‘Twas the night before Christmas

On Christmas Eve why not share this traditional poem with your loved ones, young and old.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

By Clement Clarke Moore 1779–1863 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house 
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, 
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; 
The children were nestled all snug in their beds; 
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; 
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, 
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap, 
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, 
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. 
Away to the window I flew like a flash, 
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, 
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, 
When what to my wondering eyes did appear, 
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, 
With a little old driver so lively and quick, 
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. 
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, 
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: 
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! 
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! 
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! 
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" 
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, 
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; 
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew 
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too— 
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof 
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, 
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. 
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, 
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; 
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, 
And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack. 
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! 
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! 
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, 
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; 
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, 
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; 
He had a broad face and a little round belly 
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. 
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, 
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; 
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head 
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; 
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, 
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, 
And laying his finger aside of his nose, 
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; 
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, 
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. 
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— 
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Torfaen Libraries would like to wish everyone a very 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Our Libraries close today, Christmas Eve, at 12 noon and will reopen at their usual times on Saturday 2 January 2016

Reading Group Books of the Year 2015

Cwmbran Library Reading Groups voted for their top titles of 2015 at their joint Christmas party last week.

The clear winner was “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton, second place went to “Elizabeth is Missing” by Emma Healey and third was Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”. 

The groups also voted for their least liked reads of 2015, which were “To Rise Again at a Decent Hour” by Joshua Ferris and “The Blazing World” by Siri Hustvedt. 

Pontypool Library Reading Group chose Burial Rites by Hannah Kent as their Book of the Year.

Based on true events in Iceland, this is an atmospheric and haunting book about a condemned murderess Agnes, sent to live out her last days with a family who have no choice but to take her in!

This is Kent’s first novel, and the reading group members are already looking forward to her next book.

In tandem with the Cwmbran Library groups “The Miniaturist” and “Elizabeth is Missing” were also favourites with the Pontypool group and their least enjoyed book was “The Blazing World”.


Earlier in the year there was a Reading Group trip to the Hay Festival to hear Jessie Burton, author of “The Miniaturist” talk about her novel. She had obviously thoroughly researched her material and the group were enthused by their visit.

There are lots of new titles for the reading groups to look forward to in 2016, including Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Buried Giant” and Kate Hamer’s debut novel, “The Girl in the Red Coat”. Here's a brief taste of what's to come.

 "The Buried Giant" begins as a couple set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope of finding a son they have not seen in years. Sometimes savage, often intensely moving, Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel in a decade is about lost memories, love, revenge and war.

In "The Girl in the Red Coat" Carmel Wakeford becomes separated from her mother at a local children's festival, and is found by a man who claims to be her estranged grandfather. He tells her that her mother has had an accident and that she is to live with him for now. As days become weeks, 8-year-old Carmel realises that this man believes she has a special gift.

While her mother desperately tries to find her, Carmel embarks on an extraordinary journey, one that will make her question who she is - and who she might become.

Intrigued? Me too.

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa
I’ve been a very good girl this year and I'm hoping you will bring me some special books for Christmas.

Top of my wish list, I’d love to find Gino D’Acampo in my Christmas stocking, but would be happy to settle for his new cookbook, “Gino’s Islands in the Sun”. The gorgeous photographs of Sardinia and Sicily and the wonderful Mediterranean recipes will certainly warm up the long, dark, cold winter days. 

Next is Waterstones book of the year “The Fox and the Star” by award-winning designer, Coralie Bickford-Smith. Ostensibly a children’s picture book, the graphic illustrations are so beautiful that it will appeal to all ages, it certainly appeals to me.

Finally, for a fun Christmas read I’d like Chrissie Manby’s “A Wedding at Christmas” as it promises “mince pies and mayhem guaranteed”. What better way to spend Boxing Day than cwtched up with a box of chocolates, a glass of red wine and some chick lit, Heaven!

I did a straw poll among my colleagues and this is what they are hoping for and why:

Mark wants "The Ice Twins" by S K Tremayne.
Identical twins, a terrible accident, one dies but which one?

He says "This doesn’t look like the kind of book I would normally read but the blurb and reviews have me intrigued. Hopefully it will be as atmospheric, creepy and menacing as it sounds. The idea of a Gothic read at Christmas is quite appealing."

Bettina is hoping for Dale Pinnock's "The Medicinal Chef: eat your way to better health" for the wonderful recipes, like sesame soy salmon and vegetables with coconut rice.

Carla is asking Santa for: 

J K Rowling – "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone", the illustrated version because it’s gorgeous and a great way to introduce younger readers to Harry Potter.

Robin Benway – "Emmy and Oliver". I borrowed this from the library and it was so good I’m asking for my own copy. 

Brandon Sanderson – "Elantris". Sanderson’s fantasy books are incredible and this one is next on my reading list.

