Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Scandi-noir: A (biased) list
It’s dark, bleak and lonely. The protagonists are often flawed, fractured characters with damaged souls. These are some of the ingredients of Scandinavian-noir, a sub-genre of crime writing popularised by writers such as Stieg Larsson (Swedish), Jo Nesbo (Norwegian) and Henning Mankell (Swedish).
My first encounter with Scandi-noir was via the author Asa Larsson, who I mistakenly borrowed in the place of Stieg in the prime of his popularity. Larsson continues to be a favourite of mine in the genre, her sparse prose borders on the poetic, and the atmosphere she creates of Kiruna in far-North Sweden is visceral and raw. Asa Larsson and the other writers on this list may be lesser known, but they are no less powerful.
Note: This list contains both writers of stand-alone novels and writers of series. It is also not an exhaustive list but rather those I most recommend.
Alvtegen, Karin (Swedish)
Arnaldur Indridason (Icelandic)
Blaedel, Sara (Danish)
Bohman, Therese (Swedish)
Edwardson, Åke (Swedish)
Enger, Thomas (Norwegian)
Eriksson, Kjell (Swedish)
Fossum, Karin (Norwegian)
Heivoll, Gaute (Norwegian)
Hjorth, Michael (Swedish)
Høeg, Peter (Danish)
Holt, Anne (Swedish)
Jungstedt, Mari (Swedish)
Kallentoft, Mons (Swedish)
Kepler, Lars (Swedish)
Larsson, Asa (Swedish)
Nesser, Håkan (Swedish)
Ohlsson, Kristina (Swedish)
Persson, Leif G. W. (Swedish)
Roslund, Anders (Swedish)
Tursten, Helene (Swedish)
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (Icelandic)
Let us know what you think of these writers or of Scandi-noir in general!
(Dasha - Cronulla library)
Crying over books
Have you ever found yourself nearly crying because you have finished a book (or the last of a series of books)? Do you find yourself remembering scenes and characters that have captured your heart and become quite real in your imagination? Have you found yourself reading something where you dread getting to the last few pages of the book, because you just don’t want the story to end? You may even feel unable to move on to read another book as you need to take some time to let go of your last read.
When a book is well written, it is as if the author has the power to weave a spell over you, enticing you further and further into a book, causing you to become emotionally invested with the story and characters. Before you know it, the story ends, and you find yourself remembering scenes, characters and quotes from the book, feeling sad and bereft that you can no longer pick up this book and read more. I guess this is one reason why series of books and fan fiction are so popular.
Have you ever found yourself fighting back tears, maybe even crying, as you mourn the death of a fictional character? Do you find yourself imaging alternative scenarios where the character survives? Although causing the demise of particular characters is certainly an effective (and often convenient) ploy used by authors to draw the reader in, it can be absolutely heart wrenching and so sad!
How easy for people to say it’s just a book, or it’s just a fictional character, they’re not real! They just don’t understand. Often these characters have become like friends, whom you can relate to, think and care about; albeit that they are friends that solely inhabit the pages of a book.
It is a compliment to the authors that they have the ability to evoke such emotion with stories and characters created from their imagination, even if they do make us cry. It is a comfort that at least we are able to re-read these stories, time and again, and for me, this is one of the reasons I love reading.
So next time you decide it’s time to re-visit these books, make sure you don’t forget your tissues!
Monique
Playground duty / Ned Manning
Ned Manning is a teacher, writer, actor and script consultant and a very likeable chap.
Ned writes about his experiences as a teacher in New South Wales schools. His face on the cover was familiar to me from his acting career so I wanted to read what he has to say about the teaching profession that my daughter-in-law is part of.
My curiousity about staff rooms, playgrounds, class rooms and all the extra duties teachers volunteer for was met in a very entertaining way. His optimism and enthusiasm for seeing young people excel seemed familiar from what I have observed within my family so the students in New South Wales schools can be very lucky. Facing up to a classroom of teenagers says "nightmare" to me ; it is enlightening to see other perspectives.
After Gunnedah and Tenterfield he tried a progressive "School without walls" but quickly moved on. As readers we meet students and fellow teachers good and bad. Other experiences led to Eora High in Redfern where he was a minority white male for years until TAFE took it over.
