The Secret Life of Bees

AUTHOR: Sue Monk Kidd

PUBLICATION DATE: 2002

No. PAGES: 374

TIME PERIOD: Begins 1964.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: South Carolina, USA.

CATEGORY: Adult fiction

PLOT: In the South Carolina home she shares with her father, fourteen-year-old Lily lies in bed, watching with delight as bees swarm in her room. She misses her mother, who died when Lily was four. Did she shoot her own mother dead? People imply this, but there seems no way of finding out. Loneliness and guilt follow Lily down her days. Her father is mean and irascible. Rosaleen, ‘so black that night seemed to seep from her skin’, is housekeeper and Lily’s surrogate mother. One day Rosaleen, attempting to assert her right to vote in a country rotten with race-based inequalities, meets with violence and finds herself imprisoned. Lily springs her, and they escape together. Where to? A bee farm of course.

COMMENTS: Kidd’s prose is rich, comic, and reminds me just a little of Carson McCullers, who also wrote about life in the deep South and whose central character in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is about the same age. Bees sit at the heart of this story. Bees in a hive depend on the queen for their very survival. She gives meaning and pattern to their lives. The parallel with Lily’s life is unmissable, and beautifully drawn. The story, on the face of it, is a meditation on motherhood; but, deeper down, on the female principle, its nurturing and fecundity.
I love the texture of Kidd’s writing. It’s spare, a mixture of vernacular and poetry, and drives forward, to its satisfying conclusion.

REVIEWER: Alison

October School Holiday Activities

There are plenty of fun workshops to keep the kids busy and happy during the October school holidays.

Places are limited and bookings are essential.

Pay at your nearest library branch.

Tuesday 6th October

Wentworth Falls Library 2pm-3:30pm

The Art of Royalty with Jane

Calling all kings, queens, princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses and opera-going-tiara-wearers. This workshop will have you making crowns of a very unique and personal design.

For 5-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Wednesday 7th October

Katoomba Library 10:30am-12noon

Saltdough with Jane

Come along and enjoy making art together. This workshop is for parents, grandparents and their children. Learn the secrets of saltdough ~ how to mix it, sculpt it, decorate it and finish it off in your oven. Lots and Lots of fun.

For all ages ~ Cost $5 per person (children under 3 years can participate for free)

Thursday 8th October

Blackheath Library 10:30am-12noon

Beads with Naomi

Make your own beaded jewellery. Come and make a necklace, bracelet or fantastic pair of earrings for yourself.

For 5-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Friday 9th October

Lawson Library 10am-12noon and 1:30pm-3:30pm

Dreamtime with Elly

Hear about special characters and the beautiful landscape of the Blue Mountains while you listen to a Dreamtime story. As the story comes to life, learn how to create your own incredible images in an artwork for you to take home.

For 8-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Monday 12th October

Springwood Library 10:30am-12noon

Funky Vessels with Jane

Making containers from clay has a long tradition and the possibilities for cool and clever designs are endless. Join this workshop to fine-tune your skills with the more tricky aspects of clay modelling.

For 6-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Tuesday 13th October

Lawson Library 10:30am-12noon

Art Glasses with Jane

Sometimes we only see the world in one way. In this workshop you'll have fun looking at the world differently. We will design, colour and crazy up our own funky 'Art Glasses'.

For 6-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Thursday 15th October
Springwood Library 10:30am-12noon
Beads with Naomi
Make your own beaded jewellery. Come and make a necklace, bracelet or fantastic pair of earrings for yourself.

For 5-12 year olds ~ Cost : $5 each

Friday 16th October

Blaxland Library 10:30am-12noon

Digital photography with Naomi

When you know how to edit your photos, the possibilities are endless. Bring your digital camera (and/or image files on a USB stick) and learn some fun tricks and tips you can use to enhance your photos. We will be looking at editing tools, online photo sharing and creative fun with photos. Even if you don't have a camera but want to find out about this stuff, come along!

For 10-15 year olds ~ Cost : $10 each

About our tutors

• Jane Davidson is a freelance artist. She is a sought-after tutor for workshops in regional galleries and councils for children, both primary and secondary school age.


• Naomi Oliver is a Blue Mountains-based artist who has exhibited her artwork both nationally and internationally. She has been involved in art gallery public programs and has contributed to HSC study material for NSW students.


• Elly Chatfield is the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer for Blue Mountains City Council. She is part of the "Reconnecting to Country" project and is involved in the education stream. Elly is also an artist and has held solo and group exhibitions of her work which features vibrant colours and often her personal totem, the goanna.

Fab Friday

Fab Friday is a cool kids club for primary school aged children which takes place at Springwood Library on the first Friday of each month (during term times).
Come along and hang out with Jane Davidson and your friends and try fun new things - it could be art, could be movies, could be anything!