I hope Santa’s been doing some weight training because Sophie’s heavyweight list runs to 7 books. Here are her top three:

Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw – "Why does E=mc2?" 

Two brilliant minds working together make an incredible book.

Stephen Hawking – "A Brief History of Time". It’s one of a kind.

Rachel Khoo – "The Little Paris Kitchen: classic French recipes with a fresh and simple approach".

Just because I love French food.

Get Reading - BBC 2016 Year of Books and Authors

Great news for book lovers! 
The BBC Director-General, Tony Hall has announced Get Reading - a campaign for 2016 that will celebrate great authors and their works and get the nation reading and sharing the books they love.

The campaign includes a Get Reading Weekend, a digital and social media campaign from BBC Learning and specially-commissioned programmes across BBC TV, Radio and online. 

Get Reading will work with key reading partners throughout 2016, including the Reading Agency, BookTrust, the National Literacy Trust, the Society Of Chief Librarians and the Scottish Library and Information Council.

The campaign kicks off in the spring with the BBC Shakespeare Festival 2016 – marking 400 years since the death of the Bard and celebrating his genius. 

Other highlights include: 

• A children’s books season featuring the life and work of Roald Dahl
  
• The Book that Inspired Me, a campaign to get the nation talking about and sharing books
• A “Get Reading Weekend” in November which will aim to inspire the nation to read something new
• Programmes on TV and radio celebrating great authors like the Brontes, Rudyard Kipling, Jeanette Winterson and Toni Morrison

For more information visit:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/get-reading?lang=gd

Reading Group News

This week it's the turn of the Pontypool Library Reading

Group. They have been reading “The Blazing World” by Siri Hustvedt.

Artist Harriet Burden, consumed by fury at the lack of recognition she has received from the New York art establishment, embarks on an experiment. She hides her identity behind three male fronts who exhibit her work as their own. And yet, even after she has unmasked herself, there are those who refuse to believe she is the woman behind the men. 

Not universally popular with the group, this fictional novel is written as if it is non fiction and the reader can become confused as to what is true and what is not. One member however was very enthusiastic about the book saying that it is “an amazing piece of writing by Hustveldt” and “a book that richly deserves the attention one has to give it to come to terms with its content.”
  
Hard work but worth it? 
What do you think?


For those who enjoy historical fiction another member of the reading group recommends ‘The King’s Curse’ by Philippa Gregory, the sixth book in the Cousins’ War Series.

She says it “gives a picture of the early days of the Tudor monarchy and Henry VIII’s reign in particular, through the eyes of Lady Margaret Pole.  Margaret was a Plantagenet, the daughter of the Duke of Clarence, niece to Edward lV and Richard lll and granddaughter of Warwick ‘The Kingmaker’”.

“I found the style that Philippa Gregory used in having Margaret tell her story in the form of a journal very effective. Not only do we learn of events at Court but we are given an insight into the life of a landowner in Tudor times.  I felt increasingly drawn into Margaret’s life as the book progressed and found the final pages particularly moving.”

What the Reading Groups Say

Cwmbran Library has 3 reading groups. This month they have been reading Bill Clegg, “Did You Ever Have a Family”; Joshua Ferris, “To Rise Again at a Decent Hour” and Fiona McFarlane “The Night Guest”. Here are their thoughts.

Group 1 

We had high hopes for this book as it was long-listed for the Booker, but found that overall, we were disappointed. 

The story was told from the point of view of lots of different characters, in an interview style and we found all the different perspectives confusing. There were far too many characters to keep track of, especially as all the narrators sounded alike and it was difficult to differentiate between them. On a positive note, it was an interesting story about family and friendship set in small-town America during the aftermath of a devastating tragedy. The overall message was one of hope, forgiveness and moving on.

Group 2 

I don’t think any members of the group actually got past page 100 of this book! We found it too dense, with too many inner monologues and too depressing. The blurb misleadingly described the book as a man discovering that he is being impersonated on social media but neglected to mention the philosophical and religious complexities involved.

We did however,  find it quite amusing, though not the laugh-out-loud funny it was meant to be. It was also very thought-provoking. Ultimately we decided that this is not a book we would recommend to a friend. Never the less we found that we couldn’t stop talking about it which is of course the beauty of a reading group. If nothing else we all learned the importance of daily flossing! 

Group 3 

The group was very eager to discuss this book, and we had a full house of all 12 members!  Everyone had read the book and had lots to say about it. We found it an unsettling and subtly menacing read, which made us feel uneasy and anxious for Ruth, the main character. Her life is solitary and lonely since her husband died and her sons emigrated. Then Frida turns up, “sent by the government” and with no questions asked completely takes over Ruth’s life. 

We all found ourselves immersed in the story, which is set on a slow simmer of suspense, and talked at length about dementia, the problems of aging and about trusting people. A riveting read for a first novel. 

