A Little Bit Of Something New

I love finding new things and, as always, our hardworking selectors at Auckland Libraries have been busy ordering heaps of new titles to add to our collections.

It's always exciting and interesting seeing what is coming out; a new book by a favourite author, a sequel you've been waiting absolutely ages for or a title that sounds and looks intriguing that you just have to add it to your holds lists.

That Sugar Guide  ---  The Girl Who Fell ---  Wink Poppy Midnight  ---  What's For Dinner  ---  At The Edge Of The Orchard  ---  See Me  ---  The Ice Child  ---  Crow of Mist and Fury  --- Six of Crows  ---  The Glittering Court

And it's not just new books that we order but new music CD's, DVDs, AudioBooks, ebooks and eaudio, magazines and a host of other things, all to enhance our collection.

We find a lot of our new titles by looking through magazines and newspapers, websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook.... you name it and our selectors are looking through it.

Of course we miss things too, mostly because there is just so much information for us to look through.  We is why we rely on you, our customers, to let us know if we have missed something.

Water or Gold  ---  Harmony House  ---  Lukas Graham  ---  Mind of Mine  ---  Telluric  ---  I'll Forget 17  ---  Blues of Desperation  ---  Beautiful Lies  ---  Know-it-all  ---  The Narrows

Many of our new titles are from customer suggestions which is just awesome - would you believe we get around 900 suggestions for purchase a week.

Now that is pretty wonderful.

So check out some of the new titles in our collection and maybe make a few suggestions of your own.

Spotlight  ---  The Dressmaker  ---  Human Universe  ---  Suffragette  ---  Brooklyn  ---  The Night Manager  ---  In The Heart Of The Sea  ---  The Peanuts Movie  ---  iZombie  ---  Ripper Street

Sneak Peek: Lucifer Or The Devil Made Me Do It

I have, as you may know, a weakest for bad boys. Especially bad boys who have a certain snarky charm.  You know the type of guy,  The one with a wicked but still slightly swoon worthy smile and a way of cutting to the heart of things with some nasty but somehow still charming words.

Forget nice guys. At least in the world of fiction.  Bad guys are the way to go.

The kind of guy who wouldn't hesitate to rip your heart from right out of chest or snap your neck like a twig and do it all with a smile.

Lucifer, and yes it is THE Lucifer, definitely fits the bill in this wonderfully fun show.  The bad angel is this time just a little bored with hell and all that torture so topside he goes all in the name of having some fun.  And fun he does have.  From solving crimes and punishing bad guys to discussing his existential crisis with a delightfully open-minded therapist in exchange for some "naked cuddle time"

Wonderfully portrayed by Tom Ellis (he of Miranda fame) and aptly supported by a cast of intriguing characters Lucifer is the perfect show to indulge in.  And if that isn't enough there are also the comics on which it is based on that you can try out.

The Devil never looked so good...

Sneak Peak: Poldark:Or Brooding Men In Tight Breeches

Tall, dark and brooding .  It's a thing.  A very valid thing.

And if it's your kind of thing then the new version of Poldark is just what you've been waiting for.

There are men in tight breeches giving manly stares and women, who act all damoselling (it's a word, at least in my world it is) and wear dresses where breathing is most likely a problem.  There's also love lost and love found and treachery and hard times and of course the beautiful Cornish scenery which is swoon worthy all on its on.

And then there is Aidan Turner, he of Being Human and Hobbit fame, who is most definitely swoon worthy if tall, dark and brooding is your thing.  Throw in a couple of shirtless scenes (and yes there are some) and I'm sold.

And if you find that waiting week by week is just a bit too long to go for your fix then you'll be very pleased to know that there is a whole series of books about the Poldark family and their friends starting with Ross Poldark by Winston Graham.  And even better there is the original series, Poldark,which we have at the library on DVD.

Swoony feels all round.

