her husband, and his security in a bland but proper marriage.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.
RC 34043.
Texas, 1949. John Grady Cole, 16, is on the threshold of adulthood when his world turns upside down. His grandfather has died, and his mother has no desire to keep the 18,000-acre ranch, which is the only home and way of life John knows. With a friend, he sets out for Mexico and finds work on another ranch. But John falls for the owner's daughter and finds himself in jail. Contains strong language and violence.

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson.
RC 35894.
At 5 A.M. Deputy Chief Alex Cross, detective and psychologist, is investigating a brutal triple murder in southeast Washington. Later that day, Washington school teacher Gary Soneji kidnaps two students. Secret Service agent Jezzie Flanagan is called in to work with Cross. They realize the killer of more than 200 people may be a psychopath with a split personality. Contains violence, strong language and some descriptions of sex.

Amistad by Alexis Pate.
RC 45847.
Novel of the 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship bound for the United States. The victims' fate rested with former president John Quincy Adams, who defended their right to freedom before the Supreme Court. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 227.

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.
RC 42805, BR 12543.
Frank McCourt recollects his "miserable Irish Catholic childhood" in the squalor of Limerick. Absent any support from his glib, but shiftless, alcoholic father, the family suffered hunger, cruelty, disease, and the death of children. McCourt recounts his story without rancor. Strong language.

Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill.
RC 28617.
The movie The Secretary was based on the short story of the same title in this collection. The characters, mostly young New Yorkers, engage in destructive behavior. Unable to form lasting relationships, they become involved in drugs, prostitution, and sadomasochism in an attempt to mask their real feelings of emotional numbness. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.

A Beautiful Mind: A Biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr. by Sylvia Nasar.
RC 47595, BR 13881.
The life of a mathematical genius who contributed to game theory, computer architecture, the study of the universe, and the mystery of prime numbers all before age 30. Then schizophrenia enveloped his mind and he spent 30 more years in and out of mental hospitals before a spontaneous recovery returned him to the world of research. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 421.

Beloved by Toni Morrison.
RC 26026, BR 7074.
Related in kaleidoscopic fashion and set in rural Ohio during the period immediately following the Civil War, this chronicle of slavery and its aftermath traces the life of Sethe, a former slave. Sethe has a secret in her past so horrific that it has alienated the community, driven off her two sons, isolated her surviving daughter, and threatened her new, loving relationship with Paul D., also a former slave.

Big Trouble by Dave Barry.
RC 48817.
When two hit men from Jersey come to south Florida in an attempt to eliminate embezzler Arthur Herk, they are interrupted time and again by his stepdaughter Jenny's high school friends playing pranks; a homeless man living in his yard; and home invaders with a miniature Russian nuclear bomb. Contains strong language and some violence.

Bitter Fame: A Life of Sylvia Plath by Anne Stevenson.
RC 32391.
An account by one poet about another. Stevenson writes of Sylvia Plath, whose novel The Bell Jar (RC 21558, BR 4482) and whose poetry established her as a major American feminist writer. Discusses her father's long illness, her strong attachment to her mother, her marriage to English poet Ted Hughes, and her suicide in 1963. The movie Sylvia stars Gwynneth Paltrow.

Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden.
RC 48028.
Recreates the United States military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3-4, 1993, when 99 American soldiers were surrounded and trapped. Describes how the planned one-hour mission turned into an overnight fight for survival. Based on several journalists' interviews with the soldiers, helicopter pilots, and Somali clan leaders.

The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver.
RC 47078.
Retired forensic scientist and criminologist Lincoln Rhyme is enlisted to track down a serial murderer who is stalking victims in New York City. Injured on the job and now a quadriplegic, Rhyme can move one finger, which enables him to use his computer. Assisted by policewoman Amelia Sachs, Rhyme races against time to find the killer. Contains violence and strong language.

The Bride of the Wind: The Life and Times of Alma Mahler-Werfel by Susanne Keegan.
RC 37234.
The art world was a natural home to Alma Mahler-Werfel, songwriting daughter of Viennese landscape artist Emil Schindler. The author discusses Werfel's life as the wife of three men; the composer Gustav Mahler, the architect Walter Gropius, and the novelist Franz Werfel, and the mistress of many more. Keegan portrays Werfel as a talented woman against the cultural and political background of early 20th-century Europe.

