Connect with us...
Fiona writes about making scones.
Filtering results for
Fiona writes about making scones.
Here’s a snapshot of the books that recently made the shortlist for the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Formerly the Orange Prize, this is a prestigious award in anybody’s book showcasing some brilliant and very readable novels. Why not give a couple a go.
Here's the pick of the bunch from a great list of books the group have been sharing at Book Chat.
Take a trip back to 1995 with a diary written by rock influencer, Brian Eno, with some oddly interesting insights into how the world of communication might look in the future.
Here's some fiction just perfect for that Easter break, or anytime really, all available at the library.
Since his death, Bowie has inspired a bunch of books, like this book of andecdotal encounters from Bowie obsessive and BBC reporter, Tom Hagler. Check out what our reviewer thought about it here.
The library has a great selection of movies from a wide range of genres. Here's a quick review of two French comedies and a glimpse at the book that inspired one of them.
These are the books we read with a torch under the bedcovers, thinking, "just one more chapter".
Here's an assortment of old favourites that have been treasured for all kinds of reasons including story anthologies and talking books (just listen for the bell then turn the page).
Here are our favourite early readers - the books that first got us or our children launched into independent reading. No wonder they still linger happily in our memories.
We're celebrating Children's Book Day on 2 April by sharing the children's books we loved when we were small. Such a walk down memory lane. First up are our most memorable picture books. Which ones make your list?
Here's look at two graphic novels that take you into the world of the Watchmen.
The new Kate Quinn novel looks at the important work of three women code breakers of Bletchley Park, their romances, friendships and heartbreak and where life took them after the war.
JAM is happy to discover a new book from Marika Cobbold, an entertaining novel about fake news and the trouble it can bring.
Graphic Novel fans will be sure to recognise the Fables series by Bill Willingham. Rob reviews this classic collection, now released in four hefty compendiums.
Here's how to keep track of all those books you want to read using My Lists.
Here are some brilliant self-help book recommendations from Andrea, who doesn't read a lot of non-fiction but found these books well worth picking up.
Claire Fuller recently won the Costa 2021 Novel Award for Unsettled Ground. Here's what our reviewer, JAM, thought about it.
Our first Book Chat for the year was at Flaxmere Library where the group got off to a flying start with some terrific reads.
Hastings District Libraries recently interviewed Marie Munro whose book "Nana's Shed" - "The Wharau of Kui" features as our last StoryWalk book for Summer Sparks. Read Hana's interview here.
Our Li reads a lot of books so her top selection from 2021 is bound to be interesting.
Here are some of the best non-fiction and graphic novels we read as well as one serious disappointment as we wrap up the year that was 2021 and begin a whole new reading year.
The YA section of the library is well worth checking out for some thought-provoking and entertaining reads. Here are some that our librarians particularly enjoyed plus a bunch of children's novels from Emma's top reads list.
Including genres of science fiction and fantasy these books are packed with interesting worlds - some of them huge feats of imagination, others build a world not so different from our own. Here are the spec fic titles that we loved in 2021.
There's nothing like a good mystery or a ripping yarn packed with suspense. This is a very mixed batch of novels, but are all recommended by our library team to keep you gripped until the last page.
When we live in uncertain times, it can be a blessing to escape into a book to another time and place, where things are possibly even more uncertain or on the other hand more romantic. Here are our favourite historical reads for the last year.
Contemporary Fiction is one of those terms we give to books that are not any particular genre but tend to mirror social issues of our time. So these might include humorous novels as well as serious ones, character-driven stories as well as page-turners. One thing the books on this list all have in common is that they are all terrific reads.
We've been asking library staff the tough question: What books did you enjoy most in 2021? We'll be running a bunch of posts on this theme, and to start the ball rolling, here are some picks for the year from AM.
Every year there’s a swag of new books with a Christmassy theme, just perfect when you want to take a break from the Christmas rush. Fans of mysteries, romance and chick lit will be well catered for with this selection of books which are all either in our collection or coming soon to the library.
A new series of Irish detective stories begins with this novel set in 1980s Dublin. Fans of Benjamin Black and Dervla McTiernan might like to try it out. Read the review here.
Our reviewer had his first experience of an e-audiobook with this sci-fi thriller and surprised himself with how much he enjoyed the experience. Read on for the review.
Bluetooth is shortwave wireless technology that can connect devices. Did you know that many hearing aids have this technology? Pair this with our e-library apps, and you can enjoy audiobooks directly to your hearing aids. Here's how:
Wine Books and More met again after a spell of several months so they had a lot of bookish conversation to catch up with. Here’s a list of books they talked about - and these are just the good ones!
Many readers enjoy screen adaptations of books, but if you’re like me, you prefer to read the book first – just in case the tv series or movie spoils the book for you. There are quite a few new adaptations popping up to see now or in the near future. Here’s a few to look out for.
