A large group of book clubbers came along to the first Pageturners meeting for the 2010 combined with our Slow Summer event Books Clubs Buzz. And the evening did buzz with conversations about books. We heard about great reads enjoyed by books clubs in Millthorpe, Orange and with U3A. A highlight of the evening was a presentation by special guest and founding supporter of Pageturners Ashley Brown of Angus & Robertson (pictured). He wheeled in a huge trolley of books and spoke about some of the most popular reads for books clubs which included:
Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse by Paul Cater;
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle;
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger;
The Alchemist by Paul Coelho;
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult;
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

The group also heard Book Club reading suggestions from Book City and ABC Boomers Bookstore…watch this blog for their lists soon. The next Pageturners meeting will be as usual on the second Wednesday of the month  10 March at Orange City Library from 5.30pm  7pm to discuss works by man of the moment Alexander McCall Smith.

If you would like to be part of a book club but don't have time or find it hard to get to meetings then our On-line Book Chain may suit you. We are calling for interested readers to get in touch via email jvidler@orange.nsw.gov.au. It works like a regular book club but via your email in-box. Readers wanting to take part in the book chain during March, April and May will be asked to submit a book title of their own choosing then their comment about the book when they have finished reading it. Then members of the book chain will receive details of two surprise reads during this time and give their comments. Book chain members source the books from Central West Libraries. You can check out comments from last year's book chain on our blog — the books were If I Stay by Gayle Forman, Barack Obama's Dreams of My Father and Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.

Orange celebrated 150 years of service to the community last night with a special council meeting held at the historic town hall. The meeting marked 150 years – to the day – the formation of the Municipal Council of Orange. Orange and District Historical Society's Elizabeth Griffin gave an informative presentation with anecdotes (including that some meetings were later held at the Carrington Hotel). The press of the day reported “the councillors re-entered the court house with John Peisley Esq as their first chairman who was received with reiterated plaudits of the assembly. A general explanation of peace making followed and the party adjourned to Mr Councillor Hanrahan's Wellington Inn where mutual expressions and happy toast followed in rapid succession during a merry hour.” The Central Western Daily is publishing a feature each month tracing the city's development. To read about our first council check out the article:
http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-municipality-is-born/1754383.aspx

Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre supported by The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose (Short Story), Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing. Entry forms are available from Orange City Library, by phoning 6393 8120, email: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au or [download here]. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children per entry. The competition closes on Friday 16 April 2010 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 21 June 2010. The judges will also consider Children's entries for the Yvonne Zola Encouragement Award. There are cash prizes to be won and the winning Short Story entry will be published in the Central Western Daily. Get writing!

Do you love great literature or wish to discover it? Some authors have captured the imaginations of generations. Find out more about the lives and works of these authors as we work our way through classic literature. What made them popular? What do we really think about them? What do the books reveal about human nature? Would you like to discuss books with others? Each month the Classics Book Club members meet at Blayney, Orange and Cowra Libraries to talk about “a classic”. The groups began reading works by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters Anne, Emily and Charlotte.
New members are welcome to join the Classics Book Club at any time. Classic booksclubbers return in February 2010 on these dates:
” Blayney Tuesday 16 February 11am  12 noon
” Orange Thursday 18 February 12.30pm  1.30pm and 5.30pm  7pm
” Cowra Tuesday 23 February 12.30pm  1.30pm