4 Books and a Concert to Check Out Before the Oscars

The film industry’s biggest night is on Sunday, as awards season finally culminates with the Academy Awards - also known as the Oscars. As usual, books and other art available at the library can help you dig deeper into some of the year’s best movies.

Of course, if you want to watch the Oscar-nominated flicks, you can find them at the library. Borrowing a DVD costs just $1, and you can check it for one week. Check out the list below of the movies nominated for big awards that are on our shelves or coming soon.

Wakanda Forever, by Nnedi Okorafor

There are lots of Black Panther-related comics, but Okorafor’s Wakanda Forever collection is the only one that focuses on the solo adventures of the Dora Milaje, T’Challa’s female bodyguards. Check out what happens when Okoye and Ayo cross paths with Spider-Man, the Avengers, and more. Okorafor will be at the DSM Book Festival in March, and her solo Shuri comic series will be at the library in the spring. The DSM Book Festival will also feature the first author in the 2019 AViD series, Susan Orlean.

Queen Rock Montreal

In November of 1981, Queen took the stage at the Montreal Forum. The group was perhaps at the height of its popularity, having released The Game the year prior and touring in arenas across the world. The group decided to record their shows that weekend - the only full Queen concert ever captured on film. You can rock out with the real Freddie Mercury on Qello for free with your library card before watching Rami Malek in his iconic role in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The Sea-Wolf and Selected Stories, by Jack London

Jack London is most famous for The Call of the Wild and his pioneering science fiction work, but he loved the potential that remote frontiers provided for his stories. “All Gold Canyon,” a short story about a man who finds gold in a secluded canyon, is part of the inspiration for the Netflix western anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. You can find it in this collection of short stories written by London.

Cover for "The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together"

This Book Really Ties the Films Together, by Adam Nayman

The Coen Brothers, of course, are the geniuses behind The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. The pair have had a long career, creating critically acclaimed films like Fargo and No Country for Old Men, as well as cult comedies like The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona. This book, published this past September, provides interviews and film analysis that keys in on the Coens’ body of work. It’s a must-read for film buffs and Coen fans.

Alone on the Wall, by Alex Honnold

Alex Honnold is among the biggest names in adventure and outdoor sports. He’s known as the best free solo rock climber in the world – that is, he rock climbs without ropes, harnesses, or any other protective equipment. The documentary Free Solo profiles Honnold’s climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017. His 2016 autobiography examines other great accomplishments and what draws him to danger.