Sunday 31 January 2016

Nerd Church - Care Some

I've read two blog-posts recently that made me think about the book Angelfall by Susan Ee (US - UK.)

The first was the fabulous post on +Emily F (aka the Paperback Princess)'s blog, about diversity in YA. This led me to a small rant... more on that in a sec.

The second post was a review of the book by Laura @ P.S. I Love That Book. (A very good review, may I add.)

This is a book that I myself have read and reviewed before, and to be honest I have a tendency to go on and on about various points that can be made with this book as an example.

So, on to the rant...

Reading these posts made me think more about Angelfall - a book which really resonated with me because the main character, Penryn, acts as a carer to her mother and her sister.

I actually really appreciated having a character that I could relate to in terms of caring - that part of my life is something which a lot of people don't understand.


stock photo (man)
I've been a full-time carer for a relative in the past, leaving me with lasting depression issues - and I currently act as a part-time carer to other relatives.

And then I thought... why aren't there more carers as characters in books? There are a lot of carers in life, after all.

Why don't people include diverse situations more in books? There are people out there who are hugely under-represented in popular culture.


And then I thought... why don't people know more about carers in general?

This definition of a carer comes from The Carer's Trust website:

"A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support."

Believe me, being a carer is something which affects everything about you - the way you think, the way you act, and your sense of self. There are also literally millions of carers in the UK, and hundreds of thousands of those are aged 16-24.

The Carer's Trust can offer support to carers in the UK - please use them if you need them; I wish I'd known about them when I could've done with a helping hand. There's a ton of practical advice on the site - whatever your age or situation.

Carers do an incredible job - but rarely ask for anything in return.

My own theory is that we don't want to cause worry or distress to the person/people we're caring for - or cause any embarrassment for them because they can't manage various tasks themselves; but then, we forget to take care of ourselves. And that doesn't end well.

You probably know quite a few carers - you just don't know you do.


Nerd Church is a space where I have a small chat/rant every week about 'issues' of various sorts in a friendly setting (non-nerds welcome!) Feel free to continue the discussion or start your own, but please link back to this blog ;)



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Saturday 30 January 2016

I Want To Read All The Books!

Do other readers get this? This inexplicable, irresistible, urge to go out and read every single book in the goddamned world?!?!

No? Just me? Ok. I'll go sit in my corner and be quiet.
book coffee

Seriously though, do you ever get discouraged by the fact that a single human life-time is just not enough to read all the books that are worth reading?

(And let's face it, they are all worth reading - even the bad ones, because even the bad ones have something to say about you, about life, about everything.)

If I carry on reading at the pace of about 200 books a year, it'll take me five years to reach 1000 - millions of new books are published every year. That's well over 5 million books in the time that it takes me to read 1000. Sigh.

That doesn't mean I'm going to stop - hell, no! It's better to read a fraction of the books available, than to read no books at all!

(On a related note: this lady is now my hero.)

Happy Reading! ;)


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Friday 29 January 2016

A Few Changes

I've been having some issues with Google+, so I've reverted to the old BlogSpot comments system.

This means that Google+ comments will no longer appear on this blog, but will still appear on the Google+ version of the post they were related to.

I'm not ignoring you; if it were up to me I would've kept all your comments where everyone can see - but needs must.

And my technology issues (Google+ keeps insisting that I'm spam and blocking my access to various things,) mean that I need to be able to comment on my own blog (which I couldn't under Google+) - and this is the way to do it.

Feel free to re-comment or copy and paste your comments back onto the blog. And please know that I appreciate all of your comments.

Friday Fics Fix! - A Cat's Tale

fics fixI've been reading crack. It's very rare that anything good comes from reading crack.

(Fangirl translation: crack fiction is something so random, that you wonder what drug the author was on; i.e. 'are you on crack? wtf did you write?')

I guess it's testament to the amount of fanfiction I read that I don't always find it all that strange any more (any more? anymore? Is it one word or two? See, that's the other thing - you read enough fanfiction and you forget what grammatically accurate English looks like.)

So, this weeks pick is: (dramatic drumroll...)

Sherlock is a Cat by aron_kristina

(Side Note: If you type 'Sherlock is a Cat' into AO3, there are 807 results - I sh** you not.)

