Bradford Libraries' Blog

Author: andreahardaker

  • Book Review, ‘Water’ by John Boyne

    Review by Sue Hewitson

    “ Water” is the first book in the series” Elements” written by John Boyne. It is a short novel which sets the scene for “ Earth” “   “ Fire” and, finally “ Air.” The characters are linked throughout the four books. 

    We meet Willow as she gets off the boat on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. The author tantalises us from the outset as we know this is not her real name plus she has cut off her hair. So we want to know why. 

    Thus begins the story behind her escape from a controlling marriage and the consequences of her husband’s behaviour. We meet the islanders who have their own histories, dreams and aspirations. Willow has experienced unimaginable loss and this island is there to give her back an identity. 

    The link to “ Water” is excellent in that it peels back the waves of disgust at what her husband had done. However, it also envelops her and sustains her recovery “ like a body emerging from near drowning , reaching the surface and gasping for air”.

    Despite being short, it packed a punch and drew me into island life. I was totally drawn and could imagine being there. This book made me consider how I would have reacted if faced with a similar dilemma. The tides kept throwing things at her but I liked how the islanders kept their council and did not judge her. 

    Boyne’s observation of people never fails to impress me and this story left a lasting effect. I have read the other three in the series and could not put them down. Interestingly, the title of each book is linked to the main character W for Water and for Willow! I totally recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a well written , well constructed book which draws you in from the first sentence.

    John Boyne is one of my favourite authors . He never fails to impress me with his use of language. 

    Sue Hewitson is a retired teacher who has loved books since she could turn a page.

    She says: My mum took me to the library in Brighton ( where I grew up ) at least twice a week as I devoured everything so quickly. I am now a volunteer at Baildon library and try to share my passion with other borrowers. In my view, a house is not a home without books hence I champion The Book Trust and The Imagination Library . All children should have books to read, peruse, enjoy. You should see my daughter’s house !

    You can find Water here (Number 11 on the list) https://bradford.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/default/search/results?qu=Water&te=

  • Live at the Library

    Addingham Folk Band The Lost Embers played to an audience of around fifty people at Ilkley Library – the first of our ‘Live at the Library’ events.

    We had soft music and soft lighting and the feedback from our lovely audience was very positive indeed.

    The band absolutely loved playing. Singer/songwriter Charlotte Hatch said; “It was such a magical venue and we were so touched that so many people turned out to see us. We had a lovely time and would love to do it all over again.”

    Library staff went all out to welcome the audience with some nibbles and drinks and spent considerable time moving bookshelves and arranging furniture to accommodate the audience and band.

    Here is a sneaky peek of the magic that filled the library shelves…https://youtu.be/n2x7cAy8U-4

    Also https://youtu.be/Cw_QSL3Chsc

    If you are in a band featuring a ‘mellow vibe’ (to suit a library audience) or even a soloist and would like to play or even would like more live music in your local library, please email Andrea.Hardaker@bradford.gov.uk

  • THREE BOOK REVIEWS…

    THREE BOOK REVIEWS…

    Historical Fantasy Author, Author Elizabeth Hopkinson chooses three books from Bradford Libraries Collection she feels would be suited to three characters from her own Angelio series, Tammo, Carlo and Celestina… Have a read through and see if these are books that would interest you too…

    IntroducingTammo. Tammo is a character in Elizabeth’s Angelio Series who plays flute. His heart’s desire is to be able to charm birds with his flute, and he forms an especially close bond with a crow named Coronis. Elizabeth thinks My Friend the Octopus would be a good read for Tammo and possibly you too! She writes…

    I think Tammo would enjoy this middle grade novel set in 1893, about a girl called Vinnie who forms a bond with a giant octopus in Brighton Aquarium. The octopus – named Ghost – is initially billed as a dangerous monster, but is actually sensitive and nurturing.

    The idea of being trapped in a beautiful cage – so central to my novel, Cage of Nightingales – is also central to My Friend the Octopus. Not only is Ghost imprisoned in the aquarium, but Vinnie finds freedom from the restrictive world of high fashion and her mother’s milliner’s shop, with her 1890s “new woman” aunt, who wears bloomers, rides a bicycle and runs a tea shop. And Vinnie’s  new friend Temitayo – the African ward of an English gentleman – is determined to escape from being treated as a pet curiosity, and forge her own life (starting with being called by her real name).

    I just know that spirit of freedom in this novel would appeal to Tammo. And he’d enjoy the fast-paced adventure and mystery of the plot – not to mention the illustrations, maps and newspaper articles!

    My Friend the Octopus is children’s historical fiction which evokes the Victorian era. Fashion, attitudes to women, and the disparity between rich and poor are among the themes explored. It is suitable for readers aged 8+.

    My friend the octopus

    A Book for Carlo – The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

    Elizabeth has chosen The Black Flamingo as a read for Carlo- another character from her own series, who, she feels, would relate to this prose poetry autofiction about a young man finding his queer identity through performance.

