December 12, 2011

Booklist: Christmas Cookery








Christmas is a special time with a delicious range of foods- delicate pastries, sumptuous roasts and indulgent salads you would never treat yourself to any other time of year. If you find yourself in need of a few recipes, or simply want to try something new this year, why not grab one of these books available at your library? At the time of writing, all of these items are available for loan, so get in quick!








December 06, 2011

Summer Camden Reads - It's On!






Armed with the motherload of giveaways and great prizes, Camden Library presents CAMDEN READS- the library's summer reading program. Divided into three categories: Adult, Youth and Children, Camden Reads rewards you for taking some time out for yourself with a good read, whether it be the latest gossip magazine, a downloaded eBook, an action-packed graphic novel, or the mesmerising novel.


Signing up is easy! Simply fill out the form at Camden and Narellan branches, and you're good to go. For every book you read, write it down on the tickets provided and each one goes in the draw to win heaps of great prizes including a bridge climb, museum and novelty park tickets, movie vouchers, books, and vouchers for a range of goodies.


Children receive (if we don't run out in the first few days!) a goody bag to get them going.


What are you waiting for? Get reading now! Check out these booklists or search our catalogue to get started. Or come into your local branch and have a look at the shelves!


December 01, 2011

Secret Santa eBooks for you!



Looking for a good Chrissie read? Not to worry, Santa has picked out something just for you! Click one of the presents above to find free Christmas ebooks that you can download to your computer or device.



Merry Christmas all!







November 10, 2011

November 07, 2011

Book Review: Virals




14 year old Tory Brennan, niece of renowned forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, has been living with her dad on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina for six months. She meets a group of teenage guys (Hiram, Ben and Shelton) who are just as smart as she is. She quickly becomes the leader of their group, the “Sci-Philes”. Tory is obsessed with a wolf-dog pack that lives on Loggerhead Island where her dad works. When she notices her favourite wolf-dog Cooper is missing, she knows something is wrong. Upon breaking into one of the science laboratories on Loggerhead Island to clean an old army dog-tag, the friends find Cooper. He is sick and trapped in a cage for medical testing. The “Sci-Philes” take Cooper with them when they leave the lab and keep him for a few weeks to help him recover. As they are caring for him, they realise that they are exposed to an experimental type of canine parvovirus B19. The parvo alters their DNA; their senses heighten to become dog-like and they gain canine-quick reflexes.
Tory, Hi, Ben and Shelton combine their scientific knowledge with their new physical attributes to solve a cold-case murder mystery relating to the dog-tag they found. However, as they uncover more about the mystery, the murderer becomes anxious that they will uncover him, and decides to kill them. Fortunately, now they are a pack. They are Virals.




Kathy Reichs is a popular author who has written many adult crime novels. The TV show “Bones” is based on her adult books. Virals is the first of her books for youths and many critics were impressed. The terminology is all explained in a clear way, allowing people who don’t know much about science to understand the story line. Readers were also impressed with the way the characters were developed.




I recommend this book to any teenagers who are interested in “Bones”, mystery/crime novels or biology.


Thanks to Abbey for this greay review. You can reserve Virals through this link.

November 04, 2011

The Sparrows of Edward Street- Elizabeth Stead

Hope can be found in the most unexpected places. Author Elizabeth Stead has recreated a little known corner of Australian history in this book. Having fallen on tough times, we follow Hanora and her two teenage daughters to a housing commission camp on the outskirts of Sydney in 1948.
I loved the cast of eccentric characters and especially look out for the hilarious "royal visit" from the Minister of Housing .

Linda

November 02, 2011

Music inspired booklist

Whether is be the delicate pluck of a string or the warbling note of a trumpet, music has often been used in fiction to highlight characters, bring life to places, and explore the human soul. The booklist below features novels in which music features heavily. Click on the title to view availability at Camden and Narellan libraries.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin


The Soloist


Phantom of the Opera


The time of our singing


Oh, Play that thing


The Unconsoled


The Piano Tuner


Acqua Alta

October 06, 2011

Rainy Day Booklist




Well, the weather has certainly an unpredictable master these last few weeks. From beautiful summerlike days to idyllic rainforest downpours to chilling winds and snatched clothing off the line, we've had anything and everything.




