Man Booker Prize longlist announced

The longlist for the Man Booker Prize was announced in the UK overnight. Speaking about the 13 titles chosen from a total of 132, James Naughtie, chair of the judges, said, "We believe it to be one of the strongest lists in recent memory, with two former winners, four past-shortlisted writers, three first-time novelists and a span of styles and themes that make this an outstandingly rich fictional mix."

The Booker Prize for Fiction was first awarded in 1969 and the rules state that a longlist of twelve or thirteen books - ‘The Man Booker Dozen' - followed by a shortlist of six are selected. Each year UK publishers may submit two full-length novels published between 1 October of one year and 30 September the following year (eg. 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2009 for this year's list) . In addition any title by an author who has previously won the Booker or Man Booker Prize may be submitted and any book by an author who has been shortlisted within the last five years is entitled to automatic entry.

Here is the longlist:

• The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (one of the loveliest covers)
• Summertime by J.M. Coetzee
• The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
• How to Paint a Dead Man by Sarah Hall
• The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

• Me Cheeta by James Lever
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
• Not Untrue & Not Unkind by Ed O'Loughlin
• Heliopolis by James Scudamore

• Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
• Love and Summer by William Trevor
• The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Dates for your diary : the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize will be announced on 8th September and the eventual winner on 6th October.

For a full history of the prize including previous winners, shortlisted authors and judges visit the
Man Booker Prize website.

Book Chain - The Hunter's Wife

The Hunter's Wife by Katherine Scholes



Story outline from the Penguin Books Australia website : Mara, a young Australian, falls deeply in love with John, a big-game hunter who lives on the spectacular grasslands of East Africa. He promises everything Mara is looking for, and she joins him there, full of hopes and dreams. But three short years later, their safari lodge is in trouble - and so, too, is their marriage. When a Hollywood movie crew descends to film on location, Mara knows this could be the lodge's salvation. The success of the shoot depends on her, and she thrives on her sudden responsibility and independence. But she also finds herself dangerously attracted to the film's leading man. A poignant love story set against the breathtaking backdrop of Tanzania, The Hunter's Wife explores a young woman's heartfelt struggle to reconcile duty and desire. Amid the gritty reality of the hunter's world and the make-believe realm of the film-maker, Mara finds that passion must be measured against courage, and that fate will reward the brave.


Book Chain Comments :

• I was disappointed in this book. I didn't find it had enough depth - very predicatable. If there are any men in the book group I apologise!
• Bit of a hard slog to get through. Not enough happening to capture the imagination.
• Waht you would class as a gentle and slow moving story. Good for commuting - sleep - read - sleep - read.
• I would agree with the above reader. Found descriptions of African life interesting. Quite enjoyable.

Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation

More on the benefits of reading in this article from the Telegraph in the UK, Reading can help reduce stress.

According to researchers at the University of Sussex, reading is the best way to relax, working better and faster than other relaxations methods such as listening to music, going for a walk or settling down with a cup of tea. And reading for just six minutes a day can be enough to reduce the stress levels by more than two thirds.

The research was carried out on a group of volunteers who had their stress levels and heart rates elevated by performing a number of tests and exercises. Then they were tested with a variety of traditional methods of relaxation. Reading worked best, reducing stress levels by 68%, listening to music reduced stress levels by 61%, a cuppa by 54% and going for a walk by 42%. Playing video games reduced stress levels by 21% but left the volunteers with heart rates above their starting point.

Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis, who conducted the research, said: "Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation".

"It really doesn't matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's imagination".

What Library Staff are Reading . . .

• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway ~ Short, Sweet, Sad, and Inevitable


• And the hippos were boiled in their tanks by William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac ~ the two authors each wrote alternate chapters, assuming different character’s voices. This eventful, dark and dizzying story is based on a true story (like many of the Beat novels); it was only released recently due to the wishes of a pivotal character (now deceased)


• The Collected Stories by Lily Brett


• Bittersweet: the story of sugar by Peter Macinnis


• La’s orchestra saves the world by Alexander McCall Smith


• Food sex and money by Liz Byrski ~ an easy, good read


• I enjoyed listening in the car to the talking book by Adriana Trigiani called Lucia Lucia


