Welcome to the Winter 2021 edition of All About Books. Once again there is a wonderful range of fiction and non fiction books being published for adults and teens from best selling and debut authors. The always popular Staff Picks make an appearance and news of our upcoming author talks are on page 43. Many of the titles are available as ebooks while those that aren’t can be added to your to be borrowed pile when we re-open. Happy Reading!
Titles that have been hugely popular in the last ten to twenty years.
As August fast approaches, I have to admit to being completely behind in my blog posts. Will you accept that the current COVID situation has thrown things in the library world into chaos?
City of Parramatta Libraries is temporary closed and my colleagues and I are busy coming up with ideas to keep you all engaged online; all from the comfort or maybe chaos of our own homes.
As always I am finding it hard to concentrate on one book long enough to finish it and have almost given up hope that I will actually read a title related to our monthly reading themes. I am blaming the fact that I spend way too much time researching great titles to recommend that I overload on them and can’t even think about possibly reading one.
My colleague Michelle and I both failed in our attempts to actually finish ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel for the umpteen time, and lets not even mention July’s ‘memorable memoirs’. I am hoping to have better luck with August’s theme of ‘big bang’ books.
In saying all of that, we have managed to put our heads together and come up with our picks for books that have made a big splash over the last ten years.
Happy reading
Jody
P.S.
If you would like to stay up-to-date with all the books we are reading, why not become our friend on Goodreads.
Continue readingA Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey
A great book club choice. Albert Facey’s life spans most of the twentieth century and his memoir written in later life for his children and grandchildren has justly become an Australian classic. From his infancy in the Eastern states to his early childhood in Kalgoorlie and in many small towns in country Western Australia, we follow the gruelling and heart rending story of his early childhood. Abandoned by his mother as a toddler, his wonderful Grandma is his anchor. He is reunited with his mother and family as a teenager and takes a range of challenging jobs until the outbreak of the first world war. He fights in the hellish conditions at Gallipoli where he received wounds which stayed with him throughout his long life. Despite these hardships, he remains optimistic and hard working and meets and marries his soul mate Evelyn. They have six children. Simply written by a man who had no formal schooling, this is a valuable historic document as well as a touching and wonderful read.
9/10
Read by Dundas Readers
The Bush by Don Watson
Although we all felt that this book was well written, the topic did not capture us and most of our members did not finish reading it. The author was obviously very passionate about his topic but we found much of it depressing and repetitive. What we did take away from our discussion was that in the early days of settlement of the land people were fighting against the environment to survive whereas now we are fighting for the environment to survive. We can learn from the past, recognise mistakes and good intentions and make better choices.
Read by MJ Readers
Welcome to the somewhat belated Autumn edition of our reading suggestions guide. Just like our previous editions this one is packed full of an amazing array of titles being published for adults and teens this Season. There is sure to be something for everyone regardless of their reading tastes with fiction, non fiction, young adult, debut authors and our ever popular staff picks to choose from.
Printed copies will soon be at your local branch of the City of Parramatta Libraries or for those who can’t wait simply download your copy now and reserve titles that grab your attention by clicking on the book cover. Don’t forget to check out the news of our upcoming online author talks including a very special 1960s inspired ‘watch at the library’ event.
As always Happy Reading!
Ready, Set, Read!
2021 is certainly gearing up to be a great year for books, with so many great new titles hitting the shelves in the first three months.
Here, at City of Parramatta Libraries, we like nothing better than helping you; our readers, discover your great read. Whether that be a new author or revisiting an old favourite, we are here to help.
Below you will find a list of our, ‘Top Six’ most borrowed fiction, young adult, junior & picture book titles for January to March.
Have fun exploring! Remember placing a hold is free and you can pick it up from any one of our Libraries.
I have also snuck in my personal, ‘Top Six’ picks for books I have read over the past three months. Just to tempt you even more.
If you love reading and enjoy sharing what you are reading with other like-minded people, then follow Parra Reads on Goodreads or add us as friend.
Happy Reading,
Jody
