Book Review: Kirstie Allsopp CRAFT

Get crafty in the New Year and take inspiration from Kristie Allsopp's new book CRAFT.  The great thing about this book is that it draws a wide range of crafts together and presents it all in the one book.  There's needle craft, paper crafts, textiles, food crafts, garden crafts, flower crafts & gift crafts; all these chapters are stuffed with interesting projects.

This book is perfect for anyone who doesn't quite know their specialty yet, or even as a great starting point for those experienced in one craft but want to dip their toe into other crafts.  It's a bit of a taster session!

This is a lovely book bursting with great ideas for an inspiring New Year! 

Available to buy in Village Books for €24.40

Great christmas presents

For Her

For Him

For Kids

JUNIOR BOOK CLUBS

We've had a great year with our Junior Book Clubs. They couldn't wait to give their opinions about books good and bad!

We were surprised at the books that received poor reviews. John Boyne (author of 'The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas') released 'Noah Barleywater Runs Away' earlier this year. The book club couldn't wait to get stuck into it, having loved his previous children's novel. However, they found 'Noah Barleywater' to be very disappointing. The general consensus was that it was an okay story but rambled on too much. It wasn't gripping and moved too slowly.

Other books that did not impress were 'The Crowfield Curse' by Pat Walsh and 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Phillipa Pearce.



One of the hits was Michael Morpurgos 'An Elephant In The Garden'. This is a captivating story of an extraordinary animal caught up in a very human war. The book club found it to be a fantastic and moving read. James (age 10) said,'It was fascinating! I couldn't put it down. 9 out of 10!' Another book that greatly appealed to the girls was 'Ingo' by Helen Dunmore, first part of a series telling tales of the dark underworld beneath the sea.

Over the Christmas break the three Junior Book Clubs will be relaxing with 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman, 'Once' by Morris Gleitzman, 'Hoot' by Carl Hiaasen and 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' by Roald Dahl.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VILLAGE BOOKS!

New Malahide Calendar now in stock

The 2012 Malahide calendar is now on sale in Village Books. Wonderful photos by Cian Farrell. Costs €10. Here are some of the shots from the calendar.

Watch Village Books on TV

Village Books appeared on TV3's TVAM program yesterday.


Click here to watch:http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=42326&locID=1.65.74

TV3 films in Village Books

TV3 filmed the Village Books Adult book group this week. The group discussed "The Chosen" by Arlene Hunt. The programme will be broadcast next Tuesday the 15th of November at 9.15am on Ireland AM on TV3.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

A Beautifully written book that left me so enthralled, I had to reread parts of it again.

The book is divided into two parts; the first is the narrator’s description of his awkward journey from teenager to adulthood in a 1960’s English landscape which entirely missed the sexual revolution. He discusses his relationships and memories of them from the perspective of retirement and how the past is not necessarily what you remember.

The second part of the book begins with a solicitor’s letter telling him he had been bequeathed the diary of a long dead friend. What follows challenges everything he believes of his life from his motivations to his actions.

A short, interesting novel which I recommend reading in just one or two sittings.

DIABLOS NOW IN STOCK!

We now have the Hot Shots Diablo in stock.


Available in red and green, this much sought after toy is only €5.99!


Hurry while stocks last! 

Booker Prize Winner- Julian Barnes

Julian Barnes (Tuesday 18 October) named the winner of this year's £50,000 Man Booker Prize for Fiction for The Sense of an Ending.

London-based Barnes has been the bookies' favourite to win since the shortlist announcement on 6 September. The source of the description of the prize as ‘posh bingo', Barnes has been shortlisted three times in the past for Arthur and George (2005), England, England (1998) and Flaubert's Parrot (1984).

