GNU Terry Pratchett

When I hear people mention things about fantasy, my knowledge is pretty much limited to fairy tales, those little ones with badass chicks on the front or Terry Pratchett. And even about those things, I hardly know much of outside of the books I've read. I don't really care much for the lives authors have outside of writing the books I love - except for if they're writing their next book and when can I have it.

However, just because I don't know jack about the world of authors and what they do, it didn't stop me from shedding a tear or two earlier this month when I found out that Terry Pratchett died.

I know nothing about him, except that he wears wide brimmed hats, appeared as cameos in film versions of his books and that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's (courtesy of one of my great reader friends who was devastated at the news). I know nothing about the guy personally and I know nothing about who he was as a person - but I did know that he wrote very, very amazing books.
So, I won't pretend I know him and write about how amazing he was and how he changed the world, whether he did or not. I'll write about the only thing I feel at liberty to write about.

His books have a magical kind of power. Discworld, his main series (which can also be read as stand alone novels) is a mess of hilarious illogical logic and such detailed and reasonable chaos that you either had to put the book down because it was too much to grasp, or fall directly down the rabbit hole into the most amazing, well put together world that you can actually imagine co-existing with ours in some kind of crazy parallel universe. Funny, stupid, wise, heartbreaking, all rolled into one.

The first Terry Pratchett book I ever read was Going Postal (the second word will link you to the film instead of the book, as the first does). As such, it holds a special place in my heart as my favourite book in the Discworld series. No, I haven't read all of them - I just checked Wikipedia and I've only read 11 out of the 41 listed there (did I mention I don't keep track of this stuff?). Anywho, Moist von Lipwig's adventures into being a Postmaster was my first adventure into Discworld, and I still haven't left.

Moist is a scruffian big-time crook, who likes to have money, and lots of it. He likes it especially if it comes out of others pockets - which he often dips into. When finally caught by Lord Vetenari, he has the choice of either dying or facing the ultimate punishment... Becoming the Postmaster of Ankh-Morporks run-down and shabby postal office.

His first in the Discworld series, The Colour of Magic (also a film), is literally about the very first tourist Ankh-Morpork has ever seen, Twoflower. As he wanders about in pursuit of fun and wonder (ie. dragons, barbarians, bar fights), his travel guide, the not-wizard Rincewind of Ankh-Morpork is driven around the bend by the constant shenanigans Twoflower gets them into, and he tries very hard not to let them get killed. That's it. No epic romance or spell-flinging swordfights (or not very many, at least) and yet it's everything that there is to love about the Discworld.

Which, by the way, is the (flat) world, on a disc, on the back of four giant elephants, on the back of an even bigger, great turtle flying through space.

I'm pretty sure Terry Pratchett is the only author who can think up the Discworld and still make a reader believe it, make them say, 'Okay, I get that. I see how that can work'.

The last in my favorite series in the Discworld of his (the Tiffany Aching series) was his last book he ever managed to write, and is planned to be published this year posthumously. If you ever feel the need to pick up one of his books, I suggest starting with The Wee Free Men, the first in that series. Its under Teen Fiction (and in some cases, Children's) but don't let that fool you. It's as amazing as any others of his. If you feel the need, order some of his books - read them for the first time, or the fifth time. Read all of them, or only one.

Why would a criminal taking over a post office be interesting? Why do you need to know what a tourist gets up to on his first OE? Why do I care what Death the Reaper is doing on a farm or dressed up as Santa the Hogfather (again, a film) or how a sports team made of incompetent wizards does? The answer is, I don't know. I don't know how it could pull me in as much as it did - it just did. That is the power, the magic of what Terry Pratchett did. And this is what I, and all of his fans all over the world, will miss.

'Certain things have to happen before other things. Gods play games with the fates of men. But first they have to get all the pieces on the board, and look all over the place for the dice.' - Soul Music

Shaking hands with Death - Sandara

Secret Heroes

“Some guys got it down … secret heroes…Tom Waits… I listen more to that kind of stuff than whatever is popular at the moment, they’re not. Just witch-doctoring up the planet, they don’t set up barriers…”

 - Bob Dylan interviewed by Cameron Crowe for the Biograph boxset, 1985.

I half-remembered this quote recently when listening to Tom Waits and wondered what being a 'secret hero' might mean.

He's a ‘secret hero’ perhaps because he's too intense or eccentric for a wider audience, but the power of his music ripples through the art form by way of covers and  the respect he's gets from other, much more famous, practitioners. 

He’s a master of his craft, content to wander the back roads looking to the past for his inspiration; to the blues, folk, the music-hall and beyond. If you know it, his voice is instantly recognizable. It can be a mighty roar, a tender croon or a wild man's howl he uses to bring the misfits, loners and losers of his songs to life. 