Sneak Peek: Bosch The TV Show, Not the Appliances

 

On the surface Bosch sounds like every other TV cop show. There's a hard-ass cop who smokes too much, a murder that soon turns into a possible serial murderer and behind-the-scenes political intrigue.

And yet watching Bosch is like having a long soak in a warm bath or a firm but relaxing massage or eating a bar of chocolate.  It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and relaxed and is highly addictive.

Like seriously addictive.

To the point where you finish an episode and just want to watch the next one.  Even better it has just 10 episodes in the 1st season which means it's perfect for a marathony binge.

It has an old-school film noir feel along with a gritty edginess, a superb cast including the much under-rated but always excellent Titus Welliver in the lead role, lots of twists and turns and red-herrings and the story pacing is taut, tight and rolls out the hits one by one.

Of course if you've read the books you're probably already aware of who Bosch is, if you haven't then you're in for a treat.

So remember the name and keep an eye for Bosch on your screens.

The Twelve Posts of Christmas:Snow, Tinsel & Angst, In Other Words TV Christmas Specials

As you can probably tell by now Christmas is my thing.  And as with all things I have a special weakest for Christmas television.

Forgot about watching The Sound of Music for the 100th time or The Queen's Message.  Sappy, sentimental, angst filled is what it's all about.  The angstier the better, though I do enjoy some humour as well.

It will also come as no surprise that some of my favourite Christmas episodes come from some of my favourite TV shows.  How's that for perfection.

Supernatural: A Very Supernatural Christmas

My absolute all time favourite Christmas episode.

EVER.

There's angst and humour and things that go bump in the night and brothers being brothers.

I adore times 1000


Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Amends

Well if Supernatural has angst then this Buffy episode is even angstier.

If that's even possible.

There is also snow.  And that is reason enough to watch it.

It is also completely and utterly beautiful and romantic.


Gilmore Girls: Santa's Secret Stuff

I sense a marathon coming on because it's been ages since I've watched this show.

I love this because there's tinsel and peppermint chocolate and Christmas sweaters.

And of course Lorelai and Rory.  Being... well Lorelai and Rory.


The Mindy Project: Josh and Mindy's Christmas Party

1. It features my favourite Christmas song Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses.   2. It's funny,  And 3.  It's so relatable. Because yeah there's Christmas heartache.

Did I mention I liked angst.

Frasier: Miracle on Third or Fourth Street

Sometimes Christmas is just depressing.

Or at least it is in Frasier's world.

Especially when he works on Christmas Day.

I like the fact that he can turn up to work in his sloppiness clothes.

I wonder if I could do that at my work...

The Big Bang Theory: The Maternal Congruence

I'm a fan of The Big Bang Theory... or at least of the earlier seasons which are so funny..

And their Christmas episodes are even better. 

Because Christmas and Sheldon.

From the sick bed... Or Madly Watching All The Things

Being sick sucks.

It's kind of  obvious but I feel I just had to put it out there on behalf of .... well everyone really.  There is though one shining light when one is sick.  When you're at the moment between being not quite capable of standing on two feet without the room swaying from side to side and wishing for death to swallow you up and take you now.

You know the moment.  The one where you can lay on the couch, all snugly with tissues, water and medication nearby and just veg out in front of the television.

It is, as they say, the perfect moment to catch up on all the things you've been missing out on or to indulge in something you love.

Fargo

Dark, comic, and violent, Fargo is The show that everyone is talking about.  And no wonder. Because it is seriously good.

There's murder and blackmail and ruthless hit men and people with funny names.  And it's all set in Minnesota.  In the middle of winter.  Where the temperature can drop to minus 20.

Minus 20

Just a tad chilly then.

So it's the perfect show to curl up on the couch and watch with a hot drink, maybe even a hot toddy.

Penny Dreadful

Seriously dark and twisted Penny Dreadful is just my kind of show.

It also features some famous characters from literature such as Dr Frankenstein and Dorian Gray.  It also features the amazing and always lovely Eva Green.

