book – Hampshire Libraries

Earth Matters

November 8, 2021August 16, 2022 niccishepherd1 Comment

Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

The Earth’s climate is changing, and the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed, yet the report also identifies the role of climate change in intensifying specific weather and climate events such as extreme heat waves and heavy rainfall events for the first time.

Stabilising the climate will require strong, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and net zero CO2 emissions, challenges delegates are meeting to discuss at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow at the end of this month.

In recognition of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, we have created the ‘Earth Matters’ collection of fiction and non-fiction books, eBooks and eAudiobooks, to compliment our existing Earth Heroes environmental collections for children and young adults.

Fiction books

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Set in the not-too-distant future, in the aftermath of a catastrophic event that has wiped out human civilization as well as most humans, Oryx and Crake is a novel about the pitfalls of genetic modification.

Walkaway by Cory Doctorow

In a world wrecked by climate change, Hubert, Seth and Natalie turn their back on the world of rules, jobs and ‘walkaway’ into the empty lands – lawless places where predators, human and animal flourish. Their journey brings them into contact with the initial pioneer ‘walkaways’ who are building a post-scarcity utopia.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Nine strangers, each in different ways, become summoned by trees, brought together in a last stand to save the continent’s few remaining acres of virgin forest. ‘The Overstory’ unfolds in concentric rings of interlocking fable, ranging from antebellum New York to the late-20th-century Timber Wars of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, revealing a world alongside our own – vast, slow, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us.

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver

On the Appalachian Mountains above her home, a young mother discovers a beautiful and terrible marvel of nature. As the world around her is suddenly transformed by a seeming miracle, can the old certainties they have lived by for centuries remain unchallenged?

The Fifth Season by N K Jemisin

The first book in the award-winning Broken Earth trilogy, Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, there will be war for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night, but Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She’ll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.

The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard

This fast-paced narrative by the author of ‘Crash’ and ‘Empire of the Sun’ is a stunning evocation of a flooded, tropical London of the near future and a foray into the workings of the unconscious mind.

Non-Fiction books

How to Save Our Planet by Professor Mark Maslin

How can we save our planet and survive the 21st century? How can you argue with deniers? How can we create positive change in the midst of the climate crisis? Professor Mark Maslin has the key facts that we need to protect our future. ‘How to Save Our Planet’ is a call to action, guaranteed to equip everyone with the knowledge needed to make change.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

Silent Spring is Rachel Carson’s bestselling, passionate exposure of the effects of the indiscriminate use of chemicals. She describes how pesticides are applied to farms, forests and gardens, with scant regard to the consequences.

We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer

Climate crisis is the single biggest threat to human survival. And it is happening right now. We all understand that time is running out – but do we truly believe it? And, caught between the seemingly unimaginable and the apparently unthinkable, how can we take the first step towards action, to arrest our race to extinction? We can begin with our knife and fork. With his distinctive wit, insight, and humanity, Jonathan Safran Foer presents the essential debate of our time as no one else could, bringing it to vivid and urgent life and offering us all a much-needed way out.

Earthshot by Colin Butfield

The Earthshot concept is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. We have ten years to turn the tide on the environmental crisis, but we need the world’s best solutions and one shared goal – to save our planet. The Earthshots are unifying, ambitious goals for our planet which, if achieved by 2030, will improve life for all of us, for the rest of life on Earth, and for generations to come. This book is a critical contribution to the most important story of the decade.

The Garden Jungle by Dave Goulson

The Garden Jungle’ is about the wildlife that lives right under our noses, in our gardens and parks, between the gaps in the pavement, and in the soil beneath our feet. Dave Goulson explains how our lives and ultimately the fate of humankind are inextricably intertwined with that of earwigs, bees, lacewings and hoverflies, unappreciated heroes of the natural world.

How to Repair Everything: A Green Guide to Fixing Stuff by Nick Harper

Not everything has built-in obsolescence – as this fantastically handy guide to fixing everyday objects proves! Whether you need to repair a strap on a favourite handbag or mend a leak in a washing machine, this book is packed full of tips and tricks of the trade for the person who likes to do-it-yourself.

You can also find these books on our BorrowBox shelf: Earth Matters | Hampshire Library Service – BorrowBox.