Ned finally finds "teaching heaven" at the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and he shares some interesting experiences, including an excursion to China with students from this school.
Most enjoyable.Dianne
Amazing Mondays, Amazing Reads 16th January
Are you looking for your next amazing read? Here are ten books to try, suggested by Sutherland Library Service Corporate Librarian, Kelly Wilson.
Don't forget to fill in an entry form for your chance to win some great prizes in the Summer Reading Club promotion.
1. Oscar and Lucinda / Peter Carey
A sumptuously written novel about the chance meeting of two eccentric gamblers, Oscar and Lucinda. Oscar is a socially awkward Anglican minister and Lucinda owns a glassworks. Carey’s descriptions of the explosion of glass curiosity known as a Prince Rupert’s Drop and the glass church the pair create for a bet are images that are burnt in my mind forever.
2. Water for Elephants / Sara Gruen
Although this book is being sold as a romance (especially since it has been made into a film), it is the history of the train circuses during the Great Depression that I found most fascinating aspect of this story. The humans and animals were all quite desperate often leading to disastrous consequences. Regardless of the cruelty and misery in this book I found it compelling.
3. The Corrections / Jonathan Franzen
While the family patriarch, Alfred Lambert increasingly struggles with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia his wife Enid hopes for one last family Christmas with her three grown children. The black humour Franzen uses to describe this dysfunctional family and their tortured interrelationships goes some way to lighten his very accurate portrayal of the way people behave.
4. Dirt Music / Tim Winton
Georgie Jutland is married to Jim Buckridge, a successful fisherman in the small West Australian town of White Point. She falls for a troubled poacher and former musician, Luther Fox. Tim Winton uses evocative language to describe the Australian landscape which in turn helps to progress the story.
5. The Great Gatsby / F.Scott Fitzgerald
Sure to be popular again once the new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio is released The Great Gatsby is a classic that readers can revisit and still be amazed. It paints a fabulous picture of life in the “roaring twenties” in America but does not fail to expose the reality behind the glamorous facade.
6. 44 Scotland Street / Alexander McCall Smith
This is the first book in a charming series about the residents of an Edinburgh apartment building. It was originally serialised in “The Scotsman” newspaper and therefore is an entertaining read that it divided into satisfying chunks making it easy to put down and pick up again. The characters include Pat, a 20-year-old student on her second gap year, a narcissistic surveyor, Bruce, widow Domenica, artist Angus and his dog Cyril and my favourite character 5-year-old Bertie whose ambitious and overbearing mother Irene micromanages his education when all he wants is to be a normal child.
7. Tales of the City / Armistead Maupin
Tales of the City is another serialised newspaper column this time for the San Fransisco Chronicle converted into a novel. It focuses on the residents of an apartment house in Barbury Lane. Mary Ann Singleton is naive young woman from Cleveland who befriends Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a homosexual and so begins a very funny novel that captures the spirit of San Fransisco in the 1970s and in later novels, the 1980s.
8. Open: an autobiography / Andre Agassi
I am not an avid tennis fan but I found this biography to be very surprising revelation of how Andre Agassi became a champion. Agassi repeatedly states throughout the book that he hated tennis and admits that he and his wife former tennis star Steffi Graf do not have a tennis court at their home.
9. A Thousand Splendid Suns / Khaled Hosseini
Although the author Khaled Hosseini is better known for his second novel The Kite Runner, I enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns more because it is told from a female point of view. The two main characters are Mariam a poor traditional woman and Laila a younger, more modern and educated female. Set in Afghanistan the story spans 40 years of conflict between warlords, Soviets, Mujahideen, Taliban and Americans and the consequent effects of life for all but particularly the women.
10. Jasper Jones / Craig Silvey
A remarkable story about life as an “outsider” in a mining town in Australia. The main character Charlie is drawn into hiding the body of girl by Jasper Jones, an Aboriginal boy who they assume would be blamed for her death. Charlie is also best friends with Jeffrey, a Vietnamese-Australian and their light-hearted banter gives some relief to the dark undertones of the book.
Don't forget to fill in an entry form for your chance to win some great prizes in the Summer Reading Club promotion.