    In Angelio, Carlo is a castrato, a type of opera singer that was wildly popular in the 1720s and 30s. Boys were made into eunuchs to preserve their soprano voices and trained intensively in schools like the Cage of Nightingales. People loved their androgynous appearance onstage, where they took leading roles, both male and female. Offstage, they were both fêted and persecuted. They are iconic for many queer people today, including asexual, nonbinary and transgender.

    Elizabeth thinks The Black Flamingo would really appeal to Carlo’s reading taste and here’s why…

    The Black Flamingo is about a young man – Michael – a gay, British teen of Greek Cypriot-Jamaican heritage, struggling to find out where he fits in the world. He has a poor/non-existant relationship with his father (as does Carlo), although he has other family and friends with varying levels of understanding. One of his questions is, “Does being gay make me less Black?” Michael eventually finds his place at the university drag society, creating his alter-ego, the Black Flamingo.

    Again, it’s short and easy to read, with illustrations and a beautiful cover. I think Carlo and Michael would enjoy exchanging outfits!

    The Black Flamingo is suitable for youngsters aged 13+ interested in gay young adult fiction.

    Search Results for The Black Flamingo

    A Book for Celestina – The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

    Born into a life of privilege yet excluded from certain aspects of high society due to her disability, Celestina, another of Elizabeth’s characters is a young lady who knows her own mind and is determined to forge her own path. Elizabeth thinks Celestina would love The Psycholoy of Time Travel – historical sci-fi, consisting almost wholly of strong, female characters working in science.

    The book begins in 1967 in a Bletchley Park-like setting in which four women and a rabbit create the first time machine – but one of them (Bee) suffers a breakdown and is removed from the programme, her contributions erased. By the 2010s, time travel has become a vast organisation called the Conclave, headed by the controlling and emotionless Margaret. Meanwhile, both Bee’s granddaughter Ruby and a museum volunteer named Odette are attempting from different points in time to solve the mystery of an old woman killed in a sealed room. Could it be Bee?

    Like many disabled people, Celestina from the Angelino series is an early adopter of technology (she has a self-propelled, clockwork wheelchair and a hand-cranked lift) so I think she would appreciate  the scientific aspects of the story, but also the focus on how time travel affects emotions and relationships. And the controlling Margaret might remind her of her mother!

    The Psychology of Time Travel is a blend of science fiction, historical drama and mystery suitable for readers aged 15+

    The psychology of time travel

    About the Reviewer – Elizabeth Hopkinson is an avid reader and writer of the Angelio series, published by Deep Hearts YA. She/they are currently working on the third book of the series. Click below to see her titles.

  • The Lonely Life of Being A Writer

    (A Realistic Amusing Guide to Solitary Greatness)

    Karen Stead member of Keighley’s Lonely Writers (which meets weekly, Saturdays 10am-1pm in the Library).

    If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a writer, imagine voluntarily entering a long-term relationship with your own thoughts … except your thoughts are dramatic, unpredictable, and tend to show up at 2 a.m. asking if you’ve considered rewriting chapter three again.

    Welcome to the gloriously lonely life of being a writer. Pull up a chair, there’s plenty of room. No one else is here.

    ☕ Solitude Level 1: The “I’ll Just Write for an Hour” Lie

    Every writer knows this classic trap:

    You sit down with a warm beverage, ready to be productive. You open your laptop. You stretch your fingers. You stare at the blinking cursor.

    Then suddenly you’ve accidentally researched medieval pig-keeping for two hours, your drink is cold, and you’ve written exactly one sentence, which you no longer like.

    And you did all this alone. Because no one else in your life wants to hear you say the words, “Wait, do you think this fictional dragon has emotional issues?”

    📚 Solitude Level 2: Conversations With Imaginary People

    Writers spend a lot of time talking to themselves, doesn’t everyone? But writers have found a loophole:

    We call them characters.

    If anyone overhears us saying things like: “Okay, but why would she stab him with a spoon?” or “No, Marcus, you cannot adopt the raccoon. Stay focused,” we simply smile and clarify, “It’s for my book,” as though that makes us sound more sane.

    Spoiler: it really doesn’t. Those looks you get from people who cross the road when they hear you talking to yourself are genuine.

    ✍️ Solitude Level 3: The Revision Spiral

    Writing the first draft is lonely. Revising the first draft is lonely and painful. It’s similar to finding an old photo of yourself and saying, “Why did I think this was a good idea?”

    Except the photo is 300 pages long.

    You edit alone because no one else wants to watch you:

    · mutter angrily at your screen,

    · change one word,

    · change it back,

    · decide the entire plot no longer makes sense,

    · eat an unhealthy snack,

    · and declare you’re quitting writing forever (again).

    😌 Solitude Level 4: The Strange Joy of It All

    Here’s the secret: writers complain about the loneliness, but deep down… we love it.

    We love the quiet. We love the weirdness. We love the magic of taking a blank page and turning it into something alive.

    Being a writer means you’re never truly alone, you’re just surrounded by people who technically don’t exist, but feel real enough to annoy you anyway.

    🌟 The Final Truth

    The lonely life of being a writer is actually a life full of worlds, ideas, jokes, stories, heartbreaks, and triumphs. Sure, we might sometimes look like silent gremlins typing in dark rooms, but in our minds?