So it's likely soon you'll have a day to spare, and why not use it in a great read? Here's five brand new bestsellers we'd recommend, all available at your local library.



















September 14, 2011

Eat History Booklist



All energised by the great foody events of Eat History Week? Our local studies librarian has compiled the following list to inspired!

1. Walkabout chefs : a fresh look at Aboriginal bush food by Steve Sunk and David Hancock







8. It's disgusting-- and we ate it! : true food facts from around the world-and throughout history! / by James Solheim ; illustrated by Eric Brace.

9. The medieval kitchen : recipes from France and Italy / Odile Redon, Franicoise Sabban, Silvano Serventi ; translated by Edward Schneider ; original drawings by Patricia Glee Smith.

10. A taste of history : the stories behind our favourite foods / Bryan Bruce.

11. The Fascinating history of your lunch / Jackie French ; illustrated by Judith Rossell.

September 05, 2011

Thankyou to Camden Reads sponsors!

And as all good things come to an end, so too does our winter reading program! With over 1000 registrations, this year's program is definitely our most successful. Prize winners will be drawn soon, so we'd like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors who made so many great prizes available.


• Bridge Climb Sydney
• Australian National Maritime Museum
• The Powerhouse Discovery Centre
• Australian Museum
• LG IMAX Sydney Theatre
• Dumaresq St Cinema
• Calmsley Hill City Farm
• Taronga Zoo

Spring is here, and we hope our patrons will "spring into reading" (Thanks to Sandy for the metaphor!).

Do you have any book recommendations from the program? Let us know and we'll post reviews on the blog!

August 01, 2011

Red Hot Reads!


Present out newsletter when reserving these brand new titles to receive a free reservation (not bad, eh?)








July 28, 2011

Numerical and New!

There's a bit of a strange trend going on in our new fiction. Numbers seem to be the thing for authors this year - titles everywhere focus on the meaning and interplay of numbers. It just doesn't seem to add up! (Hahahahahaha...no? Not funny?)




Check out these new titles!

















May 25, 2011

May 16, 2011

Recent Returns



Click on the title to view our catalogue entries and check availability.















May 10, 2011

Outback Adventure Reading List







Red earth, blue sky and the crisp crack of gunfire across the plains of the Australian heartland - authors have been sweeping tension, mystery and adventure throughout cities, towns, deserts, rainforests and more for over two thousand years. From the dreamtime stories of Aboriginal tribes to the latest Helene Young novel, Camden Council Library Services is petered with Australian gems (or should we say opals?) for your reading pleasure. Check out our picks below. Simply click the title to go to our catalogue entries and check availability.

1. Jirrabal: Rainforest Dreamtime stories by Maisie Barlow

2. Helene Young - Shattered Sky

3. Tomorrow When the War Began series by John Marsden

4. Tree of Man by Patrick White

5.Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

April 27, 2011

Best Graphic Novels 2011





















Phew! After the Easter holidays there was quite a build up of returns this morning. Did you see our staff all out on the library floor puttings things back? Now is the time to pop into your local branch and see the shelves fully stocked. As a little taster, here's 10 top adult graphic novels that are available at Camden and Narellan branches.

1. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman
2. Ex Machina series by Calif La Jolla
3. Fringe: Tales from the Fringe by Scott Pearson
3. John Constantine series by Jamie Delano
4. Negima! series by Ken Akamatsu
5. Odd is on Our Side by Dean Koontz
6. Sandman Mystery Theatre by Matt Wagner
7. A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
8. Strangers in Paradise series by Terry Moore
9. The Only Good Dalek by Justin Richards
10. Watchmen bvy Alan Moore

April 13, 2011

100 Free Ebooks

So, you have an iPad? And eReader? Or just want to view your favourite books from your PC? eBooks are often just as expensive as their physical counterparts. However, you can get a lot of ebooks online for free, particularly classics that have outlived their copyright. We've selected 100 books available online, for free, for Camden Council Library members. The list below is a combination of old favourites, classic literature, and a few bits and pieces you might never have come accross before. Be sure to let us know what you liked! And don't forget about our free downloadable audio books available through out website (On the right hand sidebar).