• Captain Mack by James Roy ~ an excellent junior fiction book for younger readers; an adventure story about bravery, bullying and older people. This received an Honour Book award at the 2000 Children’s Book Council awards


• The Cupid effect by Dorothy Koomson ~ a bit of a chic lit type novel in the same ilk as I imagine Bridget Jones is (I’ve not read it yet). It even elicited a few smirks from me, which is quite unusual given that most novels which are supposed to be humorous at best leave me cold, some just plain depress me (I’ve no sense of humour, obviously)


• The arsonists guide to writer’s homes in New England by Brock Clarke ~ supposed to be absolutely hilarious, rip roaringly funny, etc., etc. – by the time I got to the last few chapters, I felt so sorry for the main character that I was almost in tears. I definitely need a sense of humour transplant – anyone got one to spare?


• I read lots of Scientific American and Heritage Australia mags, does that count?


• The Children’s Book by A. S. Byatt


• Azincourt and Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell


• The Mascot by Mark Kurzem


• Briar Rose by Jane Yolen


• Insomniac by Gayle Green ~ a self-help book that I gave a go early one morning but she’s not got any good news for me so she’s back on the shelf – that’ll learn her!


• Kieron Smith, Boy by James Kelman ~ winner of literary prizes in Scotland, including the Saltire. Might be a bit challenging for non-Scots speakers. I've got my book group reading it just now!

Book chain - The Power of Two : The David Foster Story with R.F. Edwards

The Power of Two : The David Foster Story with R.F. Edwards (1998)

David Foster is a Tasmanian woodchopping champion - "A giant in his chosen sport, he is also a giant amongst men. Of immense stature and power, with appetites to match and an infectious lust for life, David is a living legend in the woodchopping world and a much-loved icon in his native Tasmania."

This biography, "is a romp through David Foster's remarkable life and career, taking in blow-by-blow re-enactments of the big man's championship duels with axe and saw, his uncompromising views on life, his hilarious yarns . . . and some of the corniest one-liners you'll ever come across. Read it and you too will be both fan and friend of this big-hearted champion." - Inside cover.

Book Chain Comments:

• Looked forward to the read but found it to be repetitive, too much detail about each woodchop. Overuse of inserted humorous comments became annoying. Gave up halfway through. Condensed to half the length may have been more enjoyable.


• Unfortunately I found I couldn't really get interested in this book. Browsed through it and read various chapters. Like the above, perhaps a much shorter version would have been better.


• I too agree with the previous comments - a shorter version would have probably kept my interest a lot more. Nice idea to have something 'different' to read though.


• Bit hard going to bring in each day (reference to size of book - this was a Book Express Book Chain: Book Express being BMCL's service for train commuters). May be good one for holiday reading?
  

Moon Landings Anniversary

It's 40 years since Apollo 11 was sent to the moon. I was a very small child living in England at the time but vaguely remember being woken up in the middle of the night to watch the moon landing. My husband, a schoolboy in Canberra at the time tells the whole school watched it on a TV set up in the school hall. All over the world, people held their breath and watched a miracle take place.

To commemorate there is a real-time interactive recreation of the mission. Called We choose the Moon, there are 11 stages to the mission with archival images and video available for each stage. You can only see up to stage 6 today but after the anniversary of the moon landing on July 20, you will be able to see all 11 stages as you desire.

With a nod to modern technology you can also follow the astronauts on Twitter.

Fascinating for today's youngsters.

(screen shot of We Choose the Moon)

In a Far Country by Linda Holeman

In a Far Country by Linda Holeman is "a hugely absorbing, satisfying read, beautifully crafted but thrillingly told, in the style of The Far Pavilions.
Pree Fincastle, daughter of impoverished British missionaries in India, is left alone and destitute when tragedy strikes. Turned away by the Church, she embarks on a journey in search of Kai, the son of her mother’s ayah, and the only person she can trust. But Kai is not the man Pree thought he was, and the secrets he holds will unlock the door to another world, another time and, shockingly, another life.
Haunting, powerful, heartbreaking and magnificent, In a Far Country tells of one young woman’s enthralling journey. A passage through penury and prostitution, tragedy and bloodshed, secrets and love, it is ultimately a story of hope; a story that, once read, will never be forgotten." (Source Fantastic Fiction)

