The first link goes Home . The second link is Research . The third link is Services . The fourth link is Collections . The fifth link is About . The sixth and last link is Ask a Librarian!
Randall Recommends!
Randall Recommends Home > Complete List
Complete List
The Randall Recommends! Complete List is an archive of all our staff picks. It's frequently updated, so check back.
Browse: complete list | fiction books | non-fiction books | films | other
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
---Rebecca Kemp, Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3553.H15 A82 2000Baraka ; directed by Ron Fricke
This film is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s definitely not a typical Hollywood movie. It’s non-linear. Everyone who sees it would come away with a different experience. It’s open to interpretation, which is why I like it. But it definitely has a message, which is that we’re all in this together; we need to wake up to that fact before it’s too late. How one person can affect so many others. That whole web of life thing. ---John Osinski, Library Assistant in Special Collections/Archives
Location: DVD Documentary
Call # : GE140 .B372 2001Beach Music by Pat Conroy
This is the best book I have ever read. Everyone I’ve recommended it to says it’s the best book they’ve ever read. It’s a novel based on Conroy’s own life experiences of growing up in South Carolina around Charleston. It makes you laugh and cry. You’ll love it. ---Mickie Elliot, Library Assistant in Circulation
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3553.05198 B43 1995b
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
A story about a magician and his nemesis, an evil magician, and their struggle. I highly recommend it. It was like, reading is fun again. I read it and I was like, wow, what they say is true. ---Chris Field, Systems Computing Librarian
Location: Recreational Reading
Call # : PS3607.O43 C37 2001Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Hilarious! A young city girl is trying to figure out what to do with her life. She writes to various relatives and goes to live with the ones who sound the most dreadful because she believes there s he can do the most work. A comedy of manners, this is a charming picture of British country life. For anyone who enjoys Jane Austen this is a must-read. A lovely book all around. –-Rebecca Kemp, Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR6013.I24 C6 1938Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy O’Toole
God awful funny. I was in danger of wetting myself while reading it in public. --- Mark Franklin, Library Assistant in Circulation
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3570.O54 C66 1987
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
I liked this book because it is fast moving and really kept my attention. It has short chapters, which is good. The subject matter is near and dear to my heart: history, the Catholic Church, art. The story combines art history, religion, a murder mystery, a romance, and plenty of thrills. ---Metta King, Accounting Technician
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3552.R68544 D3 2003David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
---Sue Cody, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR4558.A2 B87 1980Fahrenheit 911 and Bowling for Columbine ; directed by Michael Moore
You have to take Michael Moore with a grain of salt, but he gets you thinking. His films make you want to investigate things on your own. I don’t always agree with what he says, so you go looking for facts on your own, and 75% of what you find out is true. ---Beth Roberts, Administrative Secretary
Location: DVD-Documentary
Call # : E902 .F347 2004b ; HV7436 .B694 2003bFair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith
This is just a wonderful book. It’s written like a woman’s diary in short chapters from the time she is a little until she is an old woman. She lives in the mountains of western Virginia. It’s a wonderful chronicle of this woman’s life. ---Arlene Hanerfeld, Associate University Librarian for Technical & Collection Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3569.M5376 F2 1988Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
---Lisa Williams, Coordinator of Research and Information Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : TX715 .S2968 2001
Handling Sin by Michael Malone
---Sue Cody, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3563.A43244 H3 1986Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I recommend this series because the books appeal to all ages. They are fun to read for adults. They are an excellent way to read a book with a young adult. I also think these are good books for kids to try to build a habit of lifelong learning. These books are good because they make it easy to imagine attending the Hogwarts School, going to Potions class, blowing up your cauldron, and setting your friend’s hair on fire. ---Madeleine Bombeld, Assistant University Librarian Coordinating Access & Delivery Services
