Reading for Life

 

 

  

Reading for Life

...is about improving life opportunities through reading for people in the most need of support.

 

Mood Boosting Books 2012

The brand-new Mood-boosting Books promotion from the Reading Agency, will launch in January 2012. Research shows that reading improves mental well-being. The Mood-boosting Books promotion is aimed at adults, particularly those who might have experienced mild to moderate mental-health conditions linked to stress, anxiety and depression.

Eight reading groups around the country have read, reviewed and recommended 27 Mood-boosting Books. - they include books ranging from novels and non-fiction to poetry and graphic novels. There are also titles which are suitable for less confident readers.all are in stock in Islington libraries. Click below under Downloadable Documents for the full list.

 

Green Carnation Prize

This year The Green Carnation Prize is back for 2011 – and it’s even bigger and better. Set to become Britain’s most prestigious literary prize for modern gay writing, it has now opened its doors to all LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) writers. The prize is open to any novel, short story collection or memoir written by any LGBT author worldwide published in the UK in hardback or paperback between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2011. All titles are available for loan from Islington Libraries. Please see the poster below in Downloadable Documents for the shortlist.

 

Crime Thriller Awards - winners

The winners of the award which celebrates the best in crime and thriller writing was announced on 7 October. Copies of the books are available to loan from Islington Libraries.

The CWA Gold Dagger: Tom Franklin Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: Steve Hamilton The Lock Artist

The CWA John Creasey Dagger: S.J. Watson Before I Go To Sleep 

Please see the poster under Downloadable Documents below

 

Banned Books 2011

Corrosive to young minds? Politically incendiary? Or just downright sexy? Our librarians have handpicked over 100 great Banned Books - in Islington libraries and libraries across the UK from 24 September 2011. Click here http://www.banned-books.org.uk/ for details of the books and to enter a competition to win a Sony e-Reader and books worth over £280!

 

Six Book Challenge

The Six Book Challenge invites less confident readers to read six books and record their reading in a diary in order to receive incentives, a certificate and the chance to enter a national prize draw. The idea is to help people get into reading - in many cases for the first time. The Reading Agency launched the Six Book Challenge in 2008. Since then an estimated 29,500 people have registered for the scheme and 12,000 have completed it. Islington Libraries will be part of the programme for the challenge in 2011.

Bestselling author Mike Gayle has been patron of the Six Book Challenge since its launch in 2008. His involvement is particularly appropriate in 2011 as he will be publishing a Quick Read title called Men at Work on Thursday 3 March World Book Day. "Anything that encourages adult learners to get stuck into a good read has got to be a good thing in my book! " comments Mike. "I'm proud to be involved in this terrific initiative that is making a real difference to those who have felt excluded from the world of books."

For more information contact your local library or Tony Brown at tony.brown@islington.gov.uk 

 

Crimefest Awards Shortlist

eDunnit Award
Shortlist for best crime eBook of 2010:
- Alan Furst for Spies of the Balkans (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Sophie Hannah for A Room Swept White (Hodder & Stoughton)
- Philip Kerr for Field Grey (Quercus)
- Michael Ridpath for Where the Shadows Lie (Corvus)
- C.J. Sansom for Heartstone (Mantle)
- Andrew Taylor for The Anatomy of Ghosts (Penguin)
- Andrew Williams for To Kill a Tsar (John Murray)

Last Laugh Award
Shortlist for best humourous crime novel of 2010:
- Colin Bateman for Dr. Yes (Headline)
- Colin Cotterill for Love Songs From A Shallow Grave (Quercus)
- Chris Ewan for The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas (Simon & Schuster)
- Robert Lewis for Bank of the Black Sheep (Serpent's Tail)
- Donna Moore for Old Dogs (MaXcrime)
- L.C. Tyler for The Herring in the Library (Macmillan)

Sounds Of Crime Awards
Shortlists for best ABRIDGED & UNABRIDGED crime audiobooks of 2010.

Abridged:
- Linwood Barclay for Fear the Worst, read by Jeff Harding, abridged by Elsbeth McPherson (Orion)
- Lee Child for Worth Dying For, read by Kerry Shale, abridged by Carolanne Lyme (Random House)
- Michael Connelly for The Reversal, read by Michael Brandon, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Orion)
- Peter James for Dead Like You, read by William Gaminara, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)
- John le Carre for Our Kind of Traitor, read by John le Carre, abridged by Peter Mackie (AudioGO)
- Kathy Reichs for Mortal Remains, read by Linda Emond, abridged by Jan Werner (Random House)
- C. J. Sansom for Heartstone, read by Anton Lesser, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)

Unabridged:
- Linwood Barclay for Fear the Worst, read by Buck Schirner (Orion)
- Harlan Coben for Caught, read by Christopher Evan Welch (Whole Story Audio Books)
- Michael Connelly for The Reversal, read by Peter Giles (Orion)
- Lindsey Davis for Nemesis, read by Christian Rodska (AudioGO)
- Jeffery Deaver for Edge, read by Skipp Sudduth (Whole Story Audio Books)
- Peter James for Dead Like You, read by David Bauckham (Whole Story Audio Books)

 

London Libraries Graphic Novel Webpage

The graphic novel page on the London Libraries site has gone live! With information about graphic novel reading groups and other activities taking place in libraries throughout the capital. Click on the link under Downloadable Documents at the bottom of this page for a list of recommended graphic novels

 

Reader Development Sites:

www.whichbook.net
Whichbook offers choices which are not available anywhere else - mood, emotion, plot shape, type of main character, country the book is set in. And when you find a book you like the look of, you can click through to library catalogues across the UK and to WorldCat to see if it is available in your local library. An important tool for helping readers choose their books.

 

Words for Life is a website set up by the National Literacy Trust  which promotes the benefits of literacy at all stages of life, to improve opportunities, health, family happiness and overall enjoyment. It provides advice and tips for parents about supporting babies and children as they develop communication skills, and downloadable resources to capture your child's imagination and help them enjoy words and language. It also recommend books with hooks - great for engaging reluctant readers.

You can Click on the link under Downloadable Documents at the bottom of this page for a list of other Reader Development websites.

 

Reading Groups and Book Clubs

'reading groups for everyone' is a new web-site that is spreading the word and celebrating all the great things that reading groups, writing groups and book clubs offer. It is the place to find information about groups in your area, as well as offering support resources and evidence, plus offers and events for people running or setting up a group. Just click on http://www.readinggroups.org/find/location/london/islington/ for details of Islington reading groups, plus much more.

Click on the link under Downloadable Documents at the bottom of this page for a factsheet on reading groups and book clubs.