Hot This Week: March 11

Taken 2 takes #1 on this week's DVD list, with End of Watch and Sinister appearing for the first time. A number of newcomers make the CD chart, and we welcome Adele back to the list as well. Popular authors J.D. Robb and Jodi Picoult debut in the top two fiction spots, while a new book about the American diet takes over the non-fiction list.

DVD

1. Taken 2
2. Flight
3. Here Comes the Boom 
4. Hotel Transylvania
5. End of Watch
6. Seven Psychopaths
7. Sinister
8. Alex Cross
9. Looper
10. Ted

 CD

1. Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
2. Atoms for Peace, Amok
3. Mumford & Sons, Babel
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist
5. Hillsong United, Zion
6. NOW That's What I Call Music 45
7. The Lumineers, The Lumineers 
8. Josh Groban, All That Echoes
9. Rihanna, Unapologetic
10. Adele, 21

Fiction

1. Calculated in Death, J.D. Robb
2. The Storyteller, Jodi Picoult
3. Alex Cross, Run, James Patterson
4. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
5. A Week in Winter, Maeve Binchy
6. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, Joanne Fluke
7. A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
8. The Dinner, Herman Koch
9. Guilt, Jonathan Kellerman
10. Tenth of December, George Saunders

Non-Fiction

1. Salt Sugar Fat, Michael Moss
2. No Easy Day, Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer
3. American Sniper, Chris Kyle
4. My Beloved World, Sonia Sotomayor
5. Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
6. The Soundtrack of My Life, Clive Davis and Anthony DeCurtis
7. Killing Lincoln, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
8. Coolidge, Amith Shlaes
9. Francona, Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy
10. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand

There Is Still No Place Like Home

Written by Kyle Slagley

In a small town in Pennsylvania, nestled in the hills, is a cave, and in this cave are vaults. Vaults owned by some of the biggest organizations and companies in Western society. The security is extremely tight, the technology in this cave amazing, and the sheer size wondrous. One of these vaults contains the original filmstrip for one of the most beloved movies of all time—a movie about a young girl and her dog, from Kansas, who go on an extraordinary adventure.

By now you of course realize that I’m referring to The Wizard of Oz, which is big news these days thanks to the prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful, starring James Franco, which opens in theaters today.

The Wizard of Oz holds great memories for generations of people, but there are a few things most people do not know about this particular treasure. By the time Judy Garland graced the silver screen as Dorothy in 1939, there had been three film adaptations produced already as well as a stage musical written by the author Frank Baum himself.

Of course the ’39 film with Garland is the one we all remember and has been named the most-watched film of all time by the Library of Congress. Although MGM has ceased distribution of the film to any and all sellers for the time being, there are a few titles we have that might help supplement your Oz display.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (audiobook) – the classic by L. Frank Baum is now in the public domain, so there are a plethora of versions from which to choose. I read this book probably half a dozen times when I was a kid and the first time I was surprised at the differences between the book and the film. Audiobook versions to choose from include: Dreamscape, Tantor, BBC Radio, Blackstone, Naxos, Random House, and Yo Yo Libros.

The Wizard of Oz in music – As I mentioned before, Dorothy and Toto first appeared in front of large audiences as a stage musical in 1902. Fortunately, the music of the original musical has been preserved and was nominated for a 2004 Grammy for Best Historical Album. In 2011, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New Wizard of Oz came out in London’s West End and ran for just over a year. For the younger kids, A Tribute to The Wizard of Oz is a collection of kids’ songs from and inspired by the movie and book.

And finally, submitted for your approval is a collection of animated adaptations, the first of which is The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz. Who doesn’t love the Muppets?! Best of all, Ashanti and Queen Latifah star as Dorothy and Auntie Em, with Jeffrey Tambor as the wizard. Next in line is Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz, and finally an animated version from Lightyear Entertainment.

Becoming the Biggest Loser

Written by Jon Williams

Last week Kyle wrote about junk food and eating choices and told you about some related titles your patrons might find interesting or helpful. With obesity rates at an all-time high, there’s no doubt that health is in the public consciousness like never before. However, diet is only one part of that equation; the other is exercise.

NBC has turned exercise for weight loss into a form of entertainment with its hit reality series The Biggest Loser. Currently in its fourteenth season, this competition features contestants spending several weeks exercising and undergoing a series of physical challenges as they vie for the $250,000 cash prize. They have the opportunity to work out and learn about healthy living under the watchful eyes of celebrity trainers like Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. My wife is a fitness professional, so this is appointment TV for us each week. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a compelling show; the contestants must deal not only with the physical struggles of losing weight and getting in shape, but also the emotional obstacles that led them to becoming overweight in the first place. With the season finale on March 18, the five remaining competitors have already undergone incredible transformations. Who will take home the prize?

