Weblog Archive

And the winner is Sebastian Barry with The Secret Scripture.

 Have you read it?

Just a quick update to the entry about the Costa Book Awards... I've just heard that you can watch the awards live via a webcast on the day.  Here's an extract from the press release.

"For the very first time, Costa, the UK's largest and fastest-growing coffee shop chain, is opening up the doors to the Costa Book of the Year awards ceremony via a live webcast enabling booklovers all over the UK to take a front row seat at one of the most prestigious literary events of the year.

Be among the first to toast the winner of the 2008 Costa Book of the Year, whether over a delicious cappuccino with reading group friends, a latte at your library or even from the comfort of your own home by tuning in to http://www.costabookawards.com/ at 9.45pm on Tuesday 27^th January to watch the event live!"

Sorry, but the library won't be open at quarter to ten on a Tuesday night for you to log on to watch the awards, but I'm sure that you can find a PC elsewhere!

Suzanne

Hello

I've been reading books outside my comfort zone again - this time it's Wounded by Percival Everett.

This book offers a whole lot more than might be predicted on first impression, as what initially seems to simply be a book about a hate crime in a small town opens up to cover personal and family conflict, as well as a burgeoning romance.  Wounded is a pretty brutal read where violence and bigotry seem to be the norm, yet the first hand commentary from horse trainer John Hunt lightens the atmosphere enough to make you want to keep reading.  This book doesn't pull any punches but it's a gripping read nonetheless and one that certainly lives up to its title.

It's not to everyone's taste, but if you do read it please let me know what you think as I'd love to hear someone else's view on it.

Suzanne

Hello

The National Year of Reading may have ended, but in the book world life goes on.

The first big event this year is the announcement of the winner of the 2008 Costa Book of the Year on 27 January.  The nominees are the winners of the individual categories that were announced at the end of last year.  They are

First novel: Sadie Jones - The Outcast

Novel: Sebastian Barry - The Secret Scripture

Biography: Diana Athill - Somewhere Towards the End

Poetry: Adam Foulds - The Broken Word

Children: Michelle Magorian - Just Henry

I've not read any of them myself, so can't pass comment, but if you've read one or more then please let us know what you thought.  I'll let you know the winner when it's announced (and not before!)

Until next time

 Suzanne

Hello

I just wanted to tell you about a new addition to our Celebrity Readers page.  Colin Dexter who we have invited to appear at the Plowright Theatre on 10 January (tickets still available) has kindly answered our reading questions (despite me writing to him in the middle of Christmas!). And so you can now find out all about his reading tastes and love of The Dandy - follow the link above to see more.

Suzanne

Happy New Year and welcome to ReadNorthLincs 2009. 

Despite the National Year of Reading having finished we're still keen to keep promoting books and reading as much as we can. So we're keeping this site going for the foreseeable future. That means you can look forward to lots more of me rambling on over the coming months.

Please keep submitting your reviews - espicially if you've read anything really good, or really bad over Christmas! We'd really like to hear about it.

And don't forget to join in our discussions and polls - the site is what you make it.

And finally, the last few tickets are still available for the audience with Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter on Saturday 10th January at the Plowright Theatre. We'd love to see you there.

Until next time

Suzanne