1. Oscar and Lucinda / Peter Carey
A sumptuously written novel about the chance meeting of two eccentric gamblers, Oscar and Lucinda. Oscar is a socially awkward Anglican minister and Lucinda owns a glassworks. Carey’s descriptions of the explosion of glass curiosity known as a Prince Rupert’s Drop and the glass church the pair create for a bet are images that are burnt in my mind forever.
2. Water for Elephants / Sara Gruen
Although this book is being sold as a romance (especially since it has been made into a film), it is the history of the train circuses during the Great Depression that I found most fascinating aspect of this story. The humans and animals were all quite desperate often leading to disastrous consequences. Regardless of the cruelty and misery in this book I found it compelling.
3. The Corrections / Jonathan Franzen
While the family patriarch, Alfred Lambert increasingly struggles with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia his wife Enid hopes for one last family Christmas with her three grown children. The black humour Franzen uses to describe this dysfunctional family and their tortured interrelationships goes some way to lighten his very accurate portrayal of the way people behave.
4. Dirt Music / Tim Winton
Georgie Jutland is married to Jim Buckridge, a successful fisherman in the small West Australian town of White Point. She falls for a troubled poacher and former musician, Luther Fox. Tim Winton uses evocative language to describe the Australian landscape which in turn helps to progress the story.
5. The Great Gatsby / F.Scott Fitzgerald
Sure to be popular again once the new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio is released The Great Gatsby is a classic that readers can revisit and still be amazed. It paints a fabulous picture of life in the “roaring twenties” in America but does not fail to expose the reality behind the glamorous facade.
6. 44 Scotland Street / Alexander McCall Smith
This is the first book in a charming series about the residents of an Edinburgh apartment building. It was originally serialised in “The Scotsman” newspaper and therefore is an entertaining read that it divided into satisfying chunks making it easy to put down and pick up again. The characters include Pat, a 20-year-old student on her second gap year, a narcissistic surveyor, Bruce, widow Domenica, artist Angus and his dog Cyril and my favourite character 5-year-old Bertie whose ambitious and overbearing mother Irene micromanages his education when all he wants is to be a normal child.
7. Tales of the City / Armistead Maupin
Tales of the City is another serialised newspaper column this time for the San Fransisco Chronicle converted into a novel. It focuses on the residents of an apartment house in Barbury Lane. Mary Ann Singleton is naive young woman from Cleveland who befriends Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a homosexual and so begins a very funny novel that captures the spirit of San Fransisco in the 1970s and in later novels, the 1980s.
8. Open: an autobiography / Andre Agassi
I am not an avid tennis fan but I found this biography to be very surprising revelation of how Andre Agassi became a champion. Agassi repeatedly states throughout the book that he hated tennis and admits that he and his wife former tennis star Steffi Graf do not have a tennis court at their home.
9. A Thousand Splendid Suns / Khaled Hosseini
Although the author Khaled Hosseini is better known for his second novel The Kite Runner, I enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns more because it is told from a female point of view. The two main characters are Mariam a poor traditional woman and Laila a younger, more modern and educated female. Set in Afghanistan the story spans 40 years of conflict between warlords, Soviets, Mujahideen, Taliban and Americans and the consequent effects of life for all but particularly the women.
10. Jasper Jones / Craig Silvey
A remarkable story about life as an “outsider” in a mining town in Australia. The main character Charlie is drawn into hiding the body of girl by Jasper Jones, an Aboriginal boy who they assume would be blamed for her death. Charlie is also best friends with Jeffrey, a Vietnamese-Australian and their light-hearted banter gives some relief to the dark undertones of the book.
Amazing Mondays- Amazing Reads
Looking for an Amazing read? Try one of these ten Amazing Reads compiled by Sutherland Library's very well read Document Delivery Officer, Diane Ollerenshaw.
1. Tolstoy and the purple chair: my year of magical reading / Nina Sankovich An enjoyable read and a Reader’s Advisory all rolled into one. Nina commits to reading a book a day for a year in an effort to overcome her grief at her sister’s early death.
2. Shadow Lines / Stephen KinnaneStephen tells of living in Perth last century - the Aboriginal experience. He also weaves in both sides of his family history - the Aboriginal, and the immigrant.
3. Down among the women / Margaret DrabbleFictionAn inconsistent, prolific author. This was the first title of hers that I read. It spoke to me in the 70’s about the strength of women.
