“What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.” - Neil Gaiman, American Gods 

Midah, a library volunteer, who began the Readit reading group earlier this year tells us why she started it - “The group came about from a wish to share and discuss stories with people of my own age. It is an unusual book club in that it is specifically for 16 to 19 year olds. We are just beginning and all those interested are invited to come along and be part of our forming.”

The Readit reading group meet at Eastbourne library on the second Friday of every month between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, and is free to join. The next meetings will be on 13th May, and 10th June. All teens are very welcome to come along for a taster session, and are welcome to join the group.

For further info please contact: readitreadinggroup@gmail.com

Have you ever borrowed a book that you want to keep forever? You may be able to do just that.

In 3 libraries across the county, Eastbourne, Seaford and Rye, you will find Bookends, the library shop. Here you can find a quirky array of second hand and ex-library books and DVDs to buy, all at reasonable prices. With most books priced at under £3, you will also find a selection of our best specialist books at all 3 Bookends locations.

Whether you are looking for a good read for your holiday, or books on a particular topic, Bookends is the place to go. From cookery to crime, history to sport, and lots more besides, you are sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

Our Bookends shop in Eastbourne library is staffed entirely by volunteers, whilst you can also find Bookends stock at Seaford and Rye libraries, with more locations coming soon. All the money raised goes back into running our libraries, including buying new stock.

You can visit any of the Bookends during normal library opening hours.  And we’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of our Bookends volunteers, who do such a great job!

This month Jacqui, our volunteer coordinator, tells us all about her favourite book:

This is a book that is not easy to categorise (which is something we Library staff do love to do!) -  it's not a romance, although there are romantic elements, it's not a biography, although it  reads like one and from the author's notes, certainly uses aspects of his own experience. It's a slice of life - from fairly ordinary and yet so very extraordinary characters. It's beautiful and painful and very real.

The plot revolves around Rachel Kelly who lives in Cornwall.  It explores her art, family life and bi-polar disorder, and the family’s own struggles with life and their Quaker faith.

It is a sensitively written book with characters that grow on you.  The ending, much like the illness Rachel lives with, could be the very saddest or the most euphoric ending to a book depending on your mood and will most certainly stay with you either way.

Why not borrow this book from your local East Sussex library? You can reserve a copy online here

We would also like to hear about your favourite book. If you have enjoyed a book you have borrowed from one of our libraries and would like to feature in a future newsletter please email: Library.Administration.Support.Team@eastsussex.gov.uk