Possibly Tom Waits’ songs are better known than him. Most people know Rod Stewart's cover of ‘DowntownTrain’ or Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Jersey Girl’ cover or some may be familiar with Scarlet Johansson’s entire album of Tom Waits songs.

My favourite Waits album is Swordfishtrombones(‘83)  With this album Waits started to get more adventurous with his songs and broke with the jazzy-bluesy gin/whiskey/beer-soaked nighthawk image that he’d built up through the 70s.

Waits become more of a shapeshifter, more of a restless explorer with this album. He got more adventurous with the instruments he used; the arrangements of his songs; the stories he told. He could still conjure a heart-breaking piano ballad like Soldier’s Things,  when inspired. But there are also songs like Shore Leave which uses avant-garde instruments and traditional African and Balinese percussion to forge an eerily beautiful tale of a sailor wandering the streets of Hong Kong missing his wife.

After this followed an incredible run of albums for Waits: Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years culminating in the brilliant, wild Bone Machine.

And he’s still kicking - with Bad as Me (2011) Waits finds new ways of exploring old themes and inhabiting a rich array of characters, still impossible to pin down, to predict but somehow always Tom Waits. Or as Neil Young described him when Waits was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 2011…

Thinking about Tom Waits and some of the enduring themes of his work, the affinity with outcasts, the formal mastery and experimentation made me think of another ‘secret hero’; Finnish film-maker Aki Kaurismaki.

Kaurismaki’s films often deal with society’s most downtrodden members and like Waits, he displays a deep compassion for the suffering for those on the fringes of society.He has a common fan in American film-maker Jim Jarmusch who has paid tribute to Kaurismaki directly in his wonderful film Night on Earth (soundtrack by Tom Waits) His influence can also be felt in the work of Wes Anderson and Richard Ayoade amongst others.

A good place to start, if new to his work, is Le Havre  his most recent film. The film is the tale of a young African illegal immigrant who hides out in the French port town of Le Havre  after escaping Police. The film weaves threads of prisoner-on-the-run-thriller with wry social commentary all shot-through with Kaurismaki's  extraordinarily deadpan wit and minimalist style.

The rhythm of his films can seem a little jarring at first, as listening to Wait’s music can too in a different way, you need to be patient for the rich rewards that will come if you give them a chance.

 William T Volmann was someone else that I thought of when thinking about the idea of a‘Secret hero’ He doesn’t fit so nicely into place next to Waits as Kaurismaki does. I'd be hard pressed to really liken anybody to him.

Vollmann’s  books plunge headlong the deepest, darkest corners of America and other parts of the world. Vollmann writes fiction and non-fiction often blending both. Vollmann frequently crosses boundaries that other journalists or writers would never go near. He deeply immerses himself in the lives of the people he chooses to write about.
He’s explored the lives of freight-train hopping hobos, meditated on poverty, drug use and prostitution and published a seven volume essay on violence, (usefully collected into a single volume.)

One of my favourites The Rainbow Stories mixes his experiences with ‘boot-woman’ the girlfriends of neo-Nazi skinheads, prostitutes and drug-addicts in his neighbourhood with strangely beautiful fictional stories.

Vollmann’s  output is vast and far-reaching (I’ve barely scratched the surface).  While there is a level of accessibility to Waits and Kaurismaki’s work, Vollmann’s asks a bit more of the audience.
But like Waits and Kaurismaki he is a 'secret hero' to more popular writers like David Foster Wallace and Jonathan Franzen.

For would-be writers

All my life I've worked in jobs that seem to attract people who want to write. First, there was my student job in a bookshop (that turned into 10 years, on and off), where I met a guy whose success in actually completing a draft novel encouraged me to give it a try. He stopped speaking to me after mine was published and his wasn't. Then again, he was a bit of a prat.

Then I went into journalism, trying to turn my creativity into a career. I very quickly worked out - by day two of my diploma - that I wasn't going to do that in journalism, unless it meant being creative with facts rather than style. But again, I met a few fellow journos who secretly yearned to be writing for themselves rather than The Man from Oz.

Now I work with books again, obviously, and there's a veritable plethora of us. Every time I think I'm struggling alone, I receive a reminder that I'm not as unique as I'd like to think. So here are a few resources for you, the fellow scribblers. You poor baskets.

Literary Rejections: http://www.literaryrejections.com/uk-literary-agencies/
Contains some uplifting stories about the authors who made it big, after breaking records for the number of rejections received (about 300). Apparently the average wait till the big break is eight years. Also contains useful listings of agents around the world, by country.

The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2014
THE essential guide to agents and the publishing industry, with listings and tips. Comes out every year with updated information.

The Best Writing on Mathematics
Whoops, how did THAT get in here? Hahahaha.

