Weblog Archive

Hello

Just a quick update on some of the authors that will be visiting us over the coming months.  We now have some more celebrity reading habits added to our Celebrity Readers page, including some of those writers that are heading this way.

• G.S. Beard 
• Jonathan Davidson 
• Peter Grimsdale
• Sophie Hannah
• Karen Maitland

Check out their favourite reads and favourite words and let us know if you agree or disagree.  And don't forget that if you want to meet them in person you can pre-register for tickets for any of the coming events by ringing the Central Library on 01724 860161.

Have a good weekend.

Suzanne

Remember I told you about the "Evening with Peter Grimsdale" that we are hosting on 28th November?  Well his new book is BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime this week.  It started on Monday, but don't worry, you can listen again for up to 7 days via their website and catch up on what you've missed.  I'd strongly recommend it as it sounds like a cracking read.

And then you can come along to Brigg and meet him later this year (just call 01724 860161 to reserve your tickets).

Enjoy!

Suzanne 

Hello again

Have you had a good weekend?  As there's a bit of the nip in the air it's starting to feel a bit autumnal, which reminded me to tell you about some of the events we have coming up in the last part of the year (it's very scary to think that we are almost 2/3 of the way through 2008, but that's another story!)

We have the Readers' Festival on 25th October, where we are playing host to authors Sophie Hannah, G.S. Beard and Karen Maitland, and there are also stalls, quizzes, prizes and workshops. 

We also have an evening 'Starring John Hegley' on 14 November at the Central Library in Scunthorpe.  Don't miss the chance to see the renowned performance poet, famous for being brought up in Luton and wearing glasses!

Then on 28 November it's 'From Crimewatch and Yahoo to a Perfect Night: An evening with Peter Grimsdale'.  With his debut novel chosen as Radio 4's Book at Bedtime earlier this month he will be telling us all about this psychological thriller as well as his previous career as producer of Big Brother and Crimewatch, and editorial director of Yahoo Europe.  (And as proof that we can't be too scary here in North Lincolnshire he's married to author Stephanie Calman, who we played host to a couple of years ago!)

Full details of how to get tickets will be coming soon on our website www.northlincs.gov.uk/libraries.

Please come along and join us at one of these events, I'm really looking forward to them, so they're bound to be great!

Until next time

Suzanne

Hello

Since it's the school holidays, and it's raining there will be a lot of parents trying to amuse their children.  Why not take them to the library?  It's a wonderful way to pass an afternoon (see I can always find a reason for you to visit the library).  If you are stuck for children's books to read I have a website for you.  http://www.wordpool.co.uk/

There are resources for parents, including listings of books for all events and issues, e.g. from Christmas to hospital visits, from death to divorce.  There is also a fab listing of children's author and illustrator websites http://www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk/ that can amuse you for hours (well it did me).

Visit and let me know what you think!

Suzanne

Hello

Today's website of choice comes from the British Library.  It is their "Turning the pages" project where they have scanned some very early and precious books and manuscripts so you can view them online and even turn the virtual pages.  There's extracts from jane Austen, William Blake, the Lindisfarne Gospels and even Leonardo, but my favourite (no surprise!) is the original hand-written copy of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, complete with his original illustrations - it's fantastic, one of my favourite childhood stories.

It's well worth a visit.

Have a good weekend

Suzanne

Hello

It's free download week this week.  Go to the national NYR website and each day you can download a different audio book free of charge.  Each book is only available for 24 hours.  Tuesday's book is Stormbreaker, and is availbale until 12 noon today.  Then it's Kidnapped from 12 o'clock and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes from 12 noon tomorrow.  Why not give them a try.

If you get to like listening to audio books you can then borrow them on CD or MP3 player from North Lincolnshire Libraries (well you didn't expect me to go a whole blog entry without promoting the library, did you?)

Enjoy.

Suzanne

Hello

Did you have a good weekend?

A while ago I told you that I was reading the new Marian Keyes book, and promised you a review when it was finished.  Well I finished reading it a while ago, but forgot about the review - sorry!  Anyhow, I've now written it and posted it on our Book Review page, along with a review of another book that I didn't enjoy as much.  Keyes' "This Charming Man" was great, as you'll tell from the review, however the other book that I've just read "The Accidental Time-Traveller" was disappointing.  It wasn't so much that it was a poor book, it was just that it didn't live up to my expectations - but feel free to read it yourself and contradict me!

If you want to post a review yourself - about any book - you don't have to pre-register with the site, just go to our Review page and click on the green bit of text that says "Submit your review online" and fill in the form. 

Until next time

Suzanne

Hello

It's that time again... the start of a new month when I reveal to you what the new theme is.  The National Year of Reading theme for August is "Read the Game".  It's all about sport.  The Summer Reading Challenge for this year is based on sport (Team Read) and the Bejing Olympics are coming up soon.  When it comes to reading about sport there is so much to choose from, be it a biography or autobiography of your favourite sporting hero, a guide to the rules of your favourite sport or simply a match programme from your team's last fixture.

When we were asking local celebrities about their reading habits we contacted some local sports legends - Meet your Local celebs to find out more.

And if you want to comment on their choices then please register with the site and tell us what you think.

Or simply cast your vote in this month's poll (you don't need to register with the site to vote).  Would you rather watch the Olympics or read a book - I know which I'd choose!

Have a good weekend

Suzanne