Bridges of Madison County by Robert J. Waller.
RC 35861, BR 9823.
Robert Kincaid, a photographer for National Geographic , arrives in Madison County, Iowa, on August 16, 1965, to photograph covered bridges. He stops at the home of Francesca Johnson to ask directions, but stays for four wonderful days. As each day passes, feelings of deep and abiding love are awakened within them. But she is married, and they must let go of one another. Contains some descriptions of sex.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding.
RC 46267.
Despite a long list of resolutions, British Bridget Jones's year gets off to "an exceptionally bad start" when her parents try to fix up their thirtyish dateless daughter with their friends' unappealing divorced son. But all is not lost, it appears that Bridget's crush on her boss is developing into a two-sided flirtation. Contains strong language. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 492.

Catch Me If You Can by Frank W. Agbagnale.
RC 55517.
The author was one of the most hunted con men, fraudulent check writers, master forger in history and the world's greatest imposter. Among the identities he assumed were a Pan Am pilot, a state's attorney, a pediatrics consultant at a hospital, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, all successfully assumed even though he had been a high school dropout.

A Certain Justice by P.D. James.
RC 45252, BR 11358.
Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team investigate the murder of respected, though disliked, lawyer Venetia Aldridge. Among the likely suspects is one of her last successfully defended clients, Garry Ashe, a sociopath and murderer who is dating her daughter. Several other suspects turn up, but as a review of the court system reveals, justice is not always served.

Chocolat by JoAnne Harris.
RC 49086.
On the first Sunday in Lent, newcomers Vianne Rocher and her young daughter Anouk open a chocolate shop, La Céleste Praline, near the church in a small French village. Priest Monsieur Reynaud and Mademoiselle Rocher compete for the townspeople's attention.

The Cider House Rules by John Irving.
RC 21531, BR 6178.
Set in rural Maine at the turn of the century, this is the story of Dr. Wilbur Larch, saint, obstetrician, orphanage director, ether addict, and abortionist. His medical practices are hindered, and abetted by his favorite orphan, Homer Wells. The novel is based on documents left by the author's physician grandfather. Contains strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.

A Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy.
RC 30954.
Vice Admiral James Cutter, the president's top security adviser and the villain in Clancy's latest thriller, is waging a covert war against the drug cartel in Colombia. He does not care what it costs in human life. Jack Ryan, a hero familiar to Clancy's readers, tries to prevent the total disaster he sees looming. Contains violence and strong language. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 25.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.
RC 44762.
A wounded Confederate soldier leaves the war on an arduous trek to his mountain home and the woman he aims to marry. Meanwhile, his intended struggles to work her deceased father's hardscrabble farm. Depicts hardship, peril, and courage in the wartime South. Strong language and violence.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
RC 18576, BR 7222.
Tells the story of two black sisters: Nettie, a missionary in Africa; and Celie, a child-wife who has been raped by the man she believes to be her father, robbed of her two children, and married off to a man she hates. Nettie's letters do not reach Celie; and so great is Celie's sense of shame that she writes a series of letters to God. Contains strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 506.

Coma by Robin Cook.
RC 10479.
In this unnerving chiller in a hospital setting, a young woman medical student attempts to solve a heinous crime and becomes a victim.

Corelli's Mandolin by Louis DeBerniaeres.
RC 39551.
Pelagia, daughter of Dr. Iannis on the Greek island of Cephallonia, is the central figure in a story that begins shortly before World War 2. As Captain Corelli, a member of the Italian occupation forces that invade the island, and Mandras, a local fisherman, vie for Pelagia's affection, the arrival of Nazi and Communist troops turns the placid island into a quagmire. And, for Pelagia, it is more than a test of endurance. Some strong language.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
RC 11299, BR 6917.
A historical romance about a sailor, unjustly accused of helping the exiled Napoleon in 1815, who escapes from prison after 14 years to take revenge on the four men who caused his imprisonment. Now wealthy after recovering a buried treasure, he assumes a new identity and plots the ruin of his accusers.

Crossfire Trail by Louis L'Amour.
RC 23073.
Rafe Caradec, a soldier of fortune hardened by a life among ruthless men who played for high stakes, gives his word to a dying man that he will save the man's Long Valley ranch for his wife and daughter. But Ann thinks Rafe is moving in for his own gain and plays into the hands of the greedy ranchers plotting to destroy her.

A Cry in the Night by Mary Higgins Clark.
RC 19772, BR 5226.
Jenny MacPartland, the struggling divorced mother of two small girls, meets and marries handsome, wealthy artist Erich Krueger who takes her and her children away to his family mansion in Minnesota. Erich becomes brooding and full of rage, and Jenny discovers that he is obsessed with the memory of his dead mother, Caroline.

Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake.
RC 32009.
When Lieutenant Dunbar arrives at Fort Hays, the drunken, half-crazed major in charge immediately assigns him to Fort Sedgewick, an abandoned army outpost. Then the major is sent back east because of mental incompetence, and the army is unaware of Dunbar's presence at the fort. Alone, with only a wolf and Indian friends, Dunbar finds himself adapting to the Indian way of life, a life in which he is happy until his past comes back to haunt him.

Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard.
RC 42874.
While on a trip to Chicago with her three young children, a woman briefly turns away from her three-year-old son in a hotel lobby. The child vanishes, leaving his family anguished and splintered. Nine years later, some hope is rekindled when a familiar-looking boy shows up at their house. Contains strong language and some descriptions of sex.

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
RC 40424, BR 10113.
This notebook kept by a German-born Jewish girl includes material that was omitted from the first edition in 1947. Begun on her 13th birthday, the diary is a personal, sometimes humorous, account of years spent with her family in a Dutch attic hiding from the Nazis. After Anne heard a radio appeal about the importance of such papers, she expanded the scope of her entries. For high school and older readers.

Disclosure by Michael Crichton.
RC 37678.
Tom Sanders, a manager at a high tech company, is on his way up the corporate ladder. But Meredith Johnson, a former lover, gets the position that he expected and tries to show Tom who is boss. Spurned, Meredith accuses Tom of sexual harassment. He hires a female lawyer with expertise in sexual misconduct cases and scans the computer files for evidence of Meredith's manipulative ability. Contains strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells.
RC 45768, BR 14189.
At 40, Sidda Walker is a famous theater director whose life spirals downward after a New York Times interview implies that her mother, Vivi, was a child abuser. Vivi immediately disowns Sidda, but the Ya-Yas, Vivi's longtime friends, intervene. Sequel to Little Altars Everywhere (RC 36350, BR 14278). Contains strong language and some descriptions of sex. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 493.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick.
RC 54649, BR 14247.
In the year 2021, Rick Deckard is employed on a dying Earth as a bounty hunter. He seeks androids that look like humans and destroys them. Basis for the movie Blade Runner.

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King.
RC 51542, BR 13274.
Four friends have hunted together for 25 years. This trip, however, is interrupted by an intruder's rambling about lights in the sky. Patterned like a Native American talisman, the dreamcatcher phenomenon must be summoned for the men to fight alien and natural horrors. Strong language and some violence.

Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry.
RC 32827.
Boolie, a middle aged Jewish businessman, hires a chauffeur for his elderly mother, Daisy. Not only is having a driver against her wishes, but Daisy is none too happy about having to rely on a black man. Hoke is a patient, warm, independent, and devoted man, and over the years he becomes Miss Daisy's best friend. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 163.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
RC 49676, BR 12565.
This saga of two California families spans from the post-Civil War era to the end of World War 1. The Trasks, a mixture of gentleness and brutality, contrast with the Hamiltons, the author's own forebears, a well-adjusted, more tranquil family.

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton.
RC 38339, BR 3125.
Novel describing a 10th-century, Arabian diplomat's trip to primitive Scandinavia and his encounter with the dreaded "eaters of the dead." Kidnapped by a band of Vikings, he vividly recounts his many adventures and the barbaric customs of the natives. The movie was The 13th Warrior staring Antonio Banderas.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje.
RC 35558.
This novel is set in Italy during the final days of World War 2. Four people occupy an abandoned villa: the "English patient," badly burned in a parachute jump; a former spy and thief who was tortured by the Nazis; an exhausted nurse; and a bomb-disposal expert. The members of this disparate quartet reveal their pasts while forming new connections to one another. Some strong language. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 156.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.
RC 47486, BR 9745 .
As the story begins, Frodo, a home-loving hobbit, inherits the magic ring that his Uncle Bilbo brought back from his adventures in The Hobbit (RC 48978, BR 11595). To protect the ring from the powers of darkness, Frodo must make a long, dangerous journey.

Finding Fish: A Memoir by Antwone Quenton Fisher.
RC 53410.
African American producer and screenwriter Antwone Fisher, for whom the movie is named, describes growing up a ward of the state in Cleveland in the 1950s. Born in prison to a single mother, he recounts betrayal by his foster mother, homelessness at age 17, the kindnesses of teachers and social workers, and years with the United States Navy. Some strong language.

Finding Forrester by James W. Ellison.
RC 53478.
Sixteen-year-old African American basketball player and aspiring writer Jamal Wallace develops an unusual relationship with reclusive aging novelist William Forrester, who becomes his mentor. But being smart is not acceptable to Jamal's peers and arouses the suspicion of his teachers. Based on the screenplay by Mike Rich.

The Firm by John Grisham.
RC 32026, BR 9707.
Bendini, Lambert, and Locke is a Memphis law firm specializing in taxes and making millionaires. The extensive dossier it has on Mitchell Y. McDeere indicates he is just the man for their firm. To Mitch, their offer seems too good to be true. He accepts, and it is not long before he begins to realize that the firm is not what it appears to be. Contains some strong language.