Scrivener for Dummies
A book about ME! Actually no, this is a guide to a software programme that helps writers get their thought processes into some semblance of order, and write a fantastic work. Computers can do everything!

Self-editing Fiction That Sells
Writing and editing are two very different things. Once you've got everything down, you need to know how to make it BETTER. This book tells you how.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers

When things are at their Eeyorest, these stories may help pick you up. Remember: Jack Canfield, creator of the Chicken Soup series, was told his books would never sell! The first book was rejected by more than 140 publishers, before going on to establish a series that has sold more than 100 million copies around the world.

Writing Children's Books for Dummies
Pretty self-explanatory, but if you want to be the next J. K. Rowling, this book might well help.

The Writer's Internet: A Creative Guide to the World Wide Web
A guide to how to promote yourself online, where to find fan fiction sites, how to do online research, internet resources for writers and more.

100 Ways to Publish and Sell Your Own E-Book
There are many more ways to get published now than ever before. This book tells you how you can make money without an agent or a traditional publisher. No more rejection! But just in case...

The Positively Productive Writer
Subtitled "How to Reject Rejection". Unfortunately, it's going to happen. This book tells you how to deal, and how to keep going, setting realistic goals and moving your writing forward.

And finally:

77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected (and How to Make Sure It Doesn't Happen Again)
Your mission has been assigned. It's up to you to see it through.

Don't forget writing competitions, writing courses, assessment organisations like Writers Workshop or Elseware and joining networks like the Society of Authors. Good luck, one and all.

Marathons: A Pure Indulgence (Part 5): A Wish List...

Just when you think I couldn't have any more things to marathon I do.  In fact it seems that I'm always marathoning something.  Which just goes to show that I really am an addict.  Of course not all the things I marathon are TV shows, I also *adore* doing movie marathons and book marathons. In fact marathoning anything is pretty cool.

Chocolate marathon anyone?

Boardwalk Empire

"The life of times of Nucky Thompson, political and criminal mastermind during the era of Prohibition."

Steve Buscemi rocks.

Which is why I just have to check this show out one of these days. It's on my list for him alone.  He's one of those actors who makes anything he's in just that little bit better.

 Sons of Anarchy

"The Sons of Anarchy live, ride, and die for brotherhood.  But as the club's leader steer them in an increasingly lawless and dangerous direction, Jax, a young member, is torn between loyalty and legacy."

Bad boys.  With leather jackets, no less.

Deadwood

"The town of Deadwood, South Dakota is a lawless place of crime and corruption. Into this uncivilized outpost ride a disillusioned and bitter ex-lawman and a man hoping to find a new start for himself."

Bad boys again.  This time with a gun and a cowboy hat. Plus Timothy Oylphant, Raylan Givens from Justified (which you just have to marathon because Reasons)

Oh yeah I am so there...

Grimm
  
"Detective Nick Burkhardt discovers he is descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as Grimms, charged with keeping balance between humanity and the mythological creatures."

I watched the first episode of this some time ago but couldn't get into it.  I am, though, determined to give it another go. Because monsters. Do I really need to say anything more?

Amanda Hocking

A self-published author who took the world by storm with a series of paranormal YA novels.

All I needed to hear was the word 'paranormal' to decide that I just have to get around to doing a marathon session of all her books.

My To-Be-Read list is never going to go down...

The Tudors

Henry Cavill aka Charles Brandon in The Tudors aka Superman in the latest Superman movie Man of Steel

Tall, dark and bad boy hot, he is reason enough to watch all four seasons of this show.  The stubble helps also...

Sigh...

Something to Sigh About

Speaking of sighing, some of the best marathons are the ones with some eye candy.

And yes I can be that shallow.

Though I also like my men to have something more than just pretty boy looks.  The voice for one. And by voice I mean the voice, the kind that can send you into a  puddle on the floor.  A touch of bad boy is also a must...

Richard Armitage in North and South                Rufus Sewell in Middlemarch
Michael Fassbender in Jane Eyre                      David Tennant in The Decoy Bride
Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock                   Ryan Gosling in The Notebook

Margaret Mahy R.I.P.

"Reading is very creative - it's not just a passive thing. I write a story; it goes out into the world; somebody reads it and, by reading it, completes it." ― Margaret Mahy

This is a hard post to write. I want to pay tribute to a wonderful lady who filled the world with the magic of her words, and yet I don't feel like I have the right words to express the sadness I feel at her passing or the absolute joy she gave to so many.

Margaret Mahy passed away yesterday after a brief illness and today the tributes are flowing for someone who retained a childlike view of the world with the incredible talent for transferring that view to her stories so children and adults alike could share it with her. Margaret was born in 1936 in Whakatane. Much of her life was spent in Christchurch where she worked as a children's librarian (which makes her even more special to my heart), raised a family and created stories - more than 200 books and poems are part of her legacy. She is an award winning author both nationally and internationally winning the Carnegie Medal and being the only New Zealander to be awarded the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. She was made a Member of the Order of New Zealand in 1993.

