Category: PODCAST EPISODES

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Favourite books of 2019 – Podcast 47

Best of 2019 - Podcast 47

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Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Tanya and Vikki

Today’s episode is about Falkirk libraries favourite reads for 2019.

All of the books mentioned can be found on our library catalogue

What we have been reading and listening to:

Tanya has been reading:

  • The October Man by Ben Aaronovich
  • Craftivism by Betsey Greer

Vikki has been reading and listening to:

  • The Donor, Helen Fitzgerald
  • Breakers, Doug Johnstone
  • Desert Island Discs Podcast with Lauren Laverne chairing

New and forthcoming adult books:

  • Harry Potter knitting magic: the official Harry Potter knitting pattern book, Tanis Grey
  • To Hell and Back (My Autobiography),  Niki Lauder
  • Red Sea Spies The true story of Mossad’s fake holiday resort, Raffi Berg
  • Six Wicked Reasons, Jo Spain
  • Big Lies in a small Town, Diane Chamberlain

New and forthcoming children’s titles:

  • Rhinocorn Rules, Matt Carr   (0-5 )
  • Unicorn Muddle (Unipiggle the Unicorn Pig),  Hannah Shaw  (3-7 years)
  • Is My Teacher a Robot? , Dave Cousins (6 – 9 yearsrs)
  • Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Sea Dragon, Sally Gardner, illustrated by Nick Maland (9 – 12 years)
  • Unstoppable,  Dan Freedman (Teen)

DVD recommendations

  • Game of Thrones Season 8 (18)
  • Yesterday (12)

Our Reading Agony this week: 

My child has exams can you help?

We have lots of How to pass National 5 and Highers books in many subject areas Business, languages, science subjects etc

All our libraries have free internet access if you want to escape the temptations of social media at home come to the library, if you are watching a video that’s been recommended by your teacher don’t forget to bring head phones. Most libraries also have a space for studying.

Staff quote of the day

“It’s so cold I need a second Cardigan – like second breakfast but more librarian”

Our Discussion:

Favourite books of 2019 – below is a small selection, which you can request on our library catalogue.

Covers of books
  • The October Man: A Rivers of London Novella, Ben Aaronovitch
  • Stormcursed (Mercy Thompson series), Patricia Briggs
  • The Fowl Twins,  Eoin Colfer
  • Overstory by Richard Powers
  • The Secret Commonwealth, Philip Pullman
  • The giver of stars, Jojo Moyes
  • Crossroads : In search of the moments that changed music, Mark Radcliffe
  • So Lucky, Dawn O’Porter
  • The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary
  • The Great Alone , Kristin Hannah
  • The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing, Mary Paulson Ellis
  • My sister the serial killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite

Did you know?   

We’ve said this before but if you need a break from studying and want an escape from screens as well, we have Teenage books in each library for your reading pleasure…

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then rate us on itunes.  We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, then go to our blog LibraryLoveFalkirk.com, @LibFalkirk on Twitter, or Falkirk Libraries on Facebook or Instagram.  Bye

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Inheritance Books – podcast 46

A knitted cactus on a desk

Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Vikki and Tanya

Today’s episode is where we discuss our Inheritance Books – those we’ve inherited from our families or that we’d like to leave to younger people.  All of the books mentioned can be found on our library catalogue

What we have been reading and listening to:

Tanya has been reading and listening to:

  • The Bannon and Clare mysteries by Lilith Saintcrow
  • You’re dead to me podcast

Vikki has been reading:

  • The Echo Killing, Christi Daugherty
  • Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann

New and forthcoming adult books:

  • Grandmothers by Salley Vickers
  • Oligarchy by Scarlett Thomas
  • Legacy of Ash: Book One of the Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward
  • American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
  • Dead Inside(Maggie Jamieson Crime Thriller, Book 1) by Noelle Holten

New and forthcoming children’s titles:

  • The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright (Author), Chris Chatterton (Illustrator) (0-5 years)
  • Bunny vs Monkey 6: Apocalypse (The Phoenix Presents) by Jamie Smart (6 – 9 years)  
  • The Kid Who Came from Space by Ross Welford (10-13yrs)
  • Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw (Teen)

DVD recommendations

  • Playmobil the movie (U)
  • Angel Has Fallen (15)

