Harry Potter: Revisited

I am not ashamed to admit it, I am 25 and I LOVE Harry Potter.

Over the years, admittedly more in recent years, many people have given me the side eye when I proclaim my love for all things Potter. Some have even gone as far as telling me that they feel sorry for me! An adult who liked to read kids’ books?

Sorry for ME? Here are the reasons why I don't feel sorry for me.

Harry Potter has been my constant companion since the Christmas my brother and I received The Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. I believe I was 8. What started as a bed time read-aloud quickly became an all-out war over who would be allowed to read the next chapter first, once lights were meant to be out, of course. That year also brought my first Harry Potter party. It wouldn't be my last!

Over the years I have visited Hogwarts, the Burrow, Hogsmead and Diagon Alley enough that I know them like the back of my hand. I know Ron and Hermione well enough to know that we would be great friends (I always felt that a fourth friend named Kristen was needed). I know that if I had received my owl inviting me to attend Hogwarts I would be in Ravenclaw… but we all know how unreliable owl post is these days.

I remember the summer at the end of high school where my best friend and I had a race to see who could read the whole series the fastest, back to front, because what better way is there? The online Harry Potter quizzes we would take, just to make sure there was nothing we didn’t know.

Don’t even get me started on the madhouse our house became when a new Harry Potter book was released! Mum had to buy AT LEAST two copies to help meet the household demand. Over the next few days there would be a house full of tired, grump kids (and adults) who were all too afraid to shower, use the bathroom or go to sleep because the minute they put the book down it would be snapped up by other family members who were circling like wolves. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the first book that kept me up all night, there was no way I was letting it out of my sight until it was finished!

As I sit here listening to my Harry Potter audiobook, colouring in my Harry Potter colouring book reminiscing over my recent 25th birthday (Harry Potter themed of course) I feel very lucky. At a young age I discovered a series of books that hooked me. I discovered a series of books that grew as I did. I discovered early on that any book can be enjoyed by anyone of any age and that there is nothing wrong with that.

Hester and Harriet by Hilary Spiers

A good read any time of the year is this Christmas themed offering from British author, Hilary Spiers. Hester and Harriet are two ageing sisters, both widows living out their retirement in a small English village. They enjoy good food, courtesy of Hester who’s a dab hand in the kitchen, as well as bridge parties and looking out for the hobo, Finbar, who lives in the old bus shelter at the end of their lane.

When Christmas arrives, they would be happy to spend the day by the fire, but duty beckons in the form of a meal spent with their boring cousins George and Isabelle who have no idea about food. But when they discover a young girl and her baby in Finbar’s hidey-hole, Hester and Harriet are only too happy to come to the girl’s rescue instead.

As if this isn’t enough, George and Isabelle’s teenage son, Ben, turns up on their doorstep after a flaming row with his parents and looks set to stay. Hester and Harriet’s life is thrown into disarray, but the two rally round: sharp-tongued Hester grudgingly shows Ben a thing or two in the kitchen, while social justice warrior, Harriet, goes into bat for their refugee: Daria, from Belarus who has lost her passport and is being spied on by a dodgy looking character lurking in their lane.

There are plenty of chuckles as the women keep Daria hidden and stick their noses in where they are patently not welcome. The village characters are a treat, particularly Finbar who was once a classics teacher and is pedantic about grammar. I found this a light, fun read, nicely plotted and loaded with snappy dialogue and wintry village atmosphere.

Posted by JAM

Catalogue link: Hester and Harriet

The Italian Wife by Kate Furnivall

Described by the author’s own website as “sweeping romance” this is most definitely not something you would normally catch me reading, nor is it a guilty pleasure in which I indulge if there’s no one looking (I reserve that honour solely for the old Point Horror series I loved as a teenager, but don’t tell anyone).