I had the honour of meeting her at a Storylines Festival a couple of years ago and one of my treasured posssessions is a signed copy of The Word Witch: The magical verse of Margaret Mahy. This collection of her verse (some which were subsequently transformed into picture books) shows her range across the ages from children to adult with humour and cutting wit. I am also biased in that two of my favourite stories is The Librarian and the Robbers and the lesser known Zerelda's Horses.

Some of my Auckland Libraries colleagues are also paying tribute to Margaret Mahy.

RIP Margaret, your words and playful ways have, and will, touch wee minds always, mine included... - Dave

I have too many memories of Margaret Mahy to share... I am too sad to share them. Today I am wearing my Margaret Mahy lion t-shirt, with purple - her favourite colour. - Annie

May we all wear rainbow wigs to work tomorrow ... - Fiona

To discover (or rediscover) the magic of Margaret Mahy at Auckland Libraries, click here.

I finish this tribute with words from the book that started it all The Lion in the Meadow.

‎"The little boy and the big roaring yellow whiskery lion went to play in the other meadow. The dragon stayed where he was, and nobody minded. The mother never ever made up a story again."

Browsing the shelves

Guilty confession : when I visit someone's house, when I watch a movie, or when I read a magzine, and there is a bookshelf somewhere, I will browse the shelves to see what is on display.

I'm intrigued to see what books other people willlingly put on display. It answers brings up sorts of questions - which genres do they read most, which authors are their favourites, do they collect cookbooks, do they have beautiful coffee table books, are they fans of pulp fiction?

So it was with great pleasure that I recently got to "browse"the personal book shelves of well-known writers, such as Alison Bechdel, Steven Pinker, Lev Grossman, Junot Diaz, and Philip Pullman, in Unpacking My Library : Writers and Their Books.

The authors willingly talked about what is on their bookshelves, how they organise their personal libraries (answers ranged from "by topic", "by age", "wherever they fit"), as well as nominating their personal Top 10 books from their collections.

There's also a companion volume - Unpacking My Library : Architects and Their Books.

So am I the only one who "browses" other people's bookshelves? Surely not.

Top 5 for Friday - Christian Fiction

Today's Top 5 post comes to you courtesy of one of my Auckland Libraries colleagues, Rachel. It's always great to have a new voice on the board, because sometimes I think you must get sick of the sound of mine. Even though I try to vary and mix up my already somewhat eclectic tastes, it's always nice to get another opinion. What I like about this post is that it addresses some misconceptions, and that it recommends authors rather than titles. Thanks Rachel.

I’m assuming that if you are reading this post, you are interested in at least trying Christian Fiction. When I was younger, I never read this genre thinking that it was going to be happy, sappy and that everything was going to work out because they prayed about it. I have been pleasantly surprised by many books that I have since read. Here are some of my favourite authors in this growing genre -

Deeanne Gist – She is a favourite because she doesn’t stick to the usual formula ie girl in early twenties bemoaning that the guy is never going to come along. Yes, they are still romances (historical ones at that) but the characters don’t often fit the mould!

Ted Dekker – If you are a fan of sci-fi or Frank Perretti, this is someone you might want to try. My favourite series would be the circle trilogy but all of them are great!

Trish Perry – Her characters have real problems and while you can guess how the book is going to end – it’s fun getting to it!

Erynn Mangum – I love her main characters! They are quirky but very loveable.

Sarah Sundin – She has written a WW2 series which deals with some difficult issues.

Lastly, an author who I’ve just discovered…Margaret Brownley – also someone who doesn’t use traditional characters in her books. I found them fun!

Tributes

While I was away we mourned the loss of two identities, one in the entertainment world and the other a children's literary favourite. Elizabeth Taylor. What can you say? When it comes to famous, they don't come much bigger than Liz. Icon, celebrity, actress, on-screen (and off-screen) lover, using her pulling power for good, addict, personality. There are so many words that can be used to describe the woman who first hit our screens in National Velvet and later tore up the movie and tabloid world with her exploits. The Libraries hold over 20 biographies and pictorials on her life as well as over a dozen of her movies so that you can relive some of her magic. Diana Wynne-Jones. For those that don't know, this author had a devoted following as the writer of children's fantasy novels, the most famous of which was probably Howl's Moving Castle. The UK Telegraph obituary calls her "40 or so books maintained a remarkably high standard in both inventiveness and the elegance of their prose" and several were adapted for television and film. She received numerous awards, including a World Fantasy lifetime achievement award and a rennaisance on the back of the popularity of the Harry Potter genre. This is the link for the full list of her titles held at the Auckland Libraries. Rest in peace ladies, knowing that you have bought joy and magic into the lives of many.