4. The female eunuch / Germaine GreerAnother one from the seventies when I enjoyed so many “yes, that’s how I feel” moments in this groundbreaker of its time.
5. Last chance cafe / Liz Byrski FictionAn Australian author of women’s fiction - one to acknowlege what an enjoyable experience it was to read when you closed the book on finishing it.
6. Convincing ground: learning to fall in love with your country / Bruce PascoeShows how the colonists reporting of black/white history went wrong. Insights into the Aboriginal people and this country.
7. Carpentaria / Alexis Wright FictionIn the Gulf of Carpentaria a fictitious mining town of Desperance and its people come alive. Family relations, black/white relations, politics, reality and myth all rolling along to entertain and educate the reader.
8. Justice / Karen Robards FictionSpooks of the spy kind and the ghost kind help the suspense build in this story of strong women characters
9. The happiest refugee / Ahn Do Anh's name is Do (sounds like dough) but must mean doo because he can do anything. Stand-up comedy, qualify as a lawyer, movie star, TV show host AND write a good book. All of this after surviving a horror journey to Australia as a refugee. Read Anh's pacy, humorous tale and gain a little insight into the difficulties refugees can face and overcome in Australia.
10. Mornings in Jenin / by Susan Albuhawa Palestinian refugees and the Arab/Israeli conflict are the big subjects in this book. This is a work of fiction that peaks your interest into delving deeper into the reporting on this conflict.
Adult Summer Reading Club Weekly Draw 2
We have another winner! In the second weekly draw of the Adult Summer Reading Club, we would like to congratulate Lorraine from Sutherland on winning the weekly prize of a gift bag of reading. Lorraine read "The second last woman in England", by Maggie Joel, a book she had originally read for the first time in her book group. Lorraine borrowed the book again after the book group discussion, to re-read it and try and capture some more insights into this very detailed story. She tells us in her brief review of the book:
"Good characterisations, so much detail of the setting and era. Suspenseful, captivating in its class structure and the dialogue of 1952". (rated five stars).
Everyone is welcome to join the Summer Reading Club. Its easy, kids can register at any branch of the library and teens and adults can simply borrow books from any Sutherland Shire Library over the summer break, read it, and when you return it, fill in an entry form for a chance to win. Get the whole family into reading this summer, because the more you read, the more chances you have to win!
Five questions in five minutes with Karina Machado
Karina Machado is bestselling author of "Spirit sisters:Australian women reveal true-life stories of the paranormal " and had just released a new book, "Where spirits dwell". Karina joins us for five questions in five minutes...
What are you reading right now, and what do you like/dislike about it?
I am a historical fiction buff so am currently losing myself in a classic of the genre: Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour. What I enjoy the most about historical fiction, and about this book in particular, is the way it transports me. If life is getting overwhelming and I need an escape, hopping into bed with a wonderful story from the past is the best way, I find, to clear my mind. Suddenly, I'm projected out of the everyday and into a setting that, for all its brutality and discomforts, was in many ways a far simpler time. I find that soothing. Penman is incredible. The way she takes you back to England in the 1400s is uncanny, more like time travel than fiction writing. In that sense, it reminds me a bit of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.
I am a historical fiction buff so am currently losing myself in a classic of the genre: Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour. What I enjoy the most about historical fiction, and about this book in particular, is the way it transports me. If life is getting overwhelming and I need an escape, hopping into bed with a wonderful story from the past is the best way, I find, to clear my mind. Suddenly, I'm projected out of the everyday and into a setting that, for all its brutality and discomforts, was in many ways a far simpler time. I find that soothing. Penman is incredible. The way she takes you back to England in the 1400s is uncanny, more like time travel than fiction writing. In that sense, it reminds me a bit of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.
Could you tell us a bit about your favourite book?
Oh, a tough one—to narrow it to just one, I mean! Truman Capote's In Cold Blood comes straight to mind. It introduced me, many years ago, to the possibilities available within non-fiction. Actually, I'm due a re-read. I don't re-read books very often and I've read that one twice, as I have Wuthering Heights—Emily Brontë's classic, in all its stark and eerie beauty, is up there with my all-time favourites. I am also in awe of The Great Gatsby, and I could not answer this question without mentioning Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree series, which I read as a child and have re-read to my children. What a way to open up the imagination.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love reading (see above), baking and cooking and enjoy being outside in the garden, though I claim no expertise there. Given that we're moving house next week, I have also acquired an obsession with home-decorating magazines.