Barnes' first novel for six years, The Sense of an Ending went straight into the bestseller list on publication. It is the story of a seemingly ordinary man who, when revisiting his past in later life, discovers that the memories he holds are less than perfect. Laced with trademark precision, dexterity and insight, this is the work of one of the world's most distinguished writers. At the time of the shortlist announcement, 2011 judge Gaby Wood commented: ‘that the tragedy trapped in this mundane life should be so moving, and so keenly felt by the character that he can only confront it half-blindly and in fragments, is the mark of a truly masterful novel.'

VILLAGE BOOKS IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOK SHOP OF THE YEAR AWARD

Village Books is one of the top ten books shops in the country as voted by you, the customers. 

We are shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Book Shop of the Year award. http://www.bordgaisenergybookclub.ie/bookshop-of-the-year/

Thank you all, for your support and for voting.

THE VILLAGE BOOKS BOOK CLUB

'The Cat's Table' by Michael Ondaatje received great praise at last week's meeting. All agreed it is a very well written, gorgeously descriptive coming of age tale about an 11 year old boy aboard a ship destined for England. It is almost autobiographical in tone which everybody seemed to enjoy and is rich with interesting character sketches.

Next month we'll be discussing 'The Chosen' by Arlene Hunt and we'll be featured on TV3's Ireland AM!


Keep a look out!

NEW EXCLUSIVE STOCK!

Today VILLAGE BOOKS welcomed a new range of exclusive gifts for girls.

'Top Model' are creative and artistic fashion kits, perfect for budding designers or those that just love to draw. There are several different kits to choose from which include stencils, stickers and art materials.

We're offering 10% off any Top Model purchases for one week only!

Hurry while stocks last!

Offer ends Monday October 10th

VILLAGE BOOKS BOOK CLUB

At the last meeting of the book club we discussed 'THE PARIS WIFE' by Paula McLain. There was a general consensus that it was a great book. People found it easy to read, entertaining and very informative about Hemingway's life. They felt it was more than a biography and as many are Hemingway fans they felt it gave new insights into his life and that of his first wife, Hadley.

The next meeting will be on Monday 3rd October at 6.30pm.

If you would like to join our book club waiting list you can email us at info@villagebooks.ie, phone us on 8457073 or pop into the shop and leave us your details.

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE VILLAGE BOOKS?

How much do you LOVE VILLAGE BOOKS? How much do you love electricity? 

We're in the running for the BEST IRISH BOOKSHOP OF THE YEAR 2011.

We need your support to help us through the competition.

All voters get a FREE book light AND 2 lucky voters will also win €1000 worth of electricity!

Click here http://www.bordgaisenergybookclub.ie/bookshop-of-the-year/?first-letter=V 

to vote for us as your favourite bookshop! 

THE JUNIOR BOOK CLUBS ARE BACK!

This Monday sees the return of the VILLAGE BOOKS Junior Book Clubs.

We are currently running three clubs that meet on Monday afternoons in the book shop.



Group One are meeting this Monday, 12th September. They've been reading 'The Throne of Fire' but Rick Riordan, 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett and 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Philippa Pearce.

Group Two are meeting on Monday, 19th September. They chose 'Wildflower Girl' by Martina Conlon-McKenna, 'Milo and the Restart Button' by Alan Silberberg and 'The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.






Group Three are meeting on Monday, 26th September. They'll be talking about 'Hitler's Canary' by Sandi Toksvig, 'Wildflower Girl' by Martina Conlon-McKenna and 'The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.








All our clubs are full at the moment but if you think your child might be interested you can pop their name down on the waiting list or leave us your details and we'll keep you updated on what the clubs are reading.