Lounging around on the deck after a sumptuous Christmas Dinner, I started to regret my decision not to bring a book with me on my visit to family on the South Island. My aunt announced she had two books with her that her own mother had pressed into her hands before she left the UK, and I died a little inside expecting a couple of Mills and Boon-esque swooning, flowery pink paperbacks. I was not disappointed as my aunt offered me a choice of two, in my view, soppy romances for middle-aged women (although not of the Grey variety, sadly). I deigned to choose what I thought to be the lesser of two evils.

Having never actually read anything of this genre, I don’t know if the setting of Mussolini’s Italy and choice of intelligent, educated female central character are typical fodder for this type of book. However, I found both concepts inspiring and intriguing. I’ve read a reasonable chunk of WWI and II literature and loved it so this element of the book, with its faint echoes of Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, helped me to warm to the story. I’m also a feminist in the modern sense and I liked the strong female lead, Isabella the architect.

The author’s depiction of some unpleasant events was gripping and real, and the romantic elements were not too saccharine for my taste. I enjoyed the development of Isabella’s character arc as she experiences the abuse, treachery and violence of the Fascist regime first-hand, having been a proud, self-declared Fascisti helping to build one of Italy’s new towns at the start of the book. Her love affair with Roberto, the government-employed town photographer, was fun to read and believable, and the other characters throughout the book were given enough depth to keep them interesting without distracting from the main romance. The initial plot device which sets the story in motion (the abandonment of a child and the mother’s apparent suicide) had me hooked and desperate to learn more.

Unexpected, enjoyable and satisfying, The Italian Wife is an agreeable way to spend a few lazy summer afternoons in the garden or on the beach. Will I read another ‘sweeping romance’? Probably not, but I’m glad I gave it a go.

Catalogue link: The Italian Wife

Posted by RJB

Kristen's Young Readers' January Picks

Need a little kick to help jump start your January reading? Check out some of these titles!

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda (ages 9+)

Years ago the seven gems that make up the belt of Deltora were stolen and scattered throughout the land of Deltora, each gem guarded by creatures and challenges more dangerous than the last. The belt meant protection for the citizens of Del from the evil residing in the Shadowlands. 16 years have passed and things are looking pretty grim. On Leif’s 16th Birthday he is sent on a quest to find the gems and restore the belt to its former glory. Follow Leif and his travel companions, Barda and Jasmine, as they undertake a journey with danger, and action, at every turn.

This is a series that I have enjoyed for near on 15 years. Originally published in 2000, Leif’s journey spanned 3 series and 15 books. As of May 2015, Emily Rodda has written a new series, Star of Deltora, set in the same world, for those of you that can’t get enough!



Wonder by R.J Palacio (ages 10+)

Auggie Pullman is a regular 10 year old boy living in Manhattan. Well, at least he feels regular. Do regular 10 year old boys cause children to cry, point and stare, scream and avoid them? Due to a rare, and severe, facial deformity Auggie has always been home-schooled. The decision is made that it is time for Auggie to attend “real school” despite the fact that his family are worried about how the other children will perceive him. Wonder explores the situations that all children and teenagers find themselves in and is told from the point of view of members of his family, students from school, friends and of course, Auggie himself.

I could not put this book down, it made me laugh and cry. As someone said to me, it is a book that makes you want to hug everyone around you. On Friday, a book of short stories called Auggie and Me crossed my desk. I will let you know how it goes once it is finished!



Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene (ages 9+)

Nancy Drew stories are timeless; publishing began in the 1930’s and continues on today. With well over 100 titles and various reincarnations it is not hard to see why she is still so popular. Nancy Drew lost her mother at a young age and lived with her father growing up. Now in her teenage years, Nancy Drew is an amateur sleuth. Throughout the series Nancy must use her brains to get herself out of all sorts of situations and solve many mysteries. It is always great to read a story with a strong female lead.

Within the past year we have gotten hardback versions of the original titles and I can’t believe how popular they have been. It is great to see them getting such a workout.



Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (ages 9+)

Gregor, 11, has has a hard life since his Dad dissapeared years ealier. His family are struggling and he has to stay home from summer camp to look after his 2 year old sister, Boots. While doing the washing in the basement, Boots crawls into a hole in the wall. When Gregor follows they fall miles below New York city into the Underland.

Here starts Gregor and Boot's journey into a land where bats, rats and cockroaches are all the size of humans and their arrival has all races preparing for an all out war.

I took this book home to read on a Friday. On Saturday morning I was at the library to collect the rest of the series!

Posted by Kristen

Slade House by David Mitchell

Having read and loved David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks last year, I eagerly snatched up  (the much smaller) Slade House.  What a good decision, because this creepy little ghost story is brilliant! Originally published as a series of twitter stories, Slade House is unfeasibly large and grand given it's surroundings, and is found behind a small black iron door  down a  tiny hard to find  alley.  Various people visit the house every nine years from 1979 to 2015, never to be seen again. Mitchell seems to like putting in small references to his previous novels almost like  small in-jokes for the observant and faithful reader.
Characters visiting Slade House include a down on her luck pianist and her unusual son; an amorous detective; a group of paranormal enthusiasts; and a journalist looking for her sister.
The plot builds over each chapter and it feels like Mitchell enjoyed himself writing this book; drawing the reader into the expertly woven and inventive story.

Posted by Katrina

Catalogue link: Slade House

Books from the Wine, Books and More bookclub

The Wine, Books and More bookclub started off 2016 with a bang! Let’s share what we have been reading over the Christmas break.

Story of Forgetting by Stefan Merrill Block 

A book about Alzheimer’s told from the point of view of a 15 year old boy whose mother has just been diagnosed.

10PM Question by Kate de Goldi

The main character, Frankie, was possibly dealing with Asperger’s. I was hooked from the minute I read that he was 12 going on Granddad. A really good read.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke [DVD held at Hastings District Libraries]

This book was picked up at a book sale and although it has just been started, it is shaping up into a good read. In 2015 it was also made into a TV show.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman 

A young adult title that could easily be read by adults. The science fiction story is set on board three spaceships fleeing the destruction of their planet and is told through case notes. . It has an appealing layout and nice feel in your hands.

Welcome to Night Vale: a Novel by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink  

Welcome to Night Vale started off as a highly successful Podcast. The novel is set in Night Vale which is a perfectly normal town… if you ignore all the weird and creepy stuff that happens!

The Chimes by Anna Smaill 

Anna Small is a New Zealand author and this book was long-listed for the Man Booker prize. The Chimes is set in a future where each evening the chimes go off, wiping everyone’s memories.

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro 

This book had a fairy tale feeling to it and is the first book written by Kazuo in 10 years.

Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose 

An enjoyable thriller read that got me out of my book slump. It does delve into the area of human trafficking.

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens 

When Sara set off to find her birth parents she never imagined she was the daughter of a serial killer still on the loose. Kept me up all night to finish!

Over the course of the evening we also discussed and suggested these books which we had read

• Room by Emma Donoghue
• ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi
• Wool by Hugh Howie
• The Passage by Justin Cronin
• Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling
• The Expanse by James S. A. Cory
• A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern
• Blood Line by Michael Green

Come along and join us for our next meeting: Tuesday 16 February at 5:30pm in the magazine area at the Hastings War Memorial Library.

My reading mojo; where is it?

Each year I write myself a list of goals. I refuse to call these New Year's resolutions, they are merely what I want to achieve this year and writing the list helps me focus. Yes I will even stick the list on my fridge so I see them constantly (I take a lot of trips to the fridge). One of my goals for this year is to catch up on my reading. I really lost my reading mojo last year and wondered if it would ever return. The price of a busy life I guess. As a working mother something or someone else always comes first and that's just the way it is. So what am I going to do about it?

