First Wednesday Book Club in 2013

[Image: Book rest lamp from Suck UK]

The First Wednesday Book Club was started as one of the City of Mandurah's National Year of Reading 2012 initiatives.  Throughout 2012 the group's monthly meetings were co-ordinated by the City of Mandurah's National Year of Reading Project Officer.

This book club will continue to meet in 2013 and beyond under their own steam.  They have lots of exciting ideas about how to develop their activities including writing a blog with book reviews and recommendations, event listings and other information of interest to keen readers in and around Mandurah.

You can find their new blog at:

http://www.thefirstwednesdaybookclub.blogspot.com.au/

If you would like to join the group then come along to their first meeting for 2013

at Cafe Pronto

(corner Pinjarra Road & Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah)

on

Wednesday 6th February 2013

from 7-9pm.

Young adult book club

Falcon eLibrary and Community Centre is considering hosting a young adults book club for youths aged 12 and up.  We have a number of titles available with ten books in each collection.  You will have one month to read it and once a month you will meet up with the rest of the group to discuss the book and any others that you may be reading. 

We are asking for expressions of interest to decide which day and time will be most suitable.  To register your interest email your name, phone number, email address and preference for day and time to elibstaff@mandurah.wa.gov.au with Young Adult Book Club as the subject.

For more information phone Julie Larnach on 9550 3230.

First Wednesday Book Club - Wed 5th September

The next meeting of the First Wednesday Book Club is coming up on Wednesday 5th September, 7-9pm at Cafe Pronto.

Many thanks to Corona Books who have again given us some great new release books to give away at the next meeting.  All the books pictured above and below will be available for keen readers to take away this Wednesday evening.

At the First Wednesday Book Club we don't all read the same book as in a traditional book club, however this month a few of us read The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett and we'll discuss it this Wednesday. 

We chose this book because it is going to be adapted for the stage for the first time ever and it will have its world premiere in Mandurah at The Mandurah Performing Arts Centre later this month.  This novel is classified as Young Adult - it was the winner of the 2008 Australian Young Adult Book of the Year Award - but like many YA books its appeal is not limited to that age group.  I found it an enchanting, beautiful and magical read and I look forward to discussing the book with others on Wednesday night and seeing Sally Richardson's adaptation of The Ghost's Child on stage in a few weeks time. 

Everyone is welcome at The First Wednesday Book Club.  For more information about this new informal book club visit this page or contact the National Year of Reading Project Officer, Deidre Robb, on 9550 3237 or deidre.robb@mandurah.wa.gov.au

First Wednesday Book Club - Wed 1st August

The next meeting of the First Wednesday Book Club is coming up on Wednesday 1st August, 7-9pm at Cafe Pronto.

Corona Books have given us some great new release books to give away at the next meeting.

This new informal book club is hosted by Mandurah Libraries as part of the National Year of Reading 2012.  This casual meet-up for book-lovers meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Cafe Pronto (corner Pinjarra Road & Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah) from 7-9pm.  Everyone is welcome.

This book club is suitable for:

• keen readers who love discussing what they are reading and have recommendations to share;
• those who do not want to commit to reading one particular title each month;
• busy people with limited time for reading for pleasure.  Come along and get that must-read recommendation to inspire you to treat yourself to more reading time; and
• those who can’t promise to make it every month but would love to attend whenever they are able.

Feel free to bring along books you have finished with to pass on to others.

For more information please contact the National Year of Reading Project Officer, Deidre Robb, on 9550 3237 or deidre.robb@mandurah.wa.gov.au

This month I'll be recommending the winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction, 2011: Stephen Daisley's debut novel Traitor.  This was one of those books I wanted to read slowly to savour the images and beautiful language. 

I'd love to hear your recommendations next Wednesday night.

Have you thought of starting a book club?

As part of our celebrations of the National Year of Reading, Mandurah Libraries have started the Online Book Club and the First Wednesday Book Club this year. 

If you want to start a new book club too then Mandurah Libraries can support you to do it.  A book club is a great way to get to know people and at the same time enjoy a variety of literature. 

Mandurah Libraries have a number of sets of ten books which can be borrowed by book clubs.  To form a book club, simply get a group of friends together and meet regularly to discuss a book.  The discussion can be as serious or as relaxed as you want to make it. Share your ideas on the book, and maybe read some reviews.

The available titles are listed on the library website or you can see the list here.  New sets are added regularly.  The Library charges $20 to borrow a set of ten books which helps offset the cost of buying multiple copies.

For details phone Kay on 9550 3650.

The picture at the top of this post is from the TV series The Book Group. Clare, a neurotic American, moves to Glasgow and starts a book group to meet new, interesting people. But the members of her group turn out to be rather more interesting than she bargained for...  The DVDs of this very funny TV series are available to borrow from Mandurah Libraries.

Food Glorious Food

The end of April sees the end of our Forensic Feast at the Online Book Club.  But throughout May we will be indulging in a very different sort of feast as May's theme is

Food Glorious Food!

Whether you enjoy reading novels about food, gastronomic writing, gourmet magazines or recipe books, there will be plenty for you to enjoy and contribute to at the Online Book Club this month. 