Anyway - the awesome thing about this fic is that Sherlock isn't actually a cat: he just thinks he's a cat. (Cue random actions perpetrated by Sherlock and some highly inappropriate verging on sexual high-jinks between him and John.)

There's no graphic sex scenes, which makes this highly unusual for fanfiction (some of the things I've seen... Hell is empty. And all of the devils are here,) and no real romance (just said inappropriateness while Sherlock thinks he's feline.)

So yeah, a fun, random, fic - and one which I really enjoyed.


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Thursday 28 January 2016

Comics Wrap Up - I Love the Way You Hurt Me

TV Trailers

You may or may not have seen this trailer before - apparently it's been floating around for a fair few months, but I've only just got around to it/realised it was a thing so... my blog, my wrap-up, my rules ;)

'Lucifer' - which looks like it could pretty damn cool - is based on the comics/graphic novel character which originally appeared in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series.

It's DC, so lord knows where we could end up eventually plot-wise, but the whole 'devil-leaving-hell' thing looks pretty interesting.

starve graphic novel cover
 
Graphic Novels

This week I read Grumpy Cat Volume 1 (UK - USA ) (which collects the Misadventures of Grumpy Cat and Pokey! #1-3) - it's freaking adorable! My review will be up in early February.

Starve, Vol 1 (UK - USA)- a fantastic graphic novel about a gritty reality show, with some truly beautiful artwork - was released on Tuesday, and you can check out my review of it here.





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Wednesday 27 January 2016

Books On My 'To-Buy' List

Do you have a 'to-buy' list?

My 'to-buy' list isn't quite the same as my tbr - if I bought everything on my tbr I wouldn't have any money left for things like... food.

Some of them are on my tbr, obviously, but a lot are books that I've already read but want to own so that I can re-read them, or just because I want to know I have them (Don't judge me!)

I really want these books... I'll just have to save my pennies!

straight james gay james cover

Straight James/Gay James by James Franco (UK - US)

You may have noticed, but I really love this book. That's why I want to own it. I want to have a nice paperback copy in my hands :) That came out decidedly weirder than how I intended it to sound.




crimson peak cover
Crimson Peak: The Official Movie Novelization by Nancy Holder (UK - US)

I've seen the film (UK - US) (Tom Hiddleston - yes, please!) but have heard very good things about the novelisation - which caught my attention, because normally people are a bit like 'Ehhhh...' when it comes to novelisations.





20th century ghosts cover

20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (UK - US)

I've read this twice from the library. I love Joe Hill. I love short stories. I love Joe Hill short stories. I really want this book.




locke and key 1 cover


Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (UK - US)

Joe Hill + graphic novels = one happy reading addict!





shutter island cover
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (UK - US)

Another book I've borrowed from the library not once but twice, and one I was first inspired to read by the Leo DiCaprio film (UK - US) (yes, sometimes I watch the film without having read the book - please don't hurt me!)


It also started my Dennis Lehane addiction; Leo has a lot to answer for.




live by night cover

Live By Night by Dennis Lehane (UK - US)


Another Lehane book to feed my junkie habits. This is book #2 of the Coughlin series (you can read my review of book #3 'World Gone By' here.)

I love Joe Coughlin; I shouldn't because he's a gangster. But I love him.






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Monday 25 January 2016

The Writer Diaries (or, I Need to Be Brave)

notebook glasses photos writingAt some point, I'm going to have show people the cr*p I write.

I'm not sure why this is such a mental stumbling block to me - I've got no issues with showing people my artwork or craft projects (in fact I tend to stick it in their faces and demand praise like a three year old.) I drew my avatar/profile pic (you know, the bird? It's an Adaryn Rhiannon, and I hand-drew it - check me out!)

So why is showing my writing off such an issue?

It might be because this is so much a part of me, that I'm worried that someone will be overly-critical and therefore will be judging not just the writing, but me. (Some deep sh*t going on there.)

Certainly, blogging is helping with that.

True, I use a username instead of my real name (but that's because my real name is relatively distinctive and I don't want strangers stalking me, if that's ok with you,) and I use a bird as an avatar (but really, you don't want my face on everything - I look about 12, no-one would take me seriously.)

So, what can I do about the whole 'need-to-show-my-writing' deal-y?