Have you read any of these books, then why not have your say? Do you agree or disagree with the groups? Please post your comments.

Escape the Winter Blues

Well the sun’s come out for five minutes so perhaps this Friday the 13th won’t be unlucky after all. Oops, spoke too soon, it’s pouring again.

Sitting here on a grey, changeable November day and thinking of the long winter months ahead my mind has drifted off to warmer climes. Already this year I’ve travelled to Lake Como, Venice (twice) and the South of France. Not in reality unfortunately, but through the books I’ve read. Erica James, Suzette A. Hill,  Nicky Pellegrino and Catherine Alliott have been my travel agents extraordinaire. If you want to escape the winter blues, why not give them a try? I wholeheartedly recommend them all.

Erica James – Summer at the Lake

It was a wedding invitation that changed everything for Floriana. If she hadn't been so distracted at the thought of having to witness the love of her life get married, she would have seen the car coming and there would have been no need for elderly spinster Esme Silcox and local property developer Adam Strong to rush to her aid. If she hadn't met them she would never have had the courage to attend Seb's wedding in Lake Como. 

For Esme, Lake Como awakens memories of when she stayed at the lake as a 19-year-old girl and fell in love for the first time. So often she's wondered what happened to the man who stole her heart all those years ago, a man who changed the course of her life.

A tale of lost loves set in the beautiful Italian lakes.


Suzette A. Hill – The Venetian Venture

Rosy Gilchrist is sent to Venice to find a rare book. Rosy jumps at the chance to fit some sightseeing around business, but the holiday plans go on hold when she learns that there is a significant bounty prize for anyone who locates this valuable work. Finding herself in the midst of a cat-and-mouse chase, Rosy's rivals will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get their hands on the book.

A murder mystery complete with eccentric characters and plenty of humour.

Nicky Pellegrino – One Summer in Venice

Addolorata Martinelli knows she should be happy. She has everything she thought she wanted - her own business, a husband, a child. So why does she feel as if something is missing? When her restaurant, Little Italy, is slated by a reviewer, she realises she has to get away. So Addolorata heads to Venice to spend a summer alone, aiming to find the ten things that make her happy. Once she's found them, she'll build a new life around them, but will they include her life in London?

Food and Venice, what could be better?


Catherine Alliott – Wish You Were Here

There's nothing like getting away from it all ... a chateau in the south of France, a family holiday and a summer party. What could be nicer? What could possibly go wrong?

An idyllic summer spent in a French chateau, that’s the stuff of dreams. Dreams can sometimes turn into nightmares however. 

Pure Escapism

Reading Group Round Up

Pontypool Library Read Aloud Group

Jo Baker - Longbourn

The group are currently reading this retelling of Jane Austen’s, “Pride and Prejudice”. Told from the point of view of the household servants it clearly shows the harsh realities of life below stairs, something which Austen never dwelt on, and adds a new dimension to a much loved classic.

The members are enjoying the book very much. It lacks the gentility of Jane Austen’s take on her world but offers a possibly more realistic and earthy view of Regency England, both upstairs and downstairs.


Pontypool Library Teen Reading Group

Erika Johansen – The Queen of the Tearling

This is the first book in a new fantasy series. Kelsea Glynn is the heir to her mother’s throne and the kingdom of Tearling. Since the murder of her mother Queen Elyssa, Kelsea has been raised in secret by foster parents and the kingdom ruled by her uncle as regent. 

The book tells the story of Kelsea’s struggle to return to her kingdom and claim her throne. To achieve this she must save the Tearling from the forces of dark magic that threaten to destroy it.

There were mixed reactions from the group. One member found it difficult to get into and gave up early on. While others agreed in part, they felt that it was a good plot and worth persevering with.

The second part, “Invasion of the Tearling” is also available from Torfaen Libraries and the third book in the series, “Fate of the Tearling” is due to be published in 2016.

If you've read any of these books I'd love to know your opinions. Please post your comments below.

The Haunted Doll's House and other ghostly tales from Gwent

The Haunted Doll’s House

 

When the Toy Museum at Abergavenny opened in 1992 it had a very special exhibit, a haunted doll’s house.
Built in Germany during the 1880’s the doll’s house was bought by a Welsh family in about 1910 while they were living in the United States where the father was working. When the first world war broke out the mother and her two children returned home to Wales and the father was supposed to follow a few months later.

One day the little girl told her mother that she had seen her father waving to her through the windows of the doll's house. The Mother laughed and thought it was just the child’s imagination. Then the terrible news came that the father had been killed while returning home. His ship had been torpedoed by a German U boat.


More tragedy followed when the mother and her children were killed in a fire. Miraculously the doll’s house survived.

Soon afterwards the new owners claimed to have seen two children waving from the windows of the dolls house. Since that time many people have claimed to see strange things through the doll’s house windows!

