Blog @ Cockburn Libraries

Scandinavian crime fiction at its best

2012-02-17T08:47:00.000+08:00

Snabba cash (Easy money) was written by Swedish criminal defence lawyer and author Jens Lapidus in 2006. It has been a success in term of sales, and the paperback was the fourth best seller of Swedish novels in 2007. In early 2012 the long awaiting English translation of Snabba cash was released. Lapidus' writing gives an accurate insight to the Swedish underworld of today. The book was praised by critics and introduced a new genre in Swedish criminal literature. Lapidus' writing has been compared to James Ellroy and Dennis Lehane. So if you are planning to read one Scandinavian crime fiction this year, this is the one!

Plot Summary:
Jorge is the drug-dealing Latino who refuses to stay behind bars – he wants out in order to gun down those who snitched on him. Mrado is the pill-popping Yugoslavian hit man who breaks people's thumbs with one hand and strokes his daughter’s cheek with the other. JW is the country boy wannabe who works the graveyard shift in order to fund his partying with the upper-class. They’re all looking for financial corners to cut, and the cocaine scene brings them together. But soon, these three men are united by another and more important goal: revenge on the man who has done them wrong.

A Swedish production company later bought the movie rights and in 2010 the movie premiered. Rumours tell that Zac Efron is going to star in and produce the American remake of the movie for Warner Bros

A Day in the Life of Cockburn Public Libraries

2012-02-16T15:48:00.006+08:00

A celebration of people who visit and work in our libraries.

Xiaowei and Ethan (right) and Yasuyo with Mana (left) attended the English Conversation group that takes place every Thursday at 10am at Spearwood Library.

Photo slideshow from Tuesday's National Year of Reading Launch @ Spearwood Library

2012-02-16T10:08:00.000+08:00

It's Library Lovers' Day

2012-02-14T08:45:00.000+08:00

... and the official launch of the National Year of Reading.

Join us at 10am today for our National Year of Reading launch at Spearwood Library, with authors, live music, face painting, kids' storytime, the Mayor and more!

Judge a book by its cover! - browse February's new books by cover on the library website

2012-02-13T12:45:00.000+08:00

Do you like to browse books by their cover, or want to see what is new in the library then check out our bookwalls. We have an adult fiction bookwall, an adult non-fiction bookwall and also a junior bookwall, so whether you want to get scared, or if you are worried about that sore ankle - we have you covered.

Updated! Browse Chic Lit authors on our Website.

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000+08:00

The Chic Lit authors list on our Authors by Genre page has been updated! Check out the page and click on an author and see what items of theirs we have in our catalogue.

Cockburn Libraries' official launch of the National Year of Reading.

2012-02-08T14:14:00.001+08:00

Join us on Library Lovers' Day (aka Valentine's Day) to show your love of reading & literacy.

The launch will feature talking from author Julia Lawrinson, live music from Lucy Peach, MCing (the old school kind) by broadcaster Grant Stone, a Welcome to Country by Reverend Sealin Garlett, and the offical launch bit by City of Cockburn Mayor, Logan K Howlett.

Tuesday 14 February 2012 @10am
Spearwood Library

Outside on the lawn, from 10.30am, will be a special Library Lovers' Day Storytime for the kids, featuring music and face painting.

Mad dogs and librarians go out in the midday sun

2012-02-07T08:43:00.001+08:00

Outdoor Reading Room @ Coogee Beach , a set on Flickr.

Celebrating the National Year of Reading 2012, the library set-up an outdoor 'reading room' @ the Australia Day Community BBQ at Coogee Beach.

41 degrees may not be the ideal temperature for a relaxing read outdoors, but a free sausage sizzle and free icecream drew a reasonable crowd. A few even stopped by the reading room for a bit of reading action.

Updated! Browse Graphic Novel authors on our Website.

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000+08:00

The Graphic Novel authors list on our Authors by Genre page has been updated! Check out the page and click on an author and see what items of theirs we have in our catalogue.