Who I adore.

That she wasn't nominated for an Emmy or a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the haunted and gutsy Vanessa is a tragedy.

Black Sails

Pirates.

Do I really need to say anything else?

Okay maybe just a little more.

Pirates.  Hunting for treasure. Led by Toby Stephens who is kind of swoon worthy in the bad boy way.

Pretty much sums it up.  It's also pretty damn good. Because Pirates.

Did I mention pirates?

Arrow

I'd be the first to admit that Arrow isn't a great show.  But that's okay because it is a good show.  One that keeps getting better and better with each season.

It's a superhero show. So there's costumes and some kick ass fighting and training scenes.  There is also the awesome Felicity Smoak.  IT girl extraordinaire who is geeky and funny and all-round wonderful.  And there's Olicity moments.  Which as far as I'm concerned is the only OTP (One True Pairing)

And if that doesn't work for you well there's always Stephen Amell's abs.  Which almost deserve a show of there own.

Pure indulgence.

Perception

Quirky, intelligent, entertaining.  These are just a few words that I would use to describe this show.

And it's glorious.  And it's all due to Eric McCormack's (he of Will and Grace fame) portrayal of Dr Daniel Pierce, a neuroscience professor who helps the FBI while at the same time battling his own mental health issue, paranoid schizophrenia.

He's also an fascinating lecturer. So much so that I almost wish his classes were real just so I could attend them.

Pretty incredible for a fictional character.

Angel

I know that I have mentioned this show in the past.  But regularly marathoning my favourite shows is just something that I do.  And this is one that I have been marathoning recently.

Weirdly enough Angel isn't my favourite character.  Instead I adore Fred and Wesley (who becomes a total badass) and of course, Spike.

It also made me cry.  Like buckets.  Because Joss Whedon is a cruel, cruel man.  If you watch season 5 you'll know what I mean.

The Woeful Tale of The Bad Blogger

I have been a bad bad blogger.

Writing is never easy but it's even worse when writer's block strikes.  It sucks.  Big time.  It's even worse when the ideas are there but the words were not.  My voice, metaphorically speaking, had gone.

It's been a new experience for me and to be honest it's been kind of nice to not have a constant noise in my head.

Nice but weird.  And totally not me. 

Thank God it is slowly returning.  A little bit stumbling, a little bit out of pace but still slowly coming back.

Hopefully you'll forgive me if this post  is not up to my usual standard.  It's almost like being back at the beginning and writing my first ever post.  Nerve wracking but exciting.

So what have I been up to during the The Great Silence.... well reading and listening and watching.  And as usual I just have to share.

The winter people by Jennifer McMahon

"In 1908 Sara Harrison Shea was found murdered, just a few short months after the death of her daughter. Now more than a hundred years later her ghost is said to haunt the fields surrounding her house.  But there is something far more frightening haunting the woods..."

I love a good spooky story and Jennifer McMahon's latest book is exactly that.  It is also the story of just how far a parent will go to save a child.  But is the price too high?

Fractured by Daniel Atkins

"What would you do if life gave you a second chance?  Five years after a terrible accident Rachel's life is falling apart. She would give anything to turn back the clock. But life doesn't work like that.  Does it?"

I don't want to give too much away but this is a great what-if story with an ending that will take you by surprise.

The Mindy project Season one

As usual I blame my online friends for getting me addicted to this show.  But if you're looking for a comedy then The Mindy Project is the perfect antidote to those wintry blues.

It's funny, it's romantic and just a little quirky and filled with weird and wonderful characters and it's also glorious.  Hint hint hint Season Two is even better.

It's Sex and the City for the 2010's.

Banshee The complete first season

Don't let the 1st episode of this show daunt you.  Carry on watching and you'll soon be completely hooked.

Trust me.

It's dark and disturbing and violent.  Like really really violent. Think decapitation by a truck no less.  And it has a Kiwi actor in the led.  And he is awesome!