Books and me: On my Shelves with Vicky Duffell

November 3, 2021 Samantha - Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

Parenting poetry, picture books, and memoirs on mental health, Eastleigh Library Team Manager Vicky Duffell tells us about her favourite reads.

Where’s your favourite place to read?

I like to read on the train, it gives you a nice time out from the world. I’m often on the train with my son though so we read a lot of picture books. Sometimes when I’ve been reading aloud to him, the story has brought over other children on the train who were listening, and they want to look at the pictures too! I have dyspraxia so I don’t drive and there’s a lot of waiting for public transport. I always have a book with me in case there are delays, reading is a great way to reclaim that time.

Whenever I go on holiday, I always like to read a book that’s set in the place I’m visiting. I read Elena Ferrante’s novels while on my honeymoon in Italy, the books have a really strong sense of place so they were perfect. I also read Tales of the City when I visited San Francisco, it was really interesting to see the city through the eyes of someone coming to the city for the first time just when I was doing the same.

How do you read?

I prefer traditional print books; I do have an e-reader, but I like the physicality of a book. You don’t get that new book smell with an e-reader. That’s a great thing about working at the library, we get to check through all the crisp new books that come in.

I usually only read one book for myself at a time, but I read to my son every night. We went through a phase of constantly reading Zog and the Flying Doctors because it’s one of his favourites, though I vary it as much as I can because it gets a little boring. Reading for my own pleasure is quite sporadic, I would love to sit down and finish a book in one sitting but that’s quite a luxury when you’re a parent. I try to find books with shorter chapters that don’t require long periods of reading to really get into, poetry’s great for that too.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m currently reading Nobody Told Me by Hollie McNish, it’s a book of poetry about the small things you never thought about until you become a parent. I don’t often read poetry but it’s a brilliant way to look at something we don’t often talk about. For example, one of the poems is about having to hide in the toilets while you’re breastfeeding, and I think the condensed language makes it really impactful. It’s a book I would recommend to everyone, even if you don’t have children or never want children, it offers a very real and honest insight into the ups and downs of parenthood.

Reading Patterns – Do you follow any specific authors or genre?

I do follow some authors, but I mainly like to read based on subject matter and I really like books that look at mental health. When I had my son I suffered from post-partum psychosis, a rare illness that only affects about 1 in 1,000 mums. One of my favourites is Inferno by Catherine Cho which is amazingly written. It’s interesting to read about someone who went through an experience that you’ve had. Being able to compare how it was similar and different to my experience, I felt very connected to the book.

I also recently read David Harewood’s book Maybe I Don’t Belong Here. I saw his documentary Psychosis and Me on the BBC about his experience of psychosis in his 20s. I’d never really seen anyone talk about psychosis on TV before, so I was really looking forward to reading his biography. He talks about how race and gender can come into your experience with mental health

First loves, best loves

I remember reading a lot of Roald Dahl when I was younger, but it wasn’t really until I was a teenager that I properly got into reading. I remember at the turn of the millennium we had the Everyman’s Library collection in my school, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to read so I just worked my way through all of those. They were lovely hardbacks with quite plain covers, and I think I liked that I was going into the books without any expectations.

I read so many picture books that I’ve really grown to love them. Nadia Shireen’s books are some of the best ones and I particularly loved The Bumblebear. It’s about a bear who dresses up as a bee to sneak into the bees’ school. It’s just such an adorable book and the illustrations are lovely too. Sometimes I think I enjoy the picture book more than my son does and I think some of them are written to be enjoyed by the parents as much as the children.

One of my favourite authors is Elif Shafak, she wrote The Forty Rules of Love which I really enjoyed but her memoir Black Milk is about her experience of post-partum depression and about how she struggled with writing after having a child.

Vicky manages the team at Eastleigh Library, which is located at the top of the Swan Centre. Vicky was speaking with Isaac Fravashi.

Kazuo Ishiguro

June 1, 2021June 3, 2021 niccishepherdLeave a comment

Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954 and moved to Britain at the age of five. His fiction has earned him many honours around the world, including the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Booker Prize. His novels have been translated into over fifty languages and The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go and The White Countess have been made into acclaimed films.

