NEW BOOKS, MINI-REVIEWS BY VU LIBRARIANS

Grindon, Leger. The Hollywood Romantic Comedy. (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) 791.43 G866h

This analytical look at the romantic comedy shows the depth of a genre often disregarded as film fluff. Leger Grindon, a Professor of Film and Media Culture at Middlebury College, first gives an overview of the genre's history and the cycles writers tend to follow, leading to somewhat formulaic plots, characters, and themes. Grindon then addresses specific titles, chosen to illustrate the elements found in successful Rom-Com attempts, such as His Girl Friday (1940), Some Like It Hot (1959), Annie Hall (1977), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and There's Something About Mary (1998), among others. This is a good resource for those interested in film history and thematic patterns. --Abby Creitz, Technical Services Librarian

Fisher, Len. Crashes, Crises, and Calamities: How We Can Use Science to Read the Early-Warning Signs (Basic Books, 2011) 363.34 F534c

For centuries humans have tried to predict events based on the stars, the behavior of animals, and even through cards. Fisher’s book, the last book in his trilogy of scientific explanations, serves to explain how science can shed light on our age old obsession. This highly readable and accessible book seeks to show how mathematics, physics, ecology and even economics are seeking to describe and pinpoint critical transitions, those events that can drastically change, for good or bad, a seemingly stable system. Written for nonprofessionals, Fisher easily details the fundamental scientific concepts behind the theories, the computational models and the issues and problems associated with prediction. This is a perfect book for those looking for an interesting read or for those looking for an introductory book on the subject. --Laura Hiatt-Smith, Public Services Librarian