Farwell to some greats

Over the extended festive season, literature lost several prolific and respected authors.

Ruth Park was born in New Zealand but spent much of her life in Australia where she published 10 award-winning adult novels, 35 books for children, two volumes of autobiography and several works of non-fiction. Read more about her life and legacy in this NZ Herald tribute

Harvey McQueen was a poet, editor, anthropologist and educator. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002. There is a tribute on the TV3 news website.

Dick King-Smith (real name Ronald Gordon King-Smith) is probably best known for penning the Sheep-Pig on which the move Babe was based. As well as being a soldier, farmer and teacher he was a prolific author and pets ranging from rats and mice to pheasants and dogs. There are world-wide tributes being paid to this extremely popular children's author. Read more about his life in this article from the Telegraph.

Rest in Peace. Your legacies live on in the words you have left behind.

The story behind the story

The last thing you would expect when you are putting donated books onto our For Sale trolley, is that it will take you on a journey. Especially when it is a hardcover Mills & Boon from 1953 (which originally sold for the grand sum of 9/6. But here is what happened yesterday afternoon.

It is a rather tattered and battered little book called The Heart Must Choose by Mary Burchell and it does look suspiciously as if it may have been a library at some time in it's life. It's pages are brown and a little bit brittle, with stains and marks showing a well-read history. The blurb starts "Not many of us can manage to live the life of a debutante in the Coronation Year. But the next best thing is to follow the fortunes of Flora Elvain, who, by a piece of unexpected good luck, did have the opportunity to do just that."

It was intriguing enough that I searched the World Wide Web (all right - I Googled) the book title and author. And here's what I discovered.

Mary Burchell was a pseudenoym for a woman named Ida Cook who, together with her sister Mary Louise Cook, rescued Jews from the Nazi regime in the 1930's and smuggled in jewellery to help them satisfy the British immigration financial requirements. Ida began writing in the 1930's primarily to raise funds to help them with their rescues. The sisters used their passion for opera as an excuse for their frequent trips to Germany. Earlier this year both Ida and her sister were honoured posthumously as British Heroes of the Holocaust by the British Governnment (Ida passed away in December 1986).

Ida continued her writing, eventually producing over 100 romance titles. She also dabbled in Westerns (under another pseudonym James Keene). In addition, she used her knowledge and passion of Opera as a setting for the Warrender series of 13 books.

Ida produced an autobiography in 1950, We Followed Our Stars, which has subsequently been republished as Safe Passage and which is available in some of our neighbouring Auckland Libraries. It will be on my "To Be Read" list after 1st November when we merge into the "Super Library".

Sometimes the stories behind the story are even more intriguing than what you find between the pages. This was certainly one of those occasions.

Hail Joy Cowley!

One of my favourite children's authors is releasing her memoir next week. And if you want to be at the launch, check out the details from the Penguin media release

"In the world of New Zealand children's books, the name Joy Cowley engenders enormous respect and affection. She has published dozens and dozens of children's trade books of all kinds, such as the Mrs Wishy Washy series, the award-winning Shadrach trilogy and Hunter. And she has written literally hundreds of readers for the international educational book market. She is constantly in demand as a guest performer and speaker all over the world, but particularly in the US. Joy has also written a tantalisingly small number of very fine adult novels, beginning with Nest in a Falling Tree in the 1970s and including Classic Music and Holy Days, both published by Penguin in the early 1990s. Joy also has an additional dimension. She is an intensely thoughtful and spiritual person, who writes and practises what she preaches and owns a lodge/retreat centre at Fish Bay in the Marlborough Sounds created by Joy and her husband Terry.

Navigation is a relaxed, beautifully written memoir, not in any sense a formal autobiography. It contains wonderful sections on Joy's life growing up in a small Manawatu town (her first job on leaving school was as a pharmacy assistant in Foxton), her family life and her exploration of the joys of writing. It touches down constantly at Fish Bay in the Sounds, where Joy writes passionately about the landscape, the seasons and the natural world around her."

