Adolf in Blunderland

Adolf in Blunderland: a political parody of Lewis Carroll's famous story by James Dyrenforth and Max Kester

This book. Oh my! It is something that I discovered on our wonderful blog "Treasures from the Basement" and I am so pleased to have stumbled upon it. Auckland Libraries is one of only two libraries that hold this book in New Zealand (the other being Dunedin public library). I have searched online for a copy to purchase but have only been able to find second hand (as it is out of print) copies, with the lowest price being around $60 ! I have seen copies going for more than $100 too - this book is hot property !

It is hilarious and very, very pointed. It is a radio script from a BBC play that was broadcast in October 1939, but the hard copy version of it includes some extra parts that were deemed to be inappropriate by the BBC for airing. It is also a rather disturbing read in light of what occurred in the years following, the devastation of which no one could have predicted

The story follows Alice's adventures, as Adolf encounters the same characters she did, with some slight differences.

Some of my favourites are the Mad Hatter becoming the Mad Flatterer; the Doormouse is the Doormat - representative of the German population(!); the Mock Turtle is Mock Gurbles; the Caterpillar is Neville Chamberlain, allowing Adolf to take his choice of bites out of the mushroom cap in order to make him big again, with the cap resembling a map of the world.

Adolf in Blunderland is a great laugh but it is also chilling to think of the destruction to quickly come, one which the authors could certainly not have predicted.

If you are an Alice fan, or a political cartoon fan, or a history buff, or just enjoy a laugh, you must read this!

Review: The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes [Jan]

Kirby Mazrachi was gutted and left for dead, her dog died defending her; now she wants to find the others.  The other victims of the man who did this to her.  She enlists the help of Dan Velasquez a former homicide reporter now covering the sports beat.  Divorced and twice her age, he’s cynical and word weary but growing convinced of Kirby’s crazy theories.  The killer they’re tracking is Harper Curtis, who has a list of names on the wall and a House with a chilling secret.

A time-travelling serial killer.  This is a great concept I haven’t read before.  I wonder if it is based on actual events, it would explain why so many murderers are never caught.  Kirby is such a strong heroine, a survivor who doesn’t give up.  Dan contrasts with her well, someone who gave up but is willing to try once more.  The characters are lifelike and you get a view of what they are like through the glimpses of their lives before they encounter Harper for the last time.

The plot is carefully thought out and there’s a lot going on.  The story jumps around to different time periods and POVs of various characters in short chapters.  This is a story that’s chillingly addictive and fans of thrillers will enjoy it.  Lauren Beukes has written two previous books I must track down and she’s been added to my must read list.

*not strictly sf/f but a time-travelling serial killer is close enough


Title: The Shining Girls
Author: Lauren Beukes
Published: HarperCollins, 2013
Reviewer: Jan

I can see for miles and miles and miles...

As you probably know by now I love a lot of different shows but one show really got my attention in 2013 and turned me into a obsessed fan.  And by obsessed I mean OBSESSED. And yes it warrants capital letters. Because this show is that good.  And yes I am completely and utterly in love with it.  And it's all thanks to Tosca.  She's to blame. 100%

Of course this show has to share the love... just a little.  Because as in my usual obsessive way I am also addicted to other TV shows as well.

So what did you fall in love with in 2013?

Teen Wolf

That this show doesn't screen here in New Zealand is quite frankly gob smacking.  I just count myself lucky that I have awesome, amazing friends living in the USA who send me episodes.  Bribery really does work wonders.

Suits

Another new love and one in which my partner has also now become completely hooked on.

Marathoning the same show twice in the same year?

Yeah that's me.

Obsession really should just be my middle name.

Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch is a God.

And if you haven't seen him before (and surely you have) then you just have to check out Sherlock.  Because this show shows how good he really is.  Then again he is amazingly and awesomely good in everything I've seen him in

Person of Interest

This show just keeps getting better and better with each season. What started out as a procedural crime show has turned everything on it's head.  It's a crime show, an action show, a drama show and even a sci-fi show - well of sorts.  It's also brilliant.

