Personal choices

We know how popular Lee Child is becoming - we already knew how good he is because and featured his books in one of our review pages last year.

The success of his latest book "The Hard Way" has been tremendous. We doubled the planned purchase order to 20 and have seen every copy disappear from the shelves as soon as they return. None are currently available and we probably need to buy more to meet demand!

If you are a fan, you might be interested in a list of Lee Child's recommended books on Fantastic Fiction. We were and are buying copies of the titles we don't currently have to do a "Lee Child Recommends" display throughout the Borough Libraries at the end of this year. It will be the first of a series of "authors recommend" displays and will - hopefully - introduce you to a whole series of writers new to you.

Here are a dozen of the recommended titles currently on order:

Look out for them - tell us if you like them and would like to see more...

You could be on this page! Please tell us what you like to read and why.

 Simply e-mail library.services@merthyr.gov.uk

or write to us at the following address (no stamp required)

Merthyr Tydfil Public Library Service, Freepost, Central Library, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AF.

Send a picture if you wish.

Current choices from the Book Chain:

• Wenham-Jones,Jane.  One glass is never enough.  Accent Press Ltd, 2005, 1905170106.

One Glass is Never Enough is a laugh out-loud book; an ideal holiday read, with enough pathos and drama thrown in to keep the readers on their toes and to get to the next chapter.  I would have enjoyed reading this book at one sitting if time had allowed.  I will certainly read more Jane Wenham-Jones novels and recommend this to anyone who enjoys light-hearted, down-to-earth literature.  I have no doubt that I shall be looking for this author on the shelves.  Cheers!

and

• Davies, Stevie.  Closing the book.  The Women’s Press Ltd, 1994,  0704343886.

‘Closing the Book’ is not a novel I would have opened had it not been for the Book Chain.  It would have been my loss.  It tells of three women, two of them linked only by their love for the high-minded and charismatic campaigner, Bridie.  Their relationships are delicately dissected to reveal raw and conflicting emotions.  Even incidental characters are drawn so finely, the reader can share their turmoil.  Mercifully some laugh-aloud comic interludes lighten the mood.  If the purpose of a Book Chain is to expand literary horizons, it has, for me, a newcomer to the chain, already achieved its purpose.

Previous choice:

The Swallows of Kabul

 by Yasmina Khadra 

A novel described as ‘an extraordinary novel of life under the Taliban.’

I Broke my own rule not to read things that might worry me.  But the atmosphere, descriptions & lucid style made for compelling reading.  The factual nature of the intolerance, inhumanity & religious extremism and the pain and sadness it brings is food for thought and an insight into what it does to individuals.’

This novel is extremely shocking and should be read by anyone who wants to know what it is like to live under an extremist regime, whether secular or religious.

Two thoughts come to mind

1. There is nothing worse than man’s inhumanity to man.
2. 
   The number of repressive regimes that keep their grip in the name of religion and the number of people who accept and live with this.

A strange and disturbing book in many ways.  We are told that the male author took a feminine pseudonym in order to escape censorship.  I’m not sure if his intention was to carry the deception further by writing the story from a woman’s point of view, but, if it was, I don’t think he succeeded.  From a male perspective, he may imagine that the cruel repressions of the Taliban version of Islam, would lead women to behave in the manner described in the book.  I find it difficult to believe that this is so.  This book is neither a fair nor balanced portrayal of the role played by women in a society dominated by men.

Children's Reviews: Golden Oldies

In 1998 we asked a children to write Easter Book Reviews in a library competition in their own words. These are some of the results:

Marianne age 7 from Troedyrhiw Liked Roald Dahl's story Matilda best because Matilda was "magic".

Sara age 7 from Trelewis enjoyed Roald Dahl The Twits best because it will "make you laugh your socks off!"

Nathan age 6 from Merthyr Tydfil liked The Giant Jam Sandwich by Janet Burroway best - because he loved it reading it in rhyme!

Ben age 7 of Troedyrhiw liked the pictures best in Go Home,  Little Bear

Rebecca also age 7 of Trelewis loved Fox in Socks by Dr Seuss, not only because it was very exciting and funny, but because she enjoyed trying to say the tongue twisters.

What are they reading now we wonder?

We have more titles

Whats New

• 21/08/08 - Changes to the Merthyr Show
• 21/08/08 - Financial Assistance for Pupils
• 21/08/08 - Merthyr Tydfil WJEC GCSE results 2008
• 21/08/08 - European Parliamentary Election 2009
• 21/08/08 - How to make a bid
• 21/08/08 - F.A.Q.s