On 2nd December's show
Do you have unread books on your shelves at home? If you do, you might like to read Susan Hill's Howards End is on the landing. This is about a resolution not to buy any new books for a whole year, which thought makes Lyn Baines hair stand on end. But apparently there is now a following for this concept, similar to the idea of 'slow food', and drawing from ideas of sustainability and recycling. Susan Hill discovered that she had many books bought over years but never read, and resolved not to buy any more until she had read what she had. She discovered many gems and old favourites. If you would like to know more, she has a very interesting website which includes her blog, http://www.susan-hill.com/
A reliable detective series has a new title, Skeleton Hill by Peter Lovesey, featuring Peter Diamond and the city of Bath. Peter Diamond is an especially English type, a bit overweight, not in good favour with the boss, and inclined to do things his own way. However much his superiors don't like it, his methods get results. When two skeletons are found, one old, one new, in the midst of an English Civil War re-enactment, Peter's boss tries to put him on a different case, but he is not to be sidetracked. Peter Lovesey also has an informative website, http://peterlovesey.com/ And as we mentioned briefly on the show, there is a new Bill Slider detective story out, Fell purpose by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.
Lyn has purchased a lot of new Christmas music, so check our collection for Christmas songs from Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett and Andre Rieu. Music today was from Choral favourites from King's (King's College Choir).
On 9th December's Show
As promised, lots of Christmas music for you today. New CDs include Rosemary Cooney's Christmas, A Motown Christmas, A swingin' Christmas (Tony Bennett), The Christmas I love and The 100 most beautiful melodies : vol. 2 (Andre Rieu), Christmas with Boney M, Christmas memories and A Christmas album (Barbara Streisand), Classic carols for Christmas, And winter came (Enya), So fresh : Christmas songs for 2008, The Nat King Cole Christmas album, and An Australian Christmas from ABC for Kids.
The excitement and anticipation of children is contagious at this time, and one of the lovely things to do is to make simple presents, crafts and foods with them. All our branches have wonderful books in both adult and junior collections on these themes, and some I highly recommend are Christmas crafting with kids : 35 projects for the festive season, Cards for lads and dads by Elizabeth Moad, 20-minute crafts by Kathie Stull, Paper fantastic by Joe Rhatigan, Festive decorations by Anne Civardi (in fact anything by Anne Civardi is excellent), and Classic Christmas traditional and contemporary (Women's Weekly).
Home made Christmas food is lovely to share as a gift, so titles which have great recipes include Gorgeous Christmas by Annie Bell, Christmas treats : to make and give by Linda Collister, Nigella Christmas : food, family, friends, festivities by Nigella Lawson, and Margaret Fulton Christmas.
DVDs with a Christmas theme include Shek the halls, Spicks and Specks : a very specky Christmas, How about you, Christmas specials from Steptoe and son, The two Ronnies, Jonathon Creek, and for the children, Spot's magical Christmas, Postman Pat : Christmas Eve and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
And for some light fiction to read over the holiday period Christmas at Thrush Green by Miss Read, A Christmas blizzard by Garrison Keilor, Rumpole at Christmas by John Mortimer, Dashing through the snow by Mary Higgins Clark and Holidays on ice by David Sedaris.
Music today was from The Nat King Cole Christmas album.
---- Lesley
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