Ishiguro was awarded a knighthood in 2018 for Services to Literature, he also holds the decorations of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star from Japan.

His novel An Artist of the Floating world was nominated for the Book Prize in 1986 and won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award that same year. In 1989 he won the Booker Prize for The Remains of the Day which later became an Oscar nominated film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

His most recent novel Klara and the Sun explores the relationships between AI and humans as well as the enduring question of what it is to love. The Evening Standard says “With its hushed intensity of emotion, this fable about robot love and loneliness confirms Ishiguro as a master prose stylist.”

Ishiguro doesn’t limit himself by genre or writing style, it is the unassuming, thoughtful prose which defines his work and draws the reader in with its intelligence and humanity.

Books by Kazuo Ishiguro are also available to loan as eBooks, aAudio on the BorrowBox app.

2020 Pride Month

May 29, 2020May 27, 2020 Karin, Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

Every year, during the month of June, Pride month is celebrated with various events across the world. Normally it’s a month of parades, street parties, talks, festivals and educational sessions, and whilst this year will be slightly different – it won’t stop the celebrations!
This year might be different, but it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate!
Decorate your gardens, balconies or windows, play music and dance, video call your friends and throw a virtual party!

We were honoured to have had the fabulous MamaG read a special story, explaining these strange times to our young readers.
Sit down and enjoy as she reads Coronavirus: A Book for Children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson, and Nia Roberts, illustrated by Axel Scheffler and published by Nosy Crow.

How will you celebrate Pride Month this year? Let us know in the comments below!

During this month long celebration of love, acceptance and understanding; why not try one of these LGBT+ themed titles. All of which can be found as eBooks through the BorrowBox app using your Hampshire Library card – many of which are also available as eAudiobooks.

I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.
Rita Mae Brown

Call me by your name
by André Aciman

This is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blooms between 17-year-old Elio and his father’s house guest, Oliver, during a restless summer on the Italian Riviera. What grows from the depths of their souls is a romance of scarcely six weeks’ duration, and an experience that marks them for a lifetime.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
by Becky Albertalli

16-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. And worse still, so will the privacy of ‘Blue’, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing. With messy dynamics emerging in Simon’s once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s life suddenly becomes just a little complicated. Now Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out – without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Lie with me
by Philippe Besson

Just outside a hotel in Bordeaux, Philippe, a famous writer, chances upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to his first love. What follows is a look back to Philippe’s teenage years, to a winter morning in 1984, a small French high school, and a carefully timed encounter between two seventeen-year-olds.

Rubyfruit Jungle
by Rita Mae Brown

Beautiful, funny and bright, Molly figures out at a young age that she will have to be tough to stay true to herself in 1950s America. In her dealings with boyfriends and girlfriends, in the rocky relationship with her mother and in her determination to pursue her career, she will fight for her right to happiness. Charming, proud and inspiring, Molly is the girl who refuses to be put in a box.

I just want you to know that you’re very special… and the only reason I’m telling you is that I don’t know if anyone else ever has.
Stephen Chbosky

Queer
by William S. Burroughs

This title is an enigma. It is both an unflinching autobiographical self-portrait and a coruscatingly political novel. Set in Mexico City during the early 50s, the book follows William Lee’s hopeless pursuit of desire from bar to bar in the American expatriate scene.

The Perks of being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

Charlie is a shy and introspective boy, a wallflower always standing on the edge of the action. We learn about him through the letters he writes to someone of an undisclosed name, age and gender.

The Hours
by Michael Cunningham

The Hours is the story of Richard, a famous poet whose life has been shadowed by his talented and troubled mother. His friend Clarissa, who strives to achieve a balanced life, also figures prominently in this story set during World War 2.

Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974.So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and her truly unique family secret, born on the slopes of Mount Olympus and passed on through three generations.

The realisation of great mutual love can at times be so overwhelming a thing, that even the bravest of hearts may grow fearful.
Radclyffe Hall

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg

As 80 year old Mrs Clea Threadgoode tells Evelyn Couch about her life, she escapes her nursing home & returns to Whistle Stop, Alabama in the thirties where the Whistle Stop Cafe provides good barbecue, good coffee, love & even an occasional murder.

