So many books, so little time
I, for one, have been introduced to many new authors through our Book of the Month initiative over the past few years - and because we discuss the book at our Online Book Club at the end of each month I have not had the option to not finish one of them – though to be honest I can’t think of many that I struggled greatly with….. well, maybe Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr was a bit dense for me, but even then I did finish it! It’s amazing how motivating it is to know that you have to talk about a book with a group afterwards! Here’s the link if you would like to register for it this month - Libraries NI's Online Book Club
The stand out titles from the last two years for me have been The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng, The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier and The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Jones. They are all historical novels, so you can see where my personal preferences lie!
But that’s the thing about Book Groups – they make you leave your comfort zone of favourite authors or genres and branch out. There are so many books out there that it really helps if someone else recommends a book or chooses one for a group that you would never have considered before.
Every branch library should have multiple copies of the Book of the Month - and we also have the eBook/ eAudiobooks available to download too. So if you are really keen you could be listening to it in your car, reading the physical copy at home and have the eBook downloaded for those tea-breaks and lunchtimes when you just want to escape. Not saying that’s what I do but…..
The choice this month is a lovely read – The Time of the Child by Niall Williams. Based in rural Ireland in the sixties it gives a nostalgic look back at life then with a heart warming story of country life and community coming together at Christmas time. It is told in such beautiful lyrical language that it was a joy to read.
Pete and I had the opportunity to interview the author for the podcast (Bookcited!) – it will be released on the first Friday of December so why not listen to the interview as well as reading the book? And then if you’re free, come along to the Online Reading Group on Thursday 18 December – we’d love to meet you 😊
