Once again, the Seanchai Library will be presenting a round of stories and readings in Voice this coming week, with the continuation of a number of stories and a hike up Mount Olympus…

As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.

Sunday 20th January, 13:30 – Tea-time at Baker Street

Sherlock Holmes, aided by his ever-faithful diarist, Doctor John Watson, investigates The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.

The affair begins when Miss Susan Cushing of Croydon receives a grisly parcel of two severed human ears, packed in salt. Inspector Lestrade is convinced that the parcel is a prank on the part of three medical students Miss Cushing was forced to evict from her lodgings due to their unruly behaviour. Lestrade points to the parcel as coming from Belfast – the home of one of the former lodgers – as reason for his suspicions. On examining the parcel, however, Holmes is certain that they are dealing with a far more serious crime, pointing to the poor spelling used to address the parcel, with rough means by which the ears had been severed and the use of course salt as packaging as being indicative of someone with poorer education and lesser surgical skills as might be expected of a doctor-in-training.

Join Caledonia Skytower and Corwyn Allen as they resume reading from the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

Monday 21st January, 19:00 – Notwithstanding: Stories from an English Village

Famous for his more exotic locations and stories such as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Red Dog, Louis de Bernieres used England for the setting for a series of short stories written early in his career.

Located in and around the fictional village of Notwithstanding, which is somewhat based on the village of Worley in Surry, where he grew up, the stories were various published in newspapers, etc., prior to being brought together into this single volume in 2009. Semi-autobiographical in places, the stories are rich in English rural detail and contain references to many real-world locations in Surrey, and allow de Bernieres to ruminate on a part of English life he believes to now be vanishing.

Join Caledonia Skytower as she dips into de Bernieres’ England.

Tuesday January 22nd, 19:00: Inkspell (Part 3)

Faerie Maven-Pralou continues Cornelia Funke’s young adult which forms the second part of her Inkworld trilogy. The books chronicle the adventures of teenager Meggie Folchart whose life changes dramatically when she realizes that she and her father, a bookbinder named Mo, have the unusual ability to bring characters from books into the real world when reading aloud. Mostly set in Northern Italy and the parallel world of the fictional Inkheart book, the central story arc concerns the magic of books, their characters and creatures, and the art of reading.

In Inkspell, a year has passed since the events related in Inkheart, the first book in the series. Not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, a book that has characters that come to life. Resa is back. The fire-eater, Dustfinger, wants to go back to his wife daughters-who are in the story. When he finds a crazy, self-absorbed psycho storyteller, Orpheus, who can read him back into the book, he goes into the pages. Soon Farid convinces Meggie to read him into the book so he can warn Dustfinger of Basta. But Meggie has figured out how to read herself and Farid into the book Inkheart.

Wednesday January 23rd, 19:00: Quite a Year for Plums

Anyone who has read the best-selling Mama Makes Up Her Mind or listened to Bailey White’s commentaries on NPR knows that she is a storyteller of inimitable wit and charm. Now, in her stunningly accomplished first novel, she introduces us to the peculiar yet lovable people who inhabit a small town in south Georgia.

Meet serious, studious Roger, the peanut pathologist and unlikely love object of half the town’s women. Meet Roger’s ex-mother-in-law, Louise, who teams up with an ardent typographer in an attempt to attract outer-space invaders with specific combinations of letters and numbers. And meet Della, the bird artist who captivates Roger with the sensible but enigmatic notes she leaves on things she throws away at the Dumpster.

Kayden Oconnell is joined by Caledonia Skytower as they continue to read from the novel.

Thursday January 24th, 19:00: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

Mythology: Times Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton was first published in 1942. It covers the classic tales of the Greek and Roman mythology as well as touching upon ancient Norse mythology as well. Within it are tales of Gods and heroes, ranging from the creation of the world through to notable events such as the Trojan Wars and encompassing some of the notable families of Greek mythology – house of Atreus, the royal house of Thebes, and the royal house of Athens. Within the pages lie tales of all descriptions, including those of love.

Join Shandon Loring as he dips a toe into the rich, deep waters of mythology and legend.

Please check with the Seanchai Library SL’s blog for updates and additions to the week’s schedule.

Librarian Emeritus

In March 2008, Derry McMahon founded the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Centre, which later became the Seanchai Library SL. After over four years of building and maintaining the Library’s programme of events she has decided to step back her participation to pursue other interests on the grid, including her burgeoning talent as a visual artist through virtual photography, and spending time with her partner Bear Silvershade (also a retired member of the Seanchai core staff). She remains a part of the Seanchai family, and together with Bear will continue to present stories at the Library or other venues as opportunities arise. Chief Storyteller Shandon Loring, and Lead Caledonia Skytower will continue the good work begun by Derry.

I’d like to pass on my thanks to Derry for all her work with the Library, and wish her (and Bear’s) continued success in all their endeavours, and to remaining a “friend across the water” to both :).

Note that throughout January and February, and to mark Derry’s stepping back from the day-to-day running of the Seanchai Library SL, all donations will go to Derry’s chosen real-world charity, Doctors Without Borders! Have questions? IM or notecard Caledonia Skytower.

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