Mary's Picks: Home

Sixty-five million years ago, a disastrous cataclysm eliminated three quarters of all life on Earth. Overnight, the age of dinosaurs ended. The age of mammals had begun. But what if history had happened differently? What if the reptiles had survived to evolve intelligent life? In West of Eden, bestselling author Harry Harrison has created a rich, dramatic saga of a world where the descendents of the dinosaurs struggled with a clan of humans in a battle for survival.

In a high-stakes twist of fate, an apartment open house turns into a life-or-death situation when a failed bank robber takes hostages, including a retired couple hiding marriage woes, a self-absorbed bank director, and a conflicted young couple expecting their first child. Amidst the chaos, an elderly woman unfazed by danger, a flustered real estate agent, and a mystery man locked in the bathroom add to the volatile mix. As tensions rise and hidden truths unravel, this unlikely group of hostages must confront their pasts and unexpected alliances in a gripping tale of redemption and survival.

In the chilling winter of 1920 Delano, Georgia, Chief of Police Will Henry Lee confronts the mysterious murder of a teenage boy, sparking a decades-spanning investigation. As Lee delves into the town's dark underbelly, "Chiefs" unfolds a gripping tale of race, love, and political power, revealing the hidden tensions simmering beneath the surface of a seemingly tranquil community. In this riveting thriller, the pursuit of justice becomes entangled with secrets that reach from small-town politics to the corridors of Washington, DC.

"Shogun" transports readers to 17th-century Japan, where English pilot John Blackthorne's encounter with a powerful warlord, Toranaga, and a conflicted interpreter named Lady Mariko sets off a chain of events that will reshape their lives. Blackthorne dreams of wealth and fame through circumnavigating the globe and seizing control of trade routes, while Toranaga schemes to become Shogun--the Supreme Military Dictator--uniting Japan's feudal lords. Mariko, torn between her Catholic faith and love for Blackthorne, navigates complex loyalties in a captivating tale of cultural collision and transformation.

Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. They seek refuge in Consilience's innovative solution, called "The Positron Project", where residents alternate between comfortable living and prison service. Initially hopeful, their involvement in the program takes a dark turn when Charmaine's affair threatens Stan's safety, revealing the sinister reality behind the seemingly ideal setup. Margaret Atwood crafts a gripping tale of desperation and deception, exploring the consequences of sacrificing freedom for security in a dystopian society on the brink of collapse.

John Chatterton and Richie Kohler discover a mysterious WWII German U-boat 230 feet below the surface, sparking a six-year quest by an elite team of divers to solve the mystery. As friendships deepen and marriages fray under the pressure of obsession, Chatterton and Kohler navigate treacherous depths and haunted wreckage, revealing an emotionally complex tale of courage and camaraderie. Robert Kurson's gripping narrative delves into the true-life adventure of these divers, capturing the thrill and danger of their quest in the depths of the ocean.

A Mexican woman becomes the housekeeper for a rich yet troubled family. The result is a wittily perceptive collision of cultures and values, and a refreshingly honest look at such life-altering commitments as marriage, parenting, and devotion to family.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega, Cloris Leachman, Shelbie Bruce, Sarah Steele, Ian Hyland, Victoria Luna.

In the comedic drama "My Cousin Vinny," Northern college student Bill and his friend Stan find themselves accused of murder in a Southern town. Desperate for legal help, they turn to Bill's cousin Vinny, an inexperienced but street-smart lawyer from New York. With his brassy girlfriend Lisa by his side, Vinny faces a skeptical judge and challenges to his abilities as he fights to defend his relatives and prove their innocence in a case that seems doomed from the start.

Two passengers (Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence) aboard a spacecraft traveling to a distant planet are brought out of suspended animation by a technical glitch -- 90 years before the vessel is due to reach its destination. Together, they must investigate the malfunction that awakened them, which could threaten the safety of the ship.