Navigation will be launched on Thursday, 7th October at The Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Road, Auckland . Refreshments will be served from 6.00 pm and Joy will be speaking from 6.30 pm. Entry $5 at the door. Contact The Women's Bookshop for more information Phone 09 376 4399. books@womensbookshop.co.nz. http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/

Cyndi O'Meara - Orewa Library Author Talk

CYNDI O’MEARA— International Presenter and Best Selling Author
MONDAY 2 AUGUST 11:00—12 NOON
Orewa Library,12 Moana Avenue, Orewa
Reserve your seat at front desk or phone 09 4268249

Cyndi is a passionate, determined and knowledgeable speaker on health issues and uses her education and experience to help others improve their quality of life so they too can enjoy greater health and longer lives. Concerned by the state of our health system and the lack of educated consumers, Cyndi explores relevant and confronting issues such as cancer, diseases, diets, drugs and medication and asks people to make a choice about what they are willing to consume.
By educating people on how to read food labels, why diets don’t work, and how drugs can affect your total well-being and vitality, Cyndi confronts her audiences with new truths and empowers them to make long lasting changes with simple and achievable steps on how to create healthier habits.Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Nutrition from Deakin University in Victoria and the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Cyndi also undertook postgraduate studies from RMIT Victoria in human anatomy, pathology, physiology and diplomas in diagnosis and management of health issues. A highly successful and award-winning businesswomen, Cyndi was named Sunshine Coast Business Women of the Year in 2003. In every aspect of her life, she looks outside conventional thinking to find new ways of balancing her time with family, business and good health to create a wonderful, balanced lifestyle and you check her out at her website http://www.changinghabits.com.au/

At this seminar you will learn how to make the best food choices for you and your family, forever! Cyndi will show you how food manufacturers and advertisers are tricking you into believing you are eating well, whilst feeding their own pockets. And she will teach you why it is important to reclaim your power and treat your body to lip-smacking, nutritious, energising meals again. Food shopping, cooking and eating will never be the same!

Photo from Cyndi's Changing Habits Facebook page.

The Millenium Trilogy

I had a couple of days off last week and have used it to good effect. I finally got my hands on Book 3 of Steig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy "The Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest" to complete the cliff-hanger from the end of Book 2.

I was not disappointed. The twists and turns of the story continued, although in many ways this was much more psychological drama than action fiction. All the main players were there Blomkvist, Salander and Berger. They are joined by new characters and intrigue as the story lead's up to Lisbeth's trial. I'm not going to say much more, because I run the risk of giving away the story to those of you out there who have not yet discovered this fantastic series.

The end of this book came on page 599 and although it left me satisfied, there was also the strange feeling of unanswered questions and that there should have been more. I am particularly interested in how Lisbeth's sister fits into the picture. So I did some digging.

When Steig Larsson decided to start writing this series, he plotted out 10 books. When he passed away he had the unfinished manuscript for Book 4 on his laptop. Unfortunately a battle has erupted between his life partner and his family and this is affecting the possible completion and publication of any further adventures for Lisbeth and Mikhail in the near future.

On another note, the movie of the second book is being released in theatres later this month. If you would like to get a sneak preview the Village Bookshop at Matakana is hosting a charity event on Sunday 18th July of The Girl who Played with Fire to support Adults in Motion. If you are interested contact the Bookshop on 09 4230315.

New Zealand Non-fiction

Local author Maria Gill is passionate about the publication of New Zealand non-fiction books for children. And she walks the talk too. She is the author of several popular and critically acclaimed titles, including Rangitoto : te toka tū moana : the rock standing in the ocean which was a finalist in the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards.

Maria will be at the Warkworth Library during the school holidays to talk about some of the latest New Zealand children's non-fiction releases. Maria has recently prepared a module for primary schools to teach and promote Kiwi books so she is completely up to date with the industry. The session on Thursday 15th July at 3pm is aimed at 8 to 12 years, but it is also something that parents might like to listen to if they are interested in what is available. There will also be activities and prizes.

Check out Maria's website and also see what is happening in the world of New Zealand children's books at the Kiwi Books NZ Blog.

Neil Gaiman does the Double

For the first time ever, one book has won both the Newbery Medal in the United States and the Carnegie Medal in the United Kingdom. That the winner happens to be one of my personal favourites makes the news even sweeter.

Congratulations to Neil Gaiman who was last week announced the winner of the Carnegie with The Graveyard Book.

"This is an extraordinary book in every way: the style, plot and quality of the writing," says Margaret Pemberton, Chair of the Judges. "With great skill Gaiman has created a gripping page turner, expertly supported by well developed characters, that is full of humour and humanity. Not a word is wasted in this episodic tale that draws the reader through Bod's childhood to a well crafted and satisfying conclusion. A worthy winner." (retrieved from the full Press Release)

His book beat out Nation by Terry Pratchett, Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve and The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness.

Neil Gaiman is a favourite of ours, but one reason for that is because we are a favourite of his. In his acceptance speech, Neil made a point of promoting the importance of libraries. Here's some of what he said:

"We're now in an age of 'too much information'. Libraries and librarians are more important than ever. "Children want stories. They want information. They want knowledge about the strange world they're in. Saying that the internet can be that is like setting a child free in a jungle and expecting them safely to find things to eat." (full report available from the UK Telegraph)

Of course we agree with every word of the above statement. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Not quite Sir Sam

But was it the plan

Well it's not quite poetry. But a big round of applause to Kiwi poet and balladeer Sam Hunt who became a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to poetry in the Queens Birthday Honours List. He was previously awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 1986.

