Author Archives: admin

Sapphire Skies

Posted on by

9781743099117Sapphire Skies – Belinda Alexandra

Abstract

2000: The wreckage of a downed WWII fighter plane is discovered in the forests near Russia’s Ukrainian border. The aircraft belonged to Natalya Azarova, ace pilot and pin-up girl for Soviet propaganda, but the question of her fate remains unanswered. Was she a German spy who faked her own death, as the Kremlin claims? Her lover, Valentin Orlov, now a highly-decorated general, refuses to believe it. Lily, a young Australian woman, has moved to Moscow to escape from tragedy. She becomes fascinated by the story of Natalya, and when she meets an elderly woman who claims to know the truth behind the rumours, Lily is drawn deeper into the mystery. From the pomp and purges of Stalin’s Russia through the horrors of war and beyond – secrets and lies, enduring love and terrible betrayal, sacrifice and redemption all combine in this sweeping saga.

Group Comments

One reader found the Russian history very interesting but didn’t find the writing style was good. The book was an easy read and different aspects of the dual storyline and the topics raised, eg. Moscow Metro, animal rescues. This book was recommended by the BBC Book Club in 2014 and it was an easy book to read. One reader found the enduring love of Valentin for Natalya touching and sweet. The trauma of life under the various political regimes was very clearly depicted.

Read by – The Second Tuesday Evening Book Group.

Parra Reads Recipes – April 2015

Aside

parra reads recipes logo new2The theme for April was ‘Easter Eats’ and the club members had a great time looking at some of the wonderful Easter food traditions from different cultures, fish seemed to be a common theme.
The recipes shared at this meeting could be adapted to be used to celebrate the Easter (or any other) occasion. Every Occasion Ice Cream Cake and Sweet and Sour Sauce were the recipes shared for this month. Don’t forget – next months theme is ‘Creative Cakes’ and the meeting will be on Thursday 14 May at 2.30pm at Parramatta Library.

every occasion ice cream cake2Chinese sweet and sour sauce

Want to try an eBook?

Aside

Ebooks

Did you know the Library has over 9,000 ebooks available for Library members to borrow? They cover all ages and interests from picturebooks for little ones to fiction and non fiction for adults and everyone in between. All our ebooks can be found in the Library Catalogue or by visiting our eBook site.

Never borrowed an eBook before? Follow our easy instruction guide to begin your eBook reading journey.

Time and Time Again

Posted on by

9780593073575Time and Time Again
Ben Elton

Abstract
It’s the 1st of June 1914 and Hugh Stanton, ex-soldier and celebrated adventurer is quite literally the loneliest man on earth. No one he has ever known or loved has been born yet. Perhaps now they never will be.
Stanton knows that a great and terrible war is coming. A collective suicidal madness that will destroy European civilization and bring misery to millions in the century to come. He knows this because, for him, that century is already history.
Somehow he must change that history. He must prevent the war. A war that will begin with a single bullet. But can a single bullet truly corrupt an entire century? And, if so, could another single bullet save it? Continue reading →