November library Notes
Library Statistics:- We are delighted to report that our latest figures show a marked increase in library usage over the last six months. In fact we have doubled the footfall during this period. We are further pleased to note that more of our borrowers are taking advantage of the Vale’s on-line services. Home visits have also doubled so please let us know if you would like us to deliver books to your home.
Library Winter hours:- We will continue to open as usual except for Monday when we shall be closing at 5 pm.
Christmas raffle:- Our raffle this year is extra special. We have two hampers as main prizes as well as a range of various other goodies. Tickets £1 each for sale at the Library. Tickets will be drawn midday on Saturday 15th December in the Library.
Reading Challenge:- Volunteers Alina and Sandra visited Wenvoe School and awarded certificates to pupils who completed the Challenge. The twenty-two children who received a certificate from Wenvoe School are: Evie, Erin, Abigail, Abbie, Alfie, Charlie, Erica, Georgia, Grace, Harrison, Hannah, Harry, Mali, Mia , Nathan, Olivia, Phoebe, Poppy, Seren, William, Charlotte and Jessica.
Other children who completed the Challenge but who do not attend school at Wenvoe have also received their certificates.
Clwb Clonc:- Cymraeg 2050 – a million Welsh speakers, is a government initiative aimed at providing people with the skills to be able to use the language with their families, in their communities and the workplace. Since its launch there has been a surge of adults wanting to learn the language or seeking to improve their existing skills. If you are a learner, or want an opportunity to practice your Welsh conversation skills,, then join us. We meet every Monday at 11 am in the café in Pugh’s Garden Centre. This has got off to an amazing start with support from the village increasing. Please come along whatever your ability.
Welsh magazines on the all Wales e-zines site. Three are now available through the RBDigital Gateway.
Y Wawr – Leisure – aimed primarily at women (it is Merched Y Wawr’s own publication – quarterly)
Barddas – poetry – quarterly
Mellten – children’s – quarterly
New books for November:- This month we have an abundance of new books from many genres to include several new crime titles. In addition, we have several new Welsh and English teen fiction titles and children’s books.
Village Show:- We hope everyone enjoyed the village show. Any new venture doesn’t come without its hiccoughs and so sincere apologies to those who fell foul of our inexperience.
Off the Shelf
Back When We Were Grown Ups – Anne Tyler
Anne Tyler shares a perspective on mid life crisis and writes with honesty and openness about roles and relationships within extended families. The main character Becky, is surrounded by people but still feels incredible loneliness and she dwells on thoughts that she is not her ‘ real self’. If another husband had been chosen she believes her pathway would have been different and she would have been another person. For a while Becky pursues her romantic memories of bygone years leaving the reader worrying for her sanity. Sadly her crisis goes totally unnoticed by those we think are closest to her. Anne Tyler uses the overlap between her family and her business of organising parties and draws on good humour in these events, suggesting that all families are from time to time dysfunctional units. This books shows Anne Tyler’s attributes of great character development with both Poppy, the step uncle and Peter, the step grandson, both of whom are portrayed as quirky, needy individuals with specific traits. But rather cleverly Anne Tyler reaches out to the reader with words of warmth as the story unravels around them.
It may be difficult to get your head around all the characters for a while in the early chapters, but it is well worth persevering. After reading this book we thought that the quote from Rudolph Nureyev summed up Anne Tyler’s work and our message to Becky and any person out there with similar misgivings would be: ‘In life don’t look over your shoulder for fear of falling down the stairs’.
This book was an interesting read, which the group enjoyed, and we gave it a high score of 8.
Isobel Davies 07815 602 148