Well, I'll tell you dearest reader, I'm going to share some (cue gasps, ladies in corsets fainting, me finding a portal back from the nineteenth century.)

So here is a poem I wrote a little while ago:
 
Tie my wrists,
My fingers,
My neck.
 
Strap on my armour
Of gold and chain,
Of resin and ribbon.
 
Affix medals
To my breast.
 
Cinch in my waist,
With a leather restraint,
Camouflage my scent,
Tug and leash my hair,
Binding it like rope.
 
I wrap myself
In the ritual;
Prepare to go to war.
 
Ok, so I don't have a title. I can't decide if it's pretentious or overly-simplistic. I'm not happy with the last verse at all.
 
But there you have it. Let me know if you like it (or don't - be gentle!) and (hopefully) I'll find the courage to share some more soon.
 
 
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Sunday 24 January 2016

Nerd Church - Look for the Light

people


I've not had the greatest of weeks when it comes to depression. No reason (when is there ever?) just depression being a f**king b**ch again (as it tends to do.)

But I had my books. And my books rock. I sank into them, and let them pick me back up again.

So today's Nerd Church is simply my message to you - keep going through the dark. Use all the things you have to, the books, the songs, the films, the hobbies, whatever. Keep going. The fact that you're still here is testament to how strong you are.


Nerd Church is a weekly attempt by yours-truly to bring 'issues' to light in a non-denominational way (non-nerds welcome!) Feel free to continue the conversation, or have your own Nerd Church congregation, but please link back here ;)


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Saturday 23 January 2016

Mini-Review! - Poetry From the Lady of the Pier by Effrosyni Moschoudi

Poetry From the Lady of the Pier coverTitle: Poetry From the Lady of the Pier

Author: Effrosyni Moschoudi

Genre: Poetry, Short Stories, Chick Lit


Verdict:

I have to say that I enjoyed the short story included as a 'bonus' here more than the poetry itself.
 
There's nothing wrong with the poetry as such - but it was a little too dramatic for my tastes I'm afraid; it's poetry from a novel series though, so maybe has more effect in context.
 
The short story was a fairly decent piece of chick-lit, which I enjoyed before bed. Maybe would have been a good idea to publish it as the short story with the poetry as an extra...? Just a thought.



 
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Friday 22 January 2016

Friday Fics Fix - A Couple of Watsons

friday fics fixIt's been another slow week for me fanfiction reading wise.

Maybe I just need to relax and geek out one of these days... really go nuts with the fanfiction and sh**.

Anyway, I did find a crossover between Sherlock and Elementary (y'know, the other Sherlock Holmes series,) which made me giggle some:

The Curious Case of John and Joan by lucycantdance

Like I said, not much, but a bunch of fun: and fun is good. :)


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Thursday 21 January 2016

Comics Wrap Up - Like a Bat Outta Hell

Film Trailers

The Suicide Squad trailer hit! (Stand by for minor fangirl moment: ohmygod!canyouseeitcanyouseetheawesomenesscanyouseeit?!?!?!OHMYGOD!!!NBFIURGHIWOR!!!! - ok, I think that's over.)

It looks pretty damn good. Jared Leto's joker man, Jared Leto's joker.

TV Trailers
 
Agent Carter is back, back, back! Loving the flamingo. Loving Peggy. Loving Jarvis. What's not to love?! (I will always love Peggy Carter. Always.)

Graphic Novels

My review of the graphic novel STARVE Vol 1 (UK - USA) (which I mentioned last week) was posted on Tuesday. You can read my review here.

Single Issues

Pretty Deadly #1Pretty Deadly #1 (UK - US) is a kind of western/cowboys type deal-y, only with a sort of supernatural element bunged in for luck (it's probably better than I'm making it sound.) There's a bunch of gore and a few naked ladies, so, y'know, it ain't one for the kids.

I thought the artwork was pretty damn good, and the story seemed to have some potential. It did take a while to get into, and the story wasn't really in full swing by the end of the issue - so probably one to read as a series-starter, rather than anything else.

Film

I reviewed Constantine (2005) on Monday - an uber-great film based on the Hellblazer graphic novels. You can read my review here.

Other Stuff

Die-hard Marvel fans learned a little more about the upcoming Civil War II this week - awesomeness!


