The Council of Mareeba is situated inland from Cairns in northern Queensland. It is a lush, beautiful region known to be the richest area in Australia for birdlife, with nearly half of Australia’s 750 bird species being found there.
There are four libraries located within the Mareeba Shire, all providing an extensive variety of materials to borrow, including books, videos, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, audio books, newspapers and games. As the four libraries are all part of the one service, you can pick up and drop off resources at all four libraries interchangeably.
Good Reading caught up with some of the staff to discover what they are currently reading.
Kellie
Library Coordinator
What are you reading now?
A History of Delusions by Victoria Shepherd
Why did you choose this book?
When I visit my daughter in Sydney our first stop is Books Kinokuniya, which is an amazing bookstore opposite the Queen Victoria Building in the CBD. At Kinokuniya I like to make the most of the huge selection of books by choosing something different that I would not find locally.
What’s it about?
A History of Delusions is a recounting of people through history suffering from delusions. Some of the delusions are very strange, for example, people who believe they have been turned into wolves, or that they are made from glass! The book proposes that delusions are more than just bizarre case studies, but are a coping mechanism for people who have faced traumatic events resulting in a extreme loss of social status.
Are you enjoying it?
The cases explored are peculiar, and reading the book is an enjoyable form of voyeurism. There is a sense of delight in examining the lunacy of the rich. While enjoying the strangeness of the investigations, the book ignores the contradiction that, historically, it is only the affluent who would have had access to physicians and therefore they are the only cases documented.
Shellie
Manager Customer & Community Services
What are you reading now?
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Why did you choose this book?
I always look forward to the holidays. Not only is it an opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, but it also gives me extra time to read!
I like to choose books that will take me into different, imaginary worlds. Stories that I can get lost in for hours.
Sword Catcher offered me over 600 pages of magic, intrigue and fantasy by an author whose work I have enjoyed reading in the past.
What’s it about?
An orphan, the ‘Sword Catcher’, who has been brought up as the body double for a Prince who is destined to rule a wealthy city-state and who deals with constant assassination attempts. A physician from a small magic practicing community that craves forbidden knowledge. A charming criminal ruler, ‘Ragpicker King’, offers shadow and reward for information and help for his power games.
Through these main players a story of conspiracy, corruption and forbidden love is told. Will what they discover, bring war and chaos to their nation and world?
Are you enjoying it?
I am only at around page 150, just getting into the story. The characters are developing, and I am enjoying the mysterious tone.
Compared to past books by Cassandra Clare, description is the focus rather than the plot. I am missing the intensity that past stories have had.
I will keep reading as I do want to know what becomes of the Sword Catcher, if the physician gets access to the knowledge that she is craving and, of course, who the forbidden love is for.
Helen
Library Assistant
What are you reading now?
The Secrets of the Huon Wren by Claire van Ryn
Why did you choose this book?
Initially I was attracted to the cover, with its beautiful little fairy wren. The blurb sounded intriguing, especially as it is set in rural Tasmania and one of the characters has dementia. How would we be able to hear her story?
What’s it about?
It’s about an unlikely friendship between a journalist and an old lady with dementia. Both have tragedies that shape their lives. However, the difference in their lives is extreme. One story is set in remote Tasmania many years ago and one in present time.
Are you enjoying it?
I’m finding it quite fascinating. I love the historical component of the old lady’s story; what a hard life she had! I found it interesting how, even with dementia, people still remember lots from those times, not always when you want to hear it – so lots of patience is also required. Two lovely characters who helped each other enormously.
A lovely read, and interesting historically as well.
0 Comments