Winter romance

What nicer way to spend the festive period that wrapped up in a warm, cosy romance?

You’ll find all these and lots more at your local library. See our library catalogue slideshow to request and get more reading ideas.

Cover image for Christmas in Paris : a novel

Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes

Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel de Crillon as she gazes at the lights of the Champs-Elysees and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde and eating escargots with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off…

Cover image for Christmas at little beach street ba

Christmas at little beach street by Jenny Colgan

Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She’s at her happiest when she’s creating delicious treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. She’s determined that this Christmas is going to be their best one yet, but life doesn’t always work out as planned…

Cover image for The Christmas shop : a novel

The Christmas shop : a novel by Nancy Naigle

Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over 60 tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, but the national chain that set up shop in their small town may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.

Cover image for Christmas at Tuppenny Corner

Christmas at Tuppenny Corner by Katie Flynn 

Liverpool, 1939. As winter descends on Tuppenny Corner and rumours of war float across the canals, fifteen-year-old Rosie O’Leary must come to terms with her own dramatic upheaval. Forced to say goodbye to all she holds dear and embark on a new life aboard the The Kingfisher, her world is suddenly full of uncertainty. But new beginnings open up new possibilities. And when fellow bargee – the handsome Tim Bradley – offers to show Rosie the sights of Liverpool, she jumps at the chance.

Cover image for A Mrs Miracle Christmas

A Mrs Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Laurel McCullough is in desperate need of help. Her beloved grandmother has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the baby she and her husband Zach have longed for now seems like an impossible dream. So when Mrs Miracle appears at the door, Laurel couldn’t be more relieved. She invites the nurse into her life and it’s not long before Laurel soon realises that there is more to Mrs Miracle than meets the eye.

Cover image for Christmas with the shipyard girls

Christmas with the shipyard girls by Nancy Revell

Sunderland, 1942- Christmas is fast approaching, and with it comes a flurry of snow and surprises… Against all odds, Polly’s fiance has finally returned home from the front line. If they can keep things on an even keel, she might get the winter wedding she’s always dreamed of. Meanwhile shipyard manager Helen is determined to move on after a turbulent year. Her sights are set on breaking the yard’s production record and no one, not even the handsome Dr Parker, is going to get in her way. Join the shipyard girls as they navigate through life, love and war this Christmas.

Cover image for 25 days in December

 25 days in December  by Poppy Alexander

Kate’s lonely. She doesn’t think she’s ready for romance, but she needs more than this, and her son Jack needs a Christmas to remember. What Kate needs is a Christmas miracle, and if there isn’t one on its way, she’ll just have to make her own.

Cover image for Christmas shopaholic

Christmas shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

It’s always the same – Mum and Dad hosting, carols playing, Mum pretending she made the Christmas pudding… But this year looks set to be different. Becky’s parents are moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch and have asked Becky if she’ll host Christmas this year. What could possibly go wrong?

Festive Fun from your front room

We’ve scoured the web (well, Eventbrite mainly) for festive fun online. Scroll for our guide to bookish events on a winter/Christmas theme. There’s something for everyone – kids, romantics, nature lovers and thrill seekers.

Citizen Winter Warmer from Edinburgh Book Festival

Saturday 12 December all day

A special day of online events, brought to you via Edinburgh International Book Festival’s YouTube channel or Facebook (@edbookfest)

10.30am DrawAlong with Eilidh Muldoon! (5yrs+)
11.00am Four Seasons – Storytelling with Macastory (3yrs+)
11.30am Self Portrait Poems with Leyla Josephine (7yrs+)
12noon Drawings Diaries with Katie Chappell (5yrs+)
12.30pm Where Snow Angels Go – A Reading by Maggie O’Farrell (5yrs+)

2.30pm Pass the Zine with Edinburgh Zine Library (11yrs+)
3.00pm Music from the Tinderbox Collective (all ages)
3.30pm Poems for Today with Courtney Stoddart (14yrs+)
4.00pm Route of Memories with Eleanor Thom (11yrs+)