Here is my supposedly simple recipe for success;

• Make a list of my favorite authors - (Don't start with too many, I don't want to overwhelm myself with the potential enormity of the task)
• Look them up on the library catalogue to see what new titles I haven't read (Note to self - Don't freak you will discover you have read some of that humongous list you just don't remember them. That will come a couple of pages in…)
  

• Place holds (or if they are on the shelf walk there and pick them yourself so as not to incur the wrath of your colleague who picks the holds)
• While waiting for books to arrive set up a cosy reading space to escape to. 

And here is where the real problem began! If you are a mum reading this you know that alone time can be rare even when doing things like going to the bathroom. Our children often have no idea of personal space or boundaries. So I decided to see what type of spaces other people use for their reading time. A quick search for reading nook ideas on Pintrest showed me how woefully inept any areas of my humble abode are for this task.

Pinterest 

Window seat

Reality = insert picture here (in your imagination, I'm not game to actually show you) of a window seat covered in washing waiting to be folded and and barely see through windows waiting to be washed. Is that a bullet hole? No whew just a Halloween decal from last October…

Pinterest

Daybed in conservatory

Reality =  Front porch/sunroom come storage area with an old single bed plus mattress on the floor for when mokos stay. Minus pillows cause you have got round to buying them yet











This was getting depressing. After reviewing a number of potential ideas including an outside gazebo that still exists only in our dreams I realized I have more goals to add to my list.

1. Schedule serious housekeeping tasks - this may cut into reading time!

2. Get some DIY books out from library for the husband!

3. Write a list of DIY goals for him to go with them.

4. Fix the lock on the bathroom door.

Posted by Cookie Fan

What We’re Reading at Flaxmere Library Book Chat

I’m Travelling Alone by Samuel Bjork

Another great Scandinavian murder mystery by Norwegian author, Samuel Bjork. This novel concerns a serial killer who is targeting six-year-old girls. A Holger Munch and Mia Kruger investigation which switches perspectives to show glimpses into the mind of the killer - this is a chilling read that is hard to put down.

Harvest of Blessings by Charlotte Hubbard

A light, bright read in the Sugar Creek series also featuring recipes you'll want to try at home. Wealthy Nora Landwehr returns to the Amish town of Willow Ridge, where she had never been able to fit in with the old Amish ways or her strict upbringing. She has some challenging times ahead with trying to help her community embrace the future and a reckless neighbour with whom she disagrees on just about everything.


Hangman Blind by Cassandra Clark

The first in the Abbess of Crewe series, this book introduces us to Hildegard, who finds herself caught up in murder on a visit to her childhood home in York. An enjoyable read evoking the period of volatile peace following the murder of Wat Tyler and the Peasant’s Revolt under Richard II. Hangman Blind has loads of atmosphere and an appealing investigator.

Beneath a Rising Sun by Peter Watt

The latest in this very popular series about the Mackintosh and Duffy families which begins with The Cry of the Curlew. In the new book, Jessica, James and David are caught up in the war in the Pacific against Japan, while at home on the frontier of Queensland, there are challenges because of an inescapable family legacy. Family sagas don’t come much better than this.


Dial C for Chihuahua by Waverley Curtis

Chihuahuas are smarter than you think, smart enough to  talk and help solve crimes. Pepe Sullivan is the star of the Barking Detective series of humorous mysteries. In his first case, Pepe and owner Geri investigate the death of a Seattle millionaire and his not so grieving widow who wants to finance a reality TV show, Dancing with Dogs. This will have you sitting up and begging for more – particularly if you have a penchant for chihuahuas.

Posted by Flaxmere Library Book Chat

Catalogue links:

I'm Travelling Alone

Harvesting Blessings

Hangman Blind

Beneath a Rising Sun

Dial C for Chihuahua

My Top 6 Sci-Fi Authors and Series

Mya, our Young Adult Librarian at Hastings War Memorial Library, is a huge fan of science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and comics. Here she runs through her favourite authors and series to give you some inspiration for your next read!

The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey was the first science fiction author I ever read and her books have stuck with me ever since.  I love the world of Pern with its genetically engineered dragons and their riders, and their desperate attempts to save their planet.

