Helen Forrester
English Family Stories are ever popular, and authors such as Catherine Cookson are still among the most requested of authors in libraries. Sadly in 2011 two best selling authors in this genre passed away and we have some of their timeless works in our collection…
First up we have Helen Forrester. Helen was born 1919 in Cheshire to an upper middle class family, however during the depression her family lost their wealth and were plunged into poverty. They moved to Liverpool in the hope of finding work, but economically things were just as bad there. As the eldest child, Helen took care of her six younger siblings and due to her family duties, she stopped attending school from the age of 11, but at the age of 14 she forced her parents to allow her to attend night school.
Her first autobiographical work was written in response to a critic of her fiction who claimed she would have little real understanding of poverty. ”Twopence to Cross the Mersey’ was published in 1974 and is considered to have been the first of it’s kind in depicting the harsh lives of families during the 30′s depression.
Twopence to Cross the Mersey - deals with Helens childhood in Liverpool
By The Waters Of Liverpool - about her adolescence and struggle for independence.
Lime Street at Two - about her life during the war years in Liverpool
Her family fiction includes such titles as …
Iain Blair whose pen name was Emma Blair
The second author is Iain Blair who wrote under the pseudonym Emma Blair. Iain was born in Glasgow in 1942, and before he became and author he was a journalist and actor. He ended his acting career after waiting to audition for a role in Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. After being kept waiting by the great director for hours, he was finally asked by Spielberg if he could come back the next day to audition. Blair shot back at him, “No I F*****g Can’t!
After penning some unsuccessful thrillers, he started writing romance fiction, and his publishers thought it best that he adopt a female name to increase sales. Most of his books were set in Scotland and dealt not only with romance, but with the social and economic conditions of the times in which they were set.
Under the pen name Emma Blair he became one of britains most popular authors, writing about 30 novels over 30 years. His true identity remained a secret until 1998, when his novel The Flower of Scotland was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
We have The Flower of Scotland in the library as well as others by this author…
Twilight Time also in 7 vols of Braille
This Side of heaven also in 7 vols of Braille
Also on Hear This, Gavin Butler called in to talk about some books in the collection.
For rock music lovers ….
Real Wild Child: An Insiders Tales from the Rage Couch by Narelle Gee, also in 4 vols of Braille
Thirteen Tonne Theory: Life Inside Hunters and Collectors by Mark Seymour
Sideshow: The Dumbing Down of Democracy by Lindsay Tanner.
In Gael’s Library News…
Out of the Vaults: Henry Lawson – The Man and the Legend 
Where: State Library of NSW
When: 19 Jan 2012, 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Cost: $25 drinks and canapes provided
Email: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au
Telephone: 2 9273 1770
Books by Henry Lawson in the Library…
A Camp-fire Yarn: Complete Works 1887-1891
A Camp-fire Yarn 2: Complete Works 1892-1893
A Campfire Yarn 4: Complete Works 1899-1900. In these volumes, the works are arranged chronologically and thematically, showing Lawson’s progression of ideas, themes and influences on his work. His poetry and prose blend together giving an insight into Henry Lawson’s world and mind.
You can read a short biography of Lawson from the The Australian Dictionary of Biography
The next Library event is a good one for those wanting to start the new year with a clean sweep of the broom….
Feng Shiu and Chinese Astrology
Where: Narre Warren Library
Overland Drive, Fountain Park
When: January 24th 7pm-8pm
Bookings: event is free buy bookings are essential on 03 9704 7696
For more than 10 years, Edgar (Lok Tin) Yung, a Feng Shui and Chinese astrology consultant, has been using his knowledge learned from Hong Kong masters to assist Melbourne’s Chinese community.
Feng Shui is about changing your environment to your advantage and, by learning techniques, you can enhance your life. Edgar will help to provide insights into understanding your personality, potential, wealth, health, career path, relationship and luck cycles.
Some books in the Library on the topic…
Feng Shui by Stephen Skinner
Feng Shui for Australians by Gerry Heaton
We also have an entertaining Mystery series featuring a Feng Shui consultant by Nury Vittachi.
From the Synopsis of the first book The Feng Shui Detective ( also in 4 vols of Braille) - Mr Wong is a feng shui consultant, but his cases tend to involve a lot more than just interior decoration. You see, Wong specialises in a certain type of problem premises: crime scenes. His latest case involves a mysterious young woman who, according to a psychic reading, is doomed to die. Wong and his brash teenaged Aussie-American intern make a strange pair indeed as they travel around Singapore solving crimes while trying to decipher each other’s language and behaviour.
Further titles in this light and entertaining series are …
The Shanghai Union of Industrial Mystics also in 4 vols of
The Feng Shui Detective’s Casebook. also in 4 vols of Braille
Mr Wong Goes West also in 3 vols of Braille
Thats all for this week and we hope you find some books of interest!!