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Wednesday 20 January 2016

Review (Yay!) - Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson

Hetty Feather book coverTitle: Hetty Feather.

Author: Jacqueline Wilson.

Genre: Kids, Historical Fiction.

Series: Hetty Feather (#1).

Amazon: UK - USA.



A few starting notes:

Any British female (and hopefully quite a few males,) under 30 will have heard of Jacqueline Wilson. The vast majority will have read at least one of her many, many, books.

Hetty Feather is probably suitable for kids aged 10 or 11 and up. It's also more than suitable for teens and adults - good books don't require limits.


Premise:

Hetty Feather is a Victorian foundling. Her little life is not meant to be anything grand - but Hetty, a bright girl with a skill for 'picturing' - is not overly-keen to resign herself to her lot.


Best bits:

Hetty is a great character - part Matilda and part Jane Eyre, with a dash of Oliver Twist for luck. She's a fantastic little fire-brand, and the first-person narrative creates a lot of empathy with her.

Her relationship with an early foster family, particularly foster brother Jem, provides a real heart (and real heart-break) for the book - as does the slow dissolve of many of her childhood dreams. It's not over-done, leaves some room for hope, and is really quite beautiful.

The writing is mature enough to please adults, but not too complex for a kid to understand. The prose is pretty damn good.


Not so great bits:

There are things that may be upsetting to some here, the book doesn't shy away from the realities of the time: physical punishment, child death, poverty, and the implication of attempted child abduction. It's all handled pretty well, but younger readers in particular may find some parts distressing.

I personally didn't like the infancy parts - I know Hetty's supposed to be quite fanciful, but the first-person accounts of being a baby are just a little too unbelievable in my opinion.


Verdict:

I really enjoyed this book - I think it's excellent. Fans of Jane Eyre or Matilda will love it, and I think adults will be captivated (I know I was!)

Honestly, this was a fab book, highly entertaining, and certainly worthy of praise.






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Tuesday 19 January 2016

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Starve Vol 1 by Brian Wood

Title: STARVE Vol 1.

Author: Brian Wood.
 
Contributors: Danijel Zezelj (artist,) Dave Stewart (colourist.)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Dystopian.

Series: Starve (#1-5.)

starve graphic novel coverRelease Date: 26 Jan 2016.

Amazon: UK - USA.

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.
 
The cover here grabbed me. 'Don't judge a book by its cover' doesn't really count for graphic novels - the cover is the place where the artwork is showcased, after all.
 
It seemed different. And you know me, I like different.

Premise:

OK - my description probably isn't going to do this justice, because this book takes its premise and beats the living sh** out of it, but I'll give it a shot:
 
Gavin Cruikshank was the TV chef. Then he dropped off the grid. His TV show, STARVE, is now a huge hit without him - and has undergone some changes along the way.
 
Now the network wants him to compete as a contestant on STARVE. Gavin Cruikshank is back, bitter, and fed up of the network's sh**.

Best bits:

The artwork here is amazing. Every single panel is like a painting - and a beautifully grim one at that. Honestly, this book is... it's something that's incredibly difficult to explain.
 
The artwork has this grit and realism, while at the same time being beautifully stylised and slightly surreal. Partly, this is down to the colours: earthy and almost touchable (look at me, waxing lyrical and all that!) with slashes of crimson where required.

This is dystopian. What with all the fighting and inequality and everything. But it's so close to what we have now that it's actually hard to tell whether this is set in the future, or just a slightly exaggerated version of what we have now. Which is kind of unnerving.
 
I also liked the inclusion of Gavin's family - his struggles to re-connect with his daughter, and the bitterness of his ex-wife who feels he used her as a cover for his homosexuality. I like when there's very human feelings at the heart of things.


Not so great bits:

I could've done without the images of butchery and bloody meat etc. (and before you start with the 'you'll eat sausage but...' bit, I'm a vegetarian.) Doubtless there are some people who it won't bother - but it bothered me.

There's a lot of swearing and a fair amount of violence, as well as references to drugs. Not for everyone, but not done simply for shock-value either.
 

Verdict:

I hope I've given you some idea of just how fresh, original, and downright good this graphic novel is, but it's really a difficult one to convey.