Baking with Lizelle - Florentiner

2012-02-04T07:57:00.000+08:00

Hi Everyone,

The City of Cockburn libraries has a great selection of cooking books. There are recipe books for every occasion, as well as for different taste buds. I have discovered a wonderful Austrian recipe book, titled Austrian desserts and pastries: 108 classic recipes. You will love it! There are some lovely dessert ideas and delicious pastries to select from. (Very hard to select only one though...) What I do like about this book is the fact that all the recipes are accompanied by beautifully illustrated photographs. You can see what you are making, and what the end result will look like. Why not try something different today for your morning tea?

Happy baking,
Lizelle :)

Florentiner

Photograph by Lizelle

See the recipe>>

Ingredients:

Just under 2/3 cup (150 g) whipping cream

3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla sugar

Not quite 1/3 cup (100 g) honey

Peel of 1/4 orange (untreated) zested

1 cup (180 g) almonds

1 1/2 cups (150 g) chocolate couverture [found on page 265 of the recipe book]

Method:

Bring whipping cream to a boil with crystal and vanilla sugars, honey, and orange zest and boil at low heat for 1 minute (to about 110 degrees).
Stir in almonds, bring to boil again, and remove from heat.
Pour mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment [baking] paper and spread with a spatula.
Place another sheet of parchment paper on the Florentiner batter and roll out to about 1/10 of an inch (3 mm) thick with a rolling pin.
Remove top parchment paper and bake the almond mixture in a preheated oven at 140 degrees until golden brown. Let cool about 5 minutes and cut into squares (1 1/8 inch [3 cm] x 1 1/8 inch [3 cm]) with a knife.
Turn over using the parchment paper and then carefully peel it off; let Florentiner cool completely.
Prepare couverture according to the recipe on page 265. Spread Florentiner with the dipping mixture and let the chocolate harden. Then, if desired, cut bake the corners of the Florentiner and separate from one another.

Couverture [melted chocolate chips]:

There are various methods of getting couverture ready for use that require a certain amount of experience and sensitivity.

Chop couverture (it is also available as chocolate chips). Slowly and evenly heat to a temperature of 33 degrees.
Melt the couverture in a water bath or the microware, pour about 3/4 of the couverture onto a stone slab, and table it with a spatula until the couverture begins to thicken (at about 25-26 degrees. Immediately stir in with the remaining couverture and heat carefully to 32-33 degrees.
Melt couverture, gradually add grated or chopped couverture, and stir until it begins to thicken at about 25-26 degrees. Then carefully heat to 32-33 degrees.

Note: There are some great tips on page 265 to achieve beautifully melted chocolate coucerture.

This recipe can be found on page 168 in the Austrian desserts and pastries: 108 classic recipes book written by Dietma Fercher and Andrea Karrer.

Success Pram Jams, baby Ethan

2012-02-02T17:18:00.000+08:00

I would like to use this opportunity to say thank you to all the parents and babies who attended Wednesday's (1/02/12) Pram Jams' session at Success Public Library. It was really nice to see all the familiar faces, including new parents and babies. Hope you will enjoy the weekly sessions every Wednesday at 10:30am to 11:00am.

With the joy of Pram Jams, there was also sadness yesterday. Ethan, one of our regular babies to Pram Jams, is in hospital. He recently had surgery to remove a brain tumour. On behalf of the staff of Cockburn Libraries, I would like to convey our sincere condolences to Ethan and his family. Ethan we are thinking of you, and hope that you will be better soon.

Lots of love,

Lizelle
Pram Jams @ Success Library

Last Days! For a chance to win 1-of-3 $200 shopping vouchers

2012-02-02T16:51:00.001+08:00

Challenge ends this Sunday 5 February. Enter now it's easy!
Post on the library facebook page and tell us about two books that you’ve read this summer (It can be really brief). Make sure you 'like' us while you're at it.

Enter now for a chance to win one of three $200 shopping vouchers. Terms and conditions apply.

New times for Pram Jams & Storytime at Success Library

2012-01-31T16:20:00.000+08:00

Both Pram Jams and Storytime at Success Library will be at the new time of 10.30am.