6.00pm The Incredible Adam Spark – A Reading by Alan Bissett (YA and adults)
6.30pm The Citizen Collective Stories and Ideas (YA and adults)
7.00pm Citizen Writers’ Group – Sharing (adults)
7.30pm Daughter of Stories – A Reading by Nadine Aisha Jassat (YA and adults)

Kids events

A Fowl Christmas with Eoin Colfer

Thu 17 Dec, 7pm, £

A must for Artemis Fowl fans, there’s a Q&A with Eoin Colfer, appearances from the film’s stars and more. Proceeds go to Shelter

Snuggle up with Debi Gliori’s winter stories

Thurs 10 Dec, 3pm

Learn how to draw a penguin and enjoy some cosy wintery tales with the creator of Bookbug, courtesy of National Library of Scotland.

Lyceum Christmas Tales

1 – 20 Dec on You Tube. FREE.

Lyceum Christmas Tales is an advent calendar of stories, combining new and familiar festive tales penned and performed by some of Scotland’s best-loved writers, musicians and artists. Each fifteen-minute, family-friendly festive tale will be available to watch free throughout December.

Santa and Mrs Claus at Callendar House

Every Thursday at 6.30pm on Facebook

Yes, Santa and Mrs Claus have recorded some wonderful Christmas stories especially for us bairns! Every Thursday at 6.30pm, head to Falkirk Community Trust’s Facebook page to hear a new story. You’ll be able to catch them later on the FCT You Tube channel and Facebook page if you miss them.

Early Years Scotland Keep Connected

Some Christmas-themed events and also just some great educational fun for young families this week, with baby massage, yoga and more.

Play Talk Read 12 Days of Christmas

For the first 12 days of December the Play Talk Read team are sharing a simple Christmas-themed activity a day. They’re on their Facebook page, so you can dip into the fun, whenever you like.

Natural History

Owls of the Eastern Ice

Tues 15 Dec, 6 pm. Donation.

Jonathan Slaght, conservationist, researcher and expert on Blakiston’s fish owl, tells the story of how he saved the world’s largest owl.

The Natural History of Christmas

Thu, 17 Dec, 7pm. Donation.

Wildlife photographer Michael Leach, author of the above named book, explores where our Christmas customs come from.

Crime

Murder in Midwinter

Thu 10 Dec, 7pm, £

Q&A with classic crime collection editor Cecily Gayford, discussing her new book which features short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers, Ruth Rendell, Ellis Peters and more.

Christmas chat with Val McDermid

Wed 16 Dec 2020, 7pm, £

Val McDermid, master of the dark and sinister story, presents Christmas is Murder, a festive collection of chilling tales

The Rankin Files: Lifting the Lid

Thurs 17 Dec, 7pm

Ian Rankin and National Library of Scotland curator Rosemary Hall discuss Rankin’s remarkable archive, donated to the Library in 2018. Delivered via Zoom.

Romance/Saga

A Night of Festive Fun with Milly Johnson

Thurs 10 Dec, 8pm, FREE

Join Sunday Times bestselling author and indisputable queen of romantic fiction Milly Johnson for an evening of festive fun and frolics

An Evening with Carole Matthews

Tues 15 Dec, 7pm, FREE

Trafford Libraries invites you to an evening of life-affirming fiction with Carole Matthews, as she discusses her new novel, Christmas for Beginners.

A Cracking Christmas Author Panel

Wed 16 Dec, 2pm, FREE

Bella Osborne, Tracy Baines and Fiona Ford get together with Northumberland Libraries to talk about their new festive-themed novels.

Other events

Christmas Past, Christmas Present with Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Wed 9 Dec, 6pm. Donation.

Uncover the past and present of festive maladies and the cures suggested by early recipe books – bat blood or stale urine, anyone?

Zoom Cook-a-long with Alissa Timoshkina

Sat, 12 Dec 2020, 2pm, £

The author of ‘Salt & Time shares three of her favourite Russian winter recipes.