George
by Alex Gino

A bright, bold debut about a girl who happens to have been born a boy but refuses to let that stand in the way of her dream, ‘George’ is a pertinent and poignant middle-grade read for kids of all backgrounds.

The Well of Loneliness
by Radclyffe Hall

Based on her own life, ‘The Well of Loneliness’ tells the story of Sir Philip and Lady Gordon and their daughter. It becomes apparent that she is not like other girls, and falls in love with another woman.

A Single Man
by Christopher Isherwood

Christopher Isherwood explores the character of a middle-aged Englishman living in California: a professor alienated from his students by differences in age and nationality and from the rest of society by his homosexuality.

Being gay has taught me tolerance, compassion and humility. It has shown me limitless possibilities of living. It has given me people whose passion and kindness and sensitivity have provided a constant source of strength.
Armistead Maupin

Tales of the City
by Armistead Maupin

A young secretary forsakes Cleveland for San Francisco, tumbling headlong into a new world of laundromat Lotharios, cut throat debutantes, and Jockey Shorts dance contests. The saga that ensues is manic, romantic, and outrageous.

The song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller

This is a breathtakingly original rendering of the Trojan War – a devastating love story and a tale of gods and kings, immortal fame and the human heart.

The house on Half Moon Street
by Alex Reeve

Leo Stanhope. Avid chess player; assistant to a London coroner; in love with Maria; and hiding a very big secret. For Leo was born Charlotte, the daughter of a respectable reverend. But knowing he was meant to be a man – despite the evidence of his body – and unable to cope with living a lie any longer, he fled his family home at just 15 and has been living as Leo: his secret known to only a few trusted people. But then Maria is found dead and Leo is accused of her murder. Desperate to find her killer and under suspicion from all those around him, he stands to lose not just the woman he loves, but his freedom and, ultimately, his life.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When they meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the two loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special kind of friendship – the kind of friendship that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through their friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves – and about the kind of people they want to be.

Every journey conceals another journey within its lines: the path not taken and the forgotten angle.
Jeanette Winterson

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker

This compelling and cherished classic tells the story of Celie. Raped by the man she calls father, her two children taken from her and forced into an ugly marriage, she has no one to talk to but God, until she meets a woman who offers love and support.

Tipping the Velvet
by Sarah Waters

‘Tipping the Velvet’ is a wonderfully lush, sensous and bawdy novel set in the music halls of the late 19th century. Nan gets to meet her heroine, Kitty, a male impersonator. The two begin a double act, and their affection for each other deepens.

The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
by Jeanette Winterson

This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by her mother as one of God’s elect. Zealous and passionate, she seems destined for life as a missionary, but then she falls for one of her converts. At 16, Jeanette decides to leave the church, her home and her family for the young woman she loves.

Orlando
by Virginia Woolf

Modelled on her friend Vita Sackville-West’s personality, Virginia Woolf tells the story of Orlando, who chooses her own sexual identity as she lives through 3 centuries as both a man and a woman.

We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.
George Takei

Find these 21 eTitles, and more, in our eLibrary – the BorrowBox app!

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Did you know; when you sign up to a Hampshire Library card we don’t need your title or your assigned gender.

Join it, Use it, Love it!

Digital Readers – February book

January 27, 2020 Karin, Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

The book our online reading group will be reading (or listening to) and discussing in February has been decided on through a vote in the group. The results are in and the February book is…

Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

Rates of stress and anxiety are rising. A fast, nervous planet is creating fast and nervous lives. We are more connected, yet feel more alone. And we are encouraged to worry about everything from world politics to our body mass index. How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad? How do we stay human in a technological world? How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious? After experiencing years of anxiety and panic attacks, these questions became urgent matters of life and death for Matt Haig. And he began to look for the link between what he felt and the world around him.

This 2018 non-fictional book by Matt Haig sets out to answer three important life questions:
– How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad?
– How do we stay human in a technological world?
– How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious?
Having experienced anxiety and panic attacks for years, Notes on a Nervous Planet is a personal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the twenty-first century.

From 1 February, until the end of the month, this book will be available to download through the BorrowBox app without having to wait or having to reserve it. It will be available to simply download right away – as both an eBook and an eAudiobook.