What’s next for Karina Machado?
Apart from packing and unpacking boxes? Well, I am keen to do lots of decorating, baking and gardening at our new family home. And then? Who knows? I'm sure it won't be long until my fingers are itching to fly over the keyboard again (learning to touch-type was one of the best things I ever did!) I'm also hoping to head interstate for library talks to promote "Where spirits dwell"
If you could have dinner with two famous people, who would they be, and why?
I'd love to meet Stephen King, though I'd surely be dumbstruck by his genius. And Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's ill-fated second wife. She had an amazing mind, which I'm not sure enough people know about. I'd serve them my famous orange-and-choc chip muffins with their coffee!
I'd love to meet Stephen King, though I'd surely be dumbstruck by his genius. And Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's ill-fated second wife. She had an amazing mind, which I'm not sure enough people know about. I'd serve them my famous orange-and-choc chip muffins with their coffee!
Everyone is welcome to come along and join Karina Machado for an author talk/book signing at Cronulla Library on Tuesday, 15 November, at 6.30pm. You can book online or by calling the library.
Movember, 2011
November is also Movember, the month when men are encouraged to “grow a mo” and raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. An important part of maintaining health is to relax, and what better way to relax than by reading? This month try reading something by or about men with moustaches.
Mark Twain. Besides his impressive moustache, he is most noted for his novels “The adventures of Tom Sawyer” and its sequel, “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, which has been described by William Faulkner, (a fellow moustached author of American literature), as “the great American novel”.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the moustached creator of the perennial favourite fictional detective ‘Sherlock Holmes’. Although the famous character was not bestowed with a moustache, his esteemed assistant and first person narrator in the all but four of the books, Dr John.H. Watson is described in the books as wearing a moustache.
Poirot. One of Agatha Christie’s most famous and long lived characters, he is famous for his distinctive moustache as much as for his "little grey cells". As his clean shaven colleague Captain Arthur Hastings tells us, Poirot is "very stiff and military. Even if everything on his face was covered, the tips of his moustache and pink tipped nose would be visible.”
Finally we can’t forget the most influential author of all time, Shakespeare. The bard himself was a mo bro.
Mark Twain. Besides his impressive moustache, he is most noted for his novels “The adventures of Tom Sawyer” and its sequel, “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, which has been described by William Faulkner, (a fellow moustached author of American literature), as “the great American novel”.Bram Stoker: Best known for his gothic novel “Dracula”, this author was such a fan of the moustache that he gave Count Dracula one as well. He describes Count Dracula as “a tall man, clean shaven, save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot”.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the moustached creator of the perennial favourite fictional detective ‘Sherlock Holmes’. Although the famous character was not bestowed with a moustache, his esteemed assistant and first person narrator in the all but four of the books, Dr John.H. Watson is described in the books as wearing a moustache.
Poirot. One of Agatha Christie’s most famous and long lived characters, he is famous for his distinctive moustache as much as for his "little grey cells". As his clean shaven colleague Captain Arthur Hastings tells us, Poirot is "very stiff and military. Even if everything on his face was covered, the tips of his moustache and pink tipped nose would be visible.”
Russell Brand. A moustached English radio and television personality, comedian, actor and author. Read his autobiography “My booky wook”. If you enjoy this, read the follow up “My booky wook 2: This time its personal”.
Here are three famous Aussie sporting icons turned authors who each sport trademark mo’s.
Merv Hughes. Read his biography, "Merv: The full story" by Patrick Keane, pick up some killer lines in his latest book, "Merv Hughes' best sporting insults" or read about another great way to relax, fishing! "Merv: Caught in the deep" by Merv Hughes.
Max Walker, also famous for his sporting exploits on the cricket pitch, has written 14 books, seven of them becoming best sellers.
John Newcombe. The former tennis great has written two autobiographies about his life, on and off the tennis court.
Merv Hughes. Read his biography, "Merv: The full story" by Patrick Keane, pick up some killer lines in his latest book, "Merv Hughes' best sporting insults" or read about another great way to relax, fishing! "Merv: Caught in the deep" by Merv Hughes.