So watch it.  Okay.

Old tyme religion by Hugo

A bluesy, rock mix with a touch of bluegrass and folk thrown in, this is a new discovery of an older CD  and one that I have to been listening to over and over again.

My favourites are 99 Problems and Bread & Butter.

I'm just a little disappointed that he hasn't done another album since this one.

Best of 2013

It's hard to believe that it's been a full year since I last wrote one of these blog posts, it feels like it's only been a few months! Once again this isn't a blog post about my favourite things released in 2013 it's a blog post about my favourite things that I discovered in 2013.

Songs
This was so hard! In a week I will have changed my mind but for now, here are my favourite songs of this year.

I Want Crazy - Hunter Hayes
Aint it fun - Paramore
Dust to Dust - The Civil Wars
Drive Darling - Boy
Glory and Gore - Lorde
I Choose You - Sara Bareilles
Young volcanoes - Fall Out Boy
Grown Woman/ Flawless - Beyoncé
Aria - Giovani Allevi
Highway Don't Care - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
Done - The Band Perry

Albums


Beyonce, Kacey and The Civil Wars are hands down the best albums of the year. No question. The other 2 are pretty good too though.

Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
The Civil Wars -self titled
Lorde - Pure Heroine
Beyoncé - Beyoncé
Haim - Days are Gone

Books

This year I read a lot of autobiographies by comedians which were really interesting and funny. I particularly enjoyed Mindy Kahling's book. It was awesome to read Brad Paisley's book this year too. He's one of my musical heroes so it was really cool to read how he started in the music business.

Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg
Bet Me - Jennifer Crusie 
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without me? - Mindy Kahling
Born Standing Up - Steve Martin
Diary of a Player - Brad Paisley

TV Shows

My fellow bloggers finally talked me into watching Supernatural and they were right, it's awesome. I looooooooove Pretty Little Liars which I wasn't expecting and re watching Outrageous Fortune and McLeod's Daughters has been awesome. Not as awesome as Parks and Rec which has replaced 30 Rock as my weekly obsession.

Pretty Little Liars
Supernatural
McLeod's Daughters
Parks and Recreation
Outrageous Fortune

Movies

One chance was one of the sweetest, happiest movies I've ever seen and I absolutely loved it! Plus James Cordon is in at and he is one of my favourite actors. Django was super violent and disturbing but wonderful and don't even get me started on Catfish one of the craziest documentaries I've ever seen!

One Chance
Django Unchained
Never Let me go
Catfish
The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

The holiday catch-up - DVDs

Forget getting together with extended family or the chance to finally spring-clean your house, now it's actually summer. Christmas is a time to catch up on all the great films and shows you missed out on during the year. All you need is 15 minutes of sun per day to get your recommended dose of vitamin D. The rest of the time, draw your blinds, relax your eyes from the harsh glare, and float away on a wave of unreality.

(If you really will miss removing sand from your orifices and clothing and sheets for days on end, I recommend eating mince pies or chips in bed while you watch. Ready-salted chips provide the greatest seaside authenticity. Or you could just explode a beanbag and sit on the filling after turning on your fan heater.)

Scriven's picks for best holiday watching:

Lulu and the Bankrobber
This TV show is a bit like a Danish Outrageous Fortune - if you're not afraid of subtitles, you really should take a look. Lulu is the fond but long-suffering fiancee of Leon, who has a long criminal past and some very dodgy friends and family. When he's arrested just after saying "I do" at their wedding, it's up to Lulu to find out exactly why and save their house from foreclosure. Leon swears he's been framed, but can she really trust him? Cue various encounters with lawyers, Serbian prostitutes, Turkish mobsters, motorcycle gangs, suspicious cops, hormonal teenagers and lots more. By turns scary, funny and touching, you'll want to watch right to the end. If you like this, also try The Bridge.

The Angels' Share
A Ken Loach movie that's a bit more uplifting than usual. A group of Scottish petty crims on a community work programme come up with a plan to get them out of their dead-end lives for good. I won't spoil the plot, but it involves some very rare whisky, some very clever tactics and that fantastic, dark Scottish humour, with Loach's fantastic eye for the realities of British life. A wee gem.

Despicable Me 2
One for the whole family. If you haven't seen it yet, buy it or rent one of our bestseller copies. You've no hope of getting it before April otherwise. Those little minions are back, every bit as yellow, cute and punchy as ever, in a plot that involves former archvillain Gru going undercover to find a mystery nemesis who's stolen a potentially dangerous substance that turns cute little things into violent purple monsters. I think you can guess where this leads...

Argo
Now's your chance to see this, if you haven't. Nailbiting and funny, and beautifully shot, it's the Oscar-winner by Ben Affleck about the 1980 siege of the US embassy in Iran, and how they managed to smuggle some American embassy staff out of the country under cover as Canadian film-makers. Deserves the hype.

Much Ado About Nothing
Haven't seen this yet, but it's by Joss Whedon, he of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and so forth, and I personally can't wait to see what he's done with the play. It was shot over just a few days at Whedon's house, starring a whole bunch of unknown actors, and it's been updated and given the Whedon treatment. It's got great reviews.

Wreck-It Ralph
Another family movie that's actually a lot better than it sounds. I was a bit dubious about watching a movie with video game characters from the 80s (or pretend ones, anyway) and a villain who wants to be a hero. I mean, it just sounded so cheesy. But it had a lot of heart, some sarcastic humour and some really great chase scenes and I actually thoroughly enjoyed myself. Kids will love it - and maybe you will too.

The Bletchley Circle
Those of you who like Call the Midwife may not have come across this short TV series set during the 1950s. A group of women were codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II, and are rather adrift now that the war is over. Until one of them decides to hunt down a serial killer by charting patterns in his behaviour, even when the cops think they're mad. More sisters doing it for themselves.

And if you haven't seen The Hobbit yet, it's probably about time you did. Not Jackson's best, admittedly, but the scenery's fantastic, and Martin Freeman makes it all worth watching. Plus number two is supposed to be pretty awesome, and you won't know who all those people being toasted and eaten are if you haven't seen this. You know you want to see the dragon. So get to it.

The List: TV Shows I Need To Watch... Like Now

Today's the 1st of Dec which means 2 things. 1) it's 25 days to Christmas and 2) NaNoWriMo is finally over and I have my life back.  Which means that I can madly catch-up on all the things I have been missing out on, like books and movies and TV shows and music and... well you get the picture.

My list is pretty long. Like really long.  Actually in truth it's more like never-ending because I am always putting new and wonderful things on it. 

I blame the Internet. Well that and book/music/film review magazines and friends who recommend things.

Bad friends.

No not really.  I adore my friends and I adore all the recs they pass on to me.  Rec me is my catch phrase.  I'm even thinking of having it put on my tombstone.  That or List Girl.

Because I love making lists.  And trust me I have a lot of lists. And not just for books, music, movies and TV shows.  No I also have a travel list (which is long) and a fanfic list (which is REALLY long).  I almost need to start making a list of my lists. And no I'm not even kidding.

My current list compiling are TV shows I want to watch over the summer.  Especially since all my favourite shows will soon be on there Christmas hiatus. (damn hiatus).  Which means no more Supernatural, Person of Interest, Arrow and so on.  At least until late January.  Until then there are a few shows I'm dying to try out.

Hannibal

I don't want to give too much away but I can tell you is that it's bloody good.  And I do mean bloody.  Because yes it is just a little bit gory.

It also has the wonderful Mads Mikkesen who I adore.  So yes I just have to check it out.

Sleepy Hollow

Headless horseman? Check.  Supernatural going ons? Check. Hot male lead? Check.

So of course I had to give it ago and of course I'm now completely hooked and working my way through its first season.

