Sunday May 13th, 2012 A Renewed Interest in Archery

The news has reported that many people are taking up archery in the wake of The Hunger Games movie. Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the story, is an expert archer. If you’ve been similarly inspired by Katniss and are considering taking up the sport, why not check out some books from the library first?

If you’re a beginner, we have some excellent books such as Archery by John Adams. A comprehensive introduction to archery, this book is full of great advice for anyone new to the sport. Another option is Archery: Steps to Success by Kathleen Haywood. Perfect for beginners, it has loads of information ranging from selecting and tuning equipment to step by step instructions for mastering your shots. 


We also have some excellent resources for people with more experience. A more advanced book is Bow and Arrow: the Comprehensive Guide to Equipment, Technique, and Competition by Larry Wise. Larry Wise is a five time world champion archer who has his certification to coach individuals as well as teams. As such, this book has a lot of information that will benefit both beginners and experts alike. Bow and Arrow is also a great book to help you find the equipment that’s right for you.

Of course, if you aren’t interested in taking up archery yourself but want to enjoy other aspects of the sport, the library has many options for you. If you are looking for more of a history on archery, then Traditional Archery by Sam Fadala is for you. Traditional Archery is another good overview of the basics, giving detailed information on choosing equipment and shooting techniques. But it also examines the bow of the 5,000 year old Ice Man found in the Austrian Alps and shows how his equipment was similar to and different from what is in use today. Another interesting book is Hunting the Hard Way by Howard Hill. Hill was an award winning archer who seems to have done it all. He has hunted from horseback, underwater, and even successfully hunted elephants without the use of poisoned arrows. He had a fascinating life and you will enjoy reading about his adventures.

There are also plenty of fictional archers. If you’re interested in superheroes, the library has many graphic novels with marksmen. Green Arrow is the DC superhero who uses trick arrows; we have several graphic novels devoted to him. If you’re a Marvel fan, Hawkeye’s your man. The library doesn’t have any Hawkeye titles, but he does appear in several Avengers titles such as The Morgan Conquest. Another option is the Huntress, who uses crossbows; we have the graphic novel The Huntress: Darknight Daughter.  

If superheroes don’t interest you, we have many other choices. Another famous series is the Chronicles of Narnia. The eldest sister Susan receives a bow and arrows during The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; she uses them to defend herself, her siblings and the kingdom. The Disney version shows Susan to be accurate and deadly with her weapons, much like Katniss in The Hunger Games. 

And of course, there’s always Robin Hood, the famous outlaw from Sherwood Forest. While almost everyone knows about this archer, his story of robbing from the rich to give to the poor remains popular today. Whether you have some children you’d like to amuse or just want to watch a good action movie such as 2010’s Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe or 1997’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, this folk hero, along with his band of Merry Men, never fails to entertain.

So whatever your interest in archery, the library is here to meet all of your needs.

Shauna Kosoris