Storytime
Tuesdays and Fridays @ 10.30am

Prams Jams

Now on every Wednesday @ 10.30am

The first Pram Jams of the year is tomorrow @ 10.30am and the first Storytime for 2012 will be Friday @ 10.30am.

If you come to tomorrow's Pram Jams session you might get your photo in the local paper

*Remember there are no sessions during the school holidays

Updated! Browse Indian authors on our Website.

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000+08:00

The Indian authors list on our Authors by Genre page has been updated! Check out the page and click on an author and see what items of theirs we have in our catalogue.

From New York to Coogee Beach?

2012-01-24T12:16:00.001+08:00

Cockburn Libraries is bringing its Outdoor Reading Room to the Aussie Day BBQ at Coogee Beach Reserve on Thursday. Inspired by New York's Bryant Park Reading Room , the Cockburn Libraries' Outdoor Reading Room brings reading to the great outdoors for the National Year of Reading 2012.

Enjoy the adult and kids books, magazines,and comics which will be available for browsing and reading.

Thursday 26 January 2012
1pm to 5pm
Coogee Beach Reserve, Powell Road, Coogee

There is no excuse not to come down ,as Spearwood, Coolbellup & Success Libraries will all be closed for the Australia Day public holiday.

Updated! Browse Vampire Fiction/Paranormal Romance authors on our Website.

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000+08:00

The Vampire Fiction/Paranormal Romance authors list on our Authors by Genre page has been updated! Check out the page and click on an author and see what items of theirs we have in our catalogue.

50 Best Children's Fiction Books of 2011

2012-01-22T10:00:00.000+08:00

Most borrowed kids' fiction books of 2011.

So we conclude our week of 'best of 2011' lists with the 50 (well 51) most borrowed kids' books of the year.

Diary of a wimpy kid. The ugly truth / Jeff Kinney
Diary of a wimpy kid. Dog days / Jeff Kinney
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows / J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets / J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban / J. K. Rowling
Percy Jackson and the lightning thief / Rick Riordan
Diary of a wimpy kid : Greg Heffley's journal / Jeff Kinney
Harry Potter and the goblet of fire / J. K. Rowling
Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters / Rick Riordan
Are we there yet? : a journey around Australia / Alison Lester ...see the complete list>>
Where's Wally? : the great picture hunt! / Martin Handford
Where's Wally? : the wonder book / Martin Handford
The lion, the witch and the wardrobe / C. S. (Clive Staples) Lewis
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / J. K. Rowling
Diary of a wimpy kid : Rodrick rules / Jeff Kinney
Where's Wally now? / Martin Handford
Cookie / Jacqueline Wilson
The Wizard of Ooze / R. L. Stine
Pearlie and the Christmas angel / Wendy Harmer
Where's Wally? : the fantastic journey / Martin Handford
Harry Potter and the half-blood prince / J. K. Rowling
The karate mouse / Geronimo Stilton
The new adventures of the wishing-chair. The land of mythical creatures / Enid Blyton
Crystal the snow fairy / Daisy Meadows
Pearlie in the park / Wendy Harmer
The quest for paradise : the return to the Kingdom of Fantasy / Geronimo Stilton
Under the sea / Ruth Owen
Coral the reef fairy / Daisy Meadows
Trixie the Halloween fairy / Daisy Meadows
Weirdo Halloween / R. L. Stine
Rascal in trouble / Paul Jennings
Just disgusting! / Andy Griffiths
Percy Jackson and the last Olympian / Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Titan's curse / Rick Riordan
The twits / Roald Dahl
Classroom capers / Sue Bentley
A fabumouse school adventure / Geronimo Stilton
Destiny the pop star fairy / Daisy Meadows
Edie the garden fairy / Daisy Meadows
The lost hero Rick Riordan
Diary of a wimpy kid. The last straw / Jeff Kinney
Geronimo's valentine / Geronimo Stilton
Just tricking / Andy Griffiths
The new adventures of the wishing-chair. Spellworld / Enid Blyton
Thea Stilton and the secret city / Thea Stilton
Snappy sharks / Ruth Owen
Charlie and the chocolate factory / Roald Dahl
Juliet the Valentine fairy / Daisy Meadows
Tiger trouble / Justin D'Ath
Treasure fever! / Andy Griffiths
Hungry bugs / Ruth Owen