The group is open to anyone above the age of 16, with a Facebook account and a Hampshire Library card. If you would like to join the group; just head over to our Facebook page.

Hang on; how does an online reading group work?

Through the BorrowBox app, using your Hampshire Library Card, you will be able to download an eCopy of the selected title to your tablet or smart phone to read and enjoy. Ther will be hundreds of copies, of both the eBook and the eAudiobook version, available for you to download right away, so no need to reserve it or get it added to a waiting list; just download it right away and get reading!

Throughout the month you will be able to talk about the book with others in the group, and there will be regular discussions happening, so check back in to join in on the conversations as they pop up. As is the case with any reading group, there will be books you love, and books you might wish you had never picked up -and that’s okay!
In the group you will be able to discuss your opinions, feelings and thoughts on the month’s title in a friendly environment. To keep the group friendly, and ensure everyone feels confident expressing their thoughts, we ask that everyone keep the language clean and show respect to one another.

There won’t be a set day or time when you have to be available; this means you can join in the discussions whenever it suits you! There is also not a physical place to meet, as all discussions are taking place in the Facebook group, so you won’t have to leave the house to be part of the reading group!
On the last Friday of each month, the book for the following month will be announced, it will then become available for download on the 1st of each month.

If you don’t have a Hampshire Library card, you can apply for one online. It is completely free to sign up to the library, and as long as any physical items borrowed are returned on time, it will continue to be free.
After you sign up, your library card will be sent to your home and you can then join the reading group using your Facebook account.

If you would like to join the group, then head over to our Facebook page and join the ‘Digital readers’ group, you can find it here!

LGBT+ Collection 2020 edition

January 18, 2020January 27, 2020 Karin, Hampshire Libraries1 Comment

In 2019, to celebrate LGBT+ History Month, we launched our collection of LGBT+ books, these were 33 carefully chosen titles and contained both classic and modern books. The aim of this collection has been to showcase some of the wonderful books featuring LGBT+ characters and themes. The collection is for everyone; whether you want to read books featuring characters who have similar life experiences or just to better understand the LGBT+ community.
This year, we’re adding another 5 titles to the collection! Below are the five chosen titles, as well as the full list.

The 2020 additions are…

Lie with me
by Philippe Besson

Image result for Speak no evil / Uzodinma Iweala.

Speak no evil
by Uzodinma Iweala

On the surface, Niru leads a charmed life. Raised by two attentive parents in Washington, DC, he’s a top student and a track star at his prestigious private high school. Bound for Harvard, his prospects are bright. But Niru has a painful secret: he is gay – an abominable sin to his conservative Nigerian parents. No one knows except his best friend, Meredith – the one person who seems not to judge him. When his father accidentally finds out, the fallout is brutal and swift.

Luna
by Julie Anne Peters

16-year-old Regan is the only one who knows about her brother Liam’s secret: he really identifies as a girl. By night, Liam transforms into Luna, and – after several years – Luna asks Regan to help her transition into a full-time female. Regan worries about her sister’s safety and her family’s reaction but ultimately agrees to help…

The house on Half Moon Street
by Alex Reeve

Olivia
by Dorothy Strachey

When Olivia turns 16 she is sent to a Parisian finishing school to broaden her education. Soon after her arrival, she finds herself falling under the spell of her beautiful & charismatic teacher. But Madamoiselle Julie’s life is not as straightforward as Olivia imagines & the school year is destined to end abruptly in tragedy.

I’m still me, I want to say to him, your son, but that would hardly help if I am currently everything wrong with the world.
Uzodinma Iweala, Speak No Evil

You can find the full list of titles here:

Call me by your name
by André Aciman

Cover — This is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blooms between 17-year-old Elio and his father’s house guest, Oliver, during a restless summer on the Italian Riviera. What grows from the depths of their souls is a romance of scarcely six weeks’ duration, and an experience that marks them for a lifetime.
Try the eBook!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
by Becky Albertalli

Giovanni’s room
by James Baldwin

Rubyfruit jungle
by Rita Mae Brown

The gift
by Barbara Browning

Queer
by William S. Burroughs

The perks of being a wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

The hours
by Michael Cunningham

Disoriental
by Négar Djavadi

Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides

Meanwhile, elsewhere : science fiction and fantasy from transgender writers
edited by Cat Fitzpatrick and Casey Plett