Our Reading Agony this week:  ‘I’ve just moved out from my parents’ and I’m eating lots of expensive, unhealthy take aways and ready meals.   Can you suggest some good cookbooks for not very confident cooks’

  • Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients
  • Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food
  • How to cook and keep on cooking by Simon Boyle
  • The Really Hungry Vegetarian Student Cookbook

Staff quote of the day ‘We have a very big rabbit’

Our Discussion was Inheritance books – as a tribute to BBC Radio 4s ‘Inheritance tracks’ where they ask famous people to share the music that was passed down to them by their families and the music track that they would like to pass down to younger people, we are doing a slightly different version:  Inheritance books where we share an adult and a junior book passed down to us and an adult and a junior book that we would like to pass down.

Tanya was passed down:

  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
  • The Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr

Tanya passing down: 

  • Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl series
  • Terry Pratchett, Discworld novels

I think the main thing I’m passing down is a serious love of books and reading, and a belief that books make you happy and are not precious, pretentious, difficult things (unless that’s what you enjoy)

Vikki’s Inheritance Books

Adult / Junior book passed to me:

  • Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame 
  • Sam Pig and the dragon by Alison Uttley (out of print)
  • I know why the caged bird sings, Maya Angelou

Adult and Junior Book to pass on:

  • Finn Family Moomintroll , Tove Jansson
  • Pride and Prejudice , Jane Eyre but my son would probably would never read them
  • The World According to Garp by John Irving
  • PD James Cover her Face

Did you Know?  We have lovely friendly Knitting and crafting groups in several of our libraries – have a look on our website for information on when they run.  They’ll help out if you need a bit of support and the conversations cover most areas. 

Coming soon: Christmas – remember to pop in to pick up a few Christmassy picture books to share with the children in your life in the days before Christmas

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then rate us on itunes.  We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, then go to our blog LibraryLoveFalkirk.com, @LibFalkirk on Twitter, or Falkirk Libraries on Facebook or Instagram.  Bye

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Wintery Reads – podcast 45

Wintery reads - podcast 45. A picture of a Soupdragon - a green knitted wingless dragon on an office desk

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Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Tanya and Vikki

Today’s episode is all about Wintery or scary books to cuddle up between the covers.  All of the books mentioned can be found on our library catalogue

What we have been reading and listening to:

Tanya has been reading and listening to:

  • Welcome to Nightvale podcast
  • Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett

Viki has been reading:

  • The Inheritance, Mary Paulson Ellis
  • The Long Call, Ann Cleeves

New and forthcoming adult books:

  • How to Save the World For Free by Natalie Fee
  • Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
  • The Mirror & the Light – The Wolf Hall Trilogy 3 by Hilary Mantel
  • Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman

New and forthcoming children’s titles:

  • The Most-Loved Bear by Sam McBratney (author), Sam Usher (illustrator)            (0-5yrs)
  • Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter by Jean-Yves Ferri (author), Didier Conrad (illustrator) (5 – 9 yrs)
  • The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer (9 – 12 yrs)
  • Starsight by Brandon Sanderson (Teen)

DVD recommendations

  • Spider man: Far from Home (12)
  • The Lion King Live Action (PG)

Our Reading Agony this week:  ‘Help I’m on a budget and want some Cheap and Cheerful Christmas ideas.’

Jam and Chutney! Home made sweets.  Craft creations

  • The Home Made Sweet: make your own confectionery 90 recipies Clare Ptak
  • Making Preserves: A 150 Jams, Jellies, Chutneys and Pickles by Catherine Atkinson
  • Handmade Pickes and Preserves: traditional accompaniments for cheese meat and fish
  • Pass the Jam: the book of preserves by Pam Corbin
  • Or I love Cross Stitch : quick Christmas gifts 25 designs for perfect presents , Sue Cook
  • We Knit you a merry Christmas : 20 patterns for festive homemade gifts, Debbie Harrold

Staff quote of the day ‘Does your Mum knit Clangers as well?’ Check out our lovely Soupdragon at the top of this blog, knitted by Tanya’s mum

Our Discussion was all about those lovely Wintery or Scary books that make you want to snuggle under the covers on a chilly evening:

