Christmas Meeting

The library has a lovely tree on display at the airport this year for The Save The Children Festival of Trees. It was created by our talented Library Assistant and Illustrator Quinn Shipton and incorporates leaves with favourite books chosen by our library readers. 

We decided to read some of the chosen titles for our Christmas meeting, and here's a few of our picks.... 

You can pick up a leaflet with all the favourite books from the library if you're looking for some good ideas for Christmas Reading. Why not call down to the airport and see our tree over the holidays? 

November Reads

We couldn't decide between these two fantastic books, so will be discussing them both tonight!

'A Light Between the Oceans' by M L Steadman

A boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keeper's island. It holds a dead man - and a crying baby. 

The only two islanders, Tom and his wife Izzy, make a devastating decision to break the rules and follow their hearts...

 ‘A LIGHT BETWEEN THE OCEANS’ is currently being made into a film, due for release in 2016, so wonderful to read the book first.

You can read more about 'A Light Between The Oceans on an earlier post when the book was first released:  Onchan Book Group







'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman

Ove is possibly the grumpiest man in Sweden. He drives a Saab - has no time for Volvo drivers, or people who can’t reverse trailers, and especially the neighbours who ousted him from being Chairman of The Resident’s Association. 

But Ove does have a heart beneath that crusty exterior, and his poignant and moving story is told with flashes of dark humour.

So many positive comments from people borrowing and reading this book from the library, so looking forward to hearing what the group thinks tonight!

Meet Jetmalew and Friends!

We're all looking forward to meeting Jetmalew and friends with local author and illustrator Vicki Orwin at The Harvey Briggs Onchan Library on Saturday 10th Oct from 10.30 - 12.30. Vicki will be reading from her new book, signing copies, and there will be Jetmalew themed activities to make and do. There's also a hunt around the library with a signed copy of Jetmalew's Island Adventures as a prize! 

Manx Litfest 2015 is nearly here!

 Island book lovers look forward to this event each year, which will run from 22nd - 27th September. 

As usual, you will be spoiled for choice - take a look at their full programme on manxlitfest.com and keep up with the latest news on their facebook page.

A highlight of special interest for book groups is Andy Miller - READ Y’SELF FITTER, which aims to cure you of your bad reading habits and asks the audience to think about whether it's better to spend time at the gym or the library? And is Moby-Dick really a better book than The Da Vinci Code? Andy Miller is the author of 'The Year of Reading Dangerously'. Places are limited to 30 for this event at The Bath and Bottle on Sat 26th Sept at 1.30 p.m. and tickets can be booked from The Villa &Gaiety Box Office.

Book Fanatics Quiz Night

The Book Fanatics Quiz Night will be on Thurs 24th September at The Noa Bakehouse at 8 p.m. We're looking to put together an Onchan Bookgroup or library team, so please contact us if you're interested. It's a fun evening and all welcome! Once again, tickets can be booked at The Villa & Gaiety Box Office.

Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes

Penguin Books

Louisa Clark is wandering aimlessly in and out of the job centre when she's offered a six-month contract as a companion to quadriplegic Will Traynor, a former adrenaline junkie and City worker whose life has been intractably changed by a run-in with a motorcycle. They make an unusual pair, throwing each other completely off-balance.

Although it may seem as if this novel will be a straightforward love story, it is anything but, facing head on the difficult subjects of living with disability and voluntary euthanasia with poignancy, sensitivity and a good deal of humour.

A sequel, ‘After You’ is due to be published later this month, and a film of the book will be released in 2016. 

Cath

The Sudden Departure of the Frasers by Louise Candlish

Penguin

This one really divided the group, with readers either loving or hating it! 

Here's what Elizabeth thought:

I liked this book from the very first line:

My name is Amber Fraser. I've just moved in at Number 40, Lime Park Road. You'll come to think of me as a loving wife, a thoughtful neighbour and a trusted friend.

This is a lie.

The Davenports, Joe and Christy, couldn't believe their luck on being able to purchase number 40 Lime Park Road, despite having to borrow, struggle and deny themselves things they thought would fall into place as a matter of course. It was a huge house made for a family that they couldn't afford - which mattered a lot to Christy. Joe was made a partner in his company without being aware of the repercussions. 

As the story progresses, and all the troubles emerge, the picture of today's way of living becomes apparent. Whispers about WHAT, the need to be on top, where the children went to school. They tried to make friends with neighbours, and couldn't understand why it didn't happen. 

The man in the top floor flat adjoining number 40 was part of this mystery - who was he, and what did he do? The tragedy of the unfolding of Amber's previous life opens our eyes to her deep seated insecurities and how by devious means she kept her husband and a child that wasn't his..

It was sad, moving and also loving the ending I found entirely right.

Elizabeth

Retirement Blues Goodbye!

Retirement Blues Goodbye! Along Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Path

Richard Cowley

You can download this book for free from Amazon for one day only on 29th June!

After a career which took him worldwide, Richard Cowley was looking forward to settling into retirement and having time to paint and pursue his many interests. Instead, he found himself in the doldrums - until he hatched a plan with an Aussie friend to walk Wainwright’s coast to coast footpath from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay.

‘Could two neo-pensioners survive the trail and arrive at the other end with heart valves intact? he ponders? 

I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of some of the more eccentric characters they met along the trail, especially the ‘Mad Hatter’ owner of the B&B at Danby Wiske. The paying guests’ shower was out of order so the author was using the landlord’s ensuite. He was greeted in the morning by a dismayed landlord  - ‘you’re not having another shower are you? ‘There was no such thing as a full English Breakfast – guests had to choose elements of it – and tea was dispensed in trickles as if it was ‘the elixir of life.’

Each chapter was a complete section of the walk, with some entertaining nuggets about the place, and thoughts and musings along the way. The freedom of letting go of possessions and dull routines really kickstarted some big changes ‘from now on I’d engage with the mainstream of life, not merely as a pensioned off bystander...’

An enjoyable, amusing and inspiring read. 

Pam

More Book Group Reads..

Texas life journey read by Pauline ..

And adventure in the Congo read by Edith ...