Library Notes 7 August 2019
Published on August 07, 2019
My Top Reads of 2019
Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh
Meena Meets Her Match by Karla Manternach (Jnr)
Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather
Carry On by Lisa Fenn
(Don’t) Call me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
A Fire Story by Brian Fies
Call me Evie by J. P. Pomare
The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
The Five: the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Favourite reads
Wendy Fraser – Library Services Manager
What a stellar reading year it’s been! So far I have read 99 books – which believe it or not is a bit slow for me. I have listed others in my top ten, but here are three of my stand-out favourites of the year.
Songs of a war boy by Deng Thiak Adut is an incredibly raw and confronting read. Deng Adut's family were farmers in South Sudan when a brutal civil war altered his life forever. At six years old, his mother was told she had to give him up to fight. At the age most Australian children are starting school, Deng was conscripted into the Sudan People's Liberation Army. Deng does not sugar-coat his life in South Sudan nor pull any punches. Highly recommended read.
Along with the rare non-fiction book, I have also been thoroughly enjoying graphic novels. One in particular hit me hard and hasn’t left my mind since I read it in early June. Goodreads calls, The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian refugees by Don Brown “an important, timely, and eye-opening exploration of the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, exposing the harsh realities of living in, and trying to escape, a war zone.” Although this is a graphic novel written by a white man about Syrian refugees, he has done extensive work with refugees and knows of what he writes. The fantastic illustrations just add to the impact of this moving story.
We have an amazing array of books in our Teen fiction collection. So many adults are now reading from this section of the library, including me. I fell in love with teen books back in my Children’s Librarianship days. In a world full of so much being brought to light, racism, ableism, diversity, homophobia, abuse and so much more, teen fiction is leading the way with putting issues front and centre of their books. However, some are just simply fun to read. One of my favourite teen books this year has been a beauty and the beast retelling, A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. It is the first in a new series, has a magical realism twist, a delightfully gruff hero and a heroine who has cerebral palsy. A wonderful entertaining read that kept me turning the page late into the night.
All old library cards (those not beginning with a ‘W’) will expire on 31st August 2019. With the Amnesty now on, this is your opportunity to clear your card and update your details. Happy reading.
What’s On
Food for Fines
All three libraries throughout Horowhenua will collect donations of non-perishable items and pass it on to a local foodbank or the SPCA. For a more detailed description of how the Food for Fines Amnesty will work please check out our website https://www.tetakere.org.nz/Home
Exhibitions
Realism & Nostalgia’ by Foxton Beach artists Sue Taylor, Jill Hammond and Paul Andersen.
Our Place Exhibition Thursday 8 August to Sunday 29 September Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Heritage room:
The Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō are manned by volunteers 10am-12.30 pm
Monday to Saturday.
Wednesday August 7:
Toddler Time: Shannon Community Library, every Wednesday, 1.30pm
Social crochet and coffee club: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 10.30am
Quiz Night- 7pm Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō $5
Friday August 9:
Seniornet
Friday Lunchtime Concert: Rhondda Tyler, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm
SeniorNet: Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops
-Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom 10am-12pm
-Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 2pm -4pm
Monday August 12:
Tai Chi classes Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Main Space 10am
Toddler Time:
-Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō – Children’s Library, every Monday, 2pm
-Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom – Children’s Library, every Monday 2.15pm
Tuesday August 13:
Raukawa Whanau Ora playgroup: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 9.30am-12.00pm
JP Service: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 11.30am-1.30pm
Wednesday August 14:
Toddler Time: Shannon Community Library, every Wednesday, 1.30pm
Social crochet and coffee club: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 10.30am
Quiz Night- 7pm Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō $5
PopUp Eats – Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 4pm – 8pm