Speedy book blog: Brick Lane by Monica Ali

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What springs to mind when you think of London? The museums? Buckingham Palace? Oxford street shopping? The West End?

You probably didn’t think of the families of Bangladeshi immigrants based around Brick Lane…

This is a beautifully told tale of a teenage bride Nazneen, taken straight from a rural village in Bangladesh, to marry an older man she has never met and live with him in London. That might not sound that captivating but her struggles – and those of her sister left behind in Dhaka – are extremely moving.

For those confident readers among you, this is a journey into the London that you probably never imagined existed.

Speedy book blog: The Catalogue of the Universe

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It begins as a quest to find an absent father, but turns into something else…

Written by Margaret Mahy, one of the New Zealand’s most prolific and best-loved writers, this Young Adult novel stars Angela, daughter of hippy single-mum Dido. In trying to find her father and, thus, herself, she comes to find something else in her best friend, the geeky, star-gazing Tycho…

It’s a lovely, uplifting read, for fans of John Green and Jandy Nelson.

Speedy book blog: Longitude

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Ever wondered why we measure the time from Greenwich? Read on…

This is a true story. It’s non-fiction. And it’s fascinating.

Before there were satellites and GPS, to know where you were in the world, especially at sea, you needed a range of tools and most importantly, an accurate, reliable watch.

Sounds simple, right?

Wrong!

In this brief but engrossing tale, Dava Sobel outlines the search for the means to know exactly where you were in terms of East-West (longitude). We learn of a humble watch-maker’s solution and his bid to win one of the greatest science prizes in the history of humanity.

Speedy book blog: Fighting Reuben Wolf

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Two brothers navigate the murky world of underground boxing, trying to make a fast buck without losing the fights… or themselves.

For fans of the film Warrior, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and martial arts in general, this is an excellent and exciting book. It’s the second of a trilogy of books that feature brothers Cameron and Ruben Wolfe, but it really won’t matter if you haven’t read the first.

Aside from the captivating combat scenes, this book explores the theme of family (in all its forms) as well as the relationship between poverty and violence, and how ruthless people will always exploit this.

Speedy book blog: Class A

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Undercover in London and Miami, teenage agents kick ass and nail narcos.

The second in Robert Muchamore’s Cherub series sees James Adams go undercover with three of his fellow teenage spies to bust a drug ring.

Class A is a pacy and gripping thriller that will please fans of Mission Impossible and Young Bond. It’s also a sensitive exploration of the nature of family, friendship and flirtation.

Speedy book blog: Adam Bede by George Eliot

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A book for advanced and dedicated readers, with rich rewards for those willing to make the commitment.

George Eliot was the pen-name of Mary Anne Evans, one of the most successful novelists of the 19th century. Adam Bede, her first published work, is a substantial and lengthy story set in 1799 that crosses classes and religions. At its heart is a love story – or rather several – that reveals to readers the reality of pre-industrial Britain.

Very  much worth it for those who are willing to put the work in…

Speedy Book Blog: The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll

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A fast-paced historical thriller with a feisty heroine.When witch-hunters are targeting girls who stand out from the crowd, Fortune Sharpe is sent away from home for her own safety. But then a giant wave crashes through the landscape and Fortune must fight to survive in more ways than one.

This action-packed story is a real page-turner, perfect for confident readers aged 9 and above.

New Year, New Books

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We think Father Christmas must have visited our library while he was doing his rounds on Christmas Eve.Look at these fab new books!They’re already proving very popular with our readers.Happy New Year, Readers!

Reading Starts Young

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You’re never too young to start enjoying a book. And the younger you start, the better.Even tiny people can learn to turn pages and enjoy looking at the pictures.Research shows us children of ALL ages appreciate a good book being read aloud (and so do adults, if we’re honest). Just look at the rapt expressions on these faces!

To see more details about how we encourage our little ones to enjoy books and reading , go to the Elian’s Early Years Blog.

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