We have plenty of Sam Hunt poetry in the library. His biography Backroads was published last year.

Here is the Dominion Post tribute on his honour and another from the Otago Daily Times.

What are they reading in Britain?

I had a quick flick through the latest copy of the UK Bookseller magazine this morning to check what people in Britain are buying to read. Once again I was impressed with the number of books that we have on our Rodney Libraries shelves that are mentioned in the Top 20 lists.

The Top 20 mass market fiction list is dominated by all of your favourite authors. Steig Larsson appears four times (the fourth one is the movie tie-in edition as there are only three published books). Martina Cole, Jeffrey Deaver, Philippa Gregory, James Patterson, Mark Billingham, Penny Vincenzi and Lee Child are all there. There seems to be quite a heavy emphasis on the crime/thriller genre.

Stephenie Meyer and other writers in the vampire genre continue to dominate the children's Top 20. Jacqueline Wilson makes a lonely entry at #8 with her latest Little Darlings while there are a couple of movie tie-ins (Percy Jackson and Alice in Wonderland)

Cookbooks and biographies are popular in the non-fiction lists. Jamie Oliver has a new release Jamie Does which is already on our shelves. Look Back in Hunger by Jo Brand is top of the second non-fiction list in the UK and we also stock that.

Gavin Bishop at Kumeu Library

Award winning new Zealand author Gavin Bishop paid a visit to Kumeu Library yesterday and I believe he got a very good reception over in west Rodney. The visit was part of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and Festival. Here is the introduction given by Kumeu Children's Librarian Tina Collins, together with a list of his awards to date.

"Our guest today, Gavin Bishop is very talented and we are excited to have him visit us at Kumeu Library. As children’s book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop has won numerous national and international awards for his distinctive ink and watercolour illustrations and his original text. This year Gavin has 2 books nominated as finalists in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. Friends: Snake and Lizard and Cowshed Christmas. The Awards will be announced on 19 May. Gavin’s awards are too many to mention but are listed if you want to check out how his talent has been acknowledged.

His illustrations have been exhibited at international shows from Japan to Czechoslovakia, and he has appeared as a teacher and guest speaker at many international forums. He has been commissioned to write and design several successful ballets for the Royal NZ Ballet Company
In 1985 Gavin wrote and designed a ballet– Terrible Tom that toured the country for 18 months.

Gavin was a high school art teacher for many years, but now works full-time as an illustrator and teacher of illustration. Gavin’s first book 'Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant' was published in 1981. In 2002, Gavin’s plaque became part of Christchurch’s Writers’ Walkway. In 2003 Gavin's short story, ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’, was launched as the world's first 3D animated children's picture book. In 2009, Storylines launched the Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration, in honour of one of New Zealand’s celebrated children’s illustrators. "

Awards that Gavin Bishop has won

Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustration 1982 runner-up.
Russell Clark Award 1982 Winner for Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant.
New Zealand Government Publishing Awards - New Zealand Picture Book of the Year Award 1983 for Mr Fox.
Noma Concours for Children's Picture Book Illustration Grand Prix 1984.
Russell Clark Award 1988 shortlist for A, Apple Pie.
Russell Clark Award 1991 shortlist for Katarina.
Arts Council Grant, International Cultural Exchange Scheme to the USA 1993.
AIM Children’s Book Awards 1994 Picture Book Winner for Hinepau.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1997 Picture Book shortlist for Maui and the Sun.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 1998.
Russell Clark Award 1998 shortlist for Little Rabbit and the Sea.
Spectrum Print Award for the Best Use of Illustration in a New Zealand Book 2000.
White Ravens List 2000 for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book shortlist for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book Winner for The House that Jack Built.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Book of the Year Winner for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2000.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2001 Picture Book shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Russell Clark Award 2001 shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Storylines Notable Books 2001 Picture Books list for Stay Awake, Bear!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2002 Picture Book shortlist for Tom Thumb.
Smash Palace Art and Science Collaboration Grant with the HIT Lab, Canterbury University 2002.
Storylines Notable Books 2002 Picture Books list for Tom Thumb.
Noma Concours jury member 2002.
Ursula Bethell Residency in Creative Writing, Canterbury University 2003.
Waikato University Writer in Residence 2003.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Book of the Year Winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Non-fiction winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Elsie Locke Award 2003 shortlist for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Storylines Notable Books 2003 Non-fiction list for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 2004.
Sylvia Ashton Warner Fellow, University of Auckland 2004.
Russell Clark Award 2004 shortlist for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Storylines Notable Books 2004 Picture Books list for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Represented New Zealand at the World Summit Award 2005 with ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2005 Picture Book shortlist for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2005 shortlist for Taming the Sun.
White Ravens List 2005 for Taming the Sun.
Storylines Notable Books 2005 Picture Books list for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2006 Winner for Kiwi Moon.
Russell Clark Award 2006 shortlist for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2006 Picture Book shortlist for The Waka.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for Kiwi Moon.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2007 Picture Book shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Russell Clark Award 2007 shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Storylines Notable Books 2007 Picture Books list for Riding the Waves.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Picture Book shortlist for Rats!
Russell Clark Award 2008 Winner for Rats!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Junior Fiction Winner for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Book of the Year Winner for Snake and Lizard.
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Picture Books list for Rats!
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Junior Fiction list for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2009 Non-fiction shortlist for Piano Rock.
Elsie Locke Award 2009 shortlist for Piano Rock.
PANZ Book Design Awards 2009 Children’s Book Winner for Piano Rock.
Storylines Notable Books 2009 Non-fiction list for Piano Rock.