Ghostland – an evening of supernatural tales 

Tue 8 Dec, 7pm, £

Join Edward Parnell, author of GHOSTLAND, on a journey through the lonely moors, moss-covered cemeteries, and folkloric woodlands that were familiar to the likes of MR James, Alan Garner and Susan Cooper.

The conversation will be followed by a reading of a classic ghostly tale: Between Sunset and Moonrise by Richard Malden, performed by Robert Lloyd Parry of Nunkie Theatre.

Festive films by the fireside with the Moving Image Archive

Tue 15 Dec, 3pm, FREE

Fire up memories of Christmas past with home movies capturing the wonder of children on Christmas morning and visit a proper toy shop to buy some presents. From Co-op adverts, to Hogmanay parties, and snowy scenes, there’s something for everyone in this fun film show.

Have we missed any events? Tell us in the comments or social media.

Not a traditional romance – podcast 34

Hello and welcome to the Falkirk Libraries podcast with Lynne, Tanya and Vikki.

Today’s episode is all about Romance and relationships but definitely not in the traditional sense. All the books mentioned can be found at our library catalogue. Our ebooks, eaudiobooks and emagazines can be found online here

What we have been reading and listening to:

Vikki has been reading:

  • Our House, Louise Candlish
  • The Lingering, SJI Holliday
  • Rupture, (Dark Iceland series), Ragnar Jonasson

Tanya has been reading and listening to:

  • Millie’s Fling, Jill Mansell
  • Tez Talks podcast (with comedian Tez Ilyas)

Lynne has been reading:

  • Burial Rites, Hannah Kent
  • Beastie Boys Book, Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz

Audio Book of the Podcast:

  • Beastie Boys Book

New and forthcoming adult books:

  • Love Without End – the story of Heloise and Abelard, Melvyn Bragg
  • The Wrong Mother, Michel Bussi
  • Three Bullets, Jon Roger Ellroy
  • Swallowtail Summer, Erica James
  • The Lemon Tree Hotel, Rosanna Ley

New and forthcoming children’s titles:

  • The story of Tantrum O’Furrily , Cressida Cowell (0-5)
  • Row, row, row your boat: a lift-the-flap, sing-along book, Richard Merritt (0-5)
  • The Dragonsitter’s party, Josh Lacey,  Illustrator Garry Parsons (7-9)
  • The Tale of Angelino Brown, David Almond, Illustrator Alex T. Smith (9-11)
  • Savage Island, Bryony Pearce (Teen)

DVD recommendations:

  • The Happy Time Murders (15)
  • Hotel Artemis (15)
  • The House with a Clock in Its walls (PG)

Our Reading Agony this week: ‘I want to set up a reading group can you help?’

Our suggestions for finding material included

  • Joining Reading Groups for Everyone (via the Reading Agency website)where there are lots of tips and potential freebies to apply for
  • There are lots of authors, book bloggers, book publishers on social media who have lots of book suggestions
  • Podcasts and blogs can be useful (perhaps even this one!)
  • Shadow other reading groups examples include Radio 2 book club, Hurricane book club

Staff quote of the day: I’m chasing my tail this week and it’s not as fun as it looks when the cat does it….’

Our discussion was all about Romance but not as you know it. Our varied suggestions included:

  • Gracekeepers, Kirsty Logan
  • Jane Eyre,  Charlotte Bronte
  • Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
  • Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers
  • Comet in Moominland, Tove Jansson
  • High Fidelity, Nick Hornby
  • Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
  • Outlander, Diana Gabaldon
  • Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion
  • The Time Traveller’s Wife,  Audrey Niffenegger
  • The Book of Strange New Things, Michel Faber 
  • Strong Poison, Dorothy L Sayers

Did you know?

One of the things libraries have always done is Storytimes. It’s one of our favourite things to do. Every library has a weekly storytime except Slamannan, but the staff at Slamannan are happy to read a wee story if you pop in and they’re not too busy.