Location: Juvenile Collection
Call # : R796hc 1999I Don’t Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
Kate works in a high pressure environment -- she is a hedge fund manager for a leading financial brokerage firm in London's financial district ("The City"). Almost as insane as the pressures of working 60+ hours a week and doing her requisite international business travel (she reminds the reader of attorney Miranda from Sex and the City) is her home life where she is mother to 2 young children and a wife to their father. Kate says that from her 4-year old daughter's point of view, "There is no God but Mummy," yet time after time she misses her daughter's bedtime because she is still at the office. Kate's work life takes a toll on the whole family as well as on Kate herself. The lifestyle is a bit too reminiscent of the American way of life; one wants to transport Kate to France where she could get years of paid maternity leave and some croissants to munch on as well. This book is far from 100 percent serious, though. It will make any parent laugh with recognition. Coming soon to the silver screen starring Nicole Kidman, but read it beforehand so you can use your imagination to create these memorable characters. ---Adina Riggins, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian
Location: Recreational Reading
Call # : PR6116.E17 I2 2002Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR4167 .J3 1970
Like Water for Chocolate ; directed by Alfonso Arau
---John Osinski, Library Assistant for Special Collections/Archives
Location: A/V Recreational Video
Call # : PN1997.S6 C65 1994Mother Earth News magazine
I like the information this magazine give me about ecological and green buildings, and organic gardening. It has pretty pictures. And the projects it presents are obtainable, unlike other gardening magazines which have projects and materials I could never get.
---Lisa Williams, Coordinator of Research and Information Services
Location: Bound periodicals
Call # : in alphabetical order under “M”Museum of World Cultures
This is a collection of artifacts from around the world. I think it’s great because students and faculty can use actual artifacts in their courses, instead of just looking at images on the Internet. ---Beth Roberts, Administrative Secretary
Location: Randall LibraryThe O’Reilly Factor: The Good, Bad, and Completely Ridiculous in American Life [audiobook] by Bill O’Reilly
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who hates Bill O’Reilly. I listened to this book because I wanted to hear a perspective that wasn’t like mine. His show is hugely popular, and I wanted to understand why. I really dislike his TV show, but I found myself agreeing with 95% of what he said in the book. What I took away is that we all come from somewhere; we all have things in common, and how our present environment can change who we once were. ---Chris Field, Systems Computing Librarian
Location: Audiobooks
Call # : HN83 .O74 2000Oscar & Lucinda by Peter Carey
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR9619.3.C36 O73 1997bThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
This is my favorite book. Every kid, no matter what they’re going through, can relate to this book. It’s got good morals, without being moralizing. It portrays realistic relationships and its message is to see people on the inside, instead of focusing on appearance. Its universal themes appeal to all ages. ---Kathryn Batten, Education Librarian
Location: Juvenile Collection
Call # : H598o
The Philadelphia Story ; directed by George Cukor
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: DVD-Recreational
Call # : PN1995.9.C55 P467 2000Il Postino ; directed by Michael Radford
This film is just a good love story, and also an introduction to the poet Pablo Neruda. ---John Osinski, Library Assistant in Special Collections/Archives
Location: A/V Recreational Video
Call # : PN1997.I7 P687 1995Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
I highly recommend any of Jane Austen’s novels. Her major works include Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, Sense and Sensibility (1811), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Persuasion (1817), and Northanger Abbey (1818). My particular favorite is Pride and Prejudice. Written and set in the early 19th century, Austen’s novels are still extremely popular with today’s readers. The intricate and subtle themes, interesting and well developed characters, and ironic tone of these beautifully written works of literature have kept them relevant for over 150 years. In her novels, Austen addresses social issues such as feminism, marriage, social status, and the education of children but she does it gently. Her novels were meant to entertain the reader, not to preach to him. And for the romantic, there is always a love story somewhere in the plot. ---Eileen Brown, Government Documents Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR4034 .P7 1995b