This manual will prepare you to travel from multiverse to multiverse. No experience is required. Choose from twenty-five preset post-realities! Rejoice at obstacles unquestionably bested and conflicts efficiently resolved

Fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
by Fannie Flagg

Maurice
by E.M. Forster

This is how it always is
by Laurie Frankel

George
by Alex Gino

The well of loneliness
by Radclyffe Hall

Carol
by Patricia Highsmith

A single man
by Christopher Isherwood

The left hand of darkness
by Ursula K. Le Guin

Two boys kissing
by David Levithan

Tales of the city
by Armistead Maupin

The song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller

Confessions of a mask
by Yukio Mishima

Little fish
by Casey Plett

All this I will give to you
by Dolores Redondo

Confessions of the Fox
by Jordy Rosenberg

Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

The city and the pillar
by Gore Vidal

The Color Purple
by Alice Walker

Tipping the velvet
by Sarah Waters

The picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde

Oranges are not the only fruit
by Jeanette Winterson

Orlando
by Virginia Woolf

Did you know; when you sign up to a Hampshire Library card we don’t need your title or your assigned gender.

Join it, Use it, Love it!

Digital Readers – December book

November 26, 2019 Karin, Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

The book our online reading group will be reading (or listening to) and discussing in December has been decided on through a vote in the group. The results are in and the December book is…

A boy called Christmas by Matt Haig

You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you. Because this book is full of impossible things. Are you still reading? Good. Then let us begin.

This 2015 children’s book by Matt Haig is packed with magic, humour and festive cheer and whilst its target audience is those aged 7-9, all ages are bound to enjoy this festive tale.
It starts of very bleak, but soon this tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an 11-year-old boy called Nikolas, will keep you reading and fill you with festive cheer.

From 1 December, until the end of the month, this book will be available to download through the BorrowBox app without having to wait or having to reserve it. It will be available to simply download right away – as both an eBook and an eAudiobook.

The group is open to anyone above the age of 16, with a Facebook account and a Hampshire Library card. If you would like to join the group; just head over to our Facebook page.

Hang on; how does an online reading group work?

If you would like to join the group, then head over to our Facebook page and join the ‘Digital readers’ group, you can find it here!

World Nursery Rhyme Week

November 10, 2019November 5, 2019 Samantha - Hampshire Libraries1 Comment

18 – 22 November 2019

World Nursery Rhyme Week is a fantastic time to have some fun with nursery rhymes; through song, dance and play.
Did you know through singing nursery rhymes together you can help your child’s development and bond with them? Even if you’re singing skills aren’t the greatest, or you feel you can’t sing, teaching your child nursery rhymes can help them develop their language and vocabulary skills, as well as literacy, numeracy, social skills and coordination.

Most of us have that one favourite rhyme we like, we asked around the office to see what everyone’s favourite one is;

“I love Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. “
– Sam

“If I had to choose just one, I would pick Wind the Bobbin up. “
– Karin

“Little Miss Muffet is my favourite nursery rhyme.”
– Jade

“My favourite one is This Little Piggy, because I always do that one with my nephew.”
– Alice

Let us know in the comments below which is your favourite!

Most Hampshire Libraries host a RhymeTime or Toddler Time session for you to bring your little ones to; some even have multiple ones a week. These are free, volunteer led, drop-in groups where nursery rhymes and songs are sung with you and your child (if they are old enough).
These sessions are aimed at the under 5’s, so there is usually a range of ages from newborns to preschoolers; but all ages are bound to enjoy the sessions.

The sessions are a great opportunity to bond with your baby, meet new people and just have a bit of fun. All singing abilities are welcome, remember; it’s for fun so no matter if you have a voice like Adele or sound more like a cat in distress when singing, there’s a space for you in these sessions.
Find when a group is meeting at your local library on our website, for both RhymeTime and ToddlerTime.

