Moorland Road Community Library
Tues 10-4pm, Thurs & Fri 10-1pm and Sat 10-1pm. Email for more info at Moorlandroadcommunitylibrary@gmail.com And visit https://www.moorlandroadcommunitylibrary.com/ to find out how to volunteer and much more. The library is seeking more volunteers to help keep it open for longer.
Adult Fiction
Displaced – Barbara Nadel
I downloaded this book from the Libraries Borrowbox App and it is written by Barbara Nadel who also writes the Turkish Detective series that was recently dramatized on the BBC. This story revolves around two Private Investigators – Lee Arnold and Mumtaz Hakim – who run their agency from the East End of London. They both have a complicated back story but know their community well. Irving Levy is from the local area – an old-fashioned Diamond Cutter who sadly is terminally ill. He wishes to leave his considerable property to family. Unmarried but determined to locate his long-lost sister, who disappeared in the 1960s at Barking Park Fair, he employs Hakim and Arnold to investigate her disappearance.
Their investigation takes them initially to Berlin – a city still recovering from the Berlin Wall coming down and then finally to the world of the travelling circus. Buried secrets are revealed, leading to a crime committed in 1963 but also to the chaotic world of post-war Europe. Sometimes people are genuinely not what they seem. I whizzed through this book as Babara Nadel is an excellent writer and I enjoyed the characters of Arnold and Hakim. This is book 6 in the series, and I will definitely look out for more.
Cecily – Annie Garthwaite
The year is 1431, and Cecily Neville, at sixteen has become the Duchess of York and now stands with her husband Richard to watch the end of Joan of Arc in Rouen France. He husband has been branded a traitor! So begins a very modern take on historical fiction and the complicated period of English history – the Wars of the Roses. The story centres around Cecily Neville and her determination to secure her family’s future in the face of treachery and at times danger in the late medieval English court. Cecily will eventually see both her sons, Edward and Richard become English Kings, but this story is from her perspective.
If you are fans of Philippa Gregory and Hilary Mantel, then this is a perfect read. A complicated period in English history but the author has written a great story even though I had to return to the genealogies at the back of the book a couple of times!
Adult Non-Fiction
5 Ingredients: Mediterranean – Jamie Oliver
Who doesn’t love Jamie Oliver and his recipes using just 5 ingredients. This cookery book celebrates all tastes and flavours from the Mediterranean and explains quick and easy recipes for everyday cooking. So, there is mussel risotto – tomatoes, rice, mussels, cheese and a little fennel; lamb meatballs – with lamb, roasted red peppers; roasted cauliflower and finally a very simple baked cheesecake. All presented in a clear and well-illustrated way and very mouthwatering.
Children’s Fiction
Aunt Amelia’s house, Rebecca Cobb, as reviewed by Emilie Bioud, Keynsham Library Assistant
Aunt Amelia is a crocodile, don’t ask me why she is. She has been asked to babysit her niece and nephew. But when they arrived, they are not quite pleased because she prepared a list of chores which need doing around her house. Each chore becomes an interesting fun game, and the children spend a fabulous day out. This very lovely book with colourful illustrations should bring a smile on small and big people faces.
Izzy the Inventor and the Unexpected Unicorn – Zanna Davidson
Izzy loves science and wants to be the greatest inventor ever! However, some of her experiments go a little bit wrong – flying eggs and explosions. So, she is told to go and play with her sister. Her sister wants to play fairies but Izzy says: “Fairies aren’t real”…. Well read on and see what happens. There is a fairy godmother and a very plump, cuddly unicorn. Which brings loads of adventures for Izzy, from flying to magical kingdoms, goblins and trolls. A great science-packed story with actual experiments you can do yourself, with or without a unicorn!
Library News
There’s always so much going on in all our libraries, and it’s all free. So drop in and see what’s on offer – we’ve got book clubs, writing classes, and much more throughout the year. Joining the library costs nothing, so pop in or visit www.librarieswest.org.uk to also access thousands of eBooks, eMagazines, Audiobooks, and a wealth of other resources! Our ‘Virtual Library’ has loads going on, including the latest library news, competitions, book reviews and, all our digital offers. Search ‘Bath and North East Somerset Libraries’ on social media or visit bathneslibraries.wordpress.com