Big Library Read

Something new and exciting is happening in libraries around the world. In fact over 2,000 of them are taking part in a new initiative called the Big Library Read.

What is the Big Library Read? It is a program in which libraries worldwide offer a single eBook to their members. In addition to creating a global “library book club”, it will spotlight one title for a set time period for library members around the world to read simultaneously.

As a Christchurch City Libraries member you are invited to join in the fun. You can download and read The Four Corners of the Sky on OverDrive between 16 May and 2 June – there is no limit on how many people can check this title out!

About The Four Corners of the Sky:

Twenty years is a long time to be without a father, and for Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode the sky has become a home the earth has never been. So when her father calls out of the blue to ask for a dying wish both absurd and mysterious is the easiest of answers. Until she hears that the reward is the one thing she always wanted. Thus begins an enchanting novel that bursts with energy from the first pages, and sweeps you off on a journey of unforgettable characters, hilarious encounters, and haunting secrets. Malone brings characters to life as only he can, exploring the questions that defy easy answers: Is love a choice or a calling? Why do the ties of family bind so tightly? And is forgiveness a gift to others or a gift we give ourselves?

So come on,  join in and download The Four Corners of the Sky now,  then let us know what you thought of it and the Big Library Read.

 

New. Zealand. Book. Month.

1 March 2013 – New Zealand Book Month starts. But what is this Book Month, I hear you ask? If you are like me, and addicted to grammar, there are a number of possibilities. Month celebrating New Zealand books? Month celebrating books in (but not necessarily of) New Zealand? Or if you’re really lateral-thinking, a new Month celebrating books in/of Zealand, largest island in Denmark.

Less likely, that last one, I admit. So let’s have a look at what the official website says:

The clear goal of New Zealand Book Month is to form a North to South community of readers. Kiwis passionate about books, determined to share them with each other and spread the word. Telling and retelling stories, and recommending new books to read.  From friend to neighbour, school bus to sporting field, workplace to playground.

This sounds pretty good to me, whether I am thinking about New Zealand books, books in New Zealand (or even Denmark, really). As someone who can frequently be found reading, on buses, in the workplace, in playgrounds, even on a sporting field (although only by mistake, this last one), I think the idea of passionately and determinedly sharing my love of books and reading has to be a good thing.

And even though a small part of me wants to shout, but EVERY month should be Book Month, I reckon we can put some extra effort in for a few weeks. Let’s challenge ourselves to READ more, SHARE more, and spread the booky love in March.

While there’s still a few days left before celebrations officially kick off, why not think about something YOU can do in March? A bit like New Year’s resolutions, but without all the sweaty exercising and guilt-trips.  Here’s some ideas (or feel free to add some of your own below):

• Attend an official Book Month event (find library events here, or scan the NZ Book Month website for more local happenings).
• Find and enjoy a great Kiwi read – Christchurch-based, or further afield.
• Be like the old shampoo ad – pick your favourite book, then go tell two friends, and then they can tell two friends, and so on and so on …
• Visit your local library and check out the staff picks and hot picks (or even better, ask your friendly librarian for their favourite reads)
• And as an extra for experts kind of challenge, find and read a book about or from Zealand, Denmark.

 

How to dispose of your husband

Tired of fighting for control of the TV remote? Fed up with having to entertain your partner every evening? Sick of being the one who has to organise social events?

Try this: Great North Road, 1086 pages of pure reading pleasure, by sci-fi stalwart Peter Hamilton.  I gave it to my husband (let’s call him ‘Derwood’) two weeks ago, and I haven’t had to talk to him since. He arrives home every night from work, takes off his cycle helmet, picks up his plate of weetbix and vanishes. Depending on the weather, he is reading either in the garden (hammock), in the lounge (sofa), the family room (armchair by open French doors), or the bedroom (with accompanying cats). The giant size of the book means it’s a bit of a challenge to sling it in his backpack and take to work, but I have a feeling his patients are lucky they’ve got his full attention there, otherwise he’d probably be balancing it on their heads while fixing their shoulders or backs.

