Read all about it

Here's one where I ask you for help:

I'm putting together some National Year of Reading-themed reading lists for the Web Catalogue. The "Read all about it" theme obviously suggests print journalism so that's what I'm going along with. I can find lots of non-fiction but I'm struggling with fiction: I want to include books with journalists as the main protagonists or with a press setting. Aside from "Scoop," which we have in reserve stock, all I could think of were some of the works of Edgar Wallace and E.Phillips Oppenheimer (betraying my vintage) which we don't have at all. (If you have to ask who they are you're too young to know). Oh, and Superman because Clark Kent's a reporter.

Any ideas?

Friends Forever by Lynn Andrews

More comments and reviews by the Home Library Reading Circle

"A good read"
— D.

"A very enjoyable book. YOu have to keep turning the pages, and it makes you realise how lucky we are to have good friends.!
— N.R.

"A very good read. I loved every page."
— L. McE.

"A light-hearted story line. Well written, which makes 'Forever Friends' a very easy read."
— D.Y.

"One of those books which is an enjoyable, light-hearted read. I will be looking forward to more books by Lynn Andrews."
— L.N.

We have copies of "Friends Forever" at most of our libraries. It's also available in large print and as a Talking Book.

Spread The Word!

Spread The Word — the organisation set up by The Bookseller's Association to encourage a love of reading — has set up a web site called Books To Talk About, which does what it says on the tin. Amongst the features on the site are competions and a discussion forum.

You'll also find links to the web site for this year's World Book Day on March 6th. This site will be listing events and activities for World Book Day but you don't have to wait until then to have a look at the games and links.

We've added links to titles from the Books To Talk About list on our Web Catalogue. Borrowers registered with Rochdale Library Service can reserve any of these titles by clicking on the "Request item" button and it won't cost you a penny. All you need is the barcode from your library card and your PIN number (if you don't have a PIN, or can't remember it, you can ask a member of staff to set one up for you next time you're in the library).

Literary awards

This is a bit of mischief on my part but I couldn't resist it: I've added the shortlist for the Literary Review's Bad Sex In Fiction award to the Reading Links pages of our Web Catalogue.

I'm not sure how much should be read into the fact that we've got all the titles on the shortlist and the previous five winners. Probably best not to think about it!

Web Catalogue: Winning Reads

The Children's Hour by Marcia Willett:

The story centres around two elderly sisters living in a large house on the Cornwall coast. They have four siblings, three sisters and a brother. One of the sisters, who is going senile, comes to stay. She has secrets she is dying to reveal about the family. The author uses flashbacks, written in the present tense, to gradually reveal these secrets and leads the reader down a few garden paths in the process. The secret is not what you think! There is a strong sub-plot about the younger generation but it's easy to guess what's going on. I would strongly recommend this book.

Brenda Hance

Acid Row by Minette Walters

Acid Row is a I thriller I just couldn't put down. A child and doctor go missing during riots in a local community and the circumstances bring out the best in those you would least expect. I borrowed this from the Wheatsheaf Library.

Janice

The House on Lonely Street by Lyn Andrews

More reviews from the Home Library Reading Circle.

"This book is worth reading. Very sad but with a happy ending."
M.P.

"Very good insight into life before the First World War. Such poverty is unthinkable, but a good story. Well worth reading."
V.T.

"Enjoyed the story. A good tale."
D.H.

"A very good read. I enjoyed it immensely. So different to modern tales. The poverty made it seem more interesting, and the determination to get away from it played a part. I loved it."
I.J.

The Prayer of the Night Shepherd by Phil Rickman

More reviews from the Home Library Reading Circle.

"A mystery with intermingling stories and complex characters. Once you sort the characters out you really want to know what happens to them."
Mrs. T.

"After working through the religion and one country to another, I did stop to wonder how the author got away with so much coincidental claptrap. Merrily Watkins seems to have a smoking problem and has lost her sense of humour."
Mrs. J.

"Didn't hold my interest as there were too many complicated characters. Wasn't what I call a 'good read.'"
Mrs. F.

"Good yarn but long drawn out. Far too many characters so it was difficult to really make anyone the main one. You need half a page of new chapter before discovering whose mind you were supposed to understand."
Eileen

Views from the Home Library Reading Circle

Sharon, who runs the Doorstep Library Service (formerly the Housebound Library Service) has set up the Home Library Reading Circle as a way for her customers to give her feedback on the books, tapes and CDs they've been borrowing. It's also an opportunity for them to share opinions with each other. We'll be including some of their reviews every so often in this blog.

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The Road to Nab End by William Woodruff

"The story starts when the author was born in 1916 in Blackburn. It is about the cotton mills and is a very good read. As a local, you can relate to lots of the happenings. Very good."
Vera

"It was good to read a book about the North of England. It brought back a lot of happy memories. A good read."
Alan

"I agree with the other readers. 'Happy Memories' Easy to pick up and read."
B.

"A very interesting read. Difficult to put down. Full of memories, facts and family history. Well written, absorbing, easy to follow. A credit to the writer, truly gifted, who kept his eyes and ears open."
Sylvia

"Very realistic story of how things were. Reminded me of things my mother used to tell me when she was young."
Mrs. T.