The toy museum has since closed. I wonder what happened to that doll's house.......

The Black Dog of Garndiffaith

When coal was still mined in Garndiffaith a ghostly black dog would sometimes appear to miners on their way to work. The wise man would turn around and go back home to safety, but if he was foolish enough to carry on to the mine an accident was sure to befall him.

If he was lucky and did not look into the dog’s eyes the miner might escape with his life but for those poor souls who met the creature’s gaze, death would surely follow.

The Pool of Avarice

There is a deep dark pool in the hills above Cwmbran called the Pool of Avarice where on dark stormy nights the voices of the dead can be heard crying in torment.

Long ago, a large house stood near this pool. The people who lived in the house were arrogant and puffed up with their own self importance. One stormy night they threw a lavish meal to impress their friends. A poor cousin, hearing about the wonderful feast called at the house to ask for some food for his family. He was turned away with nothing but angry words because the family were embarrassed to have such a poor relation.

Not long afterwards the storm grew fiercer and fiercer. The rain was so torrential that part of Twmbarlwm Mountain was washed down in a terrible landslide that engulfed the house. There were no survivors and it is said that this was a punishment for their greed and selfishness. 

Roman Footsteps

If you visit the Roman remains at Caerleon do not be surprised if you hear ghostly footsteps. The Second Augustan Legion of Roman soldiers can still be heard marching from time to time, particularly in the vicinity of the Amphitheatre.

The Blood Red Carpet

Tredegar House in Newport is believed to have a number of ghostly occupants including a nun wearing a grey habit, a young girl who died in 1726 and a lad called Roderick whose presence is accompanied by the smell of fuchsias.

Most bizarre of all though is the legend of the blood red carpet. On every Friday the thirteenth it is said that a carpet within the house is stained a deep blood red. Then the stain vanishes leaving no trace.

................................................................................................

If these stories have wet your appetite why not check out our supernatural and local history books for more ghostly goings on.

Half Term Fun - Harry Potter, Halloween and all things Spooky

Next week is half term and there's loads going on in 

Torfaen Libraries to keep the kids busy

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre & Library
Daily, 27 - 30 October 2015


Spooky Story Telling in the Library 
10.30am - 11.00am and 1.00pm - 1.30pm

Halloween "Make 'n' Take" Workshops 
(small charge applies) 
11.00am - 1.00pm and 1.30pm -4.00pm

Halloween Challenge Trail
11.00am - 4.00pm

Cwmbran Library
Tuesday 27 October and Friday 30 October 2015
11.00am - 12 noon 

Harry Potter Week (7 - 10 year olds)

Stories - Sorting Hat - Potions Corner - Puzzles

Diagon Alley Hunt - Design Your Own Dragon Egg

and lots more

Reserve your place to avoid disappointment

Pontypool Library 

Tuesday 27 October 2015 
2.30pm - 3.30pm

Creepy Stories and Crafts

Booking recommended 

Come along if you dare!!!

Dress to impress, Halloween style

Man Booker Prize 2015 – Winner announced

On the 13 October 2015 Marlon James was announced as the winner of this prestigious prize for his novel “A Brief History of Seven Killings”. He is the first Jamaican writer to win the prize. Maybe that’s not so surprising when you realise that this is only the second year that all authors writing in English, regardless of nationality have been eligible to enter.

The book was inspired by the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the 1970s. Spanning the 1970’s-90’s it is a multi stranded epic of over 700 pages. Some of the themes include reggae music, Jamaican politics, gangs and drugs. This book pulls no punches. 

"A Brief History of Seven Killings" is available for loan from Torfaen Libraries, so why not log on to the library catalogue using your library card number and PIN and reserve a copy. www.torfaen.gov.uk/libraries

All the short listed titles are also available to reserve:

National Poetry Day 8 October 2015

That Autumnal nip is definitely in the air this morning so, in honour of National Poetry Day, I thought I'd share a couple of seasonal poems with you.

An October Garden

In my Autumn garden I was fain

To mourn among my scattered roses;

Alas for that last rosebud which uncloses

To Autumn’s languid sun and rain

When all the world is on the wane!

Which has not felt the sweet constraint of June,

Nor heard the nightingale in tune.

Broad-faced asters by my garden walk,

You are but coarse compared with roses:

More choice, more dear that rosebud which uncloses

Faint-scented, pinched, upon its stalk,

That least and last which cold winds balk;

A rose it is though least and last of all,

A rose to me though at the fall.

Christina Rossetti

Autumn Fires

In the other gardens 

And all up the vale, 

From the autumn bonfires 

See the smoke trail! 

Pleasant summer over 

And all the summer flowers, 

The red fire blazes, 

The grey smoke towers. 

Sing a song of seasons! 

Something bright in all! 

Flowers in the summer, 

Fires in the fall! 

Robert Louis Stevenson