Max Walker, also famous for his sporting exploits on the cricket pitch, has written 14 books, seven of them becoming best sellers.
John Newcombe. The former tennis great has written two autobiographies about his life, on and off the tennis court.
Finally we can’t forget the most influential author of all time, Shakespeare. The bard himself was a mo bro.
Quick Reads. Great stories, great writers, great entertainment
Sutherland Library Service now has a Quick Reads collection of books available for loan. These are a series of original short story length books written by well known authors and celebrities from the UK. Starting in 2006, Quick Reads were developed as part of an initiative by the United Kingdom to increase literacy levels.
Why check out Quick Reads?
Are you too busy to read?
Or you are an avid, yet time poor reader, looking for something short and fast to read?
With no more than 128 pages, these bite sized books are fast to read. They are complete, original short stories (they are not abridged versions of longer works), that take only a little time to read.
Do you find reading difficult or dull?
Quick Reads are perfect for emergent readers, for those of you whom English is a second language and those who don’t really enjoy reading. They are fast paced and engaging and a great way to improve your reading skills!
Have you lost your reading habit?
Rediscover the joys of reading with Quick Reads, written by best- selling authors. Just try reading for ten minutes a day…
Want to try new authors?
Have you always wondered about those authors you have heard about, but never read? Sample some different authors with Quick Reads. Who knows, you may discover a new favourite and read some other books they have written.
Do you commute, or are you travelling somewhere?
Quick Reads are a great way to pass the time on your daily commute, or while you wait for your plane, train or bus to whisk you away on your travels. They are light to pack and don’t take up much room!
Man Booker Prize winner, 2011.
The Man Booker Prize winner for 2011 was announced yesterday. Congratulations to Julian Barnes, author of the winning title " The Sense of an Ending". Barnes has been shortlisted three time previously for this prize, in 1984 with Flaubert's Parrot , in 1998 with England, England, and with Arthur & George in 2005. According to Dame Stella Rimmington, Chair of this years judging panel, this book has "the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each readings". You can reserve a copy at the library.
It's that time of year again!
It's that time of year again, I hope you remembered to move your clock one hour forward for daylight saving! Whether you love it or hate it, getting up an hour earlier in the morning offers the advantage of an extra hour of daylight in the evening. A great way to spend this extra 60 minutes of daylight is to read. Make this your reading hour of the day. You can even multitask, by listening to an audio book you have downloaded from Overdrive while you partake of an evening stroll, as you spend time weeding the garden, or even while you hang out the washing. You can take your reading to the park, the beach, or sit on the verandah and just read. Here are twelve timely books to get you started with your reading hour.Only time will tell by Jeffery Archer
No time for goodbye by Linwood Barclay
The thief of time by John Boyne
The time waster diaries: A year in the life of by Robin Cooper
The time trap by Peter Corris
Timeline by Michael Crichton
The curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon
The time travellers wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Timecatcher Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Time bomb by Gerald Seymour
The time machine by H.G.Wells
About time a series of four books about time by Brian Williams
Or, if you would like to read more about the what, why and where of daylight saving, try these two books.
Spring forward: The annual madness of daylight saving by Michael Downing
Saving the daylight: Why we put the clocks forward by David Prerau
Photo credit: On a pink, green, and white cloud, two young women reading a book at Greenlake, with a daisy chain in a field of flowers, Seattle, Washington, USA by Wonderlane, from Flickr
Banned Books Week, 2011
Its Banned Books Week, 2011, from 24th September until 4th October, 2011. Celebrating its 30th year, this is an annual awareness campaign sponsored by the American Library Association (A.L.A). It is celebrating a love of reading, opposing censorship and promoting freedom of speech in the United States of America.Books are challenged and banned for all sorts of reasons including to protect children, due to religious, racial or political content or because of what are deemed to be (by some), to be inappropriate themes. But doesn't the fact that a book has been challenged or banned just make it all the more desirable to read? Don't you want to read it simply to find out what all the fuss is about?
One misdemeanour I’m sure many of you have committed is reading the Harry Potter series! This series has caused controversy and mayhem in the U.S. due to its wizardry and magical content. (Some books in the series have even been bestowed with the dubious honour of becoming burned books in some states).
