News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Hilary Mantel has been awarded the 2009 Mann Booker Prize for her novel Wolf Hall. A historical novel recounted through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, who started out as a Blacksmith’s boy and eventually became one of the most powerful men in England beside Henry VIII. Wolf Hall has been the most popular novel ever to win the Mann Booker Prize. Hilary Mantel has written nine other novels, two have been historical, with A Greater Place of Safety published in 1992 and set in France at the time of the French revolution, winning the Sunday Express Book of the year. Beyond Black published in 2005 was shortlisted for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Orange Prize for Fiction the same year.

Are you new to knitting? The Chicks with sticks guide to knittingby Nancy Queen and Mary-Ellen O’Connell is aimed at the novice knitter. Inside you’ll find 30 simple patterns combined with step-by-step instructions so even a first timer can finish a project in a few hours. Impress your friends with your new skills!

Finding knitting patterns in larger sizes can be difficult. Sharon Bant has filled this gap with her book Knitting goes large. Have a browse and discover 20 patterns that will suit all occasions and all seasons.

Kay Connors’ and Karen Earlywine’s collection of nine authentic 1930’s patterns are made using reproduction fabrics. Their beautifully presented book, Link to the 30’s, will show you how to create an heirloom to be passed onto future generations.

See something that catches your eye? Have a browse through theses titles and more across topics that include vintage knitwear, handmade books, crochet and canvas work via this month’s Craft Recent Picks.

Pencil Pal by Kylie 

This is a short but real sweet zine that we picked up at Auckland Zinefest last month by our very own ex zine librarian Kylie. It’s called ‘Pencil Pal’ after a peanuts strip where Charlie Brown wants to write to his pen pal but keeps getting ink all over the page, so he changes to pencil and calls his pen pal ‘pencil pal’ from then on. Cute huh? Well, along with tips on writing and replying to letters, there is also a list of reasons why you should get yourself a pen pal – my favourite is to have people to send cards to that you find in second hand shops. Tell me about it! I have a whole heap! What I found most interesting though was Kylie’s description of her pen pals past and present, including the 7 year old miss who sent back her letters with spelling corrected!

Stephanie

It’s for Cook, Volume 1.  by Emma Boyd 

E mate kai ana koe? Are you hungry?

To show my pleasure, I would have liked to get this little volume mucky on my counter, splodged with beetroot, carrot, and pineapple. It’s a small volume, cute sized and illuminated with photography.

Having only 9 recipes it could seem sparse, but this, it reads like a recipe book but looks like a menu, somewhat wholesome, but not in a yoga -every -day -only -organic- in- big -letters -self -help -self -righteous wholesome.

With much self-control I returned it to the library in the condition I borrowed it, with some cumin seed stuck between my teeth.

Kia mākona. Bon appétit. 

Anita

I Hate Mom’s Cat by Corinne Mucha

I Hate Mom’s Cat is a short comic in which Corinne Mucha does more or less what the title suggests – details how and why she hates her mother’s cat, Teddy. In simple, childlike drawings and sweetly funny text, she outlines Teddy’s many character flaws and compares them to her memories of the saint-like cats of her childhood – against which Teddy doesn’t stand a chance. This is one of six zines by Corinne Mucha that we hold, including the full length graphic novel, My Alaskan Summer.

Jeremy

We have so many cook books available this month it’s hard to choose between the gluten-free ones, the fancy ones , the simple and fast ones and those on a budget. Our selection includes books with recipes for every occasion in Casual entertaining, recipes to bring sunshine into your kitchen with Food from the sun, and two books showcasing Jo Pratt’s talent for delicious, fancy or simple meals. And if you want to see  what other culinary wonders we have in store, check out this month’s Cooking Recent Picks.