Stalking the Catalogue: Extreme office crafts

Welcome to a new series of weekly posts called "Stalking the Catalogue." When you think about it - or when I think about it - that is, essentially, what I do. I stalk the catalogue for new, interesting and/or bizarre titles to highlight. Now I'm just calling it what it is.

Extreme office crafts : creative & devious ways to waste supplies & company time by Jimmy Knight and Tom Chalmers
THIS! Office crafts. Extreme office crafts. Extreme office crafts that encourage creativity. This is a thing that must be read.

Admittedly, I'm a little wary of the 'devious ways to waste supplies and company time' part of the title BUT I'm going to override that little smidgeon of fear and read it, anyway. How could I not when it encourages the making of post-it note mosaics? (My sibling doesn't know it yet, but her post-it note stash is going towards a very good cause - my entertainment)

We have two copies! So if this kind of humour is your kind of humour, request it today :)

The 2012 Lit Quiz (with answers)

Hi everyone,

Thank you to those who responded to last year's fiendish Lit Quiz. The answers are as follows:

1) Which book won this year's Man Booker Prize?
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

2) Which famous author did not die this year?
a) Maeve Binchy b) Bryce Courtenay c) John Le Carre d) Margaret Mahy
John Le Carre

3) Terry Pratchett's Dodger featured a famous author as one of the main characters. Who was he?
Charles Dickens

4) What is the name of Geronimo Stilton's sister, whose first graphic novel has recently been announced?
Thea Stilton

5) What is Emily Perkins's most recent novel?
The Forrests

6) Who is the new character introduced to the Hobbit film who is not in the books?
Tauriel the Wood Elf

*NB: I will accept Galadriel also, as I didn't make it clear I meant the Hobbit series rather than the first film. Galadriel (while not new to Lord of the Rings) was indeed not at Rivendell in The Hobbit book.

7) Notorious Nineteen is not actually the 19th book to feature Stephanie Plum. How many are there really?
23

8) What is both a television series and a 2012 novel by David Hewson?
The Killing

9) Which sports star's autobiography has become the fastest selling in New Zealand history?
Richie McCaw

10) A new collection of stories by Katherine Mansfield was discovered this year. True or false?
True

Congratulations to the winner, Lingshu Liu. Her favourite books will be profiled in my next blog!

5 book titles to make you laugh (and then request them)

I'm pretty sure I'm a nice person. What's more, I think I'm a nice person who is capable of great philosophical thought. You just have to dig down deep. Like WAY down deep. When you hit the cold lump of coal that should be my heart, keep going. In fact, bring a shovel and a miner's hat. (Leave the canary at home, that's just cruel). I am all about the laughs because, as most people who know me know, I not-so-secretly possess a juvenile sense of humour. I forever watch terrible movies that are overladen with toilet humour and the worst puns ever. What's worse is I then con other people into watching them with me. And I'm that way about books, too. I'm forever making lists when I come across book titles that amuse me. What is the point of such titles if you cannot hold them up to people and say "THIS! THIS!" And so, here's my list of "THIS! THIS!" for today: 5 book titles to make you laugh (and then request them).

Men who knit and the dogs who love them (seriously).

Men who knit & the dogs who love them : 30 great-looking designs for man & his best friend / Annie Modesitt & Drew Emborsky

Yes, that really is the title of this book.

I don't even know what to say. I mean, just look at the cover - the dog's jumper matches the man's hat! I can't say the dog looks stoked about his little outfit.

I can't decide if this is the best book I've ever seen or the worst. Regardless, we have 4 copies, so request one today!

If this isn't a great start to 2013 I don't know what is. Happy New Year everyone.

And I'd Like To Thank The Academy...

Happy 2013

I'm taking the easy way out with this, my very first blog post of the new year, and borrowing from my fellow blogger Laura.

Best lists are always so subjective.  They are just one person's opinion of what they enjoyed during the year.  They are also highly addictive and enjoyable and just another way that my endlessly long reading, watching and listening lists get even further out of hand.

Oh well you can never have too much to read....

So with that in mind here are my awards for 2012.

Enjoy!