Each trainer on The Biggest Loser brings a distinct approach and personality to the competition, and sometimes it takes a while before one of them (or a combination) can figure out exactly how to get through to someone. Sometimes they can’t get through at all, and those are usually the contestants that go home early. Likewise, not all trainers, and thus all fitness videos, are right for all viewers. Here are some options your patrons may be interested in checking out.

Dancing with the Stars: Another reality series has spawned a series of fitness DVDs. Dance is a popular fitness option because it allows the participant to have fun and forget that they’re exercising. Zumba is another dance fitness craze, similar to belly dance, that is hot right now, as are ballet workouts.

10-Minute Solution: For patrons who are pressed for time—and who isn’t these days?—these videos are a great option. Each DVD contains a selection of complete workouts that can be done in just ten minutes, or combined on days that allow a little extra time.

Sit and Be Fit: For senior citizens and others with physical limitations, finding an exercise routine can be extremely difficult. Here is the answer. With these DVDs, viewers can learn how to exercise even while seated, limiting impact and pressure on joints.

Yoga is another popular fitness routine that can be gentle, with many options for modifications as participants become more advanced. Well-known fitness expert Denise Austin offers one well-rounded program suitable for beginners, while celebrity yogi Mandy Ingber encourages viewers to advance in their practice.

It’s never too early to get started with healthy habits, and with that in mind, there are even workout videos designed for children. Denise Austin offers a yoga video designed with kids in mind, and the Kideosyncrasy series combines music and movement to teach kids that exercise can be fun.

These are just a few of the fitness options Midwest Tape has available for you and your patrons; there are literally thousands more. SmartBrowse ‘fitness’ on our website for a complete list of what we have to offer.

Hot This Week: March 4

This week sees few changes across all of our charts. Flight holds onto the top DVD spot for another week. Much the same is true for the CD chart, where Alabama Shakes and Rihanna managed to sneak back in. The latest Alex Cross adventure from James Patterson takes top honors for fiction, while in non-fiction, Clive Davis's memoir comes in strong but can't quite overtake American Sniper for #1.

DVD

1. Flight
2. Here Comes the Boom 
3. Taken 2
4. Hotel Transylvania
5. Alex Cross
6. Seven Psychopaths
7. Ted
8. Pitch Perfect
9. Paranormal Activity 4
10. The Bourne Legacy

 CD

1. Mumford & Sons, Babel
2. Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
3. Josh Groban, All That Echoes
4. NOW That's What I Call Music 45
5. The Lumineers, The Lumineers
6. Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls
7. 2013 Grammy Nominees
8. fun., Some Nights
9. Rihanna, Unapologetic
   
10. Taylor Swift, Red

Fiction

1. Alex Cross, Run, James Patterson
2. A Week in Winter, Maeve Binchy
3. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
4. A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
5. Guilt, Jonathan Kellerman
6. Tenth of December, George Saunders
7. The Dinner, Herman Koch
8. Private Berlin, James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
9. Touch & Go, Lisa Gardner
10. Until the End of Time, Danielle Steel 

Non-Fiction

1. American Sniper, Chris Kyle
2. The Soundtrack of My Life, Clive Davis and Anthony DeCurtis
3. My Beloved World, Sonia Sotomayor
4. Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
5. Killing Lincoln, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
6. Coolidge, Amith Shlaes
7. Francona, Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy
8. No Easy Day, Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer
9. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
10. Going Clear, Lawrence Wright

New Customized Standing Order Plans!

Written by Kyle Slagley

At Midwest Tape we pride ourselves on being able to get you the titles your patrons want before you even have the chance to tell us you want them, while still giving you the flexibility and control over the purchases you need. The Customized Standing Order program is no exception to this philosophy; indeed, it may be the epitome.

Not only do we offer the most comprehensive selection of Standing Order plans in the industry, they come to you risk-free and you are never under any obligation to purchase titles. Unlike competitors, when you receive a Standing Order cart from Midwest Tape, you can choose to order all, some, or none of the titles – the choice is entirely yours.

Now, with the addition of over 20 new Standing Order plans, you can save even more time when you let Midwest Tape do the hard part for you! These new plans include Parents’ Choice DVDs, Animal Planet DVDs, Rap/Hip-Hop CDs, Religion & Spirituality Audiobooks, and many more. Let us save you time by choosing the best titles so you can get back to doing what you wanted to do when you became a librarian in the first place – help your patrons!

With 150 Standing Order plans, we’re here to help you make the best selections possible and get your patrons the titles they want. For a complete list of our available Customized Standing Order Plans, click here. Call us today at 1-800-875-2785 to speak with one of our selectors and let us design a Standing Order plan that’s customized just for you.