If you’ve been enjoying the new BBC adaptation of Les Miserables, you probably couldn't wait for Sunday’s final episode.
The media has been full of comparisons between this television adaptation and the famous musical.
We have our own Manx connection with the musical, with Sam Barks making her name in the role of Eponine, both on stage and in the movie.
Of course, there is a more important comparison to be made and that is with Victor Hugo’s book.
That said, we’re all in favour of television adaptations of classics, because it can often make the original literature more accessible to a wider audience and that has to be a good thing.
So we’d love to see an adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, another classic from Hugo, which has a slightly more PC title in the book’s original French, Notre Dame de Paris.
We suspect that there may be some qualms about the nature of this story, but it is actually a great tale of hypocrisy, a debate on what constitutes real beauty and observation of people’s intolerance of those who differ from them.
Russian literature has enjoyed small screen adaptation success recently times, with War and Peace.
We’d love to see a new version of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.
Or how about something really challenging, such as the Master and Margherita?
It is a brilliant satire by Mikhail Bulgakov, that was a damning critique of attitudes of the Soviet government but could also be applied today.
Those who think the satire of modern commentators is daring should take a look at that piece and also further back.
Another great example of literature pricking the pomposity of delusional idiots is Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes.
Yes, you guessed it, we’d love to see a screen version of that, too!
But in the meantime, pick up these books and have a read for yourself.
They may have reputations for being highbrow or heavy going but you may be pleasantly surprised at just how readable they are.
They wouldn’t have sold millions of copies of the centuries if they were not!
Please feel free to ask our staff at the Family Library and Mobile Library to see if they can help you find the perfect classic for you.
Meanwhile, we’re very excited to be making the first of our monthly 100 Club draws today (Thursday).
The way the club works is that, for a £12 annual subscription, you will be entered into a monthly draw with cash prizes. Participants can sign up for as many annual subscriptions as they like.
Each of the three monthly prizes will be made up from 50 percent of the proceeds from that particular draw.
The offer is open to those aged 18 and above, so is targeted at adult users and relatives of the Mobile Library or anyone else who wants to show their support.
The 100 Club is a way of raising funds to support the Family Library and Mobile Library while at the same time giving people the chance to win a prize.
For more details, visit familylibrary.im
And keep an eye on our Facebook page to find out information on the January winners.