If you would like to refresh your memory on nursery rhymes, or just learn some new ones to sing with your little ones, check out these lovely books that you can borrow from Hampshire Libraries:

Hickory, dickory dock and other favourite nursery rhymes.
illustrated by Genine Delahaye

A super selection of classic nursery rhymes! Sing along with fun action rhymes including ‘Pat-a-Cake’ and ‘I’m a Little Teapot,’ then get ready for bed with soothing lullabies such as ‘Rock-a-Bye-Baby.’ Warmly illustrated with adorable animal characters, this sturdy board book is perfect for little ones!

This little piggy and other favourite nursery rhymes
illustrated by Genine Delahaye

This illustrated collection is packed with all your favourite nursery rhymes! Children will love learning fun action rhymes such as ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ and ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ and singing along with sweet songs including ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’!

Nursery rhyme time: favourite rhymes and lullabies

This classic book of rhymes is filled with all the songs and verses you will remember from childhood and will want to pass on to a new generation of children. The book is filled with Beatrix Potter’s classic artwork.

Incy wincy spider: a lift-the-flap, sing-along book
illustrated by Richard Merritt

‘Incy Wincy Spider’ combines lively pictures with a classic rhyme that’s easy for parents and carers to recognise and recite. Young children will adore searching the page for flaps to open while singing along. The spotting game at the end is a great incentive to go through the pages once again until each tiny thing is found.

Nursery rhymes
by Roger Hargreaves

Mr Bump sat on a wall, Mr Bump had a great fall. It’s time for some nursery rhymes with the Mr Men! This fun book includes lots of popular nursery rhymes with their own Mr Men twist! The Mr Men and Little Miss have been delighting children for generations with their charming and funny antics.

Non-Fiction November

November 1, 2019November 5, 2019 Samantha - Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

Non-Fiction November was created by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is celebrated each November in honour of all things factual. This month long celebration is for those young readers who share a passion for reading about information, but also for those who have yet discovered the amazing world of factual books.

Libraries are a hub of information and there is so much on offer with your Hampshire library card. Why not make November the month you start your factual reading journey?
With your library card you can borrow up to 30 items at a time from your local library. If the kids have got a project to work on, instead of solely using the internet, you can pop down to the library and check out the information section and don’t forget there’s also a reservation system so you have access to books in all Hampshire Libraries.

This year the focus is on ‘Transport and Travel around the world’! It’s an exciting topic and we have some amazing books for your child to learn about travelling, transportation and the world. Check out the list below for a snippet of the many books you can find on Hampshire Library shelves. To browse all factual books for children visit our website.

Transport
by Paul Mason

This innovative series, illustrated with amazing isometric artwork, reveals the technology, science and engineering behind our world’s infrastructure. Discover in this book how transport helps us to travel around the world and the huge range of vehicles we use to move from place to place, from driverless cars to high-speed maglev trains. It also takes a look forward to see how transport might evolve in the future.

Wonders of our world
by Carron Brown and illustrated by Stef Murphy

What are the wonders of our world? Shine a light behind the page and see. From long, winding walls and reefs full of fish to lost ancient cities, the amazing wonders of our world are revealed.

Great explorers
by James Buckley, Jr.

Join the explorers and heroes that have dared to go where no-one has before. ‘Great Explorers’ is packed with fascinating facts about heroic explorers for kids just beginning to read fluently with support. From historical explorers such as Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus, to modern explorers like Bear Grylls and Erik Weihenmayer, this book covers all bases for kids interested in exploration.

Transport around the world
by Moira Butterfield

Take a journey around the world to discover the transport methods used by of children just like you! Where in the world do children learn to run their own railway? What is the best way to travel across a sandy desert? What colours are the cable cars of La Paz, in Bolivia? Children will love reading about the transport that their contemporaries in other countries use; from boats paddled between houses and carts pulled across busy cities, to riding reindeer and the fastest trains!

Amelia Earhart
by Ma Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Mariadiamantes

In the ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series, discover the lives of outstanding people from designers and artists to scientists. All of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This volume follows Amelia Earhart, whose strong will and self-belief helped her overcome prejudice and technical problems to become the first female flier to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean. This inspiring and informative biography comes with extra facts about her life at the end of the book.

