Exploring 'noir' at the library

What do you think of when you hear the word "noir?" While it literally means "black" in French, it also has another, stylish connotation. Typically, noir refers to films or books with a dark tone – both literal and figurative. They are usually crime dramas with seedy characters, a feeling of richness, and plenty of mayhem. The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library is exploring the alluring world of noir with several programs this summer and fall that should pique your interest. One of the most notable examples of the genre is film noir. This dark, stylish Hollywood crime genre is typically associated with black and white films of the 1940s and 1950s. On Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m., we will welcome Joy Bennett, Curator and Archivist at the Hancock Historical Museum to give a program on what film noir was, where it came from, what makes it noir, and some of its best cinematic examples. This program is free and open to all adults and is dedicated to the memory of longtime library patron Jim Felton, a film noir and detective fiction aficionado, as well as a book collector. If classic films appeal to you, Ms. Bennett hosts a monthly Classic Movie Night at the Hancock Historical Museum. The shadowy, tempting world of noir is also a literary genre that most generally features detective fiction. These fascinating crime dramas evoke foreboding and ambiguity – right and wrong are not clearly defined, and the protagonists are often self-destructive victims, suspects, or perpetrators of a corrupt system. Each year, we welcome an outstanding writer, artist, or public figure to the Tiffin community in our Foundation Speaker series, and this year we are excited to feature best-selling author Abbott Kahler. Kahler writes historical non-fiction that reads like fiction, with rich immersive storytelling. Abbot Kahler's book "The Ghosts of Eden Park" was described by fellow best-selling non-fiction author Erik Larson as "Gatsby-era noir at its best" and tells the story of notorious bootlegger George Remus. Remus, who lived in Cincinnati, was a teetotaler known as "The Whiskey King" who cashed in during prohibition but never drank a drop. This true story has many noir tropes – opulence, murder, cat and mouse, and the seedy underground of the 1920s. The author will join us for a public presentation on Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at The Chandelier Community Event Center. This is a free event and is open to the public. A Q&A session and book signing will follow. The Library will hold several related programs surrounding her visit, which will be announced at a later date. For the most up to date information about library happenings, please call the Library at 419-447-3751, find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, or visit www.tiffinsenecalibrary.org.