  • Vikki enjoys reading cookbooks in bed. Favourites at the moment include  Nigel Slaters The Kitchen Diaries, Christmas Chronicles; Jamie Oliver, Comfort Food. BBC Good Food Magazine E Magazine Service.
  • Vikki: if I’m not reading cook books its who-dunnit / Crime Novels probably. Going to try some spy fiction perhaps by Sarah Armstrong, Asia Mackay, Charlotte Philby, Manda Scott
  • Tanya likes urban fantasy – for example Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files,  Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series
  • In the winter Tanya also likes cosy or old fashioned crime – like the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries by Carola Dunn, Dorothy L Sayers, Georgette Heyer’s crime novels

Did you Know?  Every Wednesday on Twitter (@LibFalkirk) and Facebook (Falkirk Libraries) we ask our lovely readers what they have been reading.  We’d love it if our podcast listeners joined in too.  It’s great for getting some good new suggestions and maybe to see a wee picture too

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then  subscribe to our podcast.  We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, then go to our blog LibraryLoveFalkirk.com, @LibFalkirk on Twitter, or Falkirk Libraries on Facebook or Instagram.  Bye

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Science in fiction – podcast 44

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Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Tanya and Lynne

Today’s episode is all about science in fiction.  All of the books mentioned can be found on our library catalogue

What we have been reading and listening to:

Tanya has been reading and listening to:

  • The Lean and Happy Home: More time less stress by Eva Jarlsdotter

Lynne has been reading:

  • The Detainee by Peter Liney – Listening to it on RB Digital audiobook
  • Shaun Keaveny’s Show and Tell podcast

New and forthcoming adult books:

  • The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
  • The Ankh-Morpork Archives: Volume One by Terry Pratchett, Stephen Briggs, Paul Kidby
  • Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich
  • The Siberian Dilemma by Martin Cruz Smith
  • Spy by Danielle Steel

New and forthcoming children’s titles:

  • The House Full of Stuff by Emily Rand (0 – 4 yrs)
  • Yasmin the Builder and Yasmin the Explorer by Saadia Faruqui  (5 – 7 yrs)
  • Max the Detective Cat in the Catnap Caper by Sarah Todd Taylor (Author), Nicola Kinnear (Illustrator) (7 – 9 yrs)
  • The Velvet Fox (The Clockwork Crow Book 2) by Catherine Fisher (9 – 11 yrs)
  • The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton  (Teen)
  • The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume Two by Philip Pullman (Teen)

DVD recommendations

  • Aladdin  (PG)

Our Reading Agony this week:  ‘A friend has to go into hospital, any books that you’d recommend for him?’

Anything and everything – maybe a great new book that he won’t have read – maybe the new John Le Carre, Agent running in the field; and perhaps something comforting that they might have read before like an Agatha Christie or PG Wodehouse.  Sometimes if you’re feeling rough, you might be too tired to read, so it might be good to download our RB digital app onto their phone so they can check out some eaudiobooks to listen to or they could choose their own books or magazines to read.   Sometimes the wifi in hospital can be a bit dodgy (depending on where you are in the building, often) so it could be good to help him download some stuff before he goes in.

Staff quote of the day ‘Don’t injure yourself, I can’t face the paperwork’

Our Discussion was Science in Fiction. Not Science fiction, but the books that have science in them as part of the plot.  So, a lot of it certainly seems to form something of a cautionary tale – of experiments gone wrong or being used to the detriment of others. Here are a few of the ones we mentioned (all are adult unless stated):

  • The Overstory by Richard Powers
  • Scott Westerfield “Uglies” series
  • His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (Teen / older children)
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  • Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
  • My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  • Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger
  • Forensic scientists in Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, for example
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  • Children of Men by P D James. 
  • Underdogs by Chris Bonnello  (new UK based dystopian novel for older kids / teens with a cast of neurodiverse teens battling the military takeover)
  • Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O’Brien (9 – 13yrs) 

Did you Know?  We have a wonderful Home Library Service that delivers books and audiobooks to people who cannot make it into a library (usually through chronic ill health or mobility issues).  A staff member comes out for a chat about what sort of books the person likes, the format that works best and how many they need.  Then every 3 weeks, a staff member delivers a bag of specially chosen books to the person’s house and takes away the old books.  If this sounds like something you, or someone you care about, would like to access, then please phone 01324 506800 and ask for more information

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then  subscribe to our podcast.  We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, then go to our blog LibraryLoveFalkirk.com, @LibFalkirk on Twitter, or Falkirk Libraries on Facebook or Instagram.  Bye