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom.
RC 38876.
With an I.Q. of 70, Forrest Gump admits he is slow, but that does not stop him from leading a life full of bewildering adventures. Gump tells of becoming a football star, a war hero, an astronaut, a professional "rassler," an actor, a successful businessman, and a politician. An idiot savant, Gump is also a champion chess player and a musician. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 41.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
RC 25835, BR 12173.
In this classic horror story a monster, endowed with life by a young scientist named Frankenstein, later turns on his creator. Originally published in 1818.

French Silk by Sandra Brown.
RC 34022, BR 50427.
Claire Laurent, plagued by a recurring nightmare, knows that unless she does something about the force behind it, her future will be ruined. She is the owner of French Silk, a mail order lingerie firm, but now she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a television evangelist who is harassing her company. She is also falling in love with the man assigned to question her. Contains some strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.

Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg.
RC 26698.
This story centers on a cafe in the railroad town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, and on Idgie and Ruth, the two women who run the cafe. There are numerous real-life, minor characters in this tale that ranges from Whistle Stop to Valdosta, Georgia, Birmingham, and Chicago, and swings back and forth in time from the pre-depression era to the present. The core of this novel is the unusual love affair between Idgie and Ruth. Contains some strong language. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 143.

From Here to Eternity by James Jones.
RC 56319.
A powerful novel about military life in Hawaii just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It captures the spirit and character of the Army, especially in the portrait of Private First Class Robert Prewitt. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex. National Book Award.

The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
RC 26798, BR 11100.
Set in a fashionable 19th-century German spa, this story tells of a young Russian tutor who becomes so addicted to the passion of gambling that everything else loses meaning for him. The movie is Alex and Emma starring Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson.

The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille.
RC 35881.
The naked body of Captain Ann Campbell, daughter of the base commander, is found on the firing range of Fort Hadley, Georgia. Paul Brenner, an army criminal investigator, is assigned the case. His partner is Cynthia Sunhill, rape investigator and former girlfriend. They soon discover that Campbell was not the person she appeared to be and that almost everyone on base is hiding something. Contains strong language and descriptions of sex.

The Green Mile by Stephen King.
RC 44564, BR 10648, BR 10649, BR 10650, BR 10651, BR 10652,
BR 10686.
Death-row supervisor Paul Edgecombe thinks back to 1932 when John Coffey is brought to the penitentiary and placed on the "Green Mile." Coffey is accused of the rape and murder of twin nine-year-old girls. But Coffey seems to be an unusual kind of human being which makes Edgecomb question his guilt. Contains strong language and violence.

Hannibal by Thomas Harris.
RC 48524, BR 12326.
Clarice Starling's career in the FBI has soured, but when Hannibal Lecter's case is revived, she rejoins Jack Crawford to track him down. Also searching, is Hannibal's sixth attempted victim, wealthy, disfigured Mason Verger, who is obsessed with revenge. Contains violence, strong language and some descriptions of sex. Sequel to The Silence of the Lambs (RC 27020, BR 13149).

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.
RC 48437, BR 12276.
Despite a warning not to return to Hogwarts for his second year of wizardry studies, Harry shows up. But Harry is in danger from the opened Chamber of Secrets as well as from his would-be protector. Sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (RC 47260, BR 11879). Also available as a descriptive video, DV 503.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling.
RC 47260, BR 11879.
On Harry Potter's 11th birthday, he learns that he is more than an unwanted orphan. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry recruits him because he has inherent magical abilities. As he purchases school supplies such as robes, wand, and a messenger owl, Harry looks forward to attending his new boarding school. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 423.

Hart's War by John Katzenbach.
RC 50677.
Stalag Luft Thirteen, 1944. Former Harvard law student Tommy Hart is ordered to represent fellow prisoner of war Lincoln Scott, a Tuskegee airman who is accused of murdering a bigoted American captain. Hart soon realizes that he and his client are victims of a frame-up. Contains strong language and some violence.

Heller with a Gun by Louis L'Amour.
RC 13175.
Tough King Mabry prided himself on his reputation as a gunslinger who would make almost any kind of bargain with anyone insane enough to trust him. The movie based on this book is Heller in Pink Tights starring Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren.

High Crimes by Joseph Finder.
RC 46358, BR 11706.
When the FBI tries to arrest Tom Chapman, his wife, Claire Heller, a Harvard law professor, learns that Tom is really army sergeant Ron Kubik, a fugitive for 13 years. Claire defends her husband at his court-martial because she is determined to know the truth about him. Some strong language and some violence.

