All hail Stephen King – podcast 6

Hello lovely podpeople,

we got a bit excited this podcast talking about the wonderful Stephen King who celebrated his 70th birthday this year in September. We also had time to recommend some new and upcoming titles. Grant, Kevin and Lynne joined me (Vikki) to share what we had recently been reading:
• Vikki was still reading Sleeping Beauties by Owen and Stephen King
(it’s a very long novel but excellent!)
• Grant had been rereading Different Seasons and Skeleton Crew
(Two short story compilations by Stephen King)
• Kevin had been rereading the Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King
Mr Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch
• Lynne had been reading The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

New and forthcoming adult books:
Nucleus by Rory Clements
Greyfriars House by Emma Fraser
Elysium Fire by Alastair Reynolds
Now we are dead by Stuart Macbride
The Sons by Anton Svensson

New and forthcoming children’s books:
Little Miss Stubborn and the Unicorn by Adam Hargreaves (0-5)
The Winner’s Cup (Pokemon) (5-7)
I swapped my brother on the Internet by Jo Simmons  (7-9)
The great Shelby Holmes meets her match by Elizabeth Eulberg (9-11)
The truth and lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr (Teen)

DVD recommendations:
War for the Planet of the Apes (12)

Our Reading Agony this time is a customer who was looking for someone who writes similar books to Stephen King and wanted some suggestions. We came up with several suggestions depending which genre of Stephen King was their favourite. So for horror titles we thought possible authors could be
Clive Barker
Dean Koontz
Peter Straub
James Herbert
In terms of short story collections they could try
• Kate Atkinson –  Not the end of the world
• Ali Smith –  Public Library and other stories

Finally for a fan of The Dark Tower series an author such as
Neil Gaiman
Dan Simmons
Joe Hill

Staff Quote of the day we’ve changed this to King quote
This gem was on his website in the Q&A section

Do you have a haunted house?

“Absolutely not—don’t come to my house on Halloween. We’ve done trick-or-treat a few times and we had 600 or 800 – one time we had 1,400 people show up for candy and treats and it’s fun, it’s great to see everyone, but it wears everybody out and it plays hell with the law so we’re not doing that anymore.”

Our Discussion was all about Stephen King. We talked about the first titles we ever read. Which are our favourites, why we think he is such a great writer, and the many adaptations of his work from page to screen. Some of the titles we mentioned were;
It
Salem’s Lot
Desperation
The Shining
Carrie
Misery
The Body
The Green Mile
Lisey’s Story
Gunslinger (Part 1 Dark Tower Series)

For a really comprehensive list of Stephen King’s work visit his website

Let us know your favourite Stephen King book or favourite adaptation.

The Did You Know? segment this week was all about the many and varied stock promotions available throughout the year in libraries for adults, an ideal opportunity to pick something new and different to try.

Thanks very much for listening and if you want to get in touch with us, then please come and chat with us on Facebook (Falkirk Libraries), Twitter (@LibFalkirk) or here on our website www.librarylovefalkirk.com

Comic Take Over – podcast 5

Hello, Lovely pod people, we enjoyed ourselves today talking comics on this fifth Library Love Podcast, with loads of excellent reading suggestions. Grant, Kevin and I (Vikki) shared what we had recently been reading.
• Vikki read Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan (Vols 1 &2)
and has just started Preacher Vol 1 by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon
• Grant read Joker by Brian Azzarello
• Kevin read The Flintstones by Mark Russell,
The Dark Knight 3 by Frank Miller and
Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Alien by John Wagner

New and forthcoming adult books:
• Jason Arron, Gerry Dugan, James Robertson, Dr strange Vol 1
• Christopher Brookmyre, Places in the Darkness
• Dean Koontz, Whispering Room
• Simon Scarrow, Day of the Caesars (Eagles of the Empire 16)
• Adrian Tchaikovsky, Dogs of War

New and forthcoming children’s books:
Evil Pea Rules by Sue Hendra (picture book)
Little Spook by Penny Dolan  and illustrated by Joshua Heinsz (5 – 7 years)
Toxic Cookie Monster by Tony Bradman (7 – 9 years)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Robotanimals by Caleb Goellner & Thomas Chad (9 – 11 years)
Mayfly by Colin Mulhern (teen)