1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (657)


2. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (781)


3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (630)


4. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (469)


5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (428)


6. Ulysses by James Joyce (407)


7. Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie (384)


8. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (361)


9. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (352)


10. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (310)


11. Dracula by Bram Stoker (309)


12. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (306)


13. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (302)


14. Moby Dick, or, the whale by Herman Melville (296)


15. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (284)


16. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (256)


17. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (248)


18. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (238)


19. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (237)


20. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (237)


21. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (222)


22. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (211)


23. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (198)


24. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (193)


25. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (187)


26. Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (151)


27. Anna Karenina by graf Leo Tolstoy (149)


28. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (148)


29. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (146)


30. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (146)


31. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (133)


32. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (121)


33. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence


34. The Call of the Wild by Jack London


35. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad


36. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens


37. A Study In Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle


38. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp by Anonymous


39. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne


40. The House of a Thousand Candles by Meredith Nicholson


41. Mysterious Mr. Sabin by E. Phillips Oppenheim


42. The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft


43. A Runaway Brig by James Otis


44. The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang


45. Security Risk by E.M. Clinton, Jr.


46. The Book of Khalid by Ameen Rihani


47. The Abandoned Room by Wadsworth Camp


48. Watchbird by Robert Sheckley


49. Motherload by David Collins-Rivera


50. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins


51. The Accused by Harold R. Daniels


52. The Rider of Golden Bar by William Patterson White


53. The Confessions of Lady Beatrice by Unknown


54. Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell


55. Burning Daylight by Jack London


56. Cleopatra by Jacob Abbot


57. Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott


58. 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut


59. All Things Considered by G.K. Chesterton


60. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell


61. Candide by Voltaire


62. King Arthur and his Knights by Maude L. Radford


63. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbs


64. Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad


65. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis


66. Paradise Lost by John Milton


67. Plague Ship by Andre Norton


68. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs


69. The Clue of the Twisted Candle by Edgar Wallace


70. The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy


71. The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield


72. The Last of the Mohicans by James Cooper


73. The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes


74. The Odyssey by Homer


75. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald


76. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane


77. The Sand-Hills of Jutland by Hans Christian Andersen


78. The Sleeping Beauty by C.S. Evans


79. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting


80. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte


81. The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley


82. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne


83. Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore


84. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray


85. The Clique of Gold by Emile Gaboriau


86. The Chronicles of the Canongate by Sir Walter Scott


87. The Lure Of The Dim Trails by B. M. Bower


88. The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories by P.G. Wodehouse


89. The Ear in the Wall by Arthur Reave


90. The Fat and the Thin by Emile Zola


91. The Fortune Hunter by David Phillips


92. The Hand But Not the Heart by T.S. Arthur


93. The Moon Out Of Reach by Margaret Pedler


94. The Ne'er-Do-Well by Rex Ellington Beach


95. Rose in Bloom by Louisa Alcott


96. Fernley House by Laura Richards


97. From Jest to Earnest by Edward Payson Roe


98. The Valley of the Giants by Peter Kyne


99. Three Things by Elinor Glyn


100. What Sami Sings with the Birds by Joanna Spyri

March 31, 2011

Book Review: The Angel Experiment

Did you know that you can post reviews on our catalogue? Share your experience with others! All you need is your library barcode number (on the back of your card) and you password to log in. Check out one of the great reviews left by a library patron below;

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Its been years since I first read this book, and i still manage to read the series over and over and get the same rush of emotions. Its powerful, its thrilling, and it just keeps getting better.

Once your halfway through the next time you put the book down you'll find you've finished the book, I read it till one in the morning and started the second book. Its seriously enthralling.

The characters melt into one another, each are unique and realistic, and all work together. Max is the main character, and she will take you on a journey you will never forget. This is one imaginitive rollercoaster that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Check out the catalogue entry here, and get posting!