April Staff Suggestions

Unknown artist, Krishna and Radha Dancing in the Rain, 17th century

Posted by Staff

With the phrase "April showers ...." in mind, the theme for this month's staff selections is rain and storm related stories.  Read through the descriptions and consider requesting something new.

Cary H.: Ladies in Lavender (DVD, 2004). An independent film festival favorite with a great cast, this movie is set in 1930s England.  Aging sisters Ursula and Janet (played by great actors Maggie Smith and Judi Dench) live peacefully in their cottage on the shore of Cornwall. One morning following a violent storm, the sisters spot from their garden a nearly-drowned young man lying on the beach. As they nurse him back to health, his identity slowing becomes apparent and neighbors begin to talk.  A lovely movie.

Pam O.: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.  One man's experience after Hurrican Katrina when he stays behind to rescue stranded citizens, protect his property fromlooters and mistakenly gets arrested.

Alana T.: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams.  Features a character who is, unknown to him, the god of rain; clouds follow him everywhere and he doesn't know why.
James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux novels - the settings for these suspense/crime novels feature humidity in its every aspect from rainstorms to heavy mist.  The audiobooks are especially well narrated.
Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  Features one of the most hair-raising thunderstorm scenes I've ever read.

Annie H.:  The Road to Perdition by Max Allen Collins.  Gloomy and dark like a thunderstorm.

Karen K.: Wicked by Gregory Maguire  A tornado is not the only storm going on in this story!

Joyce D.:  Rough Weather by Robert Parker.  In this Spencer novel, a hurricane-level storm adds to the wedding drama.

Kasey F.: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  Told by an old soul of a dog this novel plays with the metaphor of cars, life, and love "against the rain".  (Note: this book was recommended by three other staff members.)

Zach H.: The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan.  Set in Kansas during the Great Depression, the story centers around an 11 year old boy named Jack.  The town starts feeling the effects of "dust dementia" and Jack swears he sees a sinister figure in an abandoned barn with a "face like rain."

Ike D.:  Rain Came Down by David Shannou.  A picture book illustrating how rain can generate angry feelings, but when the sun appears, everyone's spirits are lifted.

Katherine R.:  Rain by Manya Stojic.  Wonderful picture book discusses the animals in an African savannah waiting for a big rainstorm.

Dani G.:  The Grapes of Wrath (DVD 1940)  A family of farmers are forced to travel west to look for work afters a series of storms ruined their land.

Mary M.:   The Wizard of Oz (DVD 1939)  A tornado sweeps Dorothy away to the magical land of Oz where she encounters a wicked witch, munchkins and flying monkeys.