DVD recommendations:
Wonder Woman (12)
Spiderman: The Homecoming (12)
King Arthur (15)
Snoopy and Charlie Brown – The Peanuts Movie (U)

Our Reading Agony this week “My 10 year old daughter is curious to try a comic please can you advise on some suitable age appropriate titles?” suggestions included:

Adventure Time created by Ryan North
My Little Pony
Teen Titans
DC Super Hero Girls
Dungeon Fun created by Colin Bell and Neil Slorance
Lumberjanes created by Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevenson
Space Dumplins created by Craig Thompson
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and the Great Lakes Avengers created by Steve Ditko
Batgirl of Burnside created by Cameron Stewart, Brendan Fletcher, Babs Tarr

Staff quote of the day: Anyone seen Tanya? Is she locked in her new shed?

Our Discussion was all about the best adaptations from comic to TV or film.   Many of these titles do contain some adult content.  This could have been a podcast all on its own however we scratched the surface with:
The Walking Dead created by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
Daredevil created by Stan Lee, Bill Everett, Jack Kirby,
Jessica Jones created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos
Luke Cage created by Archie Goodwin , John Romita Sr
Kickass   created by Mark Miller
Scott Pilgrim versus the World created by Bryan Lee O’Malley
Watchmen created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Judge Dredd created by John Wagner, Pat Mills, Carlos Ezquerra

Tell us favourite Comic Book Hero or Villain?
Or your idea for a comic book mash up? My Little Pony Versus Hellraiser anyone?

Did you know? Our information segment this week was all about Code Club

Coming Soon: Comic Take Over Day at Falkirk Library Saturday 25th November 11am – 4pm.  Come on in – you know you want even more comic-y goodness

Thanks very much for listening and if you want to get in touch with us, then please come and chat with us on Facebook (Falkirk Libraries), Twitter (@LibFalkirk) or here on our website www.librarylovefalkirk.com

Picture books of joy – podcast 4

Hello lovely podpeople, we got a bit excited this podcast talking about our favourite picture books – and loads of other books too. Margo and I (Tanya) shared what we had recently been reading and listening to:
• Tanya read The Mating Season by P G Wodehouse
• Tanya has been listening to The News Quiz Extra podcast from the BBC
• Margo has been listening to an e-audio book of The Girls by Lisa Jewell
• Margo has just started reading The Witch at Wayside Cross by Lisa Tuttle

New and forthcoming adult books:
A Question of Trust by Penny Vincenzi
A Cornish Gift by Fern Britton
The Midnight Line by Lee Child
The People vs. Alex Cross by James Patterson
Hardcore 24 by Janet Evanovich

New and forthcoming children’s books:
• When I Grow Up by Tim Minchin (author) and Steve Antony (illustrator) (0 – 5 year olds)
• Santa Claude by Alex T Smith (5-7 year olds)
Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson (7-9 year olds)
• The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine (9-11 year olds)
• All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater (Teen)

DVD recommendations:

Our Reading Agony this week is all about reading with your child. A dad contacted Falkirk Library to ask for ideas for chapter books to read to his 5 yr old. He has been reading picture books, but now feels his daughter would enjoy chapter books, but wasn’t sure what to go for. I’ve suggested a mixture of classic and modern books:
My Naughty Little Sister books by Dorothy Edwards
Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley
Paddington Bear by Michael Bond
Olga da Polga books by Michael Bond
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (read it through yourself first though as there is a historically accurate discussion of saving meat to prepare for the winter near the start)
Mrs Pepperpot stories by Alf Proysen
Winnie the witch by Laura Owen (novel type version of the popular picture books)
Betsey Bigalow stories and the Girl Wonder stories by Malorie Blackman
The Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton (although you might want to rename the elf who helps them to Chicky)
• Daisy Meadows books – the fairy books and the magic animal friends series
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Anna Hibiscus stories and the No 1 Car Spotter stories by Atinuke
Porridge the Tartan Cat series by Alan Dapre