Gutsy and raw and no-holds barred with great characters and great supporting characters too. Even the dog is awesome.

Elementary

It took me a couple episodes or so before I really got into this show.  But once I did... well there was no going back really.

And yes in case you were wondering you can love both Sherlock AND Elementary.  Because both shows are wonderful and yet different to each other that making comparisons between them is just silly.

Justified

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

Especially when it's a man like Raylan Givens.  US Marshall, sharp-shooter, straight talker with the worse taste in women.

That the Season 5 is about to start as got me all kinds of excited.  With shows like this and the ones above TV life has never looked so good.

Review: Siege by Simon Kernick [Jan]

A group of terrorists plot to take over a London hotel, using violence and bloodshed to control the hostages they have. Wolf is the leader of a group of fanatics and they have ensured the head of MI6 is one of the hostages.  The rest of the group are Fox’s men, and he has a slightly different agenda.  As bullets fly some guests hide while others try to escape.  The rest are rounded up and hope they live through the night.

Scope has just assassinated several people and is on his way out of the hotel when the hotel is taken hostage and he is trapped.  He comes across Abby and her son Ethan and rescues them from immediate death, then stays to protect them.  Elena is the newly engaged hotel manager, planning to move to Australia she was handing in her resignation that day.  Martin has terminal cancer and is planning to commit suicide in a hotel room that holds a special meaning for him.  When the bullets start to fly, he discovers he doesn’t want to die that day.  Michael, the MI6 man, know secrets people would kill for.  There’s an interesting subplot with the officer on the ground that’s in direct charge of the police forces response to this hostage situation.

The plot unfolds rapidly, with points of view of different characters giving a perfect view of what’s happening.  The story is told in short chapters, usually ending in cliff-hangers that are exciting and teasers to devour the book in one sitting!  The story has masterful suspense where you’re sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the next thing to happen.

I loved the ending!  The good guys win, bad guys lose, and the dodgy hero’s motivations are revealed.  Brilliant.  Off to find other books by Simon Kernick.

Title: Siege
Author: Simon Kernick
Published: Bantam Press, 2012
Reviewer: Jan

I Like It, I Like It, I Like The Way...

I always feel just a little silly pulling together a Best list because really what is best to one person probably isn't to another then again I just love discovering what other people are into so as they saying goes if you can't beat them...

Certainly for me this year I have discovered so much new music courtesy of my bestest buds Youtube, Amazon's Music & Spotify that the choice of picking what I like was actually hard to narrow down.  There is just so much good music out there.

The following then is just a small taste of what I have been listening to during the past year.

Do I Wanna Know / Arctic Monkeys

I am seriously in love with this song. It's rock. Pure and simple.

Don't Save Me / Haim

A discovery from early 2013, I am just so pleased that they are now getting the attention they deserve with the release of their album, Days Are Gone.  Check them out at this year's Laneway Music Festival.

Call Me In The Afternoon / Half Moon Run

Completely unknown here in New Zealand, I've been a fan for awhile now.  I just wish they got the attention they deserve.

Blowin Smoke / Kacey Musgraves

I'm not a country and western fan but this song might just convert me.  If only all country music was this good.

Counting Stars / One Republic

Don't ask me why I like this song. Because I really have no idea.  Sometimes a song will just grab you - even if it's against your better judgement.

The Chapel Song / We Are Augustine

I came across this song totally by accident but I'm so glad I did.  It sounds a little like something that The Cure would have done way back in the 80's.  And of course being a Cure fan it's no surprise that I loved this song.

Stompa / Serena Ryder

I totally blame Suits for this one.  If it hadn't played on the show I probably would never have heard of it.

Night Visions / Imagine Dragons

Not a song but a album because I just can't stop listening to these guys.  They are that good.  Working Man is probably my favourite song  but I recommend that you also check out On Top of the World, It's Time, Fallen, Amsterdam and Radioactive.  In fact why not just listen to the whole album.