The Blacklist

I'm keen to watch this just for James Spader a lone.

He was so brilliant in Boston Legal and I'm hoping that he is just as good in this, playing a master criminal.

Almost Human

Karl Urban. Do I really need to say anything more?  Except why didn't I know that this kiwi actor is seriously hot. I mean that gravelly voice and bad boy vibe.  I am so there.

Of course it's also a futuristic sci-fi with lots of high tech elements. Just my kind of show, really.

Banshee

Another kiwi boy in another American show.  This time Anthony Starr in a show described as being extremely violent and sex filled. It's also meant to be pretty damn good

Rectify

This is a serious show dealing with serious subjects. Life, death, guilt, redemption, judgement.

It's also critical acclaimed with reviewers and viewers alike so it's gotten my attention.

And 2 Shows I've Watched And You Should Too

House of Cards

Remake? Yes.  Though you wouldn't know it.  Because this US remake starring the amazing-as-always Kevin Spacey is not only seriously good but also different enough to the original that you can't really even compare them.

This is a show that you just must watch. Trust me it's that good.

Broadchurch 

I have a thing for David Tennant.  Tall, lanky, ever-so-slightly-crazy looking.

I also have a thing for good whodunits which this definitely is.

The Doctor? Doctor Who? : A Well Deserved 50th Birthday

You know you've got it made when you have your very own Google Doodle.  Now that is all kinds of awesomeness.

Then again celebrating 50 years is a pretty big milestone especially in TV land where only a handful of shows have lasted that long and most of those are documentary type shows.  That a science fiction show has managed to reach 50 years fills my heart with joy because without Doctor Who I would never have discovered the amazing world of science fiction in the first place.

Thanks Doctor Who.

For the scares

 the laughs

 the tears

And the sheer excitement that you have brought to so many

Happy Birthday Old Friend

Could You Be Anymore Annoying...

As you probably know by now I love and adore a lot of things.  I'm obsessive and addictive that way.  So it may come as something as a surprise to find out that there are some things that do kind of annoy me -  just a little - okay maybe a lot.

Not liking something is really okay because it would be a pretty boring world if we all liked or disliked the same things, so taking my inspiration from Scriven and Laura here is my list of things that bug the hell out of me.

Reality Shows

All of them.  Really.  They should all just die a fiery death

Action movies with romantic interludes

Please just because I'm a chick I don't need to have romance thrown just for the sake of it.  I'd see a romance movie if I did. I want shoot them up, blow them up and hold the smooching for another movie.

I hate you, you hate me but hey lets fall in love

I love a good love story but what really irritates me are shows like Bones and Castle and others where they hate each at first sight but you just know that the shows creators are planning on for them to fall in love - they just stretch it out for a REALLY long time. Come on people just jump each other and have sex in the 1st episode and then we can all be happy.

Literary novels (or Worthy Reads)

I know what you're thinking.  I'm a librarian so I should like books that win literary prizes like the Man Booker or classics like Wuthering Heights but the truth is I don't. 

I'm a trash reader. I've learned to accept it, embrace even. Trash is good people.

Hunger Games and Jennifer Lawrence

Sorry I just don't get the fuss.  Jennifer, I'm sure, is a lovely young woman but as far as wanting to see in her something whether it's Hunger Games or not I'm leaving the cinema and looking for something else.

Oh woe is me females

I lay the blame for this entirely on Twilight's shoulders.

And yes Bella I'm pointing the finger at you.  Get a back bone girl and tell both Edward and Jacob to take a hike.

Where have all the real men gone?

Twilight. Again. Really it has a lot to answer for.  How anyone could think that Edward Cullen was a romantic hero I'll never understand. Seriously the guy was basically a stalker. 

And the trend seems to have continued with a number of guys in YA fiction (Hunger Games - again) being all kinds of creepy or just plain wussy.  

Give me a man with a gun, a sexy smile and a bad attitude any day.