Phew - That's a pretty impressive list in anyone's book (pardon the pun).

I spoke briefly to Tina this morning who said the visit was a great success. Gavin was really friendly and worked well with the kids. Gavin has his own website which you can visit but stay tuned to the blog for photos of the Kumeu visit.

Friday Snippets

News from the book and publishing world over recent weeks

Gardening Book Plagiarism claim - With so much information out there both in print and digitally, you sometimes wonder how anyone can write anything new. Luckily there are plenty of people who can. However in the case of a new gardening book there have been claims that parts of it have been copied directly from other sources. Penguin New Zealand are taking the claims seriously and have recalled the books. Read more on the link.

Kiwi Author winner of French Literary Award - Bernard Beckett is a popular New Zealand writer. His novel Genesis, which has already won the 2007 Esther Glen Award and the young adult fiction category at the 2007 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards has now won the young adult division of the 2010 Prix Sorcières in France.

Crime & Thriller Reviews - "New Zealander readers love their crime and thriller fiction" writes Craig Sisterson in this weeks Scoop website bookreviews. Here he takes a look at some of the recent releases.

Inaugral Author Blog Awards - Neil Gaiman was one of the winners of the first ever Awards for blogs by Authors. Read what he and other winners have to say about what makes a good blog and see if you agree.

Once Bitten is the New York Times interview with Charlaine Harris, the creator of Sookie Stackhouse of True Blood fame. There's some really great insights in the interview such as this one - "Do you have any advice for young mystery writers or fantasy writers? For any writers at all, read everything you can and then put your butt in the chair and write. That’s all there is to it."

And don't forget the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival which kicks off next week. Have an awesome weekend everyone.

The one and only Mr Child

I am in the minority here at work. I am probably the only Librarian here that hasn't yet had a personal experience with Jack Reacher. That's right. I admit it. I have never read a Lee Child novel. My colleagues were aghast.

The reason the subject came up is, of course, because the man himself is touring the country at present. Lisa and Julie were disappointed that other commitments clashed with the opportunity to attend his discussion with Graham Beattie and a North Shore audience on Sunday night. But media commitments have been numerous and you can catch video and audio clips of him on Radio New Zealand, Newstalk ZB, TV3 and TVNZ (to name a few).

Graham called Child "intelligent, articulate, amusing, generous and humble" after his Sunday event. To find out more about the author and his books, check out his website http://www.leechild.com/.

The latest book which the tour is publicising is 61 Hours which is the 14th Jack Reacher instalment. The summary on our catalogue reads "Winter in South Dakota. Blowing snow, icy roads, a tired driver. A bus skids and crashes and is stranded in a gathering storm. There's a small town twenty miles away, where a vulnerable witness is guarded around the clock. There's a strange stone building five miles further on, all alone on the prairie. There's a ruthless man who controls everything from the warmth of Mexico. Jack Reacher hitched a ride in the back of the bus. A life without baggage has many advantages. And crucial disadvantages too, when it means facing the arctic cold without a coat. But he's equipped for the rest of his task. He doesn't want to put the world to rights. He just doesn't like people who put it to wrongs."

From the discussion in the workroom on Friday, these are definitely books that I will have to read. Anything that can provide animated discussion about which was the best one, which one I should read first, and who should be Jack in a movie is well worth a look. The first novel in the series is Killing Floor, but I am told it is not imperative to read the books in order.

There is still time to catch up with Lee Child in our part of the world today as he will be in Queen Street, Auckland from 12.00-12.30pm at Borders and from 1.00-1.30pm at Whitcoulls Corner (if he doesn't get recognised and mobbed walking down the street).

Photo of Lee Child heading off for a helicopter ride over Auckland from Lee Child Tour blog