Crime Scene Leeds
Crime books are hugely popular in our libraries. To celebrate this, and also the fact that it is National Crime Writing month we are holding a number of events in our libraries.
To kick off we are hosting a Big Read event in partnership with the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Borrow a copy of Casino Royale from the library and come along to the event on Wednesday 12th June at Central Library. The festival’s reader in residence; David Mark will there to lead a discussion on the book so come along and hear others reactions to the classic Bond novel.
We are also extremely pleased to be welcoming Steve Mosby, Helen Cadbury and Tom Harper to our libraries for events. All these events are free, to find out the times and venues click here.
Headlining our month of events is Stephen Booth. Stephen is the bestselling author of the Ben Cooper and Diane Fry books and has been a previous winner of the CWA Dagger in the Library award. We are very excited that Stephen will be at Central Library on Monday 8th July to talk about his latest book; Already Dead. This event is free, but places are limited. To book a place ring 0113 247 6016.
During June and July look out for displays of crime novels in our libraries. You could re-read an old favourite or alternatively discover your next favourite author.
Children’s Events
Half term is rapidly approaching so I thought I would highlight some of the excellent activities and events that are happening in our libraries over the next few weeks.
Breeze International Youth festival
We are very pleased this year to be running the Breeze Bookfest as part of the festival. There are a number of fantastic events happening in our libraries from today until Saturday 1st June. There are far too many events to mention all of them but they include an opportunity to meet previous Leeds Book Award winners, Comic workshops, Tutti Frutti Theatre presenting Hue Boy and author events with Jon Mayhew, Steve Cole and Craig Bradley. There should be something for everyone as part of the festival so if you are a budding writer, illustrator or just love good books then there should be something for you. Look out for our Breezefest leaflets in the library or check out the full Breeze Youth festival programme at www.breezeleeds.org/BIYF
Big Bookend
We are also happy to be supporting the Big Bookend again this year which has some excellent events for children on its programme. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a detective come along to Kate Pankhurst’s activity to solve the case of the ghostly guinea pig. Keen adventurers should enjoy Dan Ingram Brown’s workshop where explorers can create their own scrap map story island and challenge their characters with death defying quests and adventures. These events both take place over the weekend of the 8th and 9th June at Central Library. For further details of these events as well as lots more for children and families visit http://www.bigbookend.co.uk
Leeds Book Awards
The Leeds Book Awards are announced this week!
Children have been reading and writing reviews of the shortlisted books in the categories since February, and have now voted for their favourite. These votes have been counted and verified and the winners will be revealed on Tuesday morning (Primary schools) and Thursday afternoon (Secondary schools).
The Leeds Book award process started back in September when the children’s team here in Leeds libraries as well as our colleagues in the Schools Library service start collecting suggestions for the shortlist from young people. These suggestions are looked at, as well as publisher submissions in November and the shortlists are produced. There are three shortlists; the age 9 – 11, 11 – 14 and the 14 – 16 categories. Children from schools across the whole of Leeds then read the books and vote for their favourite. You can see the shortlisted books as well as lots of reviews on www.leedsbookawards.co.uk
Everything comes to a grand finale this week when the children come together to meet the authors of the books and take part in the presentation of the prestigious Leeds Book Award trophy to the winning authors. This event is always fabulous and the children, teachers and authors all have a great time.
Leeds literary map – help needed!
![Literary%20map[1]](http://leedsreads.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/literary20map1.jpg)
Do you know of a novel that mentions a street near you? A story that depicts your local area and makes it a backdrop to a romance or a dastardly deed? Well please give us a helping hand!
So far we’ve added 33 authors to our literary map of Leeds - but we’re looking for a lot more.
Take a peek at the map and let us know about other novels or short stories that mention a place or street in Leeds. We’ll be delighted to add them.
Simply email the author, title and place or street in Leeds to Enquiry.express@leeds.gov.uk or tweet us @Leedslibraries using the hashtag #Leedsliterarymap to join in the fun. We really would appreciate any help spreading the word far and wide.
Dan Brown on the radio
On 21st May Radio 2 Book Club sees Simon Mayo joined by million selling author, Dan Brown, to discuss his new novel Inferno now in our stock. It’s only been rated 2 star by 14 of our readers so see what you think
Set in the heart of Europe, ‘Inferno’ follows renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he becomes drawn into a harrowing world centred around one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces: Dante’s Inferno
In 2005, Dan was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine, whose editors credited him with “keeping the publishing industry afloat” after the success of his book, The Da Vinci Code.
The Big Library Read
FREE for simultaneous download by an infinite number of users until 1st June, The Four Corners of the Sky is master storyteller Michael Malone’s new novel of love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of families. Post your reviews & comments here on Leeds Reads and we can be a virtual reading group! We’d love to hear from you
Review Malone brings characters to life as only he can, exploring the questions that defy easy answers: Is love a choice or a calling? Why do the ties of family bind so tightly? And is forgiveness a gift to others…or a gift we give
In small towns between the North Carolina Piedmont and the coast the best scenery is often in the sky. On flat sweeps of red clay and scrub pine the days move monotonously, safely, but above, in the blink of an eye, dangerous clouds can boil out of all four corners of the sky…The flat slow land starts to shiver and anything can happen.
In such a storm, on Annie Peregrine’s seventh birthday, her father gave her the airplane and minutes later drove out of her life. Thus begins an enchanting novel that bursts with energy from the first pages, and sweeps you off on a journey of unforgettable characters, hilarious encounters, and haunting secrets.
ourselves?
Howard Jacobson amuses the judges
The 14th Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize - which includes a Gloucestershire Old Spot pig to be called after the novel, champagne and a complete collection of PG Wodehouse works - has been won for the second time by Howard Jacobson.
Zoo Time (Bloomsbury) is about novelist Guy Ableman who is in thrall to his vivacious wife Vanessa. The trouble is, he is no less in thrall to her alluring mother, Poppy. His publisher has committed suicide and his agent is in hiding. In flight from personal disappointment and universal despair, Guy wonders if it’s time to take his love for Poppy to another level
Jacobson previously won the prize, which rewards comic novels, in 2000 with his novel The Mighty Walzer. In 2007 he was shortlisted for the prize with Kalooki Nights.
This year’s judges were Radio 4 Today’s James Naughtie, publisher David Campbell from Everyman’s Library and Hay Festival director Peter Florence.