Around the world in 80 ways
by Henrietta Drane and illustrated by Katy Halford

Travel around the world by yacht, tram, train, unicycle, jetpack, camel – any way you can imagine, in this non-fiction children’s book. Every mode of transport is part of a charming scene. See how astronauts travel around space, watch surfers ride the waves at the beach, and race to an emergency with the firefighters. Illustrator Katy Halford’s beautiful drawings brings the scenes to life and fun complementary facts will prompt discussion and laughter between readers.

If you would like to have a first hand look at the many amazing factual books you can find for children, come along to your local library today!

Movember

October 31, 2019December 31, 2019 Samantha - Hampshire LibrariesLeave a comment

November 2019

Movember is a campaign aimed at tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention in men. It helps to raise awareness of the importance of getting health checks and to get men talking about their mental health to reduce the stigma.

Movember’s aim ‘BY 2030, WE AIM TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MEN DYING PREMATURELY BY 25%.”

Why not join in with the Movember movement and grow a moustache to raise awareness this November? It’s a fun way to raise money and awareness for this amazing charity. Find out more on their website: uk.movember.com.

If you are worried about someone or need some advice yourself, take a look at these helpful websites:

Samaritans – call them on 116 123 for free, any time.
Mind
Macmillan
Cancer Research UK

Can reading improve your mental health?

Statistics shown by The Reading Agency say:

Non-readers are 28% more likely to report feelings of depression, and about 1.3 million people in the UK say they rarely read because of depression. (27)
Proven power of reading. An online poll of over 4000 people from a representative sample in the UK revealed that regular readers for pleasure reported fewer feelings of stress & depression than non-readers, and stronger feelings of relaxation from reading than from watching television or engaging with technology intensive activities. (28)
Studies have shown that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self esteem & a greater ability to cope with difficult situations. Reading for pleasure was also associated with better sleeping patterns. (29)
Adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction. (30)

(2015) Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Quick Reads, University of Liverpool p. 5-6]↩28 [Billington, J,
(2015) Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Quick Reads, University of Liverpool]↩29 [Billington, J,
(2015) Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Quick Reads, University of Liverpool]↩30 [Billington, J,
(2015) Reading between the Lines: the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure Quick Reads, University of Liverpool p. 7]↩

Libraries have a wealth of material on many topics and can be a great way to get started in talking about men’s health. You can even read books from home using the BorrowBox app. This is free to use using your library card number and PIN. Find out more about Borrowbox here: Hampshire Libraries BorrowBox

Libraries also host different groups such as knit and natter, reading groups and many others. Most you can drop in to, just ask at your local library to find out what is on offer.

Books On Prescription: The Reading Well books on prescription is a national scheme by The Reading Agency. This has recommended books from a range of self-help books which have proven value in helping people who suffer from common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, anger and panic attacks. Find the list here: Books on Prescription List

Hampshire Library Movember Booklist

The essential guide to prostate cancer / David Loshak

This text provides straightforward information on prostate cancer: from what the prostate is and how to recognise the symptoms of the condition, to what happens during screening and diagnosis, and the treatments available. All the medical issues are covered with sections that deal with the emotional effects of the disease.

This book could help : the men’s head space manual / Rotimi Akinsete.

Your body needs maintaining to keep it healthy. So does your mind. Sounds simple, but tired and outdated ideas that tell men how they ought to be, mean the message gets lost. And the results speak for themselves: suicide is the biggest killer of men under fifty. ‘This Book Could Help’ is filled with straightforward expert advice and simple techniques to help you shake off what other people say you ought to be, prioritize yourself, meet challenges and develop new strengths, in areas such as dealing with stress, motivation, work and life goals.

The essential guide to testicular cancer

This title has been written with the average reader in mind, all the information compiled is easy to understand and directed to a public that may be diagnosed with or fear the diagnosis of testicular cancer.

Suicide prevention techniques : how a suicide crisis centre saves lives / Joy Hibbins.

Focusing on the methods used at a ground-breaking Suicide Crisis Centre which has a zero suicide achievement, this guide offers strategies to help people in suicidal crisis. Founded after the author’s own suicidal experience, it challenges the established ways of working in mental health and sets out a new way to provide crisis care.

Reasons to stay alive / Matt Haig.

Aged 24, Matt Haig’s world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again. A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how to live better, love better and feel more alive, this is more than a memoir: it is a book about making the most of your time on Earth.