Up until a couple of years ago, Derwood was a one-man reader, Stephen King or no-one. Then I managed to bully him into reading Perdido Street Station, and he was off. Since then, he’s gotten to know China pretty well, and has also been spending time with Justin Cronin, Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Simon Green, and even Charlie Higson (zombies, not spies). Simon and Charlie seem to be a bit light for him, though – if I really want some peace and quiet of an evening, it has to be the great dense volumes of space opera or world-building or urban fantasy (NOT the vampire-y bodice-ripping ones) that involve multiple characters and storylines, with elements of fantasy and/or philosophy, and with some mystery thrown in. So it’s a bit of a relief to have thought of Peter Hamilton. I read his Night’s Dawn Trilogy a few years back, and  loved it, but I have to confess that the big world-building sci-fi books are a bit beyond my scattered concentration abilities at the moment.

I reckon with the rest of Hamilton’s back catalogue still to go, I’m sorted for the next couple of months, but after that I’ll be on the lookout again. Any suggestions as to where I should go after this? I’m thinking maybe Alastair Reynolds, but am open to all other offers …

 

Time to get the kids outside

Do you find your kids hang about inside even when the weather is fabulous?

Let’s get them inspired to play outdoors:

• get into some outdoor games
• learn a sport
• dig in their own garden
• try some outdoor crafts
• read a good story under a tree with a picnic.

Kid’s say they’re bored of their books? Try searching a reading list for other authors that write stories like their favourites and they can join the Summertime Reading Club where they may win a prize!

Teens can check out The Pulse for what’s new and happening. Garden City SummerTimes is here and the World Buskers Festival is just around the corner so there’s no excuse for not getting out this summer!

 

Better later than never – how to talk about books you haven’t read

A post about my bloated For Later shelf aroused some sympathy from colleagues with one kind person bringing to my attention  a book called How to Talk about Books You Haven’t Read.

A book I did not read in 2012

The author is Pierre Bayard, a literature professor at the University of Paris and a psychoanalyst – an ideal combination. He can furnish me with a system to get credit for having a list, indeed for even knowing about the books on it, and he can explain my compulsion to list all the books I want to read but haven’t.

The beauty of Bayard’s thesis is that you don’t actually have to read a book cover to cover in order to have it count.  I quote the learned Professor :

Non-reading is not just the absence of reading. It is a genuine activity, one that consists of adopting a stance in relation to the immense tide of books that prevents you from drowning.

His notation system did cause a couple of qualms – SB – Book I have skimmed  and HB – Book I have heard about are right up my alley and there will be lists as soon as I get around to creating them. BB – Book I have blogged about is a possible personal addition. But  UB – Book unknown to me and FB – Book I have forgotten are more of a worry.

If they are unknown or forgotten how can I add them to a list? Or perhaps that is an even more beautiful feature of this system. Non-list making is a genuine activity too.

 

Listing towards quality

This morning I came across a post on Good Reads – a popular book recommendation site. Their 2013 Reading challenge allows you to set yourself a challenge to read a certain number of books and record their details – for the edification of all?

I thought about attempting this and then wondered if it should be consigned to the pile of resolve to do in 2013 advice that floods in at this time of year (and then gets ignored). But then I thought – it’s just the numerical aspect I find hard. Read 100 books – even if you dress it up as “A century of reading” or something like that seems a bit too mechanistic to me. What if you get to 90 and you are running out of time – do you rush and find some quick reads just so you can say you have done it?

The New Year has thrown up another disturbing reading challenge – someone who is planning to read all 131 Babysitters club books.

I do quite like the idea of setting myself a reading challenge though. I’ve only done it once before – I set out to read all the Patrick O’Brien Napoleonic seafaring novels (Master and Commander et al). This proved to be a satisfying challenge because he was such a good writer and I found the characters and stories interesting.