Review : As the daughter of poor medical missionaries in India, Pree Fincastle's life is far from glamorous or easy. There's much to do and she spends her time tending the gardens, learning the languages of the area and helping her parents look after the needs of the villagers who come to the mission for medical relief. There is little occasion for fun or frivolity in her austere upbringing. As well, the atmosphere at the mission is not a happy one and there is much about her family's strange situation she can't understand. While she recognises her mother's slow descent into madness, it is not until the tragic death of both her parents that she learns part of the dark secret that the mission station holds. That knowledge leads her into even more distressing circumstances and towards the compelling and gripping conclusion.
It is an enjoyable read - though often disheartening and depressing - and yet it held me spellbound. Linda Holeman is an extremely competent writer whose wonderful descriptions bring the hot and sundrenched countryside of India to life.
If you enjoy this one, read her others as they are equally enjoyable.

Reviewed by Carolyn

Great Big Books

Yesterday I came across this post, 10 Bizarre Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy Online, on the Oddee blog which features the world's biggest book. It's called Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom and is published by Friendly Planet.

This 112-page book measures 1.5m x 2.1m, weighs over 60kg, takes over 3 litres on of ink for printing and costs $2,000 to produce. Each copy is built expressly for the recipient, is numbered, and can include a personal dedication message. Profits from each sale goes to Friendly Planet. It is selling via Amazon for just US$30,000.

Needless to say, you won't be finding Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom on any Blue Mountains City Library shelves.

However, just the day before, we'd catalogued the next best thing; Life-Sized Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya. (Inside subtitle: From tiny rodents to gigantic elephants, an actual-size animal encyclopedia).
This book measures 26cm x 37cm and costs a fraction of Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom and is available for loan.

Each page has a different animal, pictured at life-size - some in double-spread, fold-out pages - and also gives information on the animal, including which part of the animal makes it into the picture, as you might imagine getting life-sized pictures of some animals is quite a challenge.

(Giraffe page - the apple is mine)

It's a beautiful and interesting book and I can't wait to take it home to my 8 year old.

Alison's Picks - July 2009

David Sedaris: When you are engulfed in flames

Michael Ondaatje: In the Skin of a Lion

Belinda Starling: The Journal of Dora Damage

Robert Dessaix: Arabesques: a tale of double lives

Adele Parks: Young Wives’ Tales

8 Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life

For the full rundown, have a read at the post from the LifeDev blog called 8 Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life.

Here is the list, unembellished:

1. Enhanced Smarts

2. Reading reduces stress

3. Greater tranquility

4. Improved analytical thinking

5. Increased vocabulary

6. Improved memory

7. Improved writing skills

8. Helps prioritize goals

I'm sure this is preaching to the converted and I'm also sure this is way too short a list, what other points would you add?

Rain over the School Holidays? Here's a cool activity . . .

Bushwalking in the Blue Mountains

I spent the last couple of days last week in one of my other guises - that of volunteer firefighter looking for a missing English backpacker. He left the youth hostel in Katoomba on Friday 3rd July to go for a bushwalk. He was only discovered to be missing when he didn't show up for a pre-booked tour in the Jenolan Caves.

I joined fellow volunteer Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service volunteers, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff and police but, hundreds of man hours later, our boy is still missing.

As I discovered during our searches, arduous as it was bashing through dense bush and climbing up and down the hills, ours is a stunning part of the world but it is a wilderness and it is vast and should be approached with caution and respect.

Be prepared for every eventuality - even when going out for a few hours carry food, water, warm clothing - even in summer it can cool at night if you are caught out.

Carry a first aid kit.

Check the local weather forecast.

Tell people your planned route and when you expect to be back.

Borrow an Emergency personal beacon (EPERB) - especially if you expect to be away for more than a day. These are available AT NO COST from the Police stations at Springwood and Katoomba and from the National Parks and Wildlife Service Office at Blackheath.

Blue Mountains City Library has numerous books for loan on bushwalking in this area:
Walks in the Blue Mountains National Park by Neil Paton
The Blue Mountains on Foot by Bruce Wyatt Williams
Bushwalking, cycling, jogging in the Lower Blue Mountains by Robert Sloss
North and South Lawson Walks Blue Mountains by Keith Painter
Take a Walk in Blue Mountains National Park by John & Lyn Daly
Sydney and Blue Mountains Bushwalks by Neil Paton

You can also look at the Blue Mountains Tourism website for information on where to go and what to see.

