Librarian Picks for December 2022
Published on 01 December 2022
Ever wondered what the staff at the Ōamaru Library are reading? Well here's your chance! Check out our list below for all the goodies the staff are reading and their reviews for December 2022.
Eileen's pick
Exiles by Jane Harper
Exiles is superb. A classic mystery in another great Australian setting with a group dynamic of characters that are hugely engaging- plus the return of Falk. What more could you ask for?
Beautifully written, suitably tense, cleverly plotted, a littler slower paced than previous ones. I loved every minute of this one.
Kerrie's pick
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair (Adult Fiction)
Captivating from the first page, I can't wait for the next book!
Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the King’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure called the Shadow starts making moves against the Crown, Keera is forced to hunt the masked menace down.
Glenys' picks
Treacle Walker by Alan Garner
Readers who remember Garner's earlier works such as The Owl Service, or The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, will understand why I grabbed this new title ahead of anyone else in the Library workroom.
Delving into a strange fantasy world as might be expected of Garner, he creates a compelling, short novel which has no obvious target audience. It is as if he is simply entertaining himself with crafting curious characters who are both timeless and yet need each other to fulfill their roles. Evocative, wistful and utterly charming - so good to have a master storyteller still weaving his magic aged 88 years.
Shortlisted for The Booker Prize 2022.
Born to be Hanged by Keith Thomson (Adult Non Fiction)
Not for the squeamish, this tale is informative and horrifying in equal measures.
Set in 1680 during the Golden Age of Piracy, a bunch of opportunists plunder the Spanish Main to acquire Spanish gold, over a two-year odyssey.
“Born to be Hanged offers a rollicking account of one of the most astonishing pirate expeditions of all time.”
Could be a great holiday read.