110 Best Picture Books of 2011.

2012-01-21T09:30:00.000+08:00

The most borrowed children's picture books of 2011

'Picture books are for everybody at any age, not books to be left behind as we grow older. The best ones leave a tantalising gap between the pictures and the words, a gap that is filled by the reader's imagination, adding so much to the excitement of reading a book.' - Anthony Browne, UK Children’s Laureate, 2009-2011

Picture books is one of the most popular categories at the library, with the top 20 picture books all making the Top 100 Books list. I wonder if anyone has read all 110?

Where the wild things are / Maurice Sendak
Who sank the boat? / Pamela Allen
Magic beach / Alison Lester
Annie's chair / Deborah Niland
Where's my teddy? / Jez Alborough
The owl and the pussycat / Edward Lear
Spot says goodnight / Eric Hill
Can't you sleep little bear? / Martin Waddell
Jolly Olly Octopus / Tony Mitton
The troll / Julia Donaldson ...see the complete list>>
The very hungry caterpillar / Eric Carle
Little white dogs can't jump / Bruce Whatley
The Quangle Wangle's hat / Edward Lear
Splat the cat / Rob Scotton
Happy Christmas Lulu / Caroline Uff
Kisses for daddy / Frances Watts
Gentle giant octopus / Karen Wallace
Hairy Maclary, shoo / Lynley Dodd
Harry and the dinosaurs go to school / Ian Whybrow
Say hello to the dinosaurs! / Ian Whybrow
Grug learns to read / Ted Prior
I've won, no I've won, no I've won / Lauren Child
Grandpa and Thomas / Pamela Allen
One year with Kipper / Mick Inkpen
Say goodnight to the sleepy animals! / Ian Whybrow
Maisy goes camping / Lucy Cousins
Peculiar pets / Victoria Roberts
Super safari / Tony Mitton
The dudgeon is coming / Lynley Dodd
Tickly Christmas, Wibbly Pig! / Mick Inkpen
But excuse me that is my book / Lauren Child
Don't do that! / Tony Ross
I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed / Lauren Child
I want two birthdays! / Tony Ross
Mr Gumpy's motor car / John Burningham
Slinky Malinki's Christmas crackers / Lynley Dodd
The runaway tractor ; Surprise visitors / Heather Amery
Where are you, Blue Kangaroo? / Emma Chichester Clark
The wheels on the bus go round and round / Kate Toms
Usborne stories for little children
We are wearing out the naughty step / Mick Inkpen
Who's in the loo? / Jeanne Willis
Wild about books / Judy Sierra
Daddy hug / Tim Warnes
Dinosaur time / Michael Foreman
But where completely are we? / Lauren Child
Farmer duck / Martin Waddell
Garry Fleming's wild animals ABC : an alphabet book / Garry Fleming
Giraffes can't dance / Giles Andreae
Hairy Maclary's bone / Lynley Dodd
Milly, Molly and the tree hut / Gill Pittar
Tough trucks / Tony Mitton
ABC animal jamboree / Giles Andreae
Filbert flies / Karl Rühmann
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy / Lynley Dodd
How do dinosaurs go to school? / Jane Yolen
I really, really need actual ice skates / Lauren Child
Merry Christmas, Splat / Rob Scotton
Super submarines / Tony Mitton
Can't catch me! / Michael Foreman
Don't lose Pigley, Wibbly Pig! / Mick Inkpen
I want my light on! / Tony Ross
Little Beauty / Anthony Browne
Mister Magnolia / Quentin Blake
Owl babies / Martin Waddell
Please try to remember the first of Octember! / Theo LeSieg
Plum and Rabbit and me / Emma Chichester Clark
Russell's Christmas magic / Rob Scotton
Scarecrow's secret ; The hungry donkey / Heather Amery
The bear's lunch / Pamela Allen
Tractor in trouble ; Kitten's day out / Heather Amery
Bear & Chook by the sea / Lisa Shanahan
Bear's magic pencil / Anthony Browne
Captain Crabclaw's crew / Frances Watts
Clam-I-am! / Tish Rabe
Cluck o'clock / Kes Gray
Doctor Maisy / Lucy Cousins
Harry and the dinosaurs united / Ian Whybrow
Maisy's amazing big book of words / Lucy Cousins
My wobbly tooth must not ever never fall out / Lauren Child
Ocean odyssey / Tony Mitton
Rough weather ahead for Walter the farting dog / William Kotzwinkle
Say cheese / Lauren Child
Harry and his bucket full of dinosaurs. Underwater adventure! / Ian Whybrow
Cockatoos / Quentin Blake
Noni the pony / Alison Lester
Super Duck / Jez Alborough
The bus to the zoo / Mary Murphy
The gruffalo / Julia Donaldson
The naughty sheep ; Pig gets lost / Heather Amery
Toot and Pop! / Sebastien Braun
Whoops! But it wasn't me / Lauren Child
Dolly and the train ; Camping out / Heather Amery
Driving down to grandma's / Ian Whybrow
Elmer / David McKee
Harry and the dinosaurs and the bucketful of stories / Ian Whybrow
Josephine wants to dance / Jackie French
Harry and his bucket full of dinosaurs. Jungle Harry / Ian Whybrow
Knights and castle / Hazel Maskell
Leo the littlest seahorse / Margaret Wild
Love, Splat / Rob Scotton
Maisy at the fair / Lucy Cousins
Maisy goes on vacation / Lucy Cousins
Milly, Molly and the picnic / Gill Pittar
The cat's quizzer / Dr Seuss
The gobble gobble moooooo tractor book / Jez Alborough
The magic watering can
Watch out, Little Wombat! / Charles Fuge
Where's Stripey? / Wendy Binks
Woolly stops the train ; The grumpy goat / Heather Amery

