Thursday, October 08, 2009

The Eastern Regional Library Show 16th Sept, 30th Sept, 7th Oct

This blog update comes with mega apologies. As I've been on leave for a couple of weeks I haven't posted the last few radio show updates.

For folks that are aware of The Eastern Regional Library Show, library staff members Lesley Conway and Pia Butcher run a radio show each Wednesday 12:05pm-12:45pm on Eastern FM 98.1 called The Eastern Regional Library Show. Tune in next Wednesday for a great show.

16th September
What do you know about Graphic Novels? All our branches have collections of these, but Belgrave has the SUPER collection. This is a style of book which has always been around, but has experienced a huge surge of popularity flowing from the boom of Japanese anime (a particular style of film cartoon) which has transferred over to book. However, it is not just the anime style of illustration which is being used, there is a wide range of brilliant illustration styles being used for both original stories, and for bringing classics and well known novels to a new audience.

I picked up Serenity [Graphic novel] : those left behind at Belgrave recently, because I love the TV series Firefly and movie Serenity, on which it is based (both of these are available for loan). It retells some of the story but also bridges the gap between the movie and the series. The style of illustration is partly comic strip and partly full page illustration. All the Graphic Novels use illustration in ways to best bring the story to life, so there is a wide range of story styles, from The curious case of Benjamin Button, Macbeth, The Discworld, to John Constantine, Hellblazer. Just do a keyword search with 'graphic novel' to see how wide the selection is.

Music today was from the soundtrack of Hairspray, and Travl'n light by Queen Latifah.

30th September
When the rain lashes down, and the tv is uninspiring, put on a great dvd. What? You don't have anything new? Then take a brisk walk down to your local library and browse the great dvd collection. I'll tell you about some of the dvd's I've been watching lately. As a bit of research for the French theme of Lilydale's first Chataboutabook on October 21st, I watched The last Metro, directed by  Francois Trufaut and starring the delectable Gerard Depardiue and Catherine Deneuve. Set in Paris in 1942, it portrays the difficulties faced by an actress who is both hiding her Jewish husband from the Germans, and trying to keep the theatre that he founded from being closed down. Another movie of the theatre, Being Julia is set in England between the world wars. A woman at the peak of her stage career falls in love with a younger man and finds the experience both rejuvenating and challenging. However, the young man is not as open as he seems, and soon she finds herself undermined on several fronts. How Julia (played with great charm by Annette Benning)  triumphs in the end makes for a very satisfying conclusion.

For a completely refreshing, laugh out loud experience, you could try any of the dvd's of poet Pam Ayres live performances. I have recently watched both Pam Ayres : in her own words and Pam Ayres : live on stage. They are wonderful viewing, for the poetry, the linking stories which are just as funny as the poems, and the warm rapport she has with her audience. A different type of humour, sometimes whimsical, sometimes black, sometimes totally hilarous, is to be found in the tv series Northern Exposure. This ran to six series, so there is a lot of compulsive viewing here. The range of quirky and endearing characters who populate the Alaskan town of Cecily are a challenge to (and challenged by) the new doctor, a New York Jewish sophisticate who is in Alaska very much against his choice.

Finally, another tv series that I missed when it went to air, but has been recommended to me by a great many library users is Cranford. Set in an idyllic English country town  during the 1840's, this is depicts a village society dominated by the strong and eccentric women of the town, who are decidedly averse to change. There are many challenges to the status quo personally and on a larger scale. The new young doctor who brings innovative ideas on medical treatment, the overseer of the local manor's property who would like to see education available to all, and the threat of the railway. There are extremes of drama and pathos in the story, but also a very happy romantic ending.

Music today was from cd 1 of a 3 cd series of Ella Fitzgerald, A-tisket A-tasket


7th October
You heard it here first....Lyn Baines is not going to buy a single book in 2010! I might be jumping the gun here, but on today's program Lyn was enthused by a new book from Susan Hill, Howard's End is on the landing. Hill is well known as detective fiction writer, but this book is an  autobiographical tale which began when she went hunting for her copy of E.M. Forster's Howard's End.

She came upon a book she had forgotten that she had bought a year previously, and resolved to spend a year reading through her own large collection , rather than buy any new books. It is a whimsical investigation of books she has loved, new books and reflections on her life. This title is not due out until November, but Lyn will put a record on the database within the next couple of weeks in case you are interested in ordering it.

A new autobiographical work from Margaret Drabble is on our shelves now. The pattern in the carpet grew from a period when Drabble was anxious about her husband who was being treated for cancer. As a relaxation she began making jigsaw puzzles, and became fascinated about where they came from. This book is an interweaving of the history of jigsaw puzzles, childhood memories of her aunt, and later relationships in her life. A poignant and gentle read.

Finally, Bluestocking by Jane Robinson is a history of English women's struggle to gain access to education and acknowledgement of their acheivements. Even though women were allowed to attend lectures and study at Oxford and Cambridge from the mid to late 1800's, it was not until 1920 that Oxford gave women degrees, and not until 1947 at Cambridge. This is a fascinating study of the women who challenged the status quo, and paved the way for women of our century to participate fully in our society.

Music today was from A-tisket A-tasket by Ella Fitzgerald.

---- Lesley

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