Stalking the catalogue: Movie dinners - Reel recipes from your favourite films

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chanti."
- Sir Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs

This isn't just any ordinary cookbook. Oh, no sir, it's not. In fact...

"Let us get one thing straight here: The delectable dishes celebrated in this book are not available at your local multiplex cinema concession stands. Gloopy nachos and fluffy hotdogs are not what this book is about. These lovingly made recipes are for those movie moments that made you look away from the popcorn bucket, and up at the big screen and think 'Ooh, I bet that tastes amazing.!'
 - Becky Thorn in Movie Dinners

Bridget Jones' Diary had blue soup. A Fish Called Wanda had fish ceviche. Diner had poutine. American Pie had apple pie. Blazing Saddle had rude baked beans. Sweeney Todd had meat pie. (In a word: UGH). Garfield had lasagna. Annie Hall had lobster. Fatal Attraction had rabbit stew. Lost? Thorn's Movie Dinners is a cookbook of the strangest kind in that it contains recipes from big screen movies. Is it just me, or does that seem like a win/win situation? Food. And drink. (Including a velvet hammer from Cocktail, although I'm not so in love with the idea of a chocolate martini or a 'a horse's neck,' WHAT EVEN IS THAT?). And film. And dessert. WIN. And yes, before you ask, you will find a recipe here for liver, fava beans (and a nice Chianti) because no self-respecting movie cookbook would be without it. (Although EWW I'm not eating it).

If strange cookbooks with a rather unusual theme are your kind of schtick, look no further than here. Allons-y.

Title: Movie dinners: Reel recipes from y our favourite films
Author: Becky Thorn
Publisher: London: Portico, 2010

Review: Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

Claudia Morgan-Brown leads a privileged life in Edgbaston with her husband, James, and two stepsons.  Heavily pregnant, with a busy job and James at sea a lot, she needs help with the twins.  Their ad for a live in nanny is answered by Zoe, who has impeccable references and seems ideal.  Zoe has a secret though, and a deep desire for a baby of her own.

Lorraine Fisher is a Detective Sergeant currently hunting a killer who targets heavily pregnant women and cuts the baby from them.  She’s working with her husband Adam, another cop.  Their marriage is shaky and the gruesome crimes aren’t helping to restore it.

This is very well plotted and the characters come to life.  As the story unfolds you see how everything is interconnected and it s very clever.  There’s a real twist in the ending of this gripping thriller.  I was expecting one story and got another, better one.  I love being surprised at the ending as I did not expect how the story wound up.  The last line was chilling and I urge people to read it.  If you enjoy physiological thrillers and authors such as Tess Gerritson, Jilliane Hoffman, and Karin Slaughter, you’ll love this book.

Title: Until You're Mine
Author: Samantha Hayes
Publisher: Century, 2013
Reviewer: Jan

I am Malala : the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban

I am Malala : the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban 

by Malala Yousafzai ; with Christina Lamb.

"When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday October 9, 2012, she almost paid the ultimate price. When she was shot in the head at point blank range while riding the bus home from school, few expected her to survive. Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest ever nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, and of Malala's parents' fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. It will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world." - (From the book jacket). 

I have so much respect for Malala and the work that she does so I can't wait to read this book! Nothing infuriates me more than women and other minorities being treated as second class citizens so I am truly grateful for the work that Malala and her family are doing. Malala is the ultimate bad-ass. 

Fangirls (And Boys) Unite: Armageddon Is Here

Just say the word Armageddon to any science fiction fan in New Zealand and Australia and they will know exactly what you are talking about.

The Armageddon Expo is the event that fans of all ages look forward and the ongoing success is all down to creator, founder and god-like organiser Bill Geradts who started Armageddon 18 years ago because he was (and is) a Doctor Who fan.

Talk about an awesome job, doing something you love and sharing it with others.

As usual the Auckland event is being held this weekend, because what is Labour Weekend without a little Armageddon.

Personally I can't wait.

It's a chance to see some of my favourite actors from my favourite shows; Ben Browder, Ben Browder, Ben Browder.  And yes I have a thing and and yes I'm really looking forward to seeing him and you would too if you had ever watched Farscape or Stargate SG-1.  It is also a chance to met up with some of my twitter like-minded friends; some for the first time - which is kind of nerve wracking and awesome.

Even more awesome is that Auckland Libraries will be having a booth at this year's event.  So if you happen to be there why not pop on in and check us out.  You can even borrow a book or graphic novel while you're there and we will also be live-tweeting the event.  Now how is that for service.

For those who can't attend why not check out some if not all of the following.

The Hobbit : an unexpected journey : chronicles : creatures & characters

The second Hobbit movie is due for release just in time for Christmas but until then why not check out the above title which looks at each of the characters in detail and is filled with a array of behind-the-scenes photos.

Farscape. [7], The war for the uncharted territories. Part one [graphic novel]

Someone did a Farscape comic?

How did I not know this?

Somehow I feel like I am letting down the entire fangirl community by not knowing about this sooner.  Still never mind I know now and am off busy placing holds on the entire series.

As you do.

Doctor who : the doctor's lives and times.

November the 23rd is the 50th anniversary of the very first broadcast of Doctor Who.

So of course it is only natural that you just have to check out as many books and comics on Doctor Who that you can possibly find.

Well it is if your me.

The legend of Korra.

If you haven't heard of this show then you soon will.  The Legend of Korra has been getting rave reviews since it started screening in the United States last year with accolades calling it the "smartest cartoon on TV" and representing "some of the highest quality fantasy".

Intrigued?

Once upon a time.

Imagine if fairy tales and fairy tale characters were real.  And imagine again these characters living amongst us with no memory of who they really are.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, then Once Upon A Time is the show for you.

It also features the wonderful Robert Carlyle which is reason enough to watch it.

Stalking the catalogue: Twitter wit

"Once again it occurs to me that you could kidnap anyone by standing confidently in an airport with a card with their name on it."
 - Neil Gaiman | @neilhimself

Sometimes, what happens on Twitter shouldn't stay on Twitter.

Warning: this title contains much hilarity!  Twitter is not for everyone.  I feel like that should go without saying...and yet I stated it anyway.  Just in case.  The good thing about this book is that you don't have to be a Twitter-user to understand the jokes.  If you like your humour in small doses (i.e. 140 characters or less) or have a goldfish attention span (much like me) then this is ideal.

Title: Twitter wit : brillance in 140 characters or less
Editor: Nick Douglas
Published: itbooks, c2009