Staff quote of the day is about Vikki’s fancy dress costume from last year

Our Discussion was all about Picture Books. Margo and I suggest lots and lots to enjoy sharing with the little people in your life:
• The Katie Morag stories by Mairi Hedderwick, especially Katie Morag and the Tiresome Ted
How to Babysit a Grandad by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Lee Wildish
• Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama books, especially Llama Llama Shopping Drama
Nick Sharratt, especially The Foggy, Foggy Forest
• Anything by Julia Donaldson
• Books with few or no words, for example Baby Talk; useful words and noises for babies and grownups and Doing the Washing by Sarah Garland
• Anything by Lynley Dodd
• Judith Kerr , especially The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the Mog books
Martha and the Bunny Brothers series and Lucky Wish Mouse series by Clara Vulliamy
• The Maisy Mouse series by Lucy Cousins
Elmer the Patchwork Elephant books by David McKee
Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

Did you know? Picture books – we’ve got ‘em, they’re great, bring a child to read ‘em.  Enjoy together.

Thanks very much for listening and if you want to get in touch with us, then please come and chat with us on Facebook (Falkirk Libraries), Twitter (@LibFalkirk) or here on our website www.librarylovefalkirk.com

Delicious Cookbooks – podcast 3

Hello and welcome, we enjoyed ourselves talking about food on this third Library Love Podcast, with loads of excellent cookbooks suggestions.  Margo, Laura and I (Tanya) shared what we had recently been reading and listening to:
• Tanya read The Witch at Wayside Cross by Lisa Tuttle
• Tanya has been listening to the BBC’s In our time podcast
• Margo has been listening to an audiobook of Chris Brookmyre’s Black Widow
• Laura read David Lagercrantz The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye

New and forthcoming adult books:
The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch
Death in the Stars by Frances Brody
The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

New and forthcoming children’s books:
Pumpkin competition (0 – 5 year olds)
Ellie Featherbill by Daisy Meadows (5-7 year olds)
Krypto: the origin of Superman’s dog by Michael Dahl (7-9 year olds)
Tom Gates: DogZombies rule (for now) by Liz Pichon (9-11 year olds)
The cost of living by Rachel Ward (Teen)

DVD recommendations:
Wonder Woman (12)
Fate of the Furious (12)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Salaza’s Revenge (12)
Churchill (PG)
The Mummy (15)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (U)
Captain Underpants

Our Reading Agony this week is to help a lady who has just been diagnosed with diabetes – she wants to eat healthily but is really bored of what she’s been eating. We recommended some great cookbooks for her:
Healthy Eating for Diabetes by Antony Worrall Thompson
• Phil Vickery’s Ultimate Diabetes Cookbook
The Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes Cookbook by Karin M Hehenberger
Quick Cooking for Diabetes by Louise Blair
The complete book of diabetic cooking by Bridget Jones

We discuss delicious cookbooks today and Margo, Laura and I had a great time talking about some of the tempting recipes books on our shelves. Cookbooks (or authors) mentioned :
Goodhousekeeping One Pot Cookery
Delia Smith
• Jamie Oliver’s Save with Jamie
Rick Stein, especially his From Venice to Istanbul
Cooking up a storm and Get Cooking by Sam Stern
River Cottage Gluten Free by Naomi Devlin
Madhur Jaffrey’s Eastern Vegetarian Cookery (or anything by her)
Rose Elliot
Cooking Without by Barbara Cousins
Sabor by Nieves Barragán Mohacho
Diana Henry, particularly Crazy water, pickled lemons : enchanting dishes from the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa
The Hairy Bikers, particularly The Hairy Dieters. Book 1, How to Love Food and Lose Weight

Staff quote of the day is more dragons

Did you know? Laura tells us about the joy of Reading Groups (for all ages)

Thanks very much for listening and if you want to get in touch with us, then please come and chat with us on Facebook (Falkirk Libraries), Twitter (@LibFalkirk) or here on our website www.librarylovefalkirk.com