Pern is a planet settled by Earthlings but now long forgotten. It has apparently reverted back to a feudal type society where most of the citizens live in “holds” which are historically protected by “Weyrs”. The biggest threat facing Pern is environmental; the Threads fall from a neighboring planet and destroy all organic matter on Pern. For centuries the Dragonmen, residents of the Weyrs, have used their dragons to sear the Threads out of the sky before they can infect Pern. But now, over 400 years have passed without any Threads falling and the people of Pern believe the danger is over and that the Dragonmen have outlived their purpose. Too late, we find out that failing to maintain and believe in tradition has weakened the people of Pern and there are dire consequences when the Threads return.

The Martian by Andy Weir

This is an amazing book!  It took me two days to read and my friends got really annoyed at all the laughing coming from me. For a man in such a serious situation Mark Watney has a sense of humour and that, along with the fast pace of the book, is what kept me hooked.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive. As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive – but Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

The Expanse series by James S A Corey

When I read this series it was like reading a movie, and now it’s actually been made into a TV series. You come to love Jim Holden and his crew as they scramble to save our Solar System and the worlds beyond.

Humanity has colonized the Solar System - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond - but the stars are still out of our reach. Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, "The Scopuli," they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for - and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why. Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to "The Scopuli" and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything. Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations - and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

What else can you say?  It’s Douglas Adams at his best.
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Seafort Saga by David Feintuch

This is military sci-fi.  I loved the world building in this and aliens are among some of the most interesting I’ve read about before.  This series sucked me in and didn’t let go, it builds with every book and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse or better it does.

A hideous accident kills the senior officer of UNS Hibernia, leaving a terrified young officer to take 300 colonists and crew aboard a damaged ship, on a 17-month gauntlet to reach Hope Nation. With no chance of rescue, Nicholas Seafort must save lives and take them, in the name of duty.

The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell

This was my first introduction to military sci-fi and I admit I struggled a bit with the descriptiveness of it.  However Black Jack held my attention and the struggles he and his crew go through earned a space on my top seven.

The Alliance has been fighting the Syndics for a century--and losing badly. Now its fleet is crippled and stranded in enemy territory. Their only hope is a man who's emerged from a century-long hibernation to find he has been heroically idealized, beyond belief...
Captain John "Black Jack" Geary's legendary exploits are known to every schoolchild. Revered for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war, he was presumed dead. But a century later, Geary miraculously returns from survival hibernation and reluctantly takes command of the Alliance fleet as it faces annihilation by the Syndics. Appalled by the hero-worship around him, Geary is nevertheless a man who will do his duty. And he knows that bringing the stolen Syndic hypernet key safely home is the Alliance's one chance to win the war. But to do that, Geary will have to live up to the impossibly heroic "Black Jack" legend...

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

At the height of the New Zealand Gold Rush a Scottish traveller, Walter Moody, journeys across the globe to make his fortune on the gold fields of the West Coast. Upon landing in Hokitika, he stumbles across a clandestine meeting in a tavern, where 12 local men have gathered to discuss recent unsolved crimes in the area. Moody hears the individual tales of each man, which interlace to form a tangled lattice of three seemingly unconnected events: the discovery of a dead man and his fortune, the disappearance of a young entrepreneur, and the failed suicide of the town’s lady of the night.

At first glance, The Luminaries promises to be a good old fashioned mystery, but fans of this genre may be left wanting. Expansively written, evoking memories of classic literature, the book deals with the wider themes of betterment, love and secrets. With astrological concepts woven throughout (the term ‘celestials’ refers to the Chinese miners after ‘The Celestial Empire’, a Western euphemism for China at the time), the author paints a vivid picture of life on the goldfields and all its struggles.

The New Zealand scenery is evoked with exquisite realism and the fully rounded, often unpleasant, characters from far and wide are given rich back stories which gives the story credibility and draws the reader in further. As long and wending as this book is, the plot doesn’t reveal itself until the very end, making the 800-page tome a little unwieldy in parts.

Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker Prize with The Luminaries, only the second New Zealander ever to do so. Superlatives abound as the book is also the longest, and Catton the youngest, ever winner of the prestigious prize.

Described as “a dazzling work, luminous, vast” by the chair of judges, The Luminaries is a true tour-de-force of New Zealand literature which stays with you long after finishing, leaving you confused but content.

Catalogue link: The Luminaries

Posted by RJB

Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd

If you think William Boyd’s novel Ordinary Thunderstorms tackles the thorny topic of climate change, you’re in for a surprise. Yes its protagonist, Adam Kindred (now there’s a suggestive name), is a climatologist, but this title is a metaphor: ordinary thunderstorms are storms that have ‘the capacity to transform themselves into multi-cell storms of ever growing complexity’. Rather like this plot.

Adam arrives in London from the States for a job interview when he chances upon another scientist in a restaurant. Dr Wang leaves behind a file of documents labelled with his home address, but when Adam arrives at Wang’s flat, he finds a dying man intent that Adam keeps the file safe, and a murderer still on the loose. Adam finds himself on the run, sleeping rough and leading a continually surprising hand-to-mouth existence, while he slowly pieces together the events that led up to Wang’s death.

The reader is treated to a nail-biting plot with a blinder of an ending, and a cast of intriguing and varyingly dodgy characters. At the heart of the story is a power play in a pharmaceutical company, but story threads involving the criminal underworld, a non-conformist church and the river police keep you well amused. Boyd’s novel is brilliantly paced, his characters leap off the page and the prose is mesmerising. Definitely a book that ticks all the boxes – available in print or ebook too.

Posted by JAM

Catalogue link (print copy): Ordinary Thunderstorms
Catalogue link (ebook): Ordinary Thunderstorms

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

After reading the blurb on the book I came close to placing it back on the shelf as it sounded too grim however I would have missed a gem of a book which hooked me right from the start  and had me wanting to know more about the people and their relationships.

The rich and beautiful June witnesses her house burning down killing her entire family.  The dead are June's much younger boyfriend, her ex husband, her daughter and her daughters fiance, the fire occurring early in the morning of the day that the wedding of her daughter is due to take place.

Following the funerals June leaves the small American town where she was living and drives west.
Each chapter is narrated by a different character including among them June's boyfriends mother, the owners of the motel where June finally ends up, the motel cleaner and the wedding caterers etc.

There are moving passages of writing in this book which is quietly hopeful and it is not surprising it was long listed for the Man Booker prize.  This novel could appeal to readers who like books that are more character than plot driven and could be a good choice for a book club also as there is much to discuss about families, loss and forgiveness.        

Catalogue link: Did You Ever Have a Family

Posted by VT

In a galaxy far, far away: Star Wars as you've never seen it before!

Written by Philip, aged 9, one of the Hastings District Libraries' Summer Reading Programme participants, this Star Wars comic is too good not to share! A promising career as an illustrator is calling, we reckon.

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Podcasts: OK I lied here are four more

In November I shared four of my favourite podcasts with you that I thought you may enjoy. Since then I have discovered some new podcasts (some of which were recommended to me by you) and it turns out I have more than four favourites!


Question of the Day
Frequency: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 

Question of the Day is a quick (less than 15minute) podcast hosted by author James Altucher and Freakonomics co-author Stephen Dubner. The fact that these two are long-time friends is evident as they argue over topics such as; ‘Should I prepare my kids to become billionaires?’, ‘Five things I do much better (and worse) than most people’, ‘Do questions require answers?’ and ‘What lessons did you learn from your best boss?’ This podcast is easy and enjoyable to listen to and it doesn’t take up too much of your precious time.





Ear Biscuits
Frequency: Every Friday (during the season)

With over 13.5 million subscribers over three YouTube channels Rhett and Link are famous in their own right. On Ear Biscuits, they sit down for in-depth, personal interviews with other famous YouTubers. I found that guests opened up a lot more to their friends. Past guests include CTFxC, PewDiePie, Grace Helbig and ShayCarl. As a huge fan of YouTube I love listening to these interviews. If you are not an avid YouTube watcher, they are still well worth the listen.