BACK TO SCHOOL SCOOTER OFFER

BACK TO SCHOOL SCOOTER OFFER: Make going back to school that much easier and more exciting! Village Books are offering the Mini Micro Scooter for €65 and the Maxi Micro for €110 for 2 weeks only, see details below:

MINI MICRO SCOOTER
Now only €65
• For ages 3-6
• Develops Balance
• Coordination
• Great fun to ride
• Two colours - Blue and Pink

MAXI MICRO SCOOTER
Now only €110
• For ages 6+
• Max 50kg weight
• Reinforced deck for safety
• Three wheel lean and steer mechanism
• Two colours - Black and Purple

Three days, three thrillers

Enjoying the last days of my summer I squeezed in three great new thrillers. The Killing Place by Tess Gerritsen featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli and ME Dr. Maura Isles. Maura Isles is trapped with a group in a snowstorm in Wyoming, they come upon an abandoned village where a cult had lived. Gripping stuff, could not guess the twist.

Next was Fallen by Karin Slaughter featuring Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agents Faith Mitchell and Will Trent (the charming dyslexic cop). Fallen centres around the disappearance of Faith's mother Evelyn a former police captain and her involvement with drug gangs in Atlanta.

Lastly was the Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn. Ian Hunt is the Police Dispatcher in the town of Bulls Mouth, he gets a call from his daughter Maggie who had been missing for seven years.

VILLAGE BOOKS BOOK CLUB

The last meeting of the VILLAGE BOOKS Book Club took place on the 9th of August and we discussed 'Sunset Park' by Paul Auster.

There was a general consensus that the book started well. The main character, Miles, was initially intriguing but interest was lost in the wordiness of the book which became too cerebral. One lost sympathy with the characters and became less involved with their stories.

For me, it wasn't as good as other Paul Auster books such as 'Brooklyn'.

The next meeting will be on the 13th of September and we'll be discussing 'The Paris Wife' by Paula McLain.

Top 10 crime for July 2011

TOP 10 NEW CRIME FICTION

1. First Thrills by Lee Child
2. The Set-Up by Felix Riley
3. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
4. Live Wire by Harlan Coben
5. Buried Secrets by Joesph Finder
6. Vanished by Joseph Finder
7. Gallows Bird by Camilla Lackberg
8. The Terror of Living by Urban Waite
9. Three Seconds by Roslund & Helmstrom
10. Back of Beyond by C.J. Box

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray- reviewed by Orna

Daniel 'Skippy' Juster is a second year student at Seabrook School based in South County Dublin. His eccentric roommate Ruprecht is experimenting with string theory and his girlfriend is a frisbee-throwing siren. Skippy Dies is a hilarious story of school, southsiders, prescription drug abuse and first love. This book reminded me of the Ross O'Carroll Kelly series, I laughed the whole way through, really enjoyed it!

JUNIOR ART COMPETITION WINNERS

This year's Junior Art Competition was an enormous success. We had over one hundred entries of a very high standard with drawings depicting popular storybook characters. Some of our favorites included the three little pigs, the very hungry caterpillar and Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters.

The art competition was one of several events that made up the 'Malahide Has It' weekend. Much fun was had by all and we can't wait for next year's festival!

See below for the list of competition winners and photographs.




5 Year Old Category

Sophie Ryan | Runner Up

Aíne Banable | Third Prize

Kiey Kennedy | Second Prize

Maia Gabbie | First Prize

6-8 Year Old Category

Dearbhail Devally | Runner Up 

Ciara Mahon | Runner Up

Katelyn Moriarty | Third Prize 

Molly Fitzpatrick | Second Prize

Cian Whitney | First Prize

10 Year Old Category

Amy Dooley | Runner Up
Jake Fine | Runner Up
Dara Fine | Second Prize

Mia O'Grady | First Prize & Overall Winner

Mia O'Grady | First Prize | 10+ Category

Sophie Ryan | Runner Up | 5 Year Old Category

Maia Gabbie | First Prize | 5 Year Old Category

Ciara Mahon | Runner Up | 6-8 Category

Katelyn Moriarty | Third Prize | 6-8 Category

Cian Whitney | First Prize | 6-8 Category

Amy Dooley | Runner Up | 10+ Category

Jake Fine | Runner Up | 10+ Category

Dara Fine | Second Prize | 10+ Category