Ex-Student promotes new book

Tracey and I met David Whitehouse last night at Nuneaton Library.  He was promoting his latest novel "Mobile Library".  David is an ex-student of KEC (when it was KEGS).  It was fascinating to hear about his Nuneaton childhood and his road to becoming a prize-winning writer.   Inspiration for his current novel was the mobile library he visited as a young boy;  the place he first discovered books.        

David praised his KEGS English teachers who really encouraged his creativity.  David has promised to visit KEC to talk to us about his life as a journalist, novelist and screen play writer. He also signed the Library copy of his book.  His message reads:

"For the students at KEC.
Hello! Study harder!"

If you want to read David's books we've got copies of "Mobile Library" and his previous novel "Bed" in the Library.

Local Author Visits Town

David Whitehouse (from Stockingford) will be at Nuneaton Library on 25th Feb 7-9.00 pm to talk about his new book: Mobile Library.  It's a coming of age novel about how lives and books can intertwine.

Tickets are free ... so order yours now from www.davidwhitehouse.eventbrite.co.uk


'Heart warming and heartbreaking, sometimes in the space of one page, it's a wise and wondrous reminder just how far a library card can take you.' ~ Stylist


David Whitehouse is the author of Mobile Library and Bed, winner of the 2012 Betty Trask Prize and published in eighteen countries. He has several TV and film projects in development with Film4, Warp, the BBC, and others. In the UK, he writes regularly for The Guardian and The Times and is currently the Editor-at-Large of ShortList magazine.

National Competition Success

Congratulations to Finlay May who's earned himself a place on the "First Story" long list with his story "Rhya Larkin" ...

"The sea-breeze over the dock would’ve been refreshing if it wasn’t for the fact that most of the ‘recruits’ had been rudely awakened and frogmarched over. A ruggedly handsome man, standing in naval regalia was handed a small list of names, their skills and background noted in a handful of words. He looked over the list, barking out in his commanding, echoing, drill sergeant voice: "RHYA LARKIN!"

If you'd like to find out want happened to Rhya follow this link.  And good luck to Finlay in the next selection round.
 

Favourite Book Review Winner

Congratulations to Alisha Wall who has won our 2015 Favourite Book Competition for her review "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fenu.  She won a £10 Amazon voucher for this great piece of writing:

"To say that 'life and death are mysterious states' is to say that the little comprehension we have of both can lead to our downfall. In the case of Le Fanu's 'Carmilla', the idea that 'love will have its sacrifices' is an understatement. Pre-dating Stoker's 'Dracula', the short novella explores the lures of female attraction and confronts gothic archetypes, setting a bookmark for the subversive gothic breakthrough novel. The characteristically heterosexual male is relatively non-existent as 'Carmilla' delves into a study of not only female sexuality, but also the strength of women and the lures of the supernatural. From the legend of Nosferatu, tales of the vampire have been told for centuries, but none so fluid or subversive as that of Carmilla, the female vampire seductress, whose meek and mild appearance is thoroughly juxtaposed by her thirst for blood and habitual murder of innocent women. Upon searching deeper, however, you find that Carmilla is the antithesis of what is expected of her, and under her hardened exterior, lies a creature searching for love and a sense of self-worth that no life of immortality can sustain. In a society still dominated by the patriarchy, Le Fanu's controversial tale empowers women and girls through an era when women are becoming stronger and gaining power nationally. Such a powerful read can't help but evoke such a feeling of nostalgia and raw emotion that if I were to recommend someone to read any one book, it would have to be 'Carmilla'. There really is nothing like the rush of emotion that keeps a reader so captivated and enthralled by such a perfect blend of fantasy and reality, not only is 'Carmilla' a classic piece of literature, but also a ground breaking novella, easily one of the best of its time"

And well done to our two runner-ups: Emily Rayson who wrote about Rainbow Powell's "Eleanor and Park" and Carmen Walbyoff who reviewed "Fullmetal Alchemist" by Hiromu Arakawa.  I'll print their reviews shortly.

First Story

If you like writing as much as you like reading ... then you'll be interested in this National Competition.  Top price is a creative writing course for the winners and three of their friends.  You'll get published too.

This year's theme is "Echoes".  To enter, send your poem or story (850 words max) to English teacher, Paul Maiden.  The best three will be forwarded to the Competition.

For more details follow this link: First Story
and come to a meeting in the Library on 14th October at 12.30 pm.

College Deadline for your poems and stories is Friday, 30th November.

Readers and Volunteers Fair

On Wednesday 7th October we'll be holding a Readers and Volunteers Fair in the Library at lunchtime.  There will be representatives from local organisations including Mary Ann Evans Hospice, Warwickshire Libraries, Volunteer Bureau and Nuneaton care homes.  Some of our own volunteers will be on hand too - to tell you about the benefits of joining-in.

We'll also be launching "Reading Ahead" (formerly the Six Book Challenge). This scheme will encourage you to complete six reads by May - with incentives and prizes along the way.  For more information follow this link: http://readingahead.org.uk/

Readers and Volunteers Event

The Readers and Volunteers Event we held in the Library on 22nd May was a real success.  Congratulations to all our prize winners and to everyone else who completed the Six Book Challenge or participated in one of our Volunteer Groups.  And a big thank you to all our speakers, presenters and sponsors.

One of our guests said:
"I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this celebration of volunteers and readers.  It was really encouraging to see these students giving so much of their time to these projects" Stella Thebridge, Principal Librarian, Warwickshire Libraries.
Stella came to promote the local library "Reading Buddy" Scheme.  If you'd like to donate 10-15 hours to helping young children read this summer, please collect a form from me.

Special thanks also go to Sarah Garrett, a photography student who took lots of pictures during the event.  I'll be posting some soon.