Auckland Libraries blog

Prize-winning poet and novelist, Anne Kennedy, chats with Karen about her new novel The ice shelf , a wicked and hilarious satire on life and literati as experienced in the course of a wild night in Wellington by a modern-day Moll Flanders. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud . Anne's books:  The ice shelf  The last days of the national costume The darling North  The time of the giants Sing-song Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and… beyond.  Catch us on Planet FM104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows via the Auckland Libraries podcast .

This week on Books and Beyond, Louisa talks to Lorraine Thomson about walking the 800km Camino de Santiago across northern Spain from France. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud. Lorraine's book: The French way: trekking the 40-day El Camino de Santiago by Lorraine Thomson Other books about the Camino de Santiago: Camino de Santiago by Andy Symington Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances) by John Brierley On the Camino by Jason Jason (graphic novel) The Lore of the Camino de Santiago: a literary pilgrimage by Jean Mitchell-Lantham The way, my way: a Camino memoir by Bill Bennett I'll push you: a journey of 500 miles, two best friends, and one wheelchair by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck Kiwi authors who have written about the Camino de Santiago: Kiwi on the Camino: a walk that changed my life by Vivianne Flintoff Exciting Eighties: a time of high expectations by Esther Paddon A movie ab...

The 2018 winner of the  Diagram Prize for Oddest Title is being chosen this week by public vote! Karen and Louisa tell you all about it while recalling some other offbeat literary awards, such as the Weird-Ass Picture Book prize and the Three Tokes Anti-award. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries SoundCloud. Diagram Prize historic winners and shortlisted candidates: Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on nude mice The 2009-2014 world outlook for 60 milligram containers of fromage How to avoid huge ships Greek rural postmen and their cancellation numbers Cooking with Poo  The mushroom in Christian art  Mr Ando’s Pennine diary: memoirs of a Japanese chicken sexer in 1935 Hebden Bridge  The Great Singapore Penis Panic and the future of American mass hysteria  Estonian sock patterns all around the world  Advanced pavement research Divorcing a real witch: for pagans and people that used to love them   Diag...

Inspired by this month's Auckland Walk Challenge , Karen and Louisa recommend good reads for pedestrians and ramblers, whether they are walking for protest, pilgrimage, therapy or exercise. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books mentioned in the show Walking historic Auckland by David Palmer The bottom of the harbour by Joseph Mitchell Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit A philosophy of walking by Frédéric Gros 100 days: walking Te Araroa by G.J. Coop The pants of perspective by Anna McNuff Te Araroa: walking New Zealand's 3000 kilometre trail , photography by Mark Watson Walking in ruins by Geoff Nicholson The alchemist by Paolo Coelho The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald Auckland Libraries' radio show Books and Beyond explores the world of books with guest authors, recommended reads, gems from the Central City Library basement and…beyond.  Catch us on Planet FM104.6, Sundays at 9.35pm. Listen to recent shows on the ...

Karen and Louisa celebrate Halloween with some tricks from Karen, aka horrific reading recommendations, and a treat from Louisa, a spooky and sinister Roald Dahl story for your listening enjoyment. Listen to this episode on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books, authors and a website recommended by Karen: Books The Odyssey by Homer Hansel and Gretel in Grimm’s Fairy Tales The complete fiction of HP Lovecraft   Against the world, against life, a biography of HP Lovecraft by Michel Houellebecq  The cask of Amontillado and The pit and the pendulum in  The complete tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe The Haunting of Hill House and The lottery and other stories by Shirley Jackson Don’t look now in Don't look now and other stories by Daphne du Maurier Authors Stephen King  Edward Gorey Joe Hill Website Visit  www.creepypasta.com . Please note this website is not recommended for children due to its terrifying nature. Louisa’s...

Karen and Louisa celebrate Labour Weekend with books about labour and labouring, from ancient Rome to the Victorian mills of Dickens’s Hard Times , even a thriller set during Auckland’s waterfront dispute, Jonothan Cullinane’s Red Herring. Listen to this episode of Books and Beyond on the Auckland Libraries podcast . Books mentioned in the show: Samuel Duncan Parnell - a legacy: the 8 hour day, Labour Day and time off by Paul Corliss North and South by Mrs Gaskell   David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Hard Times by Charles Dickens Orgy planner wanted: odd jobs and curious callings in the ancient world by Vicki León Screw work, break free: how to launch your own money-making idea in 30 days by John Williams Would you believe - bed testers get paid to sleep: and other jammy jobs by Richard Platt Careers for introverts & other solitary types by Blythe Camenson Careers for perfectionists & other meticulous types by Blythe Camenson Red He...

Congratulations to the twelve lucky winners of our 2018 Comic Book September promotion. Yes, twelve winners, two more than was advertised thanks to our sponsors, Beyond Reality Media and Armageddon Auckland. The winners of family passes to the 2018 Auckland Armageddon Expo: Maximus from Titirangi Library Aries from Te Matariki Clendon Library Lochlan from Te Matariki Clendon Library Louie from Rānui Library Max from Pt Chevalier Library Adam from Onehunga Library Alden from Manukau Library The winners of triple packs of Beyond Reality Media graphic novels: Roger from Papakura Library Kerry from Panmure Library Ross from Titirangi Library Quang from Mt Albert Library Leonie from Birkenhead Library Thank you to all who took part in the promotion, aimed at encouraging all Aucklanders to explore the variety of graphic novels, manga and comics in our graphic novel collections.