50 Top YA novels of 2011

2012-01-20T11:41:00.000+08:00

50 most borrowed Young Adult books of 2011 (well, the 58 most borrowed, as the last 12 all tied for 47th spot).

The Twilight juggernaut continues with the series taking four of the top five spots, with only The hunger games standing in the way of a clean sweep at the top of the list. John Marsden's Tomorrow, when the war began came in at 7, the highest Australian book, while James Patterson, covering all his bases, gets in the Top 10 of the YA list (as well as the Top 10 of the Fiction list & the Overall list) with his YA fantasy series Witch & wizard.

Breaking dawn / Stephenie Meyer
The hunger games / Suzanne Collins
Eclipse / Stephenie Meyer
Twilight / Stephenie Meyer
New moon / Stephenie Meyer
The vampire diaries. Volume I. The awakening / L. J. Smith
Tomorrow, when the war began / John Marsden
Witch & wizard / James Patterson
City of bones / Cassandra Clare
Spirit bound / Richelle Mead ....see the complete list>>
The vampire diaries. Volume II. The struggle / L. J. Smith
Eragon / Christopher Paolini
Unnatural : an Archangel Academy novel / Michael Griffo
Burning for revenge / John Marsden
Catching fire / Suzanne Collins
Fang / James Patterson
Gossip Girl : a novel / Cecily Von Ziegesar
Vampire Academy / Richelle Mead
Last sacrifice / Richelle Mead
Wuthering Heights / Emily Bronte
Brigands M.C. / Robert Muchamore
Blood promise / Richelle Mead
Brisingr, or, The seven promises of Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular / Christopher Paolini
Eldest / Christopher Paolini
Mortal coil / Derek Landy
The beginning / Ellen Schreiber
Angel / James Patterson
Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins
Stolen / Lucy Christopher
Dark days / Derek Landy
Kissing coffins / Ellen Schreiber
Solace & grief / Foz Meadows
Hush, hush / Becca Fitzpatrick
Love bites / Ellen Schreiber
Shadow wave / Robert Muchamore
The night is for hunting / John Marsden
The third day, the frost / John Marsden
The vampire diaries. Volumes 1-4 / L. J. Smith
John Marsden's The dead of the night / John Marsden
Maximum Ride : the final warning / James Patterson
Never cry werewolf / Heather Davis
Darkness, be my friend / John Marsden
Royal blood / Ellen Schreiber
Snakehead / Anthony Horowitz
'--startled by his furry shorts! : fab new confessions of Georgia Nicolson / Louise Rennison
The inkheart trilogy : Inkheart ; Inkspell ; Inkdeath / Cornelia Caroline Funke
Agent 21 / Chris Ryan
Awakened / P. C. Cast
City of ashes / Cassandra Clare
Conspiracy 365. December / Gabrielle Lord
Demons and druids / James Patterson
Graceling / Kristin Cashore
I lost my mobile at the mall / Wendy Harmer
Max / James Patterson
The escape / Robert Muchamore
The other side of dawn / John Marsden
The thin executioner / Darren Shan
Vampireville / Ellen Schreiber