I’d like to set myself a challenge this year but can’t think what. Maybe 10 books in an area outside my reading comfort zone? 10 books of philosophy? 10 New Age classics? Proust? Aaaargh! I think it has to have an element of enjoyment. Actually I’ve just ordered a book from Amazon and it made me realise that I have already brought 2 other books this year already. Perhaps that is my challenge – buy and read enjoyable books this year.

Has anyone else set themselves reading challenges before? Any suggestions?

 

Family reading and e-writing at the library

Family reading at South library

The school holidays are a fantastic time to connect with your children over a book. We spotted this family enjoying the sun and their reading at South library yesterday. Nine year old Lucy is busy filling out reading logs for the Summertime Reading Club. She is hoping to win the iPod Touch and get to the prizegiving where three lucky children are able to choose books straight from the shelf at Barrington Paper Plus.

Visit the Kids blog to find out more about the Summertime Reading Club and read the latest information about the film of War Horse and the prize pack to be won. You can even join up as a kid blogger! Every week you will find new book information and star authors to learn from.

But the fun doesn’t have to stop with the holidays. During term time the library learning centres run online book clubs after school and we are about to start e-Book Writing. Our book clubs are for children from eight years old and they learn the most up to date features of today’s libraries: how to use the new catalogue and how to keep an online reading log. Plus lots of fun activities on and off line.

The Silver Hawk

You’ve probably heard heaps about e-books. They are the latest thing and we are trialling an e-Book Writing Club after school on Friday at South Learning Centre. Taken by a local young author who has published her own e-book and who also has graphic art training, this course will help children learn to write, create and publish their own work. There’s a junior and a senior option. Ring 941 5140 for bookings and more information.

 

NoveList – the hunt for your next summer read is on

I am sure I am not the first person to find myself curled up with a book that fails to distract me from the mediocrity and repetition of everyday working class life.

Reading advisory services to help avoid this situation can take two forms -  your friendly local librarian or the online services of  NoveList Plus for adults and NoveList K8 Plus for the squealies (aka children).

These resources have a host of attributes to help you with your reading quest, including:

• lists of award winners;
• recommended reading by genre;
• suggested reading from similar authors (read-alikes);
• feature articles;
• first chapter excerpts;
• book discussion guides.

All of this rich content is crafted by librarians, so you know it has to be exceptional. Access these and many other fantastic electronic resources from home with your library card number and PIN, or at our community libraries through the Source.

Bury that Playstation with your TV in the backyard and get reading, my peeps!

 

Books and Authors: What and who do I read next ?

Is there a better place to be in this world than sitting on your couch with a bag of potato chips to your left, a steaming cup of tea to your right and a really good book open in your lap? If there is a better place than this, I am sure it involves money or sin!

To help you find that really good book, we have  Books & Authors, a fun online tool which seeks to answer the question of “what do I read next?” You can search in many ways:

• Author
• Title and Series
• “If you like…”
• Genre
• Awards
• Who, What, When, Where
• Expert picks from librarians and subject experts.

Access this and many other fantastic electronic resources  from home with your library card number and PIN, or at our community libraries through the Source. Enjoy the search!

 

Is this a sexist blog about OverDrive?

I want to write about the variety of content we have on OverDrive by highlighting what men will find engaging. Men and boys are sometimes reluctant readers (sexist assumption number one) so I wanted to bring attention to the titles we have on OverDrive on war and adventure because that is what men like (sexist assumption number two).

Am I being presumptuous?  I want to tell men and boys about The Field of Bones concerning the Irish division at  Gallipoli rather than Baby Names Your Child Can Live With? I expect that they want  to go Walking in the Footsteps of Private Lynch rather than having  Lessons in Letting Go.

Do men really want to read about Fight Club rather than hearing about the adventures of Country Brides?  I may indeed be wrong as I personally can’t stand romances – I know that in life there is no walking off into the sunset.

I guess making rash generalisations is never a good idea – but then again I can’t think of one woman I know who would want to read about New Zealand Railways.

Am I a realist or am I sexist? Do I generalise to a fault or are there generalisations out there for a reason?

Is there a man out there willing to put his hand up and say YES! I love a bodice ripper.