Newsletter April 2021

 

SPRING NEWSLETTER APRIL 2021

 

   

 

 

You haven’t heard from me for a long time. Now I am back in circulation I hope to resume more regular communications with you again. I have missed this terribly and I have missed seeing you . At our book choosing meeting last week we had a good chat afterwards and I realised how much I have missed our chats and friendly cups of tea ! I shall do a couple of mannings in July before the summer break and look forward to seeing you very much.

 

I am slowly recovering from my ordeal last year and my near death experience (you will have been told about this I think). I still have quite a long way  to go (lots of rehab) I will get there. I would like to thank the board and especially Mike for holding the fort during my absence.  We would never have managed without their dedication.

 

You will have heard that there will be some changes in the library ; the book sale room is going to become a meeting room & the book sale books will go on new shelves in the main library.

There are also going to be some changes in the statutes.

 

You will find below the list of new books which should arrive in the library quite soon. We shall be monitoring the books to see how often they go out so that we can change our approach if necessary. We are happy to accept suggestion for our purchases but remember, they should be suggested with the readership in mind and not necessarily personal choices.

I remind  you of the email address of Kath Claringbull who will be collating the suggestions :

kath1977@gmail.com

 

 

I wish you all a VERY HAPPY EASTER

 

Very best wishes

 

Vicki  (your chairperson)

 

New books April 2021

 

FOAL BOOK ORDER MARCH 2021

 

Non Fiction

Banville John                         Snow

Bren Paulina                           The Barbiton :  hotelthat setwomen free

Katz Catherine                       Diplomatic daughters behind the scenes at Yalta

Mount Ferdinand                   Kiss myself goodbye

Sanghera Sathnam                 Empireland : how imperalism has shaped modern Britain

Shepherd Richard                  Unnatural causes : life & death of Britain’s top forensic

                                               Pathologist

Williams Thomas                    Self portrait in black & white  2019

Fiction

Alderton                                 Ghosts

Adiga  Aravind                      Amnesty

Alex Berenson                       The power couple

Cumming Charles                  Box 88

Cummins Jeanine                   American Dirt

Frankel Glen                          Shooting midnight cowboy

French Nicci                           House of correction

Ishiguro Kazuo                      Klara & the sun

Lee Jonathan                          The great mistake

Leilani Raven                         Luster            

Rankin Ian                             Song for the dark times

Noon Jeff                               House with no doors

Spufford Francis                    Light perpetual

Swift Graham                        Here we are

Thanh Nguyen                       The committed

 

NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2021

 

First of all, a Happy New Year to you all. May 2021 be better than 2020

 

 

GOOD NEWS  😀

We held a Board Meeting last week & it was decided to reduce fees for 2021 to compensate for the 2020 lockdowns & eventual ones this year. If you have already paid your 30 euros, send a message to Mike Davison at mikedavison.fr@gmail.com  & he will refund you.  If you haven’t paid yet, send a cheque for 15 euros  (20 family) to Mike Davison  13 rue de la Paix 34130 St Aunès.

 

BAD NEWS   🥺

A nasty surprise when I went into the library last week, there was a pool of water down at the far end & some ceiling panels were drenched. I have contacted the insurance company & hopefully, the problem will be solved & they will put the damage back to rights. This will not prevent the Wednesday 13th opening

 

YOUR INPUT

We are wondering about increasing opening hours (an extra half day a week) If you think this is a good idea, send an email to foal34@gmail.com  with suggestions

We would also like you to suggest activities that you would participate in at FOAL. We are buying shelves for the Book Sale room so it will be easier to hold meetings or activites there.

 

NEW BOOKS

The new books will be in the library for 13th January. List attached

 

 The new catalogue (Title Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.

Also available : Author Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

April Newsletter 2020

I hope you are all keeping safe & busy. Seems like a good time to do a spring clean !



There is not a lot of news. Below a list of the new books which will be in the library some day



If the Comédie du Livre takes place (pretty unlikely as it is normally held about the third weekend in May) one of the guest authors is Jonathon Coe.



The Foal Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 20 June. It is also the excuse to have a meal together sitting round our friend Anne Marie’s pool. (She has kindly accepted to host again this year).



I hope you have all got plenty to read although you must be running out by now.

NEW BOOKS IN LIBRARY SOON

NON FICTION

Albert Costa                                    The Bilingual Brain    Hardback

 Matt Haig                                        Reasons to stay alive  Paperback,

Jack Fairweather                               The volunteer       Paperback

Hadley Freeman                               House of Glass     Hardback

FICTION

Isabelle Allende                                A long petal of the sea  Hardback,

Jessie Burton                                    The Confession    Hardback,

Piero Chaira                                               The Bishop’s bedroom  Paperback

Susan Choi                                       Trust Exercise      Paperback,

Bernadine Evaristo                           Girl, Woman, other  Hardback,

Jill Ciment                                        The body in question  Hardback

Joseph Kanon                                  The Accomplice   Hardback

Deborah Levy                                  The man who saw everything  Hardback,