So, if you are feeling a bit rebellious, (or even just curious), and would like to read a banned or challenged book, a good place to start is by reading from this list of the top ten frequently challenged books of the past year, created by A.L.A. You can request copies of these books from the library.
1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit
4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
5. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
6. "Lush" by Natasha Friend (available via Interlibrary Loan)
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
7. "What My Mother Doesn’t Know" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
9. "Revolutionary Voices" edited by Amy Sonnie (available via Interlibrary Loan).
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit
10. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit
4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
5. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
6. "Lush" by Natasha Friend (available via Interlibrary Loan)
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
7. "What My Mother Doesn’t Know" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
9. "Revolutionary Voices" edited by Amy Sonnie (available via Interlibrary Loan).
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit
10. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence
2011
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banned books
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books
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readers advisory
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reading
Man Booker Prize for Fiction shortlist, 2011.
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Shortlist, 2011 has been announced. Authors Julian Barnes, Carol Birch, Patrick deWitt, Esi Edugyan, Stephen Kelman and A.D. Miller are the six contenders for the award. The list includes two authors who have been listed for the prize in the past as well as two first time novelists.
Julian Barnes has been shortlisted three times previously for this award:
In 2005 for "Arthur and George ",
In 1998 for " England, England ,
and in 1984 for "Flaubert’s Parrot ".
Carol Birch was previously longlisted for this award in 2003 for "Turn again home".
The two first time novelists are Stephen Kellman and A.D. Miller.
The six books selected from the longlist of 13, are:
"The sense of an ending" by Julian Barnes.
"Jamrach’s Menagerie " by Carol Birch.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt.
"Half Blood Blues" by Esi Edugyan.
"Pigeon English" by Stephen Kelman, a first time novelist.
"Snowdrops" by A.D Miller, a first time novelist.
The winner of this prestigious award will be announced on 18 October, 2011. Who do you think will win?
Julian Barnes has been shortlisted three times previously for this award:
In 2005 for "Arthur and George ",
In 1998 for " England, England ,
and in 1984 for "Flaubert’s Parrot ".
Carol Birch was previously longlisted for this award in 2003 for "Turn again home".
The two first time novelists are Stephen Kellman and A.D. Miller.
The six books selected from the longlist of 13, are:
"The sense of an ending" by Julian Barnes.
"Jamrach’s Menagerie " by Carol Birch.
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt.
"Half Blood Blues" by Esi Edugyan.
"Pigeon English" by Stephen Kelman, a first time novelist.
"Snowdrops" by A.D Miller, a first time novelist.
The winner of this prestigious award will be announced on 18 October, 2011. Who do you think will win?
Coffee and books...
Sometimes you just know when things go together…like Romeo and Juliet, Edward and Bella and of course, coffee and books. These are all partnerships made in heaven. What better way to relax on your coffee break that catching up on some reading? Take a shot at this selection of coffee themed fiction books, because as you may know, if you’re feeling ground down, reading is a great way to perk you up!
Coffee excellence
“The various flavours of Coffee” by Anthony Capella
“One coffee with” by Margaret Maron
Coffee life
“Cats in the coffee” by Joyce Fussey
"Coffee in the cereal: the first year with multiple sclerosis" by Lorna Moorhead
"Jenny's coffee house: after Yenni" by Eugenia Jenny Williams
"Jenny's coffee house: after Yenni" by Eugenia Jenny Williams
Café Coffee
“Little coffee shop of Kabul
"Glazed murder” by Jessica Beck
Decaffinated
"Decaffeinated Corpse" by Cleo Coyle
Espresso
"The espressologist” by Kristina Springer
“Black Coffee” by Agatha Christie
Latte
“Latte trouble” by Cleo Coyle
Short coffee breaks
“The rip” by Robert Drewe (short stories including ‘The life alignment of the coffee grower).
Triple shot
“Grounds for murder”by Sandra Balzo
“Bean there, done that” by Sandra Balzo
"Brewed, crude and tattooed” by Sandra Balzo
Find us at the Sutherland Coffee Festival- Coffee@peace, Sunday 10th July at Peace park. Grab a coffee and come and say hello to Bookatoo. Not a member of the library yet? Get a specially marked application form from the Coffee festival, join the library at any of the eight branches in the Shire and receive a voucher to buy one coffee, get one free from Hazelhurst Gallery (conditions apply).
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