Head over to the May page on the Online Book Club at Mandurah Libraries blog for all the information you will need about how to get involved - and even a recipe!

Pizza and Paperbacks

Pizza and Paperbacks is a Mandurah Libraries book club just for young adults (11 plus). Meetings are held at Falcon eLibrary and Community Centre and favourite books and their film tie-ins are dissected and discussed.  This month the group will be discussing Morris Gleitzman's trilogy Once, Then and Now.

Meetings are usually held on the on the last Friday of each school holidays, but this month's meeting is on Friday 13th April from 1-3pm. 

Pizza and soft drinks, trivia, what to read next and prizes are all part of the fun! To book your place contact Falcon eLibrary and Community Centre on 9550 3230.

Our Story - Australia's biggest book club

Between November 2011 and January 2012, more than 16,200 thousand Australians voted at their local libraries and on the ABC website for the book to represent their state or territory during the National Year of Reading 2012. 

Together these 8 books form the "Our Story" collection and paint a picture of the Australian people and the land we live in. The winning titles were announced at the official launch of the National Year of Reading 2012 in Canberra. 

They are:

Smoke and Mirrors, by Kel Robertson (ACT);

The Idea of Home, by John Hughes (NSW);

Listening to Country, by Ros Moriarty (NT);

The White Earth, by Andrew McGahan (QLD);

Time’s Long Ruin, by Stephen Orr (SA);

Wanting, by Richard Flanagan (TAS);

Well Done, Those Men, by Barry Heard (VIC) and

Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey (WA).

Now you can take part in Australia's biggest book group by reading the Our Story collection and contributing your reviews.

Head over to The National Year of Reading Book Club page at The Reading Room by clicking here.

Enter a brief review and enter the Our Story competition to win WIN a book pack of the 8 winning books and an e-Reader!

And if you are interested in reading the rest of the shortlist of Western Australian titles, here are the other titles people voted on:

My Place, by Sally Morgan;

Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance, by Howard Pederson & Banjo Woorunmurra;

True Country, by Kim Scott;

Cloudstreet, by Tim Winton;

The Newspaper of Claremont Street, by Elizabeth Jolley.

All the Western Australian titles are held by Mandurah Libraries and we'll be getting copies of all the Our Story titles soon.  (To check the library catalogue and reserve your copy, click here.)

Chick Lit ROCKS!

The March topic for the Online Book Club @ Mandurah Libraries is

 Chick Lit ROCKS!

You choose how you want to contribute: 

• via Twitter using the #mandurahbc hashtag, 
• or join the discussion on the Facebook page, (like Online Book Club at Mandurah Libraries)
• or comment under this month’s topic on the Online Book Club blog.

Time to indulge in your favourite Chick Lit authors; Jill Mansell, Milly Johnson, Katie Fforde,  Kathy Lette and Marian Keyes. Let's get reading!

The First Wednesday Book Club

You are invited to the inaugural meeting of the

First Wednesday Book Club
at
Cafe Pronto
(corner Pinjarra Road & Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah)

on
Wednesday 7^th March from 7pm-9pm

The topic of discussion at this book club is simply “great reading”.

This is a book club for:

• keen readers who love discussing what they are reading and have recommendations to share;
• those who do not want to commit to reading one particular title each month;
• busy people with limited time for reading for pleasure.  Come along and get that must-read recommendation to inspire you to treat yourself to more reading time; and
• those who can’t promise to make it every month but would love to attend whenever they are able.

Share your opinions on the latest adaptations of books to movies, TV shows or stage productions (One for the Money, We Need to Talk about Kevin, The Slap, The White Divers of Broome to name a few).

Pass on reading material you have finished with or take away one of Mandurah Libraries’ “Read and Release” books.

Let others know about an interesting magazine you have discovered, an addictive blog you love or any other great reading.

Treat yourself to a glass of wine, a delicious dessert or tasty snacks from Cafe Pronto’s menu.  Have a fun evening sharing the joy of reading in the company of other keen readers.

Please feel free to invite your friends and pass this message on.

If you can’t make it this month then never mind, put the next First Wednesday, 4^th April, into your diary now!

This book club is hosted by City of Mandurah Libraries as part of the National Year of Reading.  It is open to everyone but please RSVP to Deidre Robb on 9550 3237 or Deidre.Robb@mandurah.wa.gov.au so we can advise Cafe Pronto of estimated numbers.



Online Book Club @ Mandurah Libraries

As part of The National Year of Reading 2012, Mandurah Libraries have started a new book club: an online one. The Online Book Club @ Mandurah Libraries officially launches on February 1st and will continue throughout 2012.

The Online Book Club @ Mandurah Libraries is open to anyone who would like to take part. Discussions take place over Twitter and a new topic is put forward each month; for example February’s theme is ‘Who done it’. You’re not limited to just books for your discussions; you may wish to explore magazines, blogs, website, journals or anything else as long as it is relevant to the chosen topic.

To join in the discussions, head over to The Online Book Club's blog here where you will find all the information about how to get started. Discussions begin on the first of each month but feel free to join in at any time.