Holes by Louis Sachar.
RC 47444, BR 12174.
Stanley Yelnats IV finds himself in a detention center for possessing stolen property that he did not take. While digging holes under the summer Texas sun, he sees a fellow inmate running away and follows him. Legends, loyalty, and buried treasure are revealed as Stanley learns to survive. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal.

The Homecoming by Belva Plain.
RC 45255, BR 11360.
Annette Byrne, 85, has had enough of the estrangement between her two sons and among other family members. She summons them all to her home on a wintry December day. Tensions are high, and harsh words begin to flow. Then a near tragedy puts a different light on the day for each of those present.

The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
RC 47310.
The spirit of Virginia Woolf permeates the lives of several American readers as evidenced in this trio of tales about the author Woolf, a New Yorker planning a party to honor a writer, and a young mother reading Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. Some strong language.

The Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter by James S. Hirsch.
RC 49829.
In 1966, boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was arrested for the murder of three white men in Paterson, New Jersey. Hirsch recounts Carter's rage over his imprisonment, his refusal to conform to prison rules, and his relentless efforts to prove his innocence. Contains violence, strong language and some descriptions of sex.

Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
RC 21679.
During his scientific investigation of the ghosts in an old abandoned house, Dr. Montague invites a young man and two women to participate in his experiments. This book has been made into movies several times, the most recent version, called The Haunting, was released in 1999 starring Liam Neeson.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
RC 47004.
Aspiring author Cassandra Mortmain, 17, tells how she, her sister Rose, 20, their eccentric author-father, and Topaz, their stepmother, survive life in a crumbling 15th-century English castle. When Simon and Neil Cotton inherit the estate, both Cassandra and Rose plot marriages, amid hilarious confusion.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.
RC 11056.
Frightening world of vampires as told to a young boy who tapes the story on cassettes. Follows the fortunes of Louis, a gentle vampire ; Lestat, a vengeful and bloodthirsty vampire; and Claudia, a little demon with the face of a doll. Violence.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer.
RC 44525.
A journalist's first-hand report of the ill-fated Mt. Everest expedition of May 1996 in which a freak storm claimed the lives of nine adventurers. Describes the grueling ascent of the climbers, their sense of elation at reaching the peak, and the tragic events that followed. Strong language.

Jaws by Peter Benchley.
RC 7150.
A Long Island resort town tries to cover up a young woman's death when pieces of her shark-ridden body are found along the beach. But the shark strikes again. Some strong language, violence and some explicit descriptions of sex.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.
RC 29021, BR 7747.
In 1949, four Chinese women living in San Francisco founded the Joy Luck Club where they met to play mah jong, tell stories, and "feast" on scraps. Forty years later one of the women dies, her daughter takes her place at the club , and a secret is revealed that unleashes in each person the need to reach back and remember. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 59.

Kiss the Girls by James Patterson.
RC 39471.
When Washington, D.C. detective Alex Cross learns his niece Naomi is missing, he heads for North Carolina. Naomi is one of a group of women thought kidnapped by a man calling himself Casanova. When one woman escapes and describes a secret house in the woods, the FBI discovers links between Casanova and the Gentleman Caller serial killer in California. Contains strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel.
RC 36256, BR 9187.
When Pedro asks Mama Elena for the hand of her youngest daughter, Tita, he is offered her sister instead. By family tradition, Tita is to remain unmarried to care for her mother. Tita, a magical cook, shares recipes that, seasoned by her emotions, have an extraordinary impact on the events that follow her mother's decision. Descriptions of sex.

Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
RC 51095.
Classic utopian adventure fantasy. One of four Western passengers abducted during an airplane hijacking from Baskul, Hugh Conway, recounts the group's sojourn at the mysterious lamasery of Shangri-La in the mountains of Tibet. Hugh describes Shangri-La's unusual inhabitants and their quest, and the feelings of peace and contentment he enjoyed there.

A Maiden's Grave by Jeffery Deaver.
RC 49072.
Three escaped prisoners hijack a school bus and take the deaf children and their teachers to a Kansas slaughterhouse. The quickly assembled FBI negotiating team is led by Arthur Potter, who develops an admiration for deaf teacher Melanie Charrol, one of the hostages. The movie was called Dead Silence starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin. Contains strong language, violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex.

Matchstick Men by Eric Garcia.
RC 56384.
Roy and Frankie are two aging flimflam artists waiting to pull one last score. Roy, suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, is reunited with Angela, the teenage daughter he never knew he had, and decides to go straight. Unfortunately, Angela wants to learn the game. Strong language and some violence.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
RC 38077, BR 11463.
In the 1980s, New Yorker Berendt began visiting Savannah, Georgia. Enchanted by the city and its inhabitants, he spent more and more time there. He introduces Savannah and the hodgepodge of friends he made, especially Jim Williams, an antique dealer active in the restoration of Savannah. He also discusses the murder on May 2, 1981, for which Williams went to trial. Contains strong language.

