Come and say hello

Last week, in line with the latest Welsh Government announcement on March 26, we were delighted to be able to open our library doors once again for browsing and computer access. It has been wonderful to welcome you all back into our libraries.

Computers will be available to book by phoning the library.

• Broughton Library - 01352 703760

• Buckley Library - 01352 703860

• Connah's Quay Library - 01352 703730

• Flint Library - 01352 703737

• Holywell Library - 01352 703850

• Mold Library - 01352 703780

Author of the Month: Susan Hill

Novelist Susan Hill is perhaps most adored for her works of ghostly fiction and her gothic narrative stylings. Each of her ghost stories cleverly construct an air of suspense, mystery and terror which makes them incredibly difficult to put down! However, if ghost stories aren't for you, you may enjoy some of her other works of fiction including detective novels and memoirs.

Whether you are discovering her books for the very first time, or revisiting some of her best known and loved titles, we have put together a small reading list to set you off on a Susan Hill adventure! Enjoy!

The ghost stories: The Woman in Black (1983), The Mist in the Mirror (1992), The Man in the Picture (1997), The Small Hand (2010)

The detective series: The Various Haunts of Men (2004), The Pure in Heart (2005), The Risk of Darkness (2006), The Vows of Silence (2008)

Most recently: The Comforts of Home (2018) The Benefits of Hindsight (2019)

Aura Libraries' top recommendation - Printer's Devil Court (2014)

What is your favourite Susan Hill novel? Let us know what you think of our choices or which ones you would have chosen! Leave a comment below or get in touch on Twitter (@LibFlintshire), Instagram (@llyfrgelloeddauralibraries) or Facebook (@LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries).

Book of the Month

Aura Libraries' April 2021 book of the month is Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Edward Adler, along with his parents and beloved older brother Jordan, were about to begin a new chapter of their lives in a new city. On board with 183 other passengers headed from Newark to Los Angeles, tragedy strikes when the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor, branded by the nation as the boy who lived. Struggling to find his way without his family, and with an unbearable burden of loss and trauma, Edward finds comfort in the friendship of his new next door neighbour, Shay.

One day, Edward and Shay discover some letters addressed to Edward from the family members of passengers who were on the plane with him. With each letter opened, Edward begins to piece together some of life's most difficult and profound questions, and in particular, questions about learning to live again after loss.

This is a story of love and friendship that grows out of loss and trauma. Dear Edward is beautifully written and surprisingly uplifting - although we recommend having a box of tissues close at hand! This title receives an Aura Book Score of 4/5.

• Titles by Susan Hill, along with Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, are available to borrow from your local Aura library. If these books sound right up your street, why not add them to your next Select and Collect order: search our online library catalogue and reserve titles, or email or telephone your local library. To make an order phone us on 01352 703750, or email us at libraries@aura.wales . You can browse our catalogue at www.aura.wales/flintshire-library-catalogue/and place a hold on items to collect from the library counter. We will just need to know your library membership number, a contact telephone number and email address, your book requests/preferences, and your preferred collection point.

Monthly reading groups

Our next Reading Friends shared reading group sessions will be on Tuesday, April 13 from 11.00am-noon and Wednesday, April 14, from 7pm-8pm.

Our next Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg session for advanced Welsh learners and fluent speakers will be on Tuesday, April 13 at 7pm-8pm, followed by our session for intermediate Welsh learners on Wednesday, April 14, 2pm-3pm.

Our monthly reading groups are fun, welcoming and a space for people to get together and socialise whilst sharing a love of reading! For more information or to join, please email susannah.hill@aura.wales

Visit us on social media to view our weekly rhyme time or story time sessions, as well as lots of book and audiobook recommendations, plus handy information about our services and the online monthly events we host, including Zoom reading groups for adults and children. We can be found on Facebook at @LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries, Instagram at @llyfrgelloeddauralibraries and Twitter at @LibFlintshire.

From everyone here at Aura Libraries, thank you for reading, stay safe and we hope to hear from you or see you soon! Whilst we may be facing difficult times, remember: we are always united by books!

• Aura is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure, libraries and heritage services in Flintshire. Aura is owned by its employees and operates for the benefit of local communities.