Meet top crime author Simon McCleave at Chirk Library

Author Simon McCleave.

Simon McCleave is a million selling British crime novelist. His first book, The Snowdonia Killings, was released in January 2020 and reached #1 in the Amazon UK Chart, selling more than 200,000 copies. His seven subsequent novels in the DI Ruth Hunter crime thriller series have all ranked in the Amazon Top 20 and he has just signed a deal with publishing giants Harper Collins to write a new crime series based on the Isle of Anglesey. Simon will be doing a Q&A with readers at Chirk Library on Thursday, July 7, at 2pm and will also be talking about his latest book The Chirk Castle Killings. The session is free of charge but you must reserve a place as spaces are limited. When booking your place you can submit a question to Simon for us to discuss during the session. Please contact Chirk Library on 01691 772344 to reserve your place and to submit your questions.

Cefn Mawr Library - new reading group

What would an 81-year-old's suicide chocolate party be like? What is it like to be absolutely still for hours while a master paints you? What would a Dickensian novel be like if it were written today? All these things, and more, can be discussed by groups of people who like reading and who want to talk about what they are reading. Cefn Mawr library would like to start a new reading group for adults and they need your help. If the questions above intrigue you and you would like to meet new like-minded people, then please contact Seren at Cefn Mawr Library on 01978 820932.

Grwp Sgwrsio

Are you learning to speak Welsh or can you already speak it but you're lacking in confidence to converse with other people? If so, then why not join the Grwp Sgwrsio at Ruabon Library who meet every Monday at 2pm? The group will help you learn to chat in an informal and relaxed environment and newcomers are always welcome.

Children's Author of the Month

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best loved writers for children with sales of over 35 million copies. He has written more than 150 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize and the Whitbread Award. In 2005 he won the Blue Peter Book Award for his novel Private Peaceful, which was also adapted into an acclaimed stage play. Michael was Children's Laureate from 2003 to 2005. The charity Farms for City Children, which he founded 30 years ago with his wife Clare, has now enabled over 60,000 children to spend a week living and working down on the farm. He was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity. Michael Morpurgo is, in his own words, "oldish, married with three children, and a grandfather six times over". You can borrow his books free of charge from your local library.

Room hire

Are you struggling to find a venue for your meeting? Wrexham Library has two rooms which they can hire out to members of the public at a reasonable rate. There is a small meeting room which holds a maximum of eight people and a larger meeting room which will hold up to 25 people. The large room also has a projector and screen for presentation use. Charges are based on the number of sessions booked, for example, morning or afternoon. If you would like to hire one of these rooms please call the library on 01978 292090.

Adolygiad Llyfr Cymraeg

Pum Diwrnod a Phriodas gan Marlyn Samuel

Pum Diwrnod a Phriodas by Marlyn Samuel

Mae Gethin, mab ieuengaf Carys, wedi penderfynu priodi Rebeca yn Sorrento ac felly does dim dewis gan y ddau deulu ond teithio yr holl ffordd i'r Eidal. Mae achlysur fel priodas yn sicr o greu rywfaint o densiwn ac mae priodas dramor, wrth gwrs, yn cynyddu'r tensiynau. Dyma blot perffaith, felly, i arddangos y natur ddynol ar ei gorau.  Heb ddatgelu gormod, mae Carys yn fam i Siôn a Gethin ond nid yr un tad sydd gan y ddau – ganwyd Siôn wedi ffling ar wyliau tramor. Medwyn yw tad Gethin ond mae Carys ac yntau wedi gwahanu ac mae e bellach yn bartner i Llinos. Mae Siôn yn bartner i Greta sy'n figan ac mae ganddynt un ferch bump oed – merch go benderfynol. Felly, wedi teithio i Sorrento i fod yno ar gyfer achlysur arbennig ei mab mae Carys, Siôn a Greta a'u merch Sisial, ynghyd â Medwyn a Llinos. Mae yna un arall, Thelma Owen, sef mam Carys. Ar ben hyn i gyd, wrth gwrs, mae teulu Rebeca. Mae Marlyn Samuel yn feistr ar greu deialog naturiol, a sefyllfaoedd yr ydym i gyd yn gallu uniaethu â nhw. Mae yma ambell sioc a siom, y melys a'r chwerw, ond dyma nofel i'w mwynhau.

Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.