Library News 15 April 2022
Published on April 14, 2022
Top 10 New Adult Graphic Novels
BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves
Dead Eyes by Gerry Duggan
G.I. Joe, World on fire by Paul Allor
Deadly Class vol.9 : Bone Machine by Rick Remender
The Shaolin Cowboy : start trek by Geof Darrow
Bliss by Sean Christopher Lewis
The Silver Coin by Chip Zdarsky
Haha : sad clown stories by W. Maxwell Prince
Nuclear Family : Radio nowhere by Stephanie Philips
Anthrax : among the living : celebrating 40 years of Anthrax
Pam Coleman Community Engagement Librarian
We can’t all go on great adventures but we can read about them. Heart racing high-octane and a happy place for many of us, you find your next fuel-injected foray into the fields of battle, espionage, danger, heroism and even history rewritten. You’ll be over the waves, under the radar, up mountains, outside the law, beyond help, dicing with danger, battling monsters, rescuing the stricken, flying through flack, laying mines, playing political parlour-games, conning Congress, kidnapping commandos clashing with conquistadors and crossing swords with Crusaders... and all from the safety of your favourite chair. Just as well, I say, as most of us have been stuck in said favourite chair for too long recently.
I have to admit that modern action adventure fiction is not my cup of tea. I do love high fantasy adventure but despite having suspense, thriller and action adventure books in our library at home growing up, I have never read any. However, in the spirit of trying something new, I am giving it a go. My venture into the romance genre, after years of uppity avoidance, was successful, so this should be a breeze.
Having done some research I noticed that in a Goodreads list Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ was in the top 50 books. I read the book in my twenties and enjoyed “Apocalypse Now’ the film which was loosely based on the novella. For some though, myself included, this type of fiction might be a tad too much at the moment as we witness the awful reality of war and humanitarian crisis.
My instinct is that Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels are THE one series I must read. It’s a crime that as a librarian I have never read a Lee Child book (gasp.) Reacher has become one of the mainstays of the action and adventure genre because he’s a nearly-perfect thriller character: physically imposing, intelligent, deeply moral, and free. I can just hear the movie voice over, ‘He’s the sort of man men should be afraid of and women swoon over.’ Of course, I have my very own swoon able other half (raises eyes) so why choose Jack.
The phenomenal success of the Jack Reacher books – the 20-plus bestsellers, the 100 million copies sold, the admirers ranging from Margaret Drabble to Bill Clinton – have done nothing to disturb Child’s basic rule. “What is the purpose of fiction?” he asked in his non-fiction book, The Hero (2019). “To give people what they don’t get in real life.”
Therefore, this Easter weekend I’m starting at the very beginning with ‘Killing Floor.” With twenty- six books in the series, I may never leave that favourite chair.
What’s On
Easter Opening Hours
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō: Friday, Sunday & Monday – CLOSED, Saturday - 10am to 4pm,
Shannon Library: Friday, Sunday & Monday – CLOSED Saturday - 10am to 12pm,
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom: Friday - CLOSED, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - 10am - 4pm,
Up! Up in the Air: Children’s Holiday Programme 19 -29 April
We have a flight theme this time with drop in craft and activities:
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Monday – Friday, 10am-12am
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Monday – Friday,
Shannon Library: Monday to Friday 1pm to 5pm
Yvonne De Mille Kite Workshop:
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Wednesday 27th April 10am - 11.30am
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Thursday 28th April 10am - 11.30am.
Drone Workshops:
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Tuesday 19th, 1pm - 4pm,
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Sunday 241pm - 4pm,
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, Tues 26, 1pm - 4pm,
Registrations are strictly limited. To register pop into your local library or fill out the online form here https://www.tetakere.org.nz/Your-Library/Childrens/Holiday-Programmes-Events
Exhibitions
The Three Musketeers, 4 April – 29 April 2022, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Gallery Space,
Tuesday 19 April
JP Service: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 11.30am-1.30pm
Wednesday 20 April
Quiz Night, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 7pm – 9pm, $5
Thursday 21 April
JP Service: Shannon Library, 2pm – 3pm.
Friday 22 April
SeniorNet: Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom 10am-12pm
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 2pm -4pm
Friday Concert: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō 12pm - 1pm
Crafts and Activities, 18 April to 29 April, Monday to Friday:
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am to 12pm
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 1pm – 5pm
Shannon Library, all day
Watch this space for additional programming in the afternoon and at the weekend.