55 Best Comics of 2011

2012-01-19T11:38:00.000+08:00

The most borrowed comics (or is that graphic novels?) of 2011.

In the January 2012 issue of The Believer, in the Sedaratives 'monthly advice column',

Anonymous asks: "Are comic books really 'graphic novels,' or are they just comic books?" To which guest columnist Beth Littleford responds: "It's all a matter of perspective... which basically comes down to whether or not you've ever had a girlfriend."

No matter what your perspective, here is the list of the most popular ones of 2011 :

Popular Italian mouse

The secret of the sphinx / Geronimo Stilton
Who stole the Mona Lisa? / Geronimo Stilton
Asterix in Spain / Réne Goscinny
Dinosaurs in action / Geronimo Stilton
Big beefy book of Bart Simpson
Asterix in Britain / Réne Goscinny
Simpsons Comics Big bonanza
Star Wars. The clone wars. The wind raiders of the Taloraan / John Ostrander
The great Ice Age / Geronimo Stilton
Asterix the Gaul / Réne Goscinny ..... see the complete list >>
X-men misfits. 1 / Raina Telgemeier
Asterix and the golden sickle / Réne Goscinny
Coraline / Neil Gaiman
The lost warrior / Dan Jolley
American vampire. [1] / Scott Snyder
Ben 10 alien force. Ben 10 returns / Elizabeth Hurchalla
King Ottokar's sceptre Hergé
Simpsons comics. On parade!
Spider-Man team up A little help from my friends / Todd Dezago
Star Wars. Clone wars adventures, vol. 2
Vampire slayer. Part 1 / Stefan Petrucha
Star wars : Clone wars. Volume 9, Endgame
Futurama adventures
Simpsons comics. Srike back!
Indiana Jones adventures. Vol. 1 / Philip Gelatt
Superman . Volume 1 : for tomorrow / Brian Azzarello
Garfield weighs his options / Jim Davis
Kung Fu Panda. Art of balance
Garfield fat cat 3 pack. Volume 13 / Jim Davis
Star Wars : the old Republic. Volume one. Blood of the empire / Alexander Freed
Asterix and the chieftain's shield / Réne Goscinny
Comic crazy! /
Green Lantern. Agent Orange / Geoff Johns
The Ultimates 2 : ultimate collection / Mark Millar
Asterix and son / Albert Uderzo
Asterix and the Goths / Réne Goscinny
Asterix omnibus / Réne Goscinny
Garfield : get serious / Jim Davis
Snoopy : 2 in 1 collection. Book 8 / Charles M. Schulz
Star Wars. Clone wars adventures, vol. 1
Strange tales. 2
Wolverine : weapon X. [Vol. 2 Insane in the brain / Jason Aaron
DC versus Marvel comics / Ron Marz
Simpsons comics spectacular / Matt Groening
Superman / Batman. [Vol 2.] Supergirl / Jeph Loeb
The invincible Iron Man. [Vol. 5 Stark resilient, [Book 1] / Matt Fraction
Wolverine. Get Mystique / Jason Aaron
It was a dark and stormy night, Snoopy / Charles M. Schulz
Snoopy : 2 in 1 collection. Book 7 / Charles M. Schulz
Attack of the mousers / Peter (Peter Allen) David
Beast master. Vol. 1 / Kyousuke Motomi
Hulk. Volume four, Hulk vs. X-Force / Jeph Loeb
Superman. Last stand of New Krypton. Volume one / Sterling Gates
The invincible Iron Man. [Vol. 2 World's most wanted. Book 1 / Matt Fraction
X-Men legacy. Divided he stands / Mike Carey