Ancient Bible online

The earliest surviving copy of the Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus , has been made available online - Codex Sinaiticus. The 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus manuscript, written in Greek on parchment leaves, has been studied by scholars in the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia. The original version contained about 1,460 pages each measuring 40cm by 35cm. It was found in 1844 in a Sinai monastery and split between Egypt, Russia, Germany and Britain. It is thought to have survived because the desert air was ideal for preservation and because the monastery was never invaded. Dr Scot McKendrick, head of Western manuscripts at the British Library, said the wide availability of the document presented many research opportunities. "The availability of the virtual manuscript for study by scholars around the world creates opportunities for collaborative research that would not have been possible just a few years ago," Dr McKendrick said.

Codex Sinaiticus from http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/en/

At the British Library there is an exhibition which includes a range of historic items and artefacts linked to the document. If you visit the British Library's online gallery you can turn the pages of the codex (as you can at the Codex Sinaiticus webpages) and listen to curator talks and other podcasts. While you are there you will also find links to other ancient texts.

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest 2009

Image via Wikipedia

The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest is an international literary parody contest in memory of novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). Bulwer-Lytton opened his novel Paul Clifford (1830) with the immortal words:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness."


This year the winner is David McKenzie of Federal Way, Washington who wrote:
"Folks say that if you listen real close at the height of the full moon, when the wind is blowin' off Nantucket Sound from the nor' east and the dogs are howlin' for no earthly reason, you can hear the awful screams of the crew of the "Ellie May," a sturdy whaler Captained by John McTavish; for it was on just such a night when the rum was flowin' and, Davey Jones be damned, big John brought his men on deck for the first of several screaming contests."
It's not the first time Mr McKenzie has entered the contest, he's previously had wins in the Western and Children's Literature categories. Congratulations David McKenzie!

As I often find with 'literary' awards and contests, I didn't quite agree with the judges - here's my favourite which earned a dishonourble mention in the Detective category:
Detective Pierson mentally reviewed the group of suspects milling around the recent crime scene - two young siblings eating gingerbread, a young girl in a red hoodie, a beautiful girl with narcolepsy, and seven little people with the profession of miners - then gave his statement of "it's a grim tale" to the press. ~ Shannon Gray, Wichita, Kansas. Shades of Jasper Fforde there I think!

But read the Bulwer-Lytton winners, runners up and dishonourable mentions for yourself and see if you agree or not. There's a fair few hum-dingers and worth a giggle.


Read Last year's Bulwer-Lytton post in Readers in the Mist.

High(er) brow?

As a bit of a contrast from the previous post, take a look at the entries for the Designer Bookbinders International Competition (also from The Guardian). Sights for sore eyes.

Alain Taral came first in the Designer Bookbinders International Competition with the above design made of pear wood covered with Karelian birch veneer.

The theme for the competition was water this year. This design by George Kirkpatrick, made of calf and various goatskins with palladium tooling, silver rhodium, and gilded brass, is very Australian-looking and probably my favourite.

Low brow?

As publishers rush to print Michael Jackson biographies and other material, the Guardian reports that two Chinese writers have already produced an "instant biography" of Michael Jackson called Moonwalk in Paradise.
Jiang Xiaoyu and Xing Han worked non-stop for 48 hours and claim their book is the fastest biography written. It was available in shops in China on Saturday 4 July, just nine days after Jackson's death. "I am not only a music critic but also a fan of the King of Pop, so I understand what fans really need," Jiang Xiaoyu told the China Daily newspaper. "I fought the deadline around the clock, as fans cannot wait for months."
Jiang Xiaoyu says the book contains information he has gathered as a fan over the years - plus some information he found on the internet and he admitted that beacause of the time contraints some of the details might not be accurate. No kidding?

Never judge a book lover by his cover

This is a wonderfully heartwarming story out of the US.

It is the story of a book club for homeless people who meet every Tuesday morning in a church meeting room.

This unusual book group grew out of the experiences of two men who forged an extraordinary friendship between Peter Resnik, a high-powered lawyer and Rob, a homeless man. Gradually over months of daily conversations that began with jokes and sports talk, they began to have deeper conversations and found they had a common interest: literature. When they saw how that common interest built a bridge between Rob and Peter, they recognized its potential for others and the book club was born. The book club has proved its power to reach homeless people and build their confidence.