    We’re busy building a whole new universe.

    And honestly? That’s a pretty great way to be alone.

    Karen Stead, M.F.A

    Author, Writer, lonely with my thoughts to keep me company.

    The Unexpected Monet is my first novel available on Amazon and I’m still working on my second novel, Small Island Ancestors. It’s keeping me awake at 3am.

    IF YOU would like to join The Lonely Writers at Keighley Library, just turn up! We usually meet upstairs, every Saturday at 10am where we write for an hour and fifteen minutes, take a break, then write some more. The group isn’t led, you can enter and leave as you please. Often there’s biscuits, there’s always tea and coffee and sometimes…just sometimes…there’s cake!

  • Big Tasty response to Big Tasty Read…

    ‘Tis that time of year to curl up with a good book…and a warm snack…

    We had such a lovely response to our appeal for recipes and food related stories from those using our Home Library Service.

    As part of the Big Tasty Read, we sent out a hot drink and a tasty snack alongside new books to those using the service.

    Borrowers were asked to write a food related memory on the back of a postcard which we collected when we collected their borrowed books.

    These are just some of the amazing postcards we got back.

  • Home Ed Session

    Home Ed Session

    Last week we ran our monthly session for Home Educated children in the library.

    We had a good strong attendance here at Shipley to explore a ‘winter themed’ workshop.

    The younger children looked at winter stories and made some crafts while the older children looked at poetry. They wrote their own acrostic poems, where the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase vertically, and drew ‘winter’ pictures which they have donated to the Home Library service.

    That means their work, poems and drawings, will be sent out to those using the Home Library, as a little bit of cheer during the dark November months.

    We were so proud of the work they did and look forward to seeing everyone again in January (21st at 2pm).

  • Who stole the Christmas Pud?

    Who stole the Christmas Pud?

    Who Stole the Christmas Pud is coming to Shipley Library next week!

    This is a brand new Christmas show with audience interaction, comedy, live original music and a sprinkling of magic!  The show is for under fives and we still have spaces left so hurry up and book!

    The event will be held on Wednesday, 10th December, 2025 at 1pm.

    If  you are interested, please let us know at Shipley Library as soon as possible.

    The Show is about One dark night in December, Mr Crackers’ infamous Christmas pudding is snatched away from the window sill.  The next morning, the whole town is flabbergasted; who would dare take the delicious dessert?  It’s only when Ivy from next-door is accused, that she hatches a plan.  Her mission?  To find the real culprit.  And to prove that her hands aren’t sticky!

    shipley.library@bradford.gov.uk Tele; 01274 437150.

  • Live at the Library

    Live at the Library

    It’s dark, windy and wet – and a stressful time of year, which is why we’re inviting you to Ilkley library for some gorgeous live music and a glass of mulled wine.

    Addingham band, The Lost Embers and singer/songwriter Anna, will entertain you with some gorgeous harmonies, sumptuous songs and exciting instrumentals on Thurs Dec 11 at 5pm.

    The Lost Embers have just released their first EP, ‘Wonderings’ featuring songs about friendship, parenting and a close relationship to nature.

    Anna is currently recording her follow up to her Fall of a Leaf EP, featured on Radio 2 Folk Show, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Wales.

    The two acts complement each other beautifully, so come on in, kick back and enjoy!

    Book tickets here; https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/bradfordlibraries/t-qmjjnxv

  • Reviewers Sought…

    Reviewers Sought…

    Are you an avid reader/borrower?

    Maybe you can’t wait for the latest in crime fiction, fantasy or horror or perhaps you are more the romantic type.

    Whatever your style, we would love to hear from you.

    We are looking for book reviewers of all ages who use our service, to write us a few words which might help other borrowers choose their next big read.

    We simply need you to tell us – the name of the book/author and what you liked/didn’t like about the book and whether or not you would recommend it to other readers. That’s it!

    Your reviews will be displayed here on our new blog. You can either display your name or keep it anonymous – it’s entirely up to you!

    If you’d like to take part, please email Andrea.Hardaker@Bradford.gov.uk. and we will get you started.

    Happy Reading everyone!

  • Beehive Poets

    Beehive Poets

    Come and join the Beehive Poets – Friday 5th December, 7 – 9pm

    Join us at City Library for an evening of poetry with Steve Pass and Kevin Byrne. Everyone welcome!

    Steve Pass works as a school workshop provider, teaching writing and creativity to primary school children around the UK based on his book Madge the Mermaid about a mermaid made from recycled materials.

    Kevin Byrne’s poems appear in anthologies from Beehive, London Spoken Word, Cote Poets in France and Lemon Tree.

    Winner of The Open University Slam and guest cabaret poet at Ilkley Festival, he has read with DNA Poets at several Edinburgh Fringe shows taking a four star review.

    His Poetry has featured on radio and online in UK, Ireland and America. He has read at various Literature Festivals here and in Ireland, including his one-man show, as well as running the Sylvia Plath Poetry Event in Heptonstall Festival. His co-collection Science Foetus Foetus Science was published in 2016.

    We look forward to seeing you there!

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