Flaxmere Book Chat met up again for the first time in a while, eager to share and discuss their favourite reads. And it seems crime fiction and historical novels were the most popular. Here's a few that hit the spot.
According to the blurb, Esther Freud's latest novel is 'about love, motherhood, secrets and betrayal - and how only the truth can set us free'. Here's our review.
This is the eighth in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Library Li
This is the seventh in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) -Library Li
This is the sixth in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
This is the fifth in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
This is the fourth in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
This is the third in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
This is the second in a series of blog posts focussed on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
One murder. Fifteen suspects. Can you uncover the truth? A clever debut that puts the reader into the minds of two people tasked with uncovering a miscarriage of justice. See if you can spot the clues.
This is the first in a series of blog posts focussing on Advanced Pre-Teen Readers (APTRs) - Emma L
A book about "Pop songs", not the top ten on the hit parade, but the songs by Iggy Pop. 'Til Wrong Feels Right will also take you back to the glorious era of Lou Reed and David Bowie - here's what our reviewer thought about it.
Here's our review of a novel about a small community, the families that live there and what happens when different codes of behaviour clash. Little Fires Everywhere has been a runaway hit - see what all the fuss is about.
A brilliant selection of new crime/mystery books (fiction and non fiction) made the Ngaio Marsh longlist this year. At last, the finalists were announced just last week. Here's who made the cut.
Here's a pacey read which teams a New York college girl with a small problem with a reclusive alcoholic former spy as secrets from two world wars collide. Readers who enjoy stories about resistance fighters, spies and female agents during wartime, might want to put The Alice Network on their must-read list.
It's been a few months since we had an update on the reading habits of our Wine Books and More attendees. Let's have a quick catch up!
Our reviewer happened upon this e-audiobook when browsing the library's e-collection and was pleasantly surprised. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is a classic, old-school detective novel from a master storyteller.
There's nothing like curling up with a book as winter sets in. Flaxmere Book Chat has been reading some terrific books and had some lively chat over recent weeks. Here's a selection of books they particularly enjoyed.
Read our review of this authorised biography of The Who's John Entwistle by Paul Rees, music journalist. Entwistle was a founding member and bass guitarist for this iconic band. But how does the 60's rock 'n roll lifestyle stack up in today's world?
The longlist is out for the 2021 Man Booker Prize. Often considered the cream of the crop of the fiction awards, this list is eagerly awaited by many. Check out the details here.
If you're doing the Turn Up the Heat reading challenge this year, you may have come across the task: Millennial problems - read a YA or Junior book. Here's an author our reviewer JAM came across you might like to try.
Librarians and booksellers alike sometimes get challenging requests for a book, including the much quoted line: "I can't remember the title but the cover was blue." This has inspired one of our Turn Up the Heat Challenges: Read a book with a purple cover. Here are a few recommendations:
Looking for some book ideas for the TUTH challenge: Millennial Problems? The Famoux by Kassandra Tate could fit the bill. It also ticks the box for A book with a Purple Cover.
In an undisclosed small American town strange things are afoot. An unlikely trio try to get to the bottom of things in this dark, comic, sci-fi thriller.
Rāhoroi 29th Haratua Saturday 29th May, standing at the waharoa of Waipatu marae, the kaikaranga calls us on, we slowly walk toward Heretaunga haukūnui, the dew cleanses this wet grey day, whānau from ngā hau e wha ascend in unison, for the relaunching of this book ‘Te ātea’ written by Dame Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira:and whakaahua (illustrations by Para Matchitt).
“She just wanted – had always wanted – a good book to read.”
I have always admired origami and have been slightly (read more than slightly) jealous of people who could actually follow written instructions and create the most beautiful origami pieces.
From picture books to young adult to adult fiction and some seriously thought-provoking non-fiction, Emma picks her reading highlights for the bumpy ride that was 2020.
I’ve been on a Stephen King binge this year – my ultimate goal is to read all of his works within in next couple of years (I’m about halfway there). Here are the books that make my top ten by King so far...
JAM reviews Isabel Allende's latest historical novel. It's a moving love story set in difficult political times. It follows Spanish doctor, Victor Dalmau through Spain's Civil War to the new life he forges in Chile.
| Monday | 10.00am - 5.30pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9.00am - 7.00pm |
| Wednesday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Thursday | 9.00am - 7.00pm |
| Friday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Saturday | 10.00am - 4.00pm |
| Sunday | 1.00pm - 4.00pm |
| Monday | 10.00am - 5.30pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Wednesday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Thursday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Friday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Saturday | 10.00am - 4.00pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
| Monday | 10.00am - 5.30pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Wednesday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Thursday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Friday | 9.00am - 5.30pm |
| Saturday | 10.00am - 4.00pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the Hastings District Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, Hastings District Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. Hastings District Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© Hastings District Council - https://www.hastingslibraries.co.nz/ / +64 6 871 5000 / libraries@hdc.govt.nz