100 Best Books of 2011: Fiction

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000+08:00

100 most borrowed fiction books of 2011. All the kids' stuff is gone and I've taken out the non ficton (well, that is, I've taken out Eat, pray, love, the only non fiction book in the Overall Top 100), to leave you with pure, unadulterated fiction.

The girl with the dragon tattoo / Stieg Larsson
Spider Bones / Kathy Reichs
Toys / James Patterson
The girl who played with fire / Stieg Larsson
10th Anniversary / James Patterson
Don't blink / James Patterson
Breath / Tim Winton
The lost symbol / Dan Brown
Private / James Patterson
The book thief / Markus Zusak ...... see the complete list>>
Hell's corner / David Baldacci
The girl who kicked the hornets' nest / Stieg Larsson
Alex Cross's trial / James Patterson
The quickie / James Patterson
61 hours : a Reacher novel / Lee Child
Swimsuit / James Patterson
Maralinga / Judy Nunn
9th Judgement / James Patterson
Floodtide / Judy Nunn
Cross fire / James Patterson
Nine dragons / Michael Connelly
Sing you home / Jodi Picoult
Echo park / Michael Connelly
10 short stories you must read in 2010
The confession / John Grisham
Handle with care / Jodi Picoult
House rules / Jodi Picoult
Big girl : a novel Danielle Steel
Heart and soul / Maeve Binchy
Tribute / Nora Roberts
The postcard killers : a novel / James Patterson
Chasing fire / Nora Roberts
Born bad / Josephine Cox
Caught / Harlan Coben
False impression / Jeffrey Archer
The shadow of your smile / Mary Higgins Clark
U is for undertow / Sue Grafton
Last chance cafe / Liz Byrski
Red lily / Nora Roberts
The bodies left behind / Jeffery Deaver
Bed of roses / Nora Roberts
Black Hills / Nora Roberts
Smash cut / Sandra Brown
Happy ever after / Nora Roberts
Port mortuary / Patricia Cornwell
8th confession / James Patterson
A song in the daylight / Paullina Simons
Cloudstreet / Tim Winton
Sizzling sixteen / Janet Evanovich
Breaking dawn / Stephenie Meyer
Homecoming / Cathy Kelly
The brass verdict / Michael Connelly
The scarecrow / Michael Connelly
I, Alex Cross / James Patterson
Sail / James Patterson
Southern lights / Danielle Steel
True blue / David Baldacci
Cross country / James Patterson
Hard girls / Martina Cole
Monsoon / Di Morrissey
A prisoner of birth / Jeffrey Archer
The plantation / Di Morrissey
The reversal / Michael Connelly
206 bones / Kathy Reichs
The hunger games / Suzanne Collins
Scream for me / Karen Rose
The forgotten garden / Kate Morton
The turning / Tim Winton
10 short stories you must read in 2011
Deadly intent / Lynda La Plante
Fractured / Karin Slaughter
Judge and jury / James Patterson
Stone cold / David Baldacci
The appeal / John Grisham
The silent country / Di Morrissey
Tick, tock / James Patterson
The fifth witness / Michael Connelly
Trip of a lifetime / Liz Byrski
Bad behaviour / Liz Byrski
Out of the blue / Nora Roberts
Devin and Shane : the MacKade brothers / Nora Roberts
Fortune cookie / Bryce Courtenay
Gone tomorrow / Lee Child
Run for your life / James Patterson
Scarpetta / Patricia Cornwell
Eclipse / Stephenie Meyer
Devil bones / Kathy Reichs
Fishing for stars / Bryce Courtenay
Kindred in death / J. D. Robb
The islands / Di Morrissey
The land of painted caves : a novel / Jean M. Auel
This charming man / Marian Keyes
Portobello / Ruth Rendell
The front / Patricia Cornwell
Worst case / James Patterson
Twilight Stephenie Meyer
Mini shopaholic / Sophie Kinsella
Sanctuary / Nora Roberts
The five greatest warriors / Matthew Reilly
Edge / Jeffery Deaver
I'll walk alone / Mary Higgins Clark
The first rule : a Joe Pike novel / Robert Crais
The time traveler's wife / Audrey Niffenegger

