ISSUE FIFTEEN
FEBRUARY 2016 P2. HELP WITH YOUR CREATIVE WRITING. P3. TRUE STORIES THAT HAVE INSPIRED FILMS. P4. FICTION VS FILM: REVIEWS OF THE LOVELY BONES, NEVER LET ME GO AND CATCHING FIRE. P8. INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S COSTA AWARDS WINNERS.
P9. A LOOK BACK AT PREVIOUS OSCAR WINNING FILMS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR SHELVES. DO THEY STAND THE TEST OF TIME? P11. UPCOMING SCREEN ADAPTATIONS. P17. GNC INTRODUCE BRIT WRITERS, MARVEL & DC. P15. THE USEFUL SIDE OF YOUTUBE: EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS. P16. AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR FILM JOURNALS AS WELL AS SOME ARTICLES EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LITERATURE AND THE SCREEN. P21. RESPONSES TO YOUR SUGGESTIONS THIS TERM.
Roll cameras and light the lights, it’s time to call action on our FILM special edition of the Glyn Library Reviewsletter. With the Oscars coming this Sunday evening we thought we’d have a film theme coursing through the veins of the latest edition with a particular focus on the relationship between literature and the big screen. In Non-Fiction you’ll find an exploration or those biographies and true stories on our shelves which have been adapted for film as well as a nudge in the right direction for those of who taking part in our Game of Prose competition. We then present the big event of this issue, our Fiction vs Film debate where the Reviewsletter Team weigh up whether the big screen adaptations of some of our novels make the grade. In Film we look back at some of the previous Oscar winning DVDs you can find on our stand and ask if they would still be award worthy now? Graphic Novels continues the page to screen theme and points out some of the books we have in stock which are being adapted for film or TV in the coming months and years. Meanwhile the Graphic Novel Club introduce you to some of the work of British writers and artists and also the best of the two big publishers, Marvel and DC. In Journals we take a look at the magazines where you can keep up to date with the silver screen and also point out some articles which further explore the literary adaptation debate. Finally, in Your Suggestions we offer feedback on what you’ve been asking for so far this term. Mike Jones – Assistant Manager, Glyn Library
CREATIVE WRITING: WINNING THE GAME OF PROSE We are currently in the midst of our annual short story competition, Game of Prose and so we thought it might be advantageous for those of you entering or thinking of doing so to offer forth some books which will help you along the way. Here are three books from our collection which will come in useful at different points in the process from coming up with that initial spark of an idea, to getting the words on the page, to announcing the finished article to the wider world. SING ME THE CREATION by Paul Matthews ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 808.02 MAT A book full of creative writing exercises to help fuel your imagination and ignite the flames of an idea. Often that initial idea can be the hardest part of the writing journey so using some of these novel ways (pun intended) to indulge your fantasy can help harvest a winning one. THE ART OF WRITING FICTION by Andrew Cowan ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 808.3 COW Award winning author Andrew Cowan talks through his and fellow authors’ experiences in putting together a novel. He details how to construct and develop plot, character and setting and encourages the reader to develop their writing project alongside his own as the book progresses. WRITERS’ & ARTISTS’ YEARBOOK 2016 by Alysoun Owen ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY: 808.02025 OWE Once you’ve got your story, novel, article or whatever finished you may well want to get it out there in the wider world. This book is THE guide to doing so, acknowledged by the publishing industry and the best source for advice and to gain details of contacts to get your work professionally read, published and marketed.
The Library’s short story competition is back and this time there’s a twist in the tale. All stories submitted this year must be done so under the title of “It never just rains…”. Entries will be marked according to how well they fit this title/theme as well as the usual criteria of originality, plot, characterisation, language and enjoyment. Entries should be submitted via email to library@barton.ac.uk by the closing date (Thursday 3rd March – World Book Day). For further details please visit our Game of Prose Moodle Site.