Complete Guide to Everything
Frequency: Weekly

The complete guide to everything is exactly what it sounds like, a complete guide to everything. Tom and Tim sit down for hour long chat where they discuss (and sometimes fail to explain) topics such as the US mail system, RPGS, pizza, hoverboards and Apple TV. This podcast went live for the first time in 2013 and I can see why it is still so popular today.







TEDTalks 
Frequency: Daily

After my last podcast post, Michelle Simms suggested I look into The TED Radio Hour. I kind of forgot the exact title she suggested and just looked up TEDTalks. I have only been listening to this podcast for about 2 weeks but I am really enjoying the wide range of topics. TEDTalks are presentations from the TED (technology, entertainment and design) conference; they are limited to a maximum length of 18 minutes but can be on any topic. Topics I have explored include: Let’s not use Mars as a backup planet, My year reading a book from every country in the world, What are animals thinking and feeling, and How to stay calm when you know you’ll be stressed.


Hopefully this has given you some food for thought and please keep those suggestions coming!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo (KonMari)

Haha, New Year resolutions anyone? This book was the number 1 bestseller non-fiction book in the US in 2015.
After reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying I went out and bought a huge roll of jumbo black bin liners and so far have filled 10 of them! (plus recycled what I can of course).

Marie Kondo is a Japanese woman who tidies for a living, and is very passionate about the subject.
In a nutshell, her method involves getting rid of unwanted items fast (i.e. she does not subscribe to the little and often theory) and making an honest decision about each item whilst holding it (does this spark joy in me?). So it turns out that most of the stuff I was holding onto does not spark joy in me!
My husband did wonder if this works with chain saws and lawn mowers....

Has my life changed? Hmmm, bit soon to tell, I certainly don't feel so overwhelmed by the mountain of 'stuff' in every cupboard and wardrobe I open now.
Anyway, if you are serious about decluttering your life I recommend this book (even if I think Marie would possibly have a stroke if she came to my house).

Posted by Katrina

Catalogue link ebook: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying

Catalogue link: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying

My Picks for 2016

Not wanting to be disappointed, though happy to be pleasantly surprised, my selection of books to look forward to in the coming year are by authors I have already enjoyed.

First on my list is Elizabeth Strout’s novel, My Name is Lucy Barton. A woman reconnects with her mother while recovering from an operation. Her story is told – the tensions and longings that propel her actions – from leaving her family, to choosing to become a writer, her marriage and parenthood. Expect intelligent storytelling and wonderful characters.

S J Parris has a new Bruno book coming out. Dipping into the history of the philosopher/heretic, I had been worried that the series would end with his period in England drawing to a close. But no, Bruno has a new mystery involving court intrigue and religious politics, this time in France where murder strikes the court of Henri III. Parris tells a mesmerising tale, full of swashbuckling action and I’m sure the new book, Conspiracy, will be no disappointment. It’s out in May and I can’t wait.

The third book in Justin Cronin’s trilogy which began with The Passage is also out in May. Called The City of Mirrors it follows the story of Alicia of Blades who is drawn back to the ruined city of New York, now refuge to Zero, the first and the last of The Twelve. It looks as if the story has come full circle with a mighty showdown on the cards. With such a big cast of characters and a convoluted plot, a catch up read of the first two books might be in order to make the most of my enjoyment of the third.

Speaking of sequels and such, a few years ago Mary Doria Russell came out with a blinder of a western, though a literary and historically fascinating western at that, called Doc. It’s about the legendary Doc Holliday and was a poignant and exhausting read and brought the famous characters of Dodge City to life. I have been looking forward to the sequel, Epitaph, for ages. With the paperback due out next month, I’m hopeful it will finally reach New Zealand, as this book deals with the shoot-out at the OK Corral.

