Down in the Boondocks

"My name is Dean Winchester. I‘m an Aquarius. I enjoy sunsets, long walks on the beach and frisky women. And I did not kill anyone.” Dean Winchester from Supernatural.

Isn't it great when you come across something new, whether it's a new author, a new song or a new TV show. One of the big perks of my job is that I constantly have new material coming across my desk so new discoveries are something that happens fairly frequently and regularly

Lately though I have noticed that I have been on a rather strange and perhaps worrisome trend. I seemed to have developed a fondness for what at best could be described as Rural Americana and at worst as Redneck or Hillbilly chic. Is there even such a term? If not then I just made it up and I added the chic part so it sounded just a little bit better, though I'm beginning to have qualms about even this.

It's a rather weird thing to be into and something that I am beginning to suspect lies entirely with my love for Supernatural. Not supernatural as is ghosts and zombies etc (though I enjoy that too) but Supernatural as in the TV show. You know the one. Cute guys, great music, the car (which deserves a show entirely of its own), funny one liners and a supporting cast that brings so much to an already great show.

Much of the show is set in the American Midwest, an area that I've never had a particular yearning to go and yet on some level I seem to be drawn to it. Maybe it's the music or perhaps it's that gun-ho attitude where people don't take crap from anyone and aren't afraid to shoot you if you do them wrong. Either way I've become hooked on this slice of American life.

+ by Ed Sheeran

+ by Ed Sheeran

Today is not a particularly great Monday for me. My eyes are tired, my voice is croaky and my ears are ringing. It’s all due to a man called Ed Sheeran and I could not be more grateful to him.

Last night Ed blew the roof off of Aotea centre in Auckland and it was AMAZING! Seriously this guy is a genius, if you’ve heard his songs on the radio you would probably think that a concert with no band, just Ed and a baby guitar would be a pretty quiet affair but let me tell you it was not. With the help of a loop pedal and his in-house gospel choir (the audience) he sung, rapped and beat-boxed his way through a two hour show.

Ed is coming back next March for another two shows but I highly recommend you get his album out from the library. It’s such a winner and not at all what you would expect from a 21 year old ginger from Suffolk.

While you request that I’m off to go assemble an Ed Sheeran shine in my living room.

Genre: I would describe it as folky, acoustic, pop with a bit of rap and a ton of honesty and wit thrown in. I don’t really think you can box Ed in like that.
My favorite Songs: Grade 8, Lego House, You Need Me I don’t Need You, A Team, Small Bump

For Your Viewing Pleasure... Or What To Watch If You're Not Into The Olympics

As you'll know from my last post I am not a huge sporting fan and though I will be catching some of the Olympics while they are on, I will also be using some of the time to catch up on other things.

There's the 30 odd pile of books by my bed for a start... plus some fan fiction writing, but even so there will be times when I feel like a break from all the reading and writing and just want to blob out in front of the TV or in my case, the computer with its DVD drive.

So while my partner is yelling and cheering at the TV screen I will be snug and warm on the other couch with my laptop on my... well lap and headphones plugged in watching something else (though of course, I will glance occasionally at the other, bigger screen).

Finding something to watch isn't going to be a problem for me either, as my DVD list is just as long as my book list. So if you're like me looking for something to while away the games or a cold winter evening there might be something here that will catch your interest.

Man Booker 2012 longlist announced

The Man Booker 2012 longlist has been announced! It's an impressive lineup, and I wish the judges luck in choosing six for the September shortlist. How they managed to select these twelve from an initial list of 145 books is incomprehensible to me, so I have nothing but mad respect for the judges. Today's intro is short and there's a darn good reason for that. The post itself, you see, is horrendously long BECAUSE along with catalogue links to make it easier for you to make an on-the-spot request, I've also added the book covers where possible because some of you might be the judge-a-book-by-its-cover type (and why not, I say), and the summary because some of you might want to know what you're getting into before grabbing it. (Feel like I should amend my earlier statement to 'short-ish' intro). And now, all for you (and in alphabetical order because, hello, that's how we roll, well, that and years of conditioning is hard to undo in a day) - the Man Booker 2012 longlist. Read and request, good people!

Quick update: Have amended this post! Just this morning we placed Moore's The Lighthouse on order, and it is now available to request. - tosca

Get a life at the library (now with free delivery)

If that blog title seems a bit, well, sad, it could be because I'm hanging out for my holiday. We're now in that long, barren period between Queen's Birthday and Labour Weekend, and everything seems just a bit - meh. Days are short. Nights are long. Motivation ran off with the Easter Bunny. So let's make up something to celebrate.

Is it your Un-birthday today (and next Tuesday as well)?

Why not have a "thank God it's Friday" morning tea with your workmates every week?

Did someone's nephew just pass his driving test? Bring on the crackers, cheese and cake!

Have a dress-up day in honour of...nothing special. Bet some chocolate on what colour the weather girl will be wearing tonight. Adopt a team for the Olympics and bring in a dish from their country. Go nuts.

In fact, there are plenty of things to inspire us, even in these tough times. We just have to know where to look.

Banish that mind-fog with a few of these inspirational titles - and suggest a few schemes of your own...