Hilary Mantel                                   The Mirror & the Light  Hardback, Colum McCann                                          Apeirogone          Hardback

Kevin Nguyen                                  New Waves          Hardback

Ian Rankin                                       The West wind   Hardback

Gary Shteyngart                                Lake Success        Paperback

Elisabeth Strout                                Olive again Hardback

Kate Weinberg                                  The Truants



The Hilary Mantel book (which is the last in the trilogy and has taken three years to come out) is 784 pages…! (Wolf Hall & Bring up the Bodies)

Newsletter New Year 2020

May the New Year keep you « healthy, wealthy & wise »

Very best wishes for 2020 from the FOAL team. I take this opportunity to thank board members who, among other things, are diligent in manning the library

Coffee mornings  These will be starting on January 24. They take place from 10.30-12 at the library. Galette des Rois on that morning

Other dates : February 15  March 20  April 18 May 29

These mornings are open to Foal members



Easy reading We are going to add some « easy reading » books to the collection for non English speakers. We quite often get people coming in & asking if we have  anything « easy to read »



Reading to young children  Some young mothers would like to find sessions when someone would read aloud in order to habituate their young offspring to the music of the language. Volunteers please. These could take place a couple of times a month on opening Wednesdays



Armchairs  We have decided to have a couple of armchairs in the main library area to encourage convivial chats. If you have a small armchair to donate it/they are welcome  Send email to foal34@gmail.com



Montpellier Film Buffs  A sister association called Montpellier Film Buffs organises monthly viewing of selected films. For more info, send an email to

edwinhill@hotmail.com



Last but not least  You need to pay your dues  30 euros payable to Foal & sent to Mike Davison  13 rue de la Paix  34130 St Aunès. If you have joined & paid 30 euros in the last three months you are covered until end 2020. If you only paid 15 euros you need to pay for 2020. Of course, disregard this reminder if you have already paid (& some of you have)  Thank you for supporting the library

The new catalogue is now online !!!

The new catalogue (Title Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.
Also available : Author Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2019

RAFFLE          

 

We are selling raffle tickets now & we already have some VERY GOOD PRIZES :

·        A set of eight accessories for the wine buff in a special gift box

·        Set of herbal tea bowls

·        A 1 litre bottle of coffee layered liqueur

·        A pineapple slicer

·        A cheese grater with tank

·        Voucher for 25 euros at « Chic et Bohème »

·        Voucher for 25 euros at Pimpon

·        Two  makeup pouches

·        A manucure in a swish beauty parlour

·        A pair of gloves

 

Tickets are 1 euro with a really good deal of 10 tickets for 8 euros. Money from the sale of tickets goes towards buying new books & is an important source of funds for FOAL

Members of the board  are busy collecting prizes. The draw will be held at the Christmas party which takes place  on Friday 13^th December at the library starting at 6.30.  As usual, you will be providing the delicious eats (organization nearer the time) & FOAL will be providing the drinks.

 

NEW BOOKS

 

The new books will be in the library any day now. Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments” got this year’s Booker prize. The relevant reviews are on the suggestion table & I will be sending out lists any day now.

 

NEW SHELVES

 

We are investing in some new shelves on which we will put the Book Sale books, freeing up the tables for discussions & Book Chat & Coffee Mornings. The latter is a new venture for FOAL members which will start in January & will be held once a month, one month a Friday, one month a Saturday. I f you wish to participate, send an email to foal34@gmail.com

We have also decided to buy a couple of armchairs which will be placed in the main room in the hopes that people will stay for a chat & a cuppa.

 

BOOKS FOR BOOK SALE

 

PLEASE do not bring in books without first giving us a list. Without a list we cannot accept books. Too many people are emptying their shelves & bringing in books which are unsellable.  We shall be holding a special book sale on Saturday 9 November with a 3 for 2 offer. (Buy two get a third book free)

 

COFFEE MORNING

 

From January we shall be holding a coffee morning once a month so that members can get together for discussion. If you are interested, send an email to foal34@gmail.com

AUTUMN NEWWSLETTER 2019

 

 

AUTUMN NEWSLETTER 2019

 

The library is back to normal after the summer break. The updated catalogue is online on the blog and we shall very soon be ordering new books. One book from the last order which has only just arrived  « The Testaments » by Margaret Atwood which is a follow up to « The Handmaid’s Tale » 35 years later !

The suggestion table is popular, we change the books regularly but you can also participate by suggesting books .

 

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our famous Christmas Party will be held on Friday 13^th December at the library starting at 6.30. It could well be your lucky day for the RAFFLE  We already have some super prizes
  

Looking forward to seeing you in the library soon                                                                                                                                                                                                       

PS Normally there are some fun graphics in the Newsletter but they won't transfer from my document???

 

The new catalogue is now online !!!

