Introducing Oak Park’s Best of 2020, a librarian-curated selection of titles, featuring some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers! See some of our favorite TV shows, movies, and music on this page or browse more using the links below.
Adult fiction | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | Kids books | Picture books
TV shows, movies & music
TV shows, movies & music
Babylon Berlin
Why you should try it: “A great show that I feel like no one is watching but me. A German gritty police thriller that has an incredible look with its elaborate costumes and sets to capture the time period. Worth the subtitles!”—Margita, Adult Services Librarian
Description: When a car is pulled from the Landwehr Canal with a corpse, Detective Inspector Gereon Rath's investigation leads him into the German underworld.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
Disco by Kylie Minogue
Why you should try it: "This is exactly what I needed right now. It's upbeat, fun, and perfect for a one person dance party."—Kathy, Collection Development Librarian
Description: Disco is a welcome return to the club-friendly dance-pop that defined Australian diva Kylie Minogue's early 21st century rebirth. This glittery, feel-good set is nothing short of euphoric, a dozen near-perfect gems that pay respect to the album's namesake era while updating the production with thrilling results.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
Emma
Why you should try it: “Emma is my favorite Austen book, and I thought this adaptation was delightful. Great cast—my favorite: Miranda Hart as Miss Bates.”—Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: In 1800s England, a well-meaning young woman meddles in the romantic relationships of those around her.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
The Farewell
Why you should try it: “This is a family drama/comedy. I'm a big fan of Awkwafina, so I was delighted with her stellar performance.”—Rashmi, Adult Services Librarian
Description: When a Chinese family finds out that their grandmother has only a short time left to live, they plan a family reunion before she dies without telling her.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Why you should try it: “My favorite release of the year so far, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is completely untethered, I can't think of anything that sounds quite like it. It's the kind of album that makes me want to put on noise cancelling headphones and listen to the whole thing through to make sure I don't miss a word.”—Andy, Children's Services Library Assistant
Description: Apple spent the years after the 2012 release of The Idler Wheel sculpting the songs and sounds of Fetch the Bolt Cutters, working at her home studio with a band featuring drummer Amy Aileen Wood, bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and multi-instrumentalist David Garza, using their interactions and interplay as a suggestion of where the finished track should head.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
The Good Place
Why you should try it: “A perfect show to watch this year, especially now that it has wrapped up and all four seasons are available. It has a great balance of humor, philosophy, and heartwarming moments.”—Margita, Adult Services Librarian
Description: After her death, a woman wakes up in the Good Place, an afterlife town inhabited by the people who have led righteous lives, but the problem is that she gets sent there by mistake.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
Honeyland
Why you should try it: “I grew up having a friend whose parents were beekeepers. Also, our library is among the few places in Oak Park that has honeybee hives. So, I watched the Oscar nominated documentary, Honeyland. It has gorgeous cinematography and a moving story.”—Rashmi, Adult Services Librarian
Description: Follows Hatidze Muratova, the last female beehunter in Europe, who must save the bees and return natural balance when a family of beekeepers invade the land and threaten her livelihood.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
Schitt$ Creek
Why you should try it: “I could not have made it through 2020 without my three full rewatches of this show.”—Shelley, Children's Services Librarian
Description: When a wealthy video store owner and his family suddenly go broke, they are forced to move to the small Canadian town of Schitt's Creek.
Find all available formats in the catalog »