Morvern Callar by Alan Warner.
RC 45809.
Scottish working girl Morvern Callar awakes one day to find that her live-in boyfriend has killed himself. She stashes the body, avails herself of his savings, and ventures off to the Mediterranean rave scene to party until the money runs out. Callar returns home a changed person.

My Dog Skip by Willie Morris.
RC 41612, BR 10740.
The author tells how he grew up in a small southern town in the 1940s with a dog that could run football patterns and, it was believed, drive a car. The author demonstrates his evocative storytelling skills in this tribute to his dog, Skip.

Mystic River by Dennis Lehane.
RC 51578.
Sean, Jimmy, and Dave were eleven when Dave was briefly abducted from a Boston slum. Twenty-five years later, ex-con Jimmy's daughter is murdered and Dave becomes a suspect. Sean, now a homicide detective, is assigned to the case. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence.

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.
RC 12804.
Nicholas Nickleby, the son of a poor country gentleman, struggles to make his own way in the world. A succession of jobs takes him into the establishment of the brothers Cheeryble as a clerk. From this post he rises to success as a merchant. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 319.

The Oldest Rookie: Big League Dreams from a Small Town Guy by Jim Morris.
RC 52470.
This is the story of Jim Morris, who achieved his dream of playing baseball at 35. Blessed with an awesome fastball, Morris nursed dreams of pitching for Major League Baseball during his 20's but injuries and bad luck forced him to give up his dream and become a teacher and coach instead. Years later, he was pressed by students and colleagues to try out for "the Show" one more time. Morris discovered he still had a powerful arm, and was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The movie is Disney's The Rookie starring Dennis Quaid .

The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean.
RC 48462.
Orlean describes traveling to Florida to meet accused orchid thief John Laroche after she became intrigued by a news item about his arrest. She relates how she began to share his obsession, researching the history of orchids and exploring the subculture of collectors. Also discusses his involvement with local Seminoles. The movie was Adaptation starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. Some strong language.

The Other Side of the Mountain by Evan G. Valens.
RC 11763.
Biography of Jill Kinmont from age 15, when she began skiing seriously, to the accident that left her permanently paralyzed at 18. Despite her handicap she leads a successful life as a teacher.

The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine.
RC 32457.
Boss Spearman and his men are free-grazers, but land is being bought up and the end is near for men of their breed. When two of Spearman's men are murdered, he lays the blame on Denton Baxter, who has already threatened to use force in driving Spearman from nearby land. Spearman goes to the law to see justice done and finds that only two people in town are on his side. Some strong language.

The Palace Thief by Ethan Canin.
BR 9819.
The title story tells of the conflict between a history teacher in a private boys' school and one of his students. The "dullard" son of a senator, Sedgewick Bell cheats at an oral exam, only to be foiled by a trick question. Years later, Bell demands another chance. In other selections, men reflect on the past, one character wondering why, "of all the lives that might have been mine, I have led the one I have just described." The movie is named The Emperor's Club. Some strong language.

A Passage to India by Edward Morgan Forster.
RC 21242, BR 6076.
A classic novel about social, political and personal relations between the English and the people of India after the turn of the century. The conflict of cultures and personalities during the wane of British rule reaches near-riot proportions when a respectful Indian doctor is accused of sexually assaulting a young Englishwoman.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
RC 50012.
Twelve-year-old Trevor tackles his new teacher's extra-credit assignment to improve the world. He performs three large favors, and instead of paying him back, each recipient agrees to pay favors forward to three more people, and so on. Initially a disaster, his project soon snowballs into a great success.

The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico.
RC 7941.
The SS Poseidon , a giant ocean liner turned cruise ship, capsizes when caught by a tidal wave. Will the group of survivors be led to safety, and if so, how?

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman.
RC 40461.
Sally and Gillian Owens are raised by their unusual aunts and cruelly teased by the other children. The older Owens sisters cast spells at twilight for women having problems with love. Gillian leaves home as soon as possible, breaking hearts along the way. Sensible Sally stays, marries, and has two daughters, until tragedy sends her packing, too. Now an event has gathered the Owens women together again. Strong language and descriptions of sex.