The new catalogue (Title Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.
Also available : Author Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

OPENING AFTER SUMMER BREAK

The Library reopens this Wednesday 4th September  3-5.30pm

Reminder opening times

Every Wednesday 3-5.30pm
1st & 3rd Saturday 10-12

FOAL AGM June 2019

The AGM went off successfully, Foal's financial situation is healthy, what we really need to do is recruit more members. We shall address this question in the autumn. The AGM was held at our friend Anne-Marie's & we had a great lunch party afterwards, sitting at tables under the trees  overlooking the swimming pool. The food was , as usual, delicious we have some really good cooks among our members. We were lucky the heatwave hadn't started.
Here are some photos

                  WE HAVE SELECTED SOME REALLY GOOD SUMMER READING

FOAL book order May 2019

NON FICTION

Lisa Brennan-Jobs                           Small fry              NF

Jill Dawson                                      The Language of Birds  NF

Marek Kohn                                    Four words  for Friend  NF

                                                        FICTION

Kate Atkinson                        Big Sky                GF

Margaret Atwood                  The Testaments  (September) GF

Fiona Barton                          The  Suspect        Thriller

Jane Casey                             Cruel Action        Crime

Esi Edugyan                           Washington Black                  GF

Amenatta Forna                     Happiness           GF

Amitav Ghosh                        The Shadow Lines                  GF

Amitav Ghosh                        The Calcutta Chromosome     GF

Linda Grant                            A Stranger City             GF

Mark Haddon                         The Porpoise                 GF

Joanna Harris                         The Strawberry Thief             GF

Jess Kidd                                Things in jars                Crime

Elizabeth McCraken               Bowlaway                     GF

Ian McEwan                           Machines like me          GF

Jeff Noon                                Slow motion ghosts      Crime

Ali Smith                                Spring                           GF

Jeanette Winterson                 Frankisstein                            GF

The new catalogue is now online !!!

The new catalogue (Title Alphabetical Order) is now online. To download it, just click Here.
Also available : Author Alphabetical Order Here.

Click on “télécharger avec votre navigateur” (download to browser) and then on “ouvrir” (open) or "Enregistrer le fichier" (to save it on your computer).

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2019

You will have seen the new books in the library, you will also find the relevant book reviews in a file on the new book shelf. We will be ordering more new books for the summer. The updated catalogue will soon be online on our Facebook page & in the  blog.

 

AGM & PARTY 

 

 

This will take place on Saturday 22nd June . Our friend Anne-Marie has very kindly offered to hold the party in her garden again (she lives in Les Aubes, directions nearer the time). After a brief AGM we get down to the serious businss of the day. FOAL provides the drinks & participants bring along the food which is usually delicious & plentiful (organisation nearer the time). Put this date in your diaries. You can also bring along your swimsuits.

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

We have lost a few members this year. Foal members need to be ambassadors for the library. Please take flyers & give them to people who might be interested. We have found it difficult to recruit new members. As you know the Antigone des Associations doesn’t yield new members & we do all we can to advertise in English publications to little avail. One of our board members, Claudine Soudais is very active with schools & teachers but not a lot of return yet.

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

The Friends of the           Anglophone Library

 

February 2019 Newsletter

Winter is nearly over & the next newsletter will have daffodils & Easter bunnies on the top line !

 Library News

We have invested in a banner to put outside the library during opening hours. This was a great success on the first day we put it out with several people coming in & one person  bought quite a lot of books from the Book Sale. (if you have books in good condition, do send us a list, we can either add them to the collection or put them in the Book Sale)  foal34@gmail.com

Suggestion table

We have set up a suggestion table on which we put books we liked. We have noticed that you tend to go to the new books section & neglect the rest of the collection. You can all add books to the suggestion table.

New books

The new books will soon be in the library. I would like to thank the volunteers who cover the books & if you wish to help, send us an email. I will send out the list in a separate mail.

AGM & summer party

It’s early days but we have set a date for the AGM & party. It will take place on Saturday 22nd June. Our friend, Anne-Marie has kindly offered to hold it at hers like last year. Do put this date in your diaries.

NEW BOOKS FEBRUARY 2019

The new books have arrived & been covered by our kind volunteers

GF General Fiction

FOAL BOOK ORDER  February 2019

NON FICTION

Mathew Dennison                    Eternal Boy                   Biography

Michelle Obama                     Becoming             Memoir

Iris Origo                                War in Val d’Orcia

Pope-Hennessy/Vickers         The Quest for Queen Mary    Memoir

Cathy Newman                      Bloody brilliant women  

Francis Welch                         The Imperial Teaparty

FICTION

Jessica Barry                          Freefall                Thriller

Helen Dunmore                      Betrayal               GF

Dan Fesperman                      Safe Houses              Espionage

Lucy Foley                             The Hunting Party     Thriller

John Grisham                         The Reckoning        Thriller

Chris Hammer                        Scrublands           Thriller

Greer Hendricks                     An Anonymous Girl     Thriller

Sigrid Nunez                           The Friend    GF

Louise Penny                          Kingdom of the Blind   Thriller

Sally Roony                             Normal People              GF

CJ Sansom                             Tombland   GF

Manda Scott                           A Treachery of Spies    Espionage

Karin Slaughter                      Pieces of Her                 Thriller

Amor Towles                         A Gentleman in Moscow           GF

Chris W ormersley                 City of Crows    Historical fiction