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR6007.U47 R4 1939Rebecca ; directed by Alfred Hitchcock
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: DVD-Recreational
Call # : PN1995.9.D4 R423 2001Reds ; directed by Warren Beatty
A beautiful, moving, thought-provoking film. The true story of John Reed and Louise Bryant, both writers during the political upheaval of World War I, and their bohemian friends, including anarchist Emma Goldman and playwright Eugene O’Neill, played by a young Jack Nicholson. The film incorporates interviews with the real-life people who knew Reed and Bryant (look for a racy Henry Miller talking about sex!). There’s love, but also stuff that blows up, so there’s something for everyone. ---Elizabeth Peterson, Public Programming Librarian
Location: A/V Recreational Video
Call # : PN1995.9.D7 R4382 1998A River Runs Through It ; directed by Robert Redford
Brad Pitt—what’s not to love? This is a story about brothers, fathers, and fly fishing. I love the whole family dynamic in this movie. The relationship between the brothers and their dad is so complicated and rich. It is filmed in a beautiful location (Montana) and the scenery is beautiful. ---Susan Ramseur, Library Assistant in Circulation
Location: DVD-Recreational
Call # : PN1995.9.D7 R5937 1999A Room with a View ; directed by James Ivory
---Sue Cody, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
Location: A/V Recreational Video
Call # : PN1995.9.D7 R655 1992
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen
I think all of Hiaasen’s books are good. He wrote Striptease that was made into a movie with Demi Moore. I’d recommend this one. It’s hard to describe, but it deals with environmentalism, pollution, development, and a sick dog. He has another book about a cruise ship, a barrel of marijuana, and a man who throws his wife overboard, but she survives. His books are humorous, they really are!
---Jerry Parnell, Coordinator of Special Collections and Archives
Location: Recreational Reading
Call # : PS3558.I217 S53 2000Surfing Collection and Archive
I think this is just such a great collection of all kinds of unique materials, including a lot of stuff from local people. ---Beth Roberts, Administrative Secretary
Location: various
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
---Sue Cody, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR4571 .A1 1935To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
---Sue Cody, Associate University Librarian for Public Services
Location: General Collection
Call # : PS3562.E353 T64 1982Vernon God Little by D.B.C. Pierre
I like this book because of its relevance to current events and the tragedies that garner lots of media attention and scoops that aren’t always accurate. The story is modeled after the Columbine shootings. The best friend of the perpetrator becomes a scapegoat because of the media. It paints a picture of modern American media and social structure. ---Gary Moore, Special Formats Cataloging Librarian
Location: Recreational Reading
Call # : PR9619.4.P54 V47 2003
Watership Down by Richard Adams
You think it’s just a story about rabbits, but you get pulled in. It’s heroic! I’ve read it four times. It’s like Lord of the Rings with rabbits. Or Sound of Music with rabbits. Just wonderful. Scary too. ---Mark Franklin, Library Assistant in Circulation
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR6-51.D345 W3 1974The Wedding Singer ; directed by Frank Coraci
If this movie doesn’t make you laugh your heiny off, something has to be wrong with you. It’s not what you’d expect from an Adam Sandler movie. It’s funny throughout. Billy Idol…? The old lady who sings…? It’s just great. ---Kathryn Batten, Education Librarian
Location: DVD-Recreational
Call # : still being processed (as of 4/28/06)White Oleander by Janet Fitch
What do I like about this book? What’s not to like? This is a story about a girl whose mother goes to prison for poisoning her lover. Astrid spends her teenage years in a series of foster homes around Los Angeles learning about life the hard way. But it is nonetheless a beautiful book. What I like most about this book are the changes the daughter goes through over time, and the complicated relationship between the mother and daughter. Also, I learned how to make poison. ---Susan Ramseur, Library Assistant in Circulation
Location: Recreational Reading
Call # : PS3556.I8155 W47 1999Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
---Liza Palmer, Creative & Fine Arts Librarian
Location: General Collection
Call # : PR4172 .W8 1932
This page was created by Elizabeth Peterson, Public Programming Librarian, Randall Library, UNCW. Comments or questions may be sent to petersone@uncw.edu.
Last Update: April 28, 2006