Watch this video for more :

video from Boston.com

How you know if you're reading a bad book

Came across this blog post in Feminist SF - the blog : How to know if you’re reading a bad book.

It comprises a list of 12 signposts to bad writing. The author of the list says "some of these criteria apply more to science fiction/fantasy, others more to paranormal/thriller romances".

Mind you, as one who struggles with fantasy, I don't really need to read much further than signpost #1: "Are the characters’ names impossible to pronounce?" If you're reading a fantasy book, of course they are!

Anyway, have a read, it's worth a bit of a giggle. And as always, the comments are well worth reading too.

999 challenge - June

Well here I am at the half way point. I have a bit of a mixed bag this month.

In My Fathers Den by Maurice Gee (Books made into movies) : I happened to come across this little gem when looking for books for my mother. This author is a well known New Zealand author and the story is set in New Zealand. As a young boy Paul Prior is allowed into the inner sanctum of his father's shed/den where a world of books await him. The den is is a bonding place for Paul and his father and a place to get away from Mum and his brother. Paul's past and family history turn him into a loner. Paul emotions run strong for a girl named Joyce with whom he shares a poem called Celia, unaware of how it will effect their future. Paul's friend Charlie steals Joyce from him and Paul moves away and becomes a teacher. Years later he returns to Wadesville to teach at the school where Joyce and Charlie's daughter Celia attends. Paul befriends Celia through their love of books. A murder takes place and Celia is the victim. It is here the story begins and retraces the steps that leads up to this senseless murder. When I finished the book and saw on the back cover that it was a film I went straight to the video shop to hire it. The film pretty much follows the book except Paul has a diffrent profession in the film, why do they do that? The story covers deceit, family and sins from the past. This book drew me in from the start and kept my interest to the chilling end.

Dear Fatty by Dawn French ( Biography)
The title is actually the name of Dawn's best friend and longstanding comedy partner Jennifer Saunders (because she is the thinner one). The book is set out in a series of open letters, especially to her late father who committed suicide when she was 19. She wants to let her father know what has been going on in her life since he has been gone. It is a hilarious (as you would excpect) and moving collection of letters from her childhood, moving around as an Air Force family, to the agonies of the teenage years, to the death of her father, meeting Jennifer Saunders and the start of her career as a comedian, to her marriage to fellow comedian Lenny Henry, the adoption of their daughter Billy and her wonderful career. You can almost here her speak in this bright, honest and amusing book. If you enjoy watching Dawn French you will love this book.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by Scott F Fitzgerald (Books made into movies)
This is a very strange short story written in 56 pages then made into a film that runs nearly three hours. Benjamin is born an old man and ages backwards as the story progresses. There are lots of issues arising from aging this way especially when he goes to college and he is fifty years old while the other students are seventeen. Years later he is attending a party with his father as they are now the same age, when he meets and falls in love with Hildegarde Moncrief, a younger woman and they marry. However, as time goes on and Benjamin becomes younger, healthier and happier, his wife ceases to attract him. He goes off to fight in the Spanish-American war and when he returns his marrige deteriorates even further. In 1910 he hands his company over to his son and heads off to Harvard, as he now has the appearance of a twenty-one year old. By the time he is in his senior year he can not cope with academic work load as he is now sixteen. As time goes on he progess through his early teenage years and he is now looked after by his son who is not happy about the situation as he looks younger than his own grandson. Eventally he loses his memory of his earlier life and becomes a baby than all goes dark.
The book and the film differ greatly as the only thing they have in common is the name and the aging process. I must say I enjoyed both the book and the film.

Fishing for Stars by Bryce Courtenay (Australian)
The story continues on from the Persimmon Tree with the end of World War Two. It finds Nick Duncan living on Beautiful Island in the Pacfic. He finds himself caught between his two loves, Anna Til who is exploting the riches of the world for profit and the older Marg Hamilton fighting to save the environment. Nick is suffering from post traumatic stress so Marg arranges for him to see a specialist in Sydney. Nick and the specialist don't hit it off and Nick storms out of the office and is hit by a car on the street. When the specialist vists Nick in hospital he encourages him to write about his experinces as a form of therapy. He sets out to write of his love for Anna who he met in his late teens and draws us into his life in the post war days, the building of his shipping company and of the two women who inspire him.
I really enjoy Bryce Courtenay's books for their history content but I found this one a little repetitive of the first book.