It's just so different - in a good way, of course - and I truly loved it. Though I sincerely doubt I will ever be able to look at either chefs or reality TV in the same way - particularly chefs.
 




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Monday 18 January 2016

Popcorn Review! - Constantine (2005)

ConstantineThe Film/ TV Adap: Constantine (2005.)

The Bookish Inspiration: The 'Hellblazer' graphic novels.

Main Cast: Keanu Reeves, Shia LaBeouf, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton.

Director: Francis Lawrence.

BBFC Rating: 15.

Amazon: USA.



Opening credits:

Perhaps unfairly, this film flies under most people's radars. Maybe that's appropriate - Hellblazer, and Constantine, has always appealed to a small cult audience, rather than being mainstream.

This is also my best friend's favourite film. So I've seen it more than once. Because we have to support each other's insanity, obviously.


Premise:

John Constantine is a demon-hunter and exorcist trying to avoid eternal damnation (as you do >.<).

Angie Dodson's sister is found dead. Is there more here than meets the eye?

Something's coming. Are they ready?



Best bits:

There's a louche gothic-ness here that wraps you in its intricacies. The horrors are harsh. Constantine is bitter: he smokes, drinks, and takes far too much cough medicine. And somehow you end up just loving it.

Keanu Reeves, taking the lead role, delivers what can only be described as an excellent performance. But it's Tilda Swinton's brief scenes (though you will love to hate her in this film,) that will stick with you; along, of course, with the fiery and rusted vision of hell.

The effects are great - though many will find them disturbing. And the whole thing has an awesome gritty feel to it that will please fans of horror films, as well as those who like things that are a little out of the box.


Not so great bits:

There's a lot of discussion of heaven and hell, demons, mental health, cancer, and suicide. I'm sure there will be a significant portion of people that aren't in the right place to be watching this film.

It also gets somewhat graphic in terms of violence and gore, with suicide scenes that could definitely shock many people.

Don't get the wrong impression - it's not gratuitous, but then, neither does it shy away from the physicality of the thing (hard to say any more than that without getting into dangerously spoilerific territory.)


Popcorn Worthy?

This is definitely worth breaking out the popcorn - great for evening viewing, but maybe not one to watch alone at 3am with the lights off. Unless you want to, of course, but I warned ya!


Buy Now USA - IMDb



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Sunday 17 January 2016

Nerd Church - Just For One Day

This week, we lost people who we felt we knew.

True, most of us had never met them - but does that matter? We admired them. We respected them. In our way, we loved them.


I think that the world will always need heroes - whether real or fictional. And sometimes, when the actor is passionate enough, the singer unique enough, their image becomes inseparable from their creations.

David Bowie re-formed his own image so many times that he may well have been a timelord of sorts. We didn't know him, true. But we were given enough of a glimpse of the man to know we admired him; and his characters.

The people that he managed to become through his music and costume showed us all that we really needed to know.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think he was actually Ziggy Stardust, or the Thin White Duke, or any of his other personas.

But they were a part of him, and he a part of them: and they enchanted us, spoke to us, told us something about ourselves.

And then there's Alan Rickman. We will never be able to imagine Snape without Alan Rickman's heavy silences, meaningful looks, or deep and powerful voice.

To me, Snape's memory from the last Harry Potter film is a class in 'how to act,' - that scene stole the show. It's already iconic, and I'm sure it'll only become more so in time.

So yes, we mourn people we did not know personally - because we know how beautiful they were. We know that the world has lost incredible men. We mourn them because they spoke to us, in one way or another.

Nerd Church is a weekly post discussing moral, ethical, and topical issues in a friendly, nerdy, and non-denominational, setting (non-nerds also welcome.) Feel free to write your own posts - on this or any other topic (but please link back to this blog.) 


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Saturday 16 January 2016

The Writer Diaries (or, 2016, I'm Gonna Getcha)

As I've mentioned on probably more than one occasion, I love both reading and writing.

Of course, I consider this blog writing - I'm here putting the words from my head into type, aren't I? But I'm also keen to up the amount of writing of various other sorts that I do.

I've decided that I'm going to make myself write more in 2016. Not in a loads-of-pressure, have-to-do-this-or-else kind of way: because that sucks. No, this is in a 'wow, this is fun! And I can do this, and then that, and then...' kind of way.