Pretending the Bed Is a Raft by Nanci Kincaid.
RC 46083.
Eight short stories concerning Southern women and the meaning of love. In the title story, a 23-year-old wife and mother lives in a trailer in her mother's back yard with her husband. She works as a night janitor and struggles to make ends meet. Life becomes bleaker when Ann is diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live. But she does not tell anyone and decides to get her house in order, make the most of her remaining days and to find her husband a new wife. The movie My Life without Me starring Sarah Polley is based on this story. Some descriptions of sex.

The Quiet American by Graham Greene.
RC 36154.
Set in Saigon during the French occupation of Vietnam, this English adventure novel centers on the clash of conflicting cultures. The story revolves around Fowler, a skeptical British journalist; Phuong, his Vietnamese mistress; and Pyle, an enthusiastic American sent out by Washington on a secret mission. Add Communist guerrillas to the French presence, and the situation for this trio escalates from a moral dilemma to an international struggle.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.
RC 30751.
Stevens, a butler at Darlington Hall for some 30 years, muses on his life of service to the great gentleman, the late Lord Darlington. It is 1956, and Stevens, persuaded by his new employer to take a vacation, is motoring through the English countryside. Below the surface of perfection and correctness, some doubts about Lord Darlington's sterling image emerge.

Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
RC 47488, BR 9749.
In this sequel to The Two Towers (RC 47487, BR 9747), Frodo and Sam bear the Ring to Mount Doom. The War of the Rings, fought between the forces for good and the Dark Lord of evil, is ended.

Rising Sun by Michael Crichton.
RC 33933.
An American call girl is found dead at the gala grand opening of Nakamoto Tower, new United States headquarters for Japan's electronic giant. Lieutenant Peter Smith, Los Angeles Police Department, is assigned to investigate and is offered the assistance of John Connor, an expert on Japanese matters. When Smith gets close to the truth, his family, career, and life are threatened. Contains strong language and descriptions of sex.

The Road to Wellville by T. Coraghessan Boyle.
RC 40674.
Battle Creek, Michigan, 1907. C.W. Post and Dr. John Harvey Kellogg are becoming famous for their breakfast cereals. Post has a diner, and Kellogg has opened a spa, where he extols the value of healthy eating and exercise to cure autointoxication, too much meat and too much sex. Will and Eleanor Lightbody have come for the cure, but Will almost dies taking it. And Charles Ossining wants to get a piece of the cereal business. Some strong language.

Rocket Boys: A Memoir by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
RC 47833.
Retired NASA engineer reminisces about boyhood in the Sputnik era in West Virginia when his first rocket attempt burned down his mother's garden fence. He and his friends improved their models culminating in winning the 1960 National Science Fair. The movie October Sky is based on this book.

The Runaway Jury by John Grisham.
RC 42334, BR 10516.
Using jury consultants with elaborate and illegal research techniques, the tobacco companies have managed to win each lawsuit brought against them. Now, in Mississippi, a man has purposely placed himself on the jury of the latest tobacco trial. Strong language.

The Russia House by John LeCarré.
RC 30959, BR 7873.
Is Russia's defense system as good as they say it is? Documents have been smuggled out of Russia indicating that the Soviet defense system is in utter shambles, but England and the United States are uncertain about the validity of the information. London publisher Barley Blair is recruited to go to Russia and uncover the facts, but no one plans on his falling in love with Katya. Some strong language.

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts.
RC 44635.
Twenty years ago, Annabelle Hathaway disappeared from her home in coastal Georgia. Now her oldest daughter, Jo Ellen, a well-known photographer, is receiving pictures of Annabelle, naked and dead. Following a mental breakdown, Jo seeks comfort within her dysfunctional family, but instead she receives more photos. Contains violence, some strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally.
RC 20835, BR 9689.
In 1939, Oskar Schindler, a young, wealthy, enterprising German interested in drinking and women, is a less-than-exemplary Catholic. Keneally tells the story of his transformation into a man who, at great personal risk, saves hundreds of Jews from death during World War 2. Violence and some strong language. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 91.

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
RC 51968.
Recounts the rise of an undersized, crooked-legged Thoroughbred horse who in 1938 was the year's number-one newsmaker over Franklin Roosevelt, Hitler, and Lou Gehrig. Hillenbrand tells Seabiscuit's story through the three men who made a true long shot into a winner: owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and jockey Red Pollard. Also available as a descriptive video, DV 509.

The Shining by Stephen King.
RC 51373, BR 13271.
Jack and Wendy Torrance come face-to-face with terror when they become caretakers of a haunted old hotel in the snowy mountains of Colorado. Their five-year-old son Danny, who appears to have psychic powers, is the first to sense the evil in the building. Contains strong language and violence.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.
RC 37883, BR 9612.
The story centers around Quoyle, a lowly newspaper reporter. When his wife, Petal Bear, runs off with another man and gets killed, Quoyle's aunt convinces the distraught man to move with his two daughters to an abandoned family home in Newfoundland. Quoyle goes to work for a sleazy paper covering the shipping news and learns to fit right in. Strong language. National Book Award Winner.

