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Want to get your year in books off to a great start? Consider a novella – a short novel (or a long story) under 200 pages. While a lot of books these days clock in around a hefty 300-400 pages, in decades past a book under 200 pages was more the rule than the exception. Consider some of the classics – John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome, and Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea can be read in a day. In addition to the classics novellas are having a bit of a renaissance at t...

My family has only been in the United States for 3 generations and I’ve been able to find a lot of information on them in U.S. census records, county vital statistics and other records. However, when it comes to going back to records in Italy, I often am challenged finding records that will provide birth, marriage and death records due to the flowery writing of the 19^th century, records that were destroyed in WWII, or other issues.

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What is art house cinema? Picture a small, independent theater. In your mind’s eye, you’re probably not imagining the latest action movie or Summer blockbuster on the marquee. Instead, you may envision foreign, independent, or art films not intended for the mass-market. Many films that started out in art houses are now found in the collection at Mechanics’ Institute. Below are staff recommendations from the 2nd Floor DVD and Blu-ray display.

Heather says:

I’m still pining for...

BOOKS

FICTION
Jojo Moyes The horse dancer

Historical Fiction
Jon Foyt The gilded chateau: World War II's 5th Suit: financing the Nazis, rogue bankers playing bridge in Chateau Rougemont

Mystery, Suspense, Espionage & Intrigue
Sue Ann Jaffarian...