So yeah, I'm gonna have fun, I'm gonna write stuff, and lord knows what I'll do with said stuff once I've written it, but that's a problem for the future (I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it.)

Expect more 'Writer Diaries' posts in the next few months!



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Friday 15 January 2016

Friday Fics Fix! - FrostIron Strikes Again!

fanfictionI have a serious FrostIron problem - as regular readers of this blog may have noticed. I can't help it, ok? I ship the ship.

I ship. The ship.

(Fangirl translation for the non-fangirl/fanboy fluent:

A ship is a wished-for romantic, often sexual, relationship, between two characters. Usually, these are characters of the same gender.

Occasionally there's a straight relationship in fanfiction - but it's not common.

'I ship the ship' means that I have bought into this relationship to what is probably an unhealthy level.)

So, yeah. FrostIron is Tony Stark and Loki's fandom relationship. I read far too many fics of this ship. It may even be my otp.

(Translation: 'One True Pairing' - that one (or many) ship(s) that you will defend and obsess over to your dying breath - melodramatic, yes. But this is fandom.)

I also read far too much Omegaverse for my own good/sanity/chances of not losing my soul to the fandom (yay!) I've explained Omegaverse before, so please read that post if you want to know more.

I am not explaining that again.

This week's fic then isssss (dramatic pause...)

of hormones and tinfoil hats by Arvensis5 and plumadesatada

This (oddly enough, given what I've been harking on about for the majority of this post,) is FrostIron Omegaverse. It is also excellent.

Given that my definition of 'excellent' when it comes to fanfiction has become a little blurry (you try reading this much warped fanfiction and not becoming just a little lenient and/or lightheaded!) it is still very good by any standards.

Seriously, this has been thought through, carefully executed, and well-written (barring the odd typo.) And it definitely makes you want to give Loki a big ol' hug!!! (Sigh, the feels.)

It also includes some pretty rockin' corresponding fanart.

Given that it's Omegaverse (and fanfiction in general,) there's a refreshing lack of explicit sex; there are a few depictions of the aftermath of torture though, so reader beware.

Given the title, I really would've loved if there were more tinfoil hats involved. But oh well, beggars can't be choosers and all that jazz (yay, mixed clichés!)


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Thursday 14 January 2016

A Tribute - Alan Rickman

We've lost another hero.

Alan Rickman will be known to most for his brilliant performance as Severus Snape. For many of us, he was Snape.

I leave you with a beautiful fan-video made by MsSardonicus in 2012 as my small tribute.

Comics Wrap Up - Calling Out For a Hero

TV Trailers


I don't actually watch Daredevil (I don't have Netflix, dammit!) but this trailer looks pretty damned cool.

Film Trailers

This week gave us a triple dose of teasers from the incredible, impossible, Deadpool. I love Deadpool. I know I say that a lot - but it's no less true!!!!!



Film

batman 1989My very first popcorn review was on suitably comic-based fare.

Batman (1989) (UK - USA) was the first of the run of Batman films, previous to Christopher Nolan's more recent Dark Knight trilogy (UK - US.)

You can read my review right here.


Graphic Novels

This week I read STARVE Volume 1 (UK - US) - and oh boy, is it a doozy! Hard to summarise, but basically - wow. Never looking at chefs and reality shows the same way again!

Keep an eye out for my full review, which will be with you within the next week or two my lovely people!

I also read Adulthood is a Myth: A 'Sarah's Scribbles' Collection (UK - US) - my review for that will be posted in February (I know, I know, that feels like a million years away - but this is what happens when I read eARCs people; I loved it, I can tell you that!)

Other Stuff

I reviewed the non-fiction book Death, Disability and the Superhero by Jose Alaniz (UK - USA).

This is a study of the representation of death and disability in superhero comics (as the title implies >.< ) and you can read my full review here.


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Wednesday 13 January 2016

Are We Losing Our Imagination?

You may think - wtf are you talking about C R? Our imaginations are fine and dandy.

But are you right? Studies have shown that kids have less imagination than they did in the 1970s.

Are we losing our ability to imagine things?

Shakespeare's plays were originally performed in broad daylight. There were no microphones to boost the actor's voices. There was no set design to speak of.

Effects were limited to the most rudimentary of noises and props that could be flung together on a relatively small budget in the 1500 and 1600s.