By now you know the drill; the last four books all tied for 100th spot, so you get a list of 103.

School holiday sessions full steam ahead

2012-01-18T15:48:00.000+08:00

School holiday sessions are well underway at Cockburn - we've been making model Gundam robot kits, making our own robots out of recylable material, robots out of paper and playing with Lego! And there's more to come. Check out the Kids blog at this link for the full rundown of what we've done and what's to come!

50 Best DVDs of 2011.

2012-01-18T14:03:00.000+08:00

The 50 most borrowed DVDs of 2011. Taking a break from the books, here are the most popular movies and TV series for last year. The top two movies were Toy story 3 & Avatar , and coming in third was The wild, which to me at least, was a bit of a surprise. The wild is a Disney animated movie about a lion called Ryan, and was released on DVD in 2007, making it one of the oldest ttitles on the list. Bran nue dae , the highest ranked Australian movie, just missed out on the top 10, coming in at 11

49-53 were all borrowed the same number of times, so that is why there are 53 titles in the 'top 50'.

Judge a book by its cover! - browse January's new books by cover on the library website

2012-01-18T09:39:00.000+08:00

Do you like to browse books by their cover, or want to see what is new in the library then check out our bookwalls. We have an adult fiction bookwall, an adult non-fiction bookwall and also a junior bookwall, so whether you want the force to be with you, or want to find out the value of your coin - we have you covered.

Baking with Lizelle - Mocha Sponge Cake

2012-01-18T08:02:00.000+08:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends! I am sure there were some great dishes prepared and shared. I will kick start the New Year with a delicious Mocha Sponge Cake. I have to say that this cake is so simple to make, and it is truly delightful. I have also learned from the recipe book, Coffee Cakes and Desserts that "the Yemeni City of Mocha was once considered to be the coffee capital of the world". Atkinson (2008) also mentions that "Mocha" may refer to the variety of coffee or mean a combination of coffee or chocolate". Interesting facts I thought, OK on to the recipe..>>

Happy baking,

Lizelle :)

Mocha Sponge Cake

Photograph by Lizelle

Ingredients:

25ml or 1 1/2 tbsp strong-flavoured ground coffee

175ml or 3/4 cup milk

115g or 8 tbsp butter

115g or 1/2 cup soft light brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

185g or 1 2/3 cups self-raising flour

5ml or 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

60 ml or 4 tbsp creamy liqueur, such as Baileys or Irish Velvet

For the glossy chocolate icing:

200g plain chocolate, broken into pieces

75g or 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed

120ml or 1/2 cup double cream

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line a 18cm round fixed-base cake tin with greaseproof paper.
To make the cake, put the coffee in a jug. Heat the milk to near-boiling and pour over. Leave to infuse for 4 minutes, then strain through a sieve and cool.
Gentle melt the butter and sugar until dissolved. Pour into a bowl and cool for 2 minutes, then stir in the egg.
Sift the flour over the mixture and fold in. Blend the bicarbonate of soda with the coffee-flavoured milk and gradually stir into the mixture.
Pour into the tin, smooth the surface, and bake for 40 minutes, until well-risen and firm. Cool in the tin for about 10 minutes. Spoon the liqueur over the cake and leave until cold. Loosen the edges with a palette knife and turn out on to a wire rack.
To make the icing, place the broken chocolate in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and cream until smooth. Allow to cool before coating the top and sides of the cake, using a palette knife. Leave to set.

This recipe can be found in Coffee Cakes and Desserts, page 61.