A few wild cards:
Yann Martel polarised readers with his Man Booker winner, Life of Pi, and has an intriguing book coming out called The High Mountains of Portugal about the search for a lost relic. Expect plenty of philosophy and human insight as it takes the reader on a journey through Portugal in the 1900s. Released in February.

Dominic Smith's novel Bright and Distant Shores was an amazing tour de force in 2010, but there hasn't been another book since - until now! Look out for The Lost Painting of Sara de Vos and expect a sweeping historical drama about art, fame and forgery. Due for release in April.

The retelling of Jane Austen continues with Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel Eligible, based on Pride and Prejudice. Sittenfeld is the author of Sisterland, and her Elizabeth Bennet is a magazine editor, Jane is a yoga instructor, while Darcy and Bingley are doctors. Could be interesting. Due out in April.

Posted by JAM

The woes of a pretty mediocre cook

I have found myself, like so many others, cooking the same handful of recipes time… after time…. after time. Luckily, living in a flat and sharing cooking duties it meant that no one had really noticed. Or so I thought.

A while ago my flatmate made the rule that we needed to cook a new meal each out of our (large collection of) cookbooks every week. This lasted about month before I had four and five new recipes to cook week… after week… after week.

A few weeks ago, I was lying (Ok well, half napping) on the couch watching Jamie Oliver whip up a delicious looking lamb roast I asked myself, firstly, “How am I 25 years old and NEVER attempted to cook a lamb roast?” Secondly, “Why couldn’t MY cooking life be more like his?” I work in a building with hundreds if not thousands of cookbooks on any type of food I could imagine. I told myself to get out there and check out these recipes!

I vowed that I would undertake to cook a new recipe every most times I don my apron.

Confession time: So far they have all been Jamie Oliver recipes (and there have only been two this year). 

Recipe 1: Roast Pork Leg

I had two good friends who were visiting from Wellington, they were coming over to play board games and for dinner. Obviously I thought, “What a perfect time to cook that Roast Lamb that I saw Jamie Oliver cook on TV!” Naturally, I didn’t take into account that on a public holiday all butchers are closed and actually the supermarket doesn’t have EVERY cut of meat you could imagine. Cue the quick panicked Google search, while cursing myself for being stupid enough to invite people over that I actually needed to cook for, and I found THIS cracker roast pork recipe that I attempted instead.

Cooked for 4hours 40minutes, I produced an absolute masterpiece and I am not ashamed to yell that from the rooftops. Firstly, it made my house smell AMAZING. Secondly, it had everyone taking a detour to the kitchen to check out the progress. Thirdly, it made me look like a domestic goddess. The crackling was crunchy and delicious, the meat just fell off the bone and the gravy was out of this world.

Although I swore I would only cook new recipes for a while, I will be recreating this one as I talked it up to my parents and now I need to follow through. Also, everyone in my flat is still talking about it.

Recipe 2: Perfect Roast Beef

Once again, cooking on a public holiday. Knowing that the supermarket would not have the lamb shoulder I was after I set my sights on Lamb Shanks. Jamie has a pretty good-looking recipe and I was just picturing the roaring success it would be. After another panicked Google session in the meat department I settled on Jamie’s Perfect Roast Beef.

Confession time: As well as never cooking a lamb roast, I had never cooked beef.

Like the pork, this smelt AMAZING in the oven. I didn’t quite believe that 1 hour cooking time though and so my mum was on the receiving end of quiet a few messages gathering advice on how to tell if beef is cooked. My laptop was almost on the receiving end of a spontaneous meat thermometer purchase.

After deciding that my flatmates would just have to live with blue beef if that’s what happened, I needed to make the gravy. Who knew you could make gravy with vegetables as well? After pouring it into the blender I made a slight mess of the kitchen.

The beef was pretty good in the end, although our meat carving skills leave a lot to be desired.

If anyone has a great recipe or cookbook to share with me, please do! We all need to start somewhere.