Needless to say, there was no soundtrack, no opening credits, and very rarely was there scenery.

This wasn't the case simply for a few rich snobs who thought they were chocolate because this was 'art' and they could afford theatre tickets - oh no, this was the entertainment of the masses.

The audience had to imagine more.

So, without all of the bells and whistles, the audience had to engage more with the story, and with the acting, albeit they had were quite harsh critics (throwing rotten vegetables at bad actors - an early way to lessen food waste >.< )
colourful lights abstract


Imagination is a muscle.

Imagination has been compared time and time again to a muscle. If you use it, it grows and develops; if you don't, it wastes away.

People in the 1800s didn't 'scare easy,' when they found Dracula and A Christmas Carol terrifying - they just had imaginations that were far more active than our own.

Likewise, visual effects that seemed realistic and cutting-edge in the mid-20th century now look unbelievable and, often, a little sad.

People weren't more gullible in the past, their imaginations just did the work for them.

We feed our imaginations on junk food.

No-one minds a bit of junk food now and then: but all day, every day? No wonder our imaginations are feeling the strain (and yes, I'm mixing metaphors - and I don't care!)

It's not only our imaginations feeling the effects of our instant gratification culture - our attention spans, lets face it, are down-right atrocious.

fun doodles notebook illustrationsSo, letting the media we consume (and let's face it, we consume a lot of it,) constantly do our work for us, is not good for either our attention spans or our imaginations.

But neither do we have to be saintly lords and ladies from the days of yore (you know, yore, what a bore, yore! Yes, I heard it. Clearly this is another side-effect of too much interwebs... and there may have been coffee... again.)

No, we don't have to act like we rolled out of bed in the 1500s complete with skirts and/or codpiece (I'm not here to judge.) I just think we need to cool it occasionally, and make our brains actually work for those yummy hits of dopamine.

In the long run, you'll be better off for it.

But don't let me have all the opinions! Do you agree? Disagree? Somewhere in between?

Do we need to rescue our imaginations from the pit of quick video-clips and reality TV? Or is it good riddance to bad abstract nouns?


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Tuesday 12 January 2016

Popcorn Review! - Batman (1989)

batman 1989The Film/ TV Adap: Batman (1989)

The Bookish Inspiration: Batman comics and graphic novels

Main Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

Director: Tim Burton

BBFC Rating: 15

Amazon: UK - USA


Opening credits:

This is the first of the Batman series which comprised of Batman (UK - USA,) Batman Returns (UK - US,) and the ill-remembered Batman Forever (UK - US,) and Batman and Robin (UK - US.)

Still, perhaps the Christopher Nolan films would not even have been made if not for the success of the 80s and 90s movies.


Premise:

Billionaire Bruce Wayne  (Michael Keaton) dresses like a bat to fight crime, and faces off against Jack Nicholson's Joker (which was a very nice business deal for Mr Nicholson.)


Best bits:

This re-invigorated superhero movies - and Batman. Blowing aside the campy 1960s TV show, this allowed Batman to be more as he was in the comics - a little more dark, a little more brooding, a little less safe.

And the Gotham city architecture, the Batmobile, and the randomness of the Joker, all have Tim Burton's fingerprints all over them.

True, this isn't enough Burton for mega Burton fans (guilty as charged,) but there's enough in the little details and gothic fairy-tale to show that this is, indeed, a Burton film.

Nicholson's Joker is fab. I know that the defining performance is Heath Ledger's - I get that. But the blend of comic and sinister is pretty damned



Not so great bits:

The fashion and hair-styles look exceptionally dated - 80s much? The Batman suit? Well, they did their best.

I'm not a fan of Michael Keaton in the role, but that's more a personal thing than anything else - in my humble opinion, the character needs more quiet gravitas.

The love interest keeps being in peril, and having to be rescued. It's annoying.


Popcorn Worthy?

A very watchable film - with a bit more fun than the Nolan films, and more sense than the 60s TV series.

It nevertheless deserves to be judged on its own merits - and it's a pretty good film, certainly fine for a lazy Sunday afternoon, but maybe you'll want to save the popcorn for the Dark Knight trilogy (UK - US.)



Buy Now UKBuy Now USA - IMDb


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