For October Jane is doing Foods I love to Eat

A pencil drawing skills workshop on the subject of

Healthy Foods vs Junk Foods

Springwood Library

Friday 2nd October

4-5pm

Free

Man Booker Prize for Fiction shortlist announced

Overnight in London the judges of the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction announced the shortlist for this year's prize. The six shortlisted titles, chosen from a longlist of 13 are:

• The Children's Book by A S Byatt
• Summertime by J M Coetzee
• The Quickening Maze by Adam Fould
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
• The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Jim Naughtie, Chair of the 2009 judging panel, commented, "We're thrilled to be able to announce such a strong shortlist, so enticing that it will certainly give us a headache when we come to select the winner. The choice will be a difficult one. There is thundering narrative, great inventiveness, poetry and sharp human insight in abundance."

The winner will be announced on Tuesday October 6th and will receive £50,000 and can look forward to greatly increased sales and worldwide recognition. Each of the six shortlisted authors, including the winner, receives £2,500 and a designer bound edition of their own book.

For more information please link to the Man Booker Prize website. The page on how the judges came to their decision is very interesting.

Carolyn's Books of the Month - September 2009

• Best read for the month : The Neighbour by Lisa Gardner
• Thriller : Quiver by Peter Leonard
• General : First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader and Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
• Saga/Romances : What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity
• Australian Author : Ironbark by Johanna Nicholls
• Crime : Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper

For the Austen fans

or perhaps not?

Fun for the weekend from British comedy program That Mitchell and Webb Look (LANGUAGE WARNING - there is one line containing an expletive).



(Source : Citizen Reader via Austen blog)

999 Challenge - August 2009

I have finally started on my classic reading list, classics that I have never gotten around to reading.

Shame by Jasvinder Sanghera (General Reading) : When reading this book I found it hard to believe that arranged marriages are still going on in the world today.
Jasvinder is one of eight children, seven girls and one boy. It is her mother's quest to get all the daughters married off by arranged marriages by the time they are fifteen. Jasvinder and her family live in Derby, England where a large community of Indian people live. At fifteen Javinder is shown a picture of her future husband and told that she will shortly be sent to India to marry him. Meanwhile at school her school friend introduces Jasvinder to her brother Jassey and they become friends although they are of a lower class by her mother's standards. When the time draws closer for her to go to India Jasviner runs away with Jassey. This brings great shame on Jasvinder's family in the community. Her parent disown her. After a few months away she phones her family but the tell her she is dead in their eyes. Her younger sister Lucy gets in touch with her and eventually moves in with her when Lucy's marriage breaks down. Robina, one of her other sisters, asks for help from her parent as her husband is very abusive but they tell her that she must put up with it and make her husband happy as it will bring shame on the family if she leaves him. It is all too much for Robina and she douses herself in parafin and sets herself alight. Meanwhile the brother was allowd to marry a half caste Indian woman. Jasvinder has two children and several relationships and eventually helps look after her aging parents although she is never fully forgiven. Jasvinder returns to school and eventally to university and sets up a centre in Derby so she can help these women.
This book certainally opened my eyes to traditions that are forced upon young girls in this day and age. There are many young women from this culture that are forced to kill themselves for the suffering that they endure. Some of these girls are highly intelligent but have never had the opportunity to gat a proper education. If they want to leave these abusive relationships, they have no money, no where to go or know no other life away from there community.

Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (Crime) : This is number fifteen in the Stephanie Plum series. Janet Evanovich seems to win the reader over with every new adventure. To tell the truth I thought I would be bored with these books by now but fortunately they still hold my interest especially the Ranger/Morelli situation.
Stephanie is on the case of murdered TV chef Stanley Chipolte with her partner in crime Lula of the plus size and personality. Short of money as always, Stephanie takes a second job at Rangeman (bounty hunting being her first) working with her on again off again lover, Ranger. They are investigating a series of break-ins in places that the Rangeman security systems are installed. Meanwhile in the background is Joe Morelli (Stephanie's ex boyfriend at this point of time) waiting to whisk Stephanie away from Ranger if things get too heated. A funny read with all the usual characters.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Classic) :This is the story of Heathcliff who was a foundling on the streets of Liverpool and is bought to Wuthering Heights by the then owner Mr Earnshaw who raises him as his own. Catherine, Earnshaw's daughter and Heathcliff become inseparable. Hindley, Catherine's brother resents Heathcliff and when Earnshaw dies he brutally treats Heathcliff as farm labourer. Catherine becomes friendly with the neighbours the Lintons. Heathcliff overhears Catherine declare that she could never marry Heathcliff as it would be too 'degrading' and he storms out failing to hear the rest of the declaration that 'she is Heathcliff' and her love for him is unmovable. Catherine ends up marring Edgar Linton. Heathcliff is now intent on destroying Catherine. Heathcliff elopes with Edgar's sister Isabella which places him in the position of inheriting Edgar's property if he was to die. Heathcliff and Catherine reconcile for a while. Catherine dies giving birth to a daughter named Cathy. Heathcliff's wife flees her abusive marriage and not long after gives birth to a son named Linton. Around the same time Catherine's brother Hindley dies and Heathcliff inherits Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is now left to raise his son after his wife dies along with Hindley's son who he treats as Hindley treated him. Heathcliff hates his son as he reminds him of Edgar. Linton and Cathy meet on the moors when they are out riding and form a friendship. Linton falls ill and Cathy goes to see if she can help. Heathcliff puts her under house arrest and forces Linton and Cathy to marry. Linton dies and Heathcliff inherits Thurshcross Grange. He now has control over both properties. When he eventally dies he is found lying on the bed with his hand outstretched to the open window where he often heard Cathy's voice, as if reaching for her hand. He was buried next to Catherine with Edgar on the other side. The rumour in the village is their ghosts can be seem wandering the moors.
I didn't really like any of the characters in the book ecept for Mrs Dean the narrator/housekeeper who was sensible, loyal and never lost hope. I expected Heathcliff to be dark, brooding and romantic instead he was possessive, controlling, manipulative and totally crazy in the end. This was Emily Bronte's only book and it did keep my interest to the end.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (Classic) : Maxim's second wife, who is the narrator, is not actually named, reflects on a dream she has about Manderley and so the story unfolds. The narrator is a companion to a rich American, Mrs Van Hopper when she meets Maxium. Maxium asks her to marry him but Mrs Van Hopper thinks he is only marrying her to get over the death of his first wife, Rebecca. Maxim brings his new wife home to Manderley. Maxium's housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, does not approve of the second wife as she was very devoted to Rebecca. With Maxim attending to his business affairs the new wife is left to fill in her time in an intimidating house left behind by Rebecca. Rebecca was drowned in what appeared to be a boating accident and her body indentifed by Maxim after it was found futher up the coast. The morning after the annual ball a boat has hit the rocks in the bay and a diver is sent down to invesigate the damage. The diver finds a sailing boat on the bottom of the seabed and when the boat surfaces and the body of Rebecca is discovered. Maxium tells the narrator that he never loved Rebecca and that he actually shot her due to her infidelities. Jack Favell who was having an affair with Rebecca accuses Maxim of murdering his wife. It appears she was pregnant and it is found in the court that she comitted suicide. Maxim and his second wife can finally get on with there life together and set off home to Manderley. As they approach they see the light spreading over the sky and relise it is not the sunrise but Manderley burning.

I loved this book as I have loved the film. Maxim is another brooding character. Not naming the second wife made her less confidant and vunerable. I felt the tension building throughout the story wondering what really happened. This book is must read for mystery lovers.

JD Salinger to sue over 'sequel' - an update

From Associated Press in the US : "An appeals court in New York City has heard arguments on whether a Swedish author can publish a new book in America that was once promoted as a sequel to J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye."

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan did not immediately rule Thursday.
A federal judge had found the book copied too much of Salinger's work and blocked its U.S. publication. Two of the three appeals court judges questioned if the lower court judge had heard enough evidence before making a ruling.

One of the appeals court judges, Guido Calabresi, indicated he had read the new book, titled "60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye." He referred to it as a "rather dismal piece of work."

BookGlutton

BookGlutton enables people to share their thoughts on a piece of writing as they go - like being in a book group but having the discussion whenever it suits you, not having to wait until the next meeting.

"We believe firmly that people want to read, annotate and discuss, right there, immersed in the text. That’s the best time to talk about a book. We also respect the solitary side to reading: people should have the chance to tune out the community. We wanted it to be attractive, too; to be an experience".

In brief, you upload the book to your computer and use the chat box on the left and a text mark and comment box on the right. You can join an existing book group and comment on their current reading, or create your own one.

This video explains :



BookGlutton is built for use on a laptop (so you can take it with you), though there are plans to expand it to phones and other devices.

(via The Reader's Advisor Online)

Fab Friday

Fab Friday is a cool kids club for primary school aged children which takes place at Springwood Library on the first Friday of each month (during term times).

Come along and hang out with Jane Davidson and your friends and try fun new things - it could be art, could be movies, could be anything!

This month Jane has an A-Maze-ing Fab Friday planned.

Jump into the mesmerising world of picture mazes at this fun workshop

Springwood Library

Friday 4th September

4-5pm

Free

book vs ebook

There's a lot of chatter in the publishing and library worlds about the pros and cons of printed and electronic books and whether the latter will ever oust the former in our affections.

This video is firmly in the pro printed book camp: