Adult Librarians Alison N. Quammie and Claudine Nazon mesh their choices of themes with popular films and recommended reading lists to bring new levels of understanding and enjoyment to library patrons. At the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), the pandemic did not allow the library to host in-person events until now. The "Reel to Read" series resumes on February 16 with the Reese Witherspoon Rom-Com, Sweet Home Alabama. There will be a showing of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days with Kate Hudson the following week.
Quammie and Nazon have decided on the theme for March and have developed what they refer to as a "slate" of films. They have also worked out a list of books for deeper consideration of the theme which is "Leading Ladies." The books are both fiction and non-fiction titles.
The librarians chose these titles based on the theme of "Leading Ladies" after brainstorming together. They also received input from local authors and film experts who in turn chose the films because of popularity, timeliness, and the audience's suggestions. All of the films were selected from the Swank Licensing Company, a leading provider of films for screenings at schools and government locations.
The films for March will all have amazing female stars like Marlene Dietrich, Claudette Colbert, Irene Dunne, Mia Farrow, and Julia Roberts. They will play the lead roles. The books are written by women or about women.
Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang is the story about a spy who masquerades as an average citizen. She plays Mah-Jong while she plots the assassination of the Japanese leader of the military occupying China during the Second World War. The story is thought to be about the real-life of Chang.
On a different wavelength but of similar thematic consideration, Quammie and Nazon chose the novel by high-profile author, Jessica Knoll, Luckiest Girl Alive. It's on Simon & Schuster. Reese Witherspoon features the book in her Goodreads list, bought the movie rights and it is scheduled to be released as a movie this year. It's about a woman with a sinister past.
Another book on the recommended reading list is Giant by Edna Ferber. Texas residents were so outraged by this novel's portrayal of racism and injustice on Lone Star ranches that newspaper writers called for Ferber to be lynched. It still became a best seller and then a movie also called Giant starring Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. It also starred James Dean (his last.) There was another movie by the same name released in 2017 but that was not based on Ferber's novel and had nothing to do with this theme.
The March line-up is as follows: Imitation of Life (1934) on March 2 and 5, The Devil is a Woman (1935) on March 9 and 12, Annie Hall (1977) on March 16 and 19, Notting Hill (1999) on March 23 and 26 and Life with Father (1947) on March 30. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library is located at 455 Fifth Avenue, New York, and can be reached at 212-340-0863, but nypl.org/events is preferable. All of the events are on Eventbrite.