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.
RC 27020, BR 13149.
Clarice Starling, a young FBI agent, tracks down a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, who preys exclusively on overweight women. The killer flays the victims' bodies and deposits the remains in rivers. The only clues are provided by another sociopathic killer, psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, who practices cannibalism. Prequel to Hannibal (RC 48524, BR 12326). Contains violence, strong language and descriptions of sex.

A Simple Plan by Scott Smith.
RC 38148.
Hank Mitchell is a thirtyish accountant at the feed store in his small hometown. Seven years ago his parents, facing bankruptcy, died in a suicidal car crash. Hank has a pregnant wife, Sarah, and an older brother, Jacob, who never amounted to much. Their lives become nightmarish when Hank, Jacob, and Jacob's friend come upon a crashed plane containing 4.4 million dollars and concoct a simple plan. Contains strong language, violence and explicit descriptions of sex.

Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg.
RC 37499.
When Isaiah, a six-year-old, Inuit boy, is killed falling off the roof of a warehouse, his neighbor Smilla, a young woman who is generally misanthropic yet inclined to look out for Isaiah, refuses to believe it is an accident. Smilla begins her investigation in Copenhagen, where her powers of observation, sharpened by her fascination with mathematics, help her to solve the mystery. Contains violence and some strong language.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson.
RC 40688, BR 11904.
Set on an island in Puget Sound shortly after World War 2. Carl Heine has drowned, and Kabuo Miyomoto, a fellow fisherman, is charged with Heine's murder. Covering the trial for the local newspaper is Ishmael Chambers, who was the first love of Hatsue, the defendant's wife. As the trial gets underway, the courtroom and the once-peaceful community are tense with suspicion and prejudice. Contains strong language and some descriptions of sex.

The Tailor of Panama by John LeCarré.
RC 43208.
The imminent takeover of the Panama Canal by Panama prompts British intelligence to recruit Harry Pendel, tailor to the Panamanian president. For personal reasons, Harry is not above tailoring his reports to suit his British handlers, heedless of the consequences for the world order. Strong language.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.
RC 33367, BR 8652.
In this short novel, the first of Wells' works in science fiction, the Time Traveler constructs a machine that will enable him to travel backward or forward in time. He travels far into the future and reappears disheveled, pale, and haggard.

To Sir, With Love by Edward R. Braithwaite.
RC 12659.
Recollections of a cultured young black from British Guiana who teaches in a London school for difficult teen-agers. He endures insults and indignities from his students until he wins their respect and affection.

The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
RC 47487, BR 9747.
In this sequel to The Fellowship of the Ring (RC 47486, BR 9745), the now-separated companions of the Ring meet Saruman the wizard, cross the Dead Marshes, and enter the land of Mordor. They seek a route to Mount Doom, the only place where the ring of power can be destroyed.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes.
RC 44847.
American writer Frances Mayes finds a new lifestyle when she and her companion Ed purchase a large, abandoned, country home in Tuscany. The restoration of the house and garden are fraught with problems but also provide many pleasures. Mayes enjoys the flowers, the freshly grown vegetables, the cooking, and the quiet pace of sunny Tuscan summers.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks.
RC 49104.
Fifty-seven-year-old Landon thinks back to 1958, the year that changed his life. Pious, bible-carrying Jamie Sullivan asks 17-year-old Landon to costar with her in the Christmas play written by her preacher father. As they spend time together, Landon is shocked to realize he is falling in love.

We Were Soldiers Once and Young: Ia Drang, the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway.
RC 38628.
Lieutenant General Moore and Galloway, a journalist, focus on the first major ground battle of a war that lasted ten years. Drawing on their own experiences and that of other participants, they describe four days of combat waged by 450 men in the Ia Drang valley of Vietnam and provide their view of the impact of this war on a proud generation of soldiers.

What's the Worst That Could Happen? by Donald E. Westlake.
RC 46566.
Dortmunder, the burglar, is upset when one of his wealthy victims tells the cops that Dortmunder's ring is his, and steals it from him. After escaping from the police, Dortmunder and his gang follow the billionaire around the country, robbing him as they go, while doing anything and everything to try to recapture the burglar's lucky ring. Some strong language.

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts.
RC 47380.
Novalee Nation is 17 and seven months pregnant when her boyfriend abandons her at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma. While living in the store, Novalee befriends many of the town's quirky residents who help her out after her baby is born. Contains some violence and some strong language.