Durham University Library

I had a very brief visit to Durham University Lbrary last week as we were doing a presentation at an event. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling very well so didn't stay for a tour of the library - will have to go back again for a good look round asap.






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The Finkler Question

I have finally finished reading The Finkler Question. It took me ages, more than two weeks. I found it difficult to get into and difficult to relate to any of the characters. But it was worth persevering and I found it worthwhile to read. The characters were tiresome, well at least the male characters were and you felt that you were constantly losing patience with them - the female characters were appealing especially Hephzibah but why did she bother with Julian Treslove??? It was interesting, funny and infuriating.

Mapp and Lucia and Modesty Blaise

I've been meaning to read Mapp and Lucia for a while and finally got round to it in the Christmas holidays. It is about two ladies who live in a small town in the south of England - based on Rye, Sussex I think. It is set in the 20s/30s and involves the day to day comings and goings of the middle class ladies and their social circle. There is a lot of one-upmanship and general outwitting of each other in order to be the social queen bee. None of the characters are nice or appealing and it is humorous in a very harsh and mocking way really - a bit like a nasty Agatha Christie - no murder but plenty of character assassination. I do like books set in the early 20th century in England but this was a bit too 'clever' for me and as such dated. But despite it being of its time and very much reflecting the lifestyle and background of the author, I did enjoy it.

Next I read Modesty Blaise - The Gabriel Set-Up. I love Modesty Blaise books and have read all of them (more than once). I like goodies triumphing over baddies with a good plot, mystery and a bit of fighting but not too gruesome. I like Modesty and Sir Gerald Tarrant. My son Ben (teenager2) bought me this one which is in the original cartoon format - he wanted me to read it in 'pure and original format'?? I wouldn't have chosen to read it as a cartoon or graphic novel but I really enjoyed it and the drawings matched really well with my mental images of the characters from the text. I would definitely think about reading more graphic novels and will look for more Modesty Blaise originals and cartoons from that era.

Stockton Library

Yesterday I went to Stockton Library as I heard that they have refurbished the main library.



On the ground floor you go straight into the main library



It in corporates the children's section too



Upstairs is a cafe and comfy seating



and the reference library



As I was walking round having a look and taking a few discrete photos, two ladies came up to me and asked who I was and where was I from. I explained and said that I'd made sure that the photos I'd taken hadn't included people etc. They worked there but I'm not sure if they were librarians or worked for the council as the council offices and customer services are within the library. They were really nice and when I said I used to use the library when I was a child they showed me some photos of when it was first built.



It was in the 70s that I would have been using it - I remember the children's library which seemed really big and was upstairs separate from the adult library and definitely separate from the reference library which I never set foot in. I loved the children's library and spent hours browsing and choosing books. I used to go with my sister and friends after going to the swimming baths across the road. Sometimes I went with my Dad and we could go and choose books then wait for him in the entrance foyer which was marvelous as it had a cafe, toilets and a pond with goldfish which is still there.




It's a great library - vibrant, colorful and interesting.

Pepys Library Cambridge

The Pepys Library has been on my list of 'University Libraries to break into' for a couple of years now. It is only open for an hour some days so it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. So on Saturday afternoon I persuaded Joe (my son) that we should go and have a look. He is fairly long suffering about looking in old libraries as long as it only takes 15 mins max.
It was one of the fustiest libraries I've ever been in - basically one big room with glass cases of books. I liked the fact they are arranged by size - that appeals. I didn't know that Samuel Pepys diary was written in a short of short hand - that was interesting to see. There was also some books and illustrations about boats and ships. We bought 3 postcards for which you had to leave the right money on an old china plate not give to the librarian.









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Disadvantages of reading in bed

I always read in bed before I go to sleep (and on a weekend when I wake up). I fall asleep reading so the book ends up either falling on to the floor or in the bed somewhere slightly crumpled. Sometimes I read paper based books and sometimes my Kindle. The Kindle has worked well as it's quite light so easy to hold and turn pages with one hand and has not taken up much room.
However today I discovered that I must have leant on it in the night as I discovered it in the bed with a slightly broken screen :( It now has a small part in the top left hand corner which is 'smudged' and a couple of lines down it.






It's still ok and usable but it's a bit disappointing - more so than a few crumpled pages of a paperback. I'll keep using it though.
(ps the book is Bulldog Drummond in case you're wondering)

St Andrews

Yesterday was another University visit with Ben, this time to St Andrews. It took about 4 hours to get there, 3 hours to look round and 4 hours back home but it was worth it. We had a really great day and it was good to spend the day together just us two.
As ever we didn't make it to the library as we didn't have time and there were places he wanted to check out - but at least I found it and saw it from the outside and will be able to go and visit it another time hopefully.