Zinio Australia Magazine of the month: Australian Homespun

Homespun magazine is a place of inspiration; it combines creative techniques with a vast array of styles and themes taken from a team of leading craftspeople throughout Australia and the world. 

Homespun is a publication that is at the forefront of the industry, made by people who are passionate about craft. Each issue of the magazine features step-by-step easy-to-follow project ideas and accompanying pattern sheets, a variety of crafts including quilts to bags to dolls, inspirational photographs of fantastic finished products plus interesting reads to engage and entertain.

This month’s edition ensures you will ‘accelerate into spring!’ with craft projects inspired by the beautiful weather, including beach-bound embroidery and fabric flowers just to name a few! Plus, find out which fabrics are the most popular right now, along with spring-inspired designs and patterns.

 Download the magazine FREE from Zinio, simply log onto Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website to find out more.

Anne Frank: a history for today

The travelling exhibition tells the story of Anne Frank set against the background of the Holocaust.

Newcastle Region Library has the privilege of hosting this wonderful exhibition in our Lovett Gallery.

When: 3rd October - 29th November 2014 (click here for gallery opening hours)

Where: Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Region Library, 2nd floor, Laman St.

Amsterdam 1942

On her 13th birthday, Anne Frank is given a diary. A few weeks later her life is turned upside down. The Nazis want to arrest her, only because she is Jewish. Together with her family she goes into hiding.

For more than two years she will use her diary to record what she thinks, feels and experiences.

She cannot foresee that - long after she perished in the Holocaust - millions of people all over the world will be reading her diary.

To find out more about the exhibition itself visit the website here

 Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Spring Fling

Wallsend District Library is getting ready to celebrate all things SPRING with our annual spring festival.

Once again, you will see some amazing floral arrangements around the library, such as those from Peter Herd and Silk Gardens. We will have displays from groups, such as the local Men's Shed: Blue Gum Hills Men's Shed and Ladies Auxiliary, and Crystal Palace Community Garden. You can also enjoy photography by one of our very talented staff members, who took the beautiful photos featured in this post. We also have a couple of talks and demonstrations planned, so stay tuned!

Spring Fling

13-27 September 2014

Wallsend District Library

Bunn Street, Wallsend

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

Keepers of Light by Christopher Salmon

A note was found in this book, from one of our readers:

This is the debut novel for Australian author Christopher Salmon. You can read another review of this book here.
Category: Australian Fiction

Publisher: Acadia Press

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Liesel Meminger, daughter of a communist, Germany, 1939. Travelling on a train, with her brother and
mother, towards Molching. Liesel is heading towards foster parents Rosa and Hans Hubermann in Himmel Street. Her brother is heading towards a frozen grave. Her mother is not entirely relevant to this story.

Liesel Meminger is the book thief. The first book she steals is at the graveside of her brother. She can't read, but that isn't important.

Death is the narrator of her story.

I am struggling to describe this book, for a few reasons. The main reason is that this book has such beautiful descriptions, Markus Zusak's masterful use of words and language renders any attempts I may make, pitiful. I have not yet seen the movie adaptation, and although assured by my aunt that it does indeed do the book justice, I cannot imagine it. Descriptions like "unit blocks that look nervous" and "empty hatstand trees, and grey air."

Just a small tip for you, though. Don't read the ending in a public place.

Category: Fiction

Who'll want to read it? People who love language, people who are interested in Nazi Germany

Point of no return: I had been told to read this book by so many people whose judgement I trust, that it's hard for me to pinpoint a point of no return. I was going to read it anyway. But perhaps it came with the list, on page 6, of what the narrator says the "small story" is about, "amongst other things:

• a girl
• some words
• an accordionist
• some fanatical Germans
• a Jewish fist-fighter
• and quite a lot of thievery."

Classic line: page 38: "She would grin herself stupid, watching the lines drawing themselves down his face, and the soft metal of his eyes - until the swearing arrived from the kitchen."
page 39: "Papa's bread and jam would be half-eaten on his plate, curled into the shape of bite-marks, and the music would look Liesel in the face."

Publisher: Picador (Pan Macmillan Australia)

This book is also available in large print, as an audio book, an e-book, and an e-audiobook.

Visit Newcastle Region Library's Catalogue and Website.