Book Chain - Eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love (2006) is available as a talking book as well as in print.

From Fantastic Fiction : This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali.

By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls "Anne Lamott's hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister") is poised to garner yet more adoring fans.

Book Chain Comments :

• An inspiring and thought-provoking tale of a woman's search for peace following heartbreak. A bit deep at times - but stick with it, the story will make you laugh at times.
• Found it difficult to deal with character's insecurities. Prefer to read for enjoyment so gave up.
• A well-written book. Elizabeth Gilbert's search for God and for peace within herself was absorbing. Along with historical facts about the countries and religions it was a fascinating read.
• I concur with the others - fantastic beginning really enjoyed it - slow in the middle and picked up again at the end.

Carolyn's Books of the Month - July 2009

• Best read for the month : In a Far Country by Linda Holeman


• Thriller : Unspoken by Sam Hayes


• General : Resistance by Anita Shreve and The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K.Lee


• Saga/Romances : The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs


• Australian Author : As Darkness Falls by Bronwyn Parry


• Crime : Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
  

Botswana cook book?

Image by Lester Public Library via Flickr

Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's heroine, Mma Precious Ramotswe of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, will be pleased to hear that Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook will be published by Polygon in November.

The idea for the book came from charity worker James Brown who collected authentic Botswanan recipes while working in Africa and money from the sale of the cook book will be sent to charities in Botswana. Alexander McCall Smith has agreed to write a foreward and reflections from Precious Ramotswe to accompany the recipes in the book which include include traditional stew, fruit cakes, fat cakes (doughnuts) and other delicacies.

Read more about it in the Mma Ramotswe blog

Winter School Holiday Activities

We're now into July and the winter school holidays are almost upon us - NSW public schools start their holidays on Monday 13th July and they go until Friday 24th July. The Blue Mountains City Library Children's Services team has come up with a great holiday program which also incorporates activities (belatedly) for NAIDOC Week which runs from 5th July to 12th July this year. (Image from NAIDOC website)

NB: Bookings for all programs are essential - bookings need to be made in person and paid for in advance at your nearest library.

So here's the when, where and what of the winter school holidays at your libraries (for more detailed information, download the programme here) :

Monday 13th July

Springwood Library 10:30am-11:30am ~ Celebrating NAIDOC : Aunty Pat Field presents songs, storytelling, dance and puppets. For preschoolers and primary school aged children (ages 0-12) . Free entry.

Wentworth Falls Library 1:30pm-3pm ~ Art from waste with Jane : Try your hand at creating collage art. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Tuesday 14th July

SORRY BOOKED OUT ~ Springwood Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Clay fun with Jane : Create a clay tile using semi-relief in creative mosaic shapes. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Springwood Library 1:30pm-3pm ~ Teen workshop with Jane : Clay Candlesticks and Candelabras. For secondary school aged children (ages 12-18). Cost $5.

Wednesday 15th July

Katoomba Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Clay fun with Jane : Modelling workshop creating native American listening dolls. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Thursday 16th July

Lawson Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Beads with Naomi : Make your own bead jewellry. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Friday 17th July

Katoomba Civic Centre 10:30am-11:30am ~ Mountain Magic Show "Imagination Nation" with Rohan and Ryan, Physical Media Oz. Family Ticket $10 (Adult + 3 children) Single ticket $5.

Monday 20th July

Katoomba Library 10:30am-11:30am ~ Celebrating NAIDOC : Aunty Pat Field presents songs, storytelling, dance and puppets. For preschoolers and primary school aged children (ages 0-12) . Free entry.

Lawson Library 1:30pm-3pm ~ Secret Scenes with Jane : Create your own story scene in a small box. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Tuesday 21st July

Blackheath Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Clay fun with Jane : Monster mosaics. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Wednesday 22nd July

Blaxland Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Paper mosaic with Jane : Create a beautiful mosaic artwork with paper and cardboard. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.

Thursday 23rd July

Springwood Library 10:30am-12pm ~ Beads with Naomi : Make your own bead jewellry. For primary school aged children (ages 5-12). Cost $5.