Remember, remember the fifth of November

FIONA SILLS,

GUNNEDAH SHIRE LIBRARY

Spotlight: REMEMBER, REMEMBER

Today is the 421st anniversary of the failed attempt to blow up the English parliament, by a group of Catholic conspirators.

Known as the Gunpowder Plot, the attack in 1605 was intended to kill King James VI, the Queen, and his heir when they attended the State Opening of Parliament. The plotters were driven by a desire to end the religious persecution that Catholics had endured for many years. For centuries after, people celebrated the foiling of the plot with special church services, bonfires and fireworks.

Did you know that there is still a ceremonial search before the State Opening of Parliament each year, when the Yeoman of the Guard look for hidden explosives in the cellars of the Palace of Westminster?

Nice to know that we have moved on from such polarising political times!

Spotlight: WALK IN MY SHOES

Do you enjoy learning about history by reading stories?

Take a browse through the General Fiction section of the library collection and discover books that will take you beyond the dates and places – introducing you to people and context. Try the “Frances Gorges Trilogy” to learn about 1600’s England, witch trials and foiled terror plots, Ken Follett shows us the Middle Ages in the “Kingsbridge Series” and a broad view of the past century in the “Century Trilogy”, dive into the Plantagenets with Blanche D’Alpuget’s “Lion Series” and live through the Hundred Years’ Wars with the “Essex Dog Trilogy” by Dan Jones.

Keep an eye out for historical fiction titles by Melissa Ashley, Karen Brooks, Minette Walters, Jennifer Saint, Conn Iggulden, Pip Williams, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and Phillipa Gregory.

Spotlight: NEW BOOKS

Want fuss-free food this Christmas? Try “Crowded Kitchen” (641 HAR) by Lexi Harrison & Beth Sinclair. Find crowd-pleasing ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert – and everything in between – with tray-bakes, self-serve, salads, sandwiches and side-dishes to feed the whole family, or two!

“Once Upon a Breakfast Show” (AFA MAC) by Stephanie MacFie is a hilarious tale of missed chances and taking control. Emily Blake has built a career out of turning her messy life into radio gold. When her teenage daughter starts asking questions about the dad she never knew, Blake enlists the help of her audience to find the one who got away. But soon she must decide if she’s ready to discover the truth…

Morality and loyalty vanish in “A River Red with Blood” (AFT CON) by John Connolly. The players call it the Game. The aim is to abduct and kill a stranger without getting caught. They are very good at it – but someone has started breaking the rules of the Game and they are all in danger.

“The goal isn’t to raise a child who can read impressive books. It is to raise a child who wants to read.”