Families usually start out at the library with Bookbug song and rhyme sessions and Storytimes are a great way to move on from that to and get ready for school and nursery. It gives even more time over to falling in love with books, encouraging wee ones to listen and improve their focus and lets them hear new words and word sounds. And really what’s nicer than having someone read you a  story – especially when they’re doing the sounds and voices and actions?

Also afterwards there’s time for parents and wee ones to socialise and there’s often fun to be had with colouring and other things. You’ll find details of our storytimes on our website.

Thank you for listening to the Library Love podcast, we hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and if you did, then rate and review us on Apple so that more people can find out about us.

 We love to hear from you and if you’d like to get in touch with us, or if you’ve got a Reader Agony of your very own then go to www.librarylovefalkirk.com, Falkirk Libraries on Facebook or @LibFalkirk on Twitter

Favourite reads 2018: Fiction

This is the penultimate list in our collection of favourite books of this year. We asked staff, library users and friends for their fiction recommendations.

We’ve made it really easy for you to get your hands on these titles. Head to our library catalogue Best of Year slideshow to click and collect your copy from your local library.

Adult Fiction

We’ll kick off with a book that doesn’t need much introduction: Dead Men’s Trousers, Irvine Welsh‘s furious, funny follow-up to Trainspotting.

Librarian Vikki chose two books she read in library reading groups this year. Edward Docx’s Let My Go Hand, was a Hurricane Book Club favourite and Maja Lunde‘s History of Bees, topped her list from the titles read at Falkirk Library’s Monday evening group.

Librarian Lynne has swooned over Marcus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay, his first novel since worldwide hit The Book Thief, twelve years ago. It stars five parentless young men and their menagerie of animals and is so beautifully written she had to keep the reaching for the hankies.

A big box of three-ply is also required for the next two favourites: While I was Sleeping by Dani Atkins finds Maddie waking up from a coma after 6 years, only to find that everyone in her life has moved on. Jojo Moyes has landed the follow up to Me Before You and After You with Still Me.

Also packing a powerful emotional bunch is The Queen of Bloody Everything by Joanna Nadin and Warlight, Michael ‘English Patient’ Ondaatje‘s post WWII tale, which was recommended by Culture and Sport Team Leader, Lesley .

The brilliant James Oswald, who joined us for Book Week Scotland this year, has picked Anna Mazzola‘s excellent The Story Keeper, a gothic tale that weaves folklore, myths and legends.

Mythology, fantasy and supernatural

Myths and legends crop up again in two more borrower recommendations: In the widely-acclaimed Circe, Madeline Miller gets the witch/goddess of the title to retell The Odyssey in a spellbinding book that brings the classic bang up-do-date. Neil Gaiman beautifully retells Norse MythologyThe man wrote American  Godsso he knows what he’s doing.

Adrian Tchaikovsky continues to push boundaries in the  third  installment of his excellent  Echoes of the Fall series. The Hyena and the Hawk continues the story of a warring land where clans can shapeshift into animal form.

Finally, in fantasy, Librarian Tanya is thrilled that Charlaine Harris has a new series. An Easy Death, the first book in the Gunnie Rose line, has been described as True Blood meets The Dark Tower.

Historical Fiction

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris was recommended to us via Facebook. It’s the beautiful story of Lale, a man forced to tattoo identification numbers onto his fellow prisoners. When he falls in love with a new arrival he is determined to ensure they both survive.

On a more visceral note, three historical thrillers have stood out for library borrowers this year: The Rebel Killer by Paul Fraser Collard, set in the civil war and described as Sharpe meets The Talented Mr Ripley; Conn Iggulden‘s new story from the ancient world, The Falcon of Sparta; and Hammer of Rome, the 9th in Douglas Jackson‘s hugely popular Gaius Valerius Verrens series.

We’ll end our round-up with our Crime picks for 2018, so watch this space. If you’ve any recommendations, we’d love to hear them!