BASED ON A REAL STORY… “Based on a real story…” or words to that effect often appear at the start of film titles and so as part of our Page to Screen theme for this issue we thought we’d highlight a few of the books in our collection that have been the real life inspiration for a cinematic version of the story. STEVE JOBS by Walter Isaacson ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: B/ JOB Both this biography and Danny Boyle’s biopic are interesting approaches to the “real life” genre. This book includes hours of interviews with not only Jobs but also the people he worked with and against. The relationships laid out then formed the basis of Aaron Sorkin’s script which applies them to fictionalised situations. THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS by Jon Ronson ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 355.343 RON It’s difficult to believe that the comedic George Clooney film is based in reality but Jon Ronson’s recounting of the US Army’s experimental “First Earth Battalion” in so crazy it must be true. It tells of how in 1979 a secret unit was set up who believed, amongst other things, that a man could blow up a goat by starring at it! FAST FOOD NATION by Eric Schlosser ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 338.47641 SCH This documentation of the fast food industry doesn’t strike you as a natural fit for a fiction film and Richard Linklater’s well-meaning but confused film confirms that to be the case. This book (a pre-cursor to Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me) is a damning indictment of an industry responsible for a worldwide obesity epidemic. TOUCHING THE VOID by Joe Simpson ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIRBARY AT: 796.522 SIM Both this book and Kevin MacDonald’s BAFTA award winning film offer a compelling look at the dangers inherent in mountaineering. Joe Simpson and his friend Simon Yates were climbing in The Andes when Joe fell. Believing his companion dead, Yates made the heart-breaking decision to cut the rope that connected them. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HARVEY MILK: THE MAYOR OF CASTRO STREET by Randy Shilts ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: B/ MIL A book and a film which are uplifting and heart-breaking in equal measure. This is the definitive biography of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to US political office. The book and Gus Van Sant’s film brings not only Milk’s story to life but also the burgeoning gay community of 1970s San Francisco. FEVER PITCH by Nick Hornby ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 796.334 HOR Nick Hornby offers his life story through the guise of his obsession with Arsenal football club, a passion so strong it intersects every aspect of his being. This has been adapted as a film twice, firstly the rather faithful version starring Colin Firth and then again as The Perfect Catch, transposed to the US and with baseball as the subject.
WHEN PAGE AND SCREEN COLLIDE… Literature has long been a rich source of inspiration for movies with books being adapted for the screen since the earliest silent movies. This is a trend that continues even now with 5 of the 8 Best Picture nominees at this year’s Oscars being adapted from books. How much of the book makes it onto the screen varies greatly from film to film. Some will lift as much as possible directly from the page such as the Coen Brother’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country For Old Men, or Stanley Kubrick’s attention to detail in bringing Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange to screen. Others however will merely take the spine of a story and make changes galore. Stephen King was famously unhappy with the alterations made by Stanley Kubrick to The Shining and World War Z barely takes more than the title of Max Brook’s zombie epic. Here our review team take a look at three novel adaptations and ask whether they have made a triumphant transition or if instead or sticking on the DVD you should pick up a paperback and collapse in your imagination instead.
THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold. Film adaptation directed by Peter Jackson.
Reviewed by Hollie Cornell
“My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.” The Lovely Bones is about a young girl, Susie, who is sadly murdered at just 14. The murderer is someone she knew, someone who lived in the same neighbourhood; Mr Harvey. When Susie dies and goes into heaven she meets other young children who have also died, but worst of all she meets other young victims of Mr Harvey. Susie’s parents are absolutely horrified when the police find a body part claiming it to be Susie’s. No one suspects Mr Harvey at first, until Susie’s dad finds something very suspicious about him. Will Susie’s murderer be caught or will he strike again? Both the novel and film start the story in exactly the same way, which is actually one of the few similarities between them. The novel is written in a lot more depth, setting more a scene and giving us, the readers, a lot more information about Susie and her family, which the film lacks. The film is a shortened version of the book, of course, meaning there are certain areas that have been missed out or just briefly explained, and this can be expected. Although, this doesn’t affect how moving and eye opening the film is and how well it credits the book. One thing to pick out about the film that I would say is an error, is when I watched the film and Susie died, the film never explained how, it showed her up to her death and then her running away from Mr Harvey, who sadly murders her, however the reasoning is missing, this is a big part of the whole film and therefore I feel like it is a default.
In contrast, the novel explains it in a lot more depth and can be seen as highly graphic by some readers, so take this as a warning. The detailed explanation of Susie’s heaven described in the novel is cleverly written, and very graphological. It can be hard to portray this effect especially in books, but I think the writer, Alice Sebold has done a very good job. I would definitely recommend both the book and film, it’s an amazing story and it really highlights an important matter that could easily be so realistic. I would definitely suggest reading the book before watching the film. You won’t be able to put the book down as soon as you’ve started it, its highly gripping and makes you want to read until the end. The film is equally as good, keeps you gripped the whole way through and you definitely want to stick it out to see how it ends, a truly amazing story that has been developed well.
NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro. Film directed by Mark Romanek
Reviewed by Polly Halladay
Kazuo Ishiguro’s dystopian novel, Never Let Me Go, imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England. It is set in the late 1990s and narrated by thirty one year old Kathy, a member of a community of human beings who are cloned and bred for the purposes of harvesting their organs once they reach adulthood. Both the book and the 2010 film adaptation by Mark Romanek, staring Carey Mulligan as Kathy, Kiera Knightley as Ruth and Andrew Garfield as Tommy, dramatize Kathy’s attempts to come to terms with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world. Kathy looks back to both the comforting and disturbing memories of her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School; in reality her rearing in a mythologised institution. Both formats go on to depict Kathy, Ruth and Tommy’s twilit adulthood in the cottages where they are given limited access to the normal world while they await the summons to make their first "donation", and where Kathy goes on into her own extended lease of life as a ‘carer’ for the ‘donors’, shouldering the burden of survivor's moral and emotional suffering. The film opens with on-screen captions explaining the medical breakthrough in 1952 which has permitted the human lifespan to be extended beyond 100 years, but in the book, we are much more deceptively introduced to the dystopian reality of our characters. There is a lack of detail explaining the scientific and ethical plausibility of the subject and the events of cloning and organ harvesting, but this effectively creates a sense of absorbed ordinariness and familiarity, so that we accept Kathy’s reality as a common derivative of our own. In this way, the scientific basis and any explicit dystopian features are vague, but it is this vagueness that, in my opinion, makes the novel so captivating. This, because instead of overtly horrific visions of our future, we are given contemplative and in-depth descriptions of human emotion; relatable for us as a reader and viewer as it piercingly questions humanity and the human condition. I think Ishiguro achieves this much better in the novel than Romanek, or indeed Mulligan, Garfield and Knightley in the film. He skilfully crafts elisions of the institutional and the personal, the humdrum and the sinister, which generates the undertone of disturbance within the relationships of the main characters. There is just more in the book to envelope us. However, the film, as in the book, does retain a chilling sense of the dystopian reality that the characters are facing, always there in the background, in the corner of our eye, assisting that layer of evil which fans of Dystopia can certainly get on board with. In the film this
is seen in aspects, such as the bracelets that clock the clones in and out, the dark and washed out cinematography and the monotone, matter-of-fact narration from Mulligan. Moreover, this bleakness and banality does not equate to a boring read or watch; it is livened by the quenching relation of pain and suffering in the book, and the unremitting performances of emotional agony by the actors, especially Andrew Garfield, in the film. Indeed it is the sensitive and skilful performances of the actors which give the film its own poignancy. Overall, the film is a viable and emotional adaptation of a book rich in thoughtful detail and humanness. The fact that we know there is only one, dead-end, fate for our protagonist makes the memories and act of looking back so important in both formats, and this continual reminiscence aids an atmosphere of unbearable constriction. We end up locked in the narrative, just as Kathy is locked in her past, until as in the film when Kathy looks out into the field with the rising sun, she realises the value in the escapism of her precious, albeit inevitably limited, memories and comes to terms with her lot in life, thus releasing us from the narrative. The most poignant, though some would say depressing, revelation being that there is no happy ending for her, and the only hope perhaps is through knowing that she had those years with her beloved and that her friends can no longer suffer. Definitely worth a read, and a watch too.
CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins. Film directed by Francis Lawrence
Reviewed by Natalie McGhie
Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, sets off half a year after the previous book ended. Katniss and Peeta are slowly adjusting to their new lives as victors, although Katniss is still uncertain about the sadistic ruler President Snow’s true intentions. Her fears are confirmed when the 75th Hunger Games holds a new twist; all remaining victors will return to the arena once more. When I first read Catching Fire, I was initially doubtful of how good it would be, believing it to just be a rehash of the first book. When I had finished reading the entire trilogy, Catching Fire was my firm favourite. I enjoyed the character development that took place within it, and found it interesting how the book delved further in to the life of the Capitol. Now, however, I don’t really have that much of a strong opinion on it. It’s definitely not a bad book, but it’s not the best (in the trilogy) either. One flaw I have seen in both the book and the film is that it takes far too long to get going. Whilst clearly setting up the aspects of Katniss’ life is important, it shouldn’t take 90 minutes to get there. When the film does eventually get to the arena, I was always very much aware that there wasn’t long of the film left, and so felt it was rushed. Because of this, I couldn’t feel anything for any of the many deaths occurring, which took me out of the atmosphere quite a bit. I also found the ending scene of Katniss being pulled into a helicopter quite overdone; what was meant to be an emotional scene of her weakness instead made me feel like I should be laughing. All in all, being older than I was when I first read and watched Catching Fire, I can see more of its flaws. It could very well be argued that the film’s arguably ridiculous length could very much work in its favour if a fan needs to spend an afternoon watching teenage flicks. However, if I had to choose, I would really opt to re-read the book.
A new reward scheme from the Glyn Library…
READ
Read any resource in the Library collection. Actually you don’t have to just read, you could also view a film. It’s just “Read” fits better with our alliterative title
REVIEW
Look up the resource on the Library Catalogue and add a review for it. This is really simple to do and will mean your fellow students can get the opinion of one of their peers before they borrow a resource. Reviews can be positive or critical, we want honest assessments of our stock. Instructions on how to add a review can be found by clicking here.
REWARD For every five reviews that you add to the Library Catalogue we’ll reward you with a chocolately treat. All reviews are moderated by a member of Library Staff to ensure that they are at least 50 words long and contain appropriate content. Once your fifth review has been approved we will email you and you can come collect your reward from the Library Desk.
The Costa Book Awards 2015 were announced last month and we now have all of the winners in stock. Awards can be a great way of finding out about new books which you may not have heard of. THE LIE TREE by Frances Hardinge CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD AND BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER When Faith’s father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, she is determined to untangle the truth from the lies. Searching through his belongings for clues she discovers a strange tree. A tree that feeds off whispered lies and bears fruit that reveals hidden secrets.
THE LONEY by Andrew Michael Hurley FIRST NOVEL AWARD WINNER A creepy, haunting, gothic tale exploring faith, youth and religion in a place outside Morcombe known as The Loney, “that strange nowhere between the Wyre and the Lune”. Described by the Costa judges as being as close to the perfect first novel as you can get.
A GOD IN RUINS by Kate Atkinson NOVEL AWARD WINNER A pseudo-sequel to Atkinson’s 2013 Costa Novel Award Winner, Life After Life. This is the tale of Teddy, a would-be poet, RAF bomber, father and husband as he navigates the perils of 20th century life. A life that reaches not to dizzying heights of opportunity but succumbs to the numbing reality of the quiet life.
THE INVENTION OF NATURE by Andrea Wulf BIOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER In this biography Wulf seeks to shine a light on Alexander Humbolt, a forgotten scientist, yet one for whom we owe so much. More things are named after him than any man who ever lived and he inspired great thinkers such as Darwin, Napoleon and Jules Verne.
40 SONNETS by Don Paterson POETRY AWARD WINNER With a mix of traditional and experimental forms, the poems in this collection display the cool intelligence and lyric gift that has long been the hallmark of Paterson’s work. Themes centre around contradiction and strangeness, tension and transformation, the dream world and the divided self.
OSCAR WINNERS With the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony due to happen on Sunday 28 th February we thought it would be an opportune moment to look at some of the previous winners housed amongst our film collection. Do they stand the test of time? Have you even heard of them? Critically acclaimed films can sometimes very be “of the time”, capturing the zeitgeist but then struggle to gain longevity so it would be interesting to know whether they stand up to a modern audience. Perhaps you might like to borrow one of them and let us know what you thought? Also keep an eye on our “New DVDs” display for this year’s Oscar winners which we’ll add to stock as they are released. Of the 2016 nominees you’ll already find Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian and Inside Out on our DVD stand and expect to see titles such as The Revenant, Spotlight, Room, Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Force Awakens, The Danish Girl and Steve Jobs added in due course. SUNSET BOULEVARD, directed by Billy Wilder WON BEST WRITING, STORY AND SCREENPLAY in 1950 The Academy love a film that holds a mirror up to the industry and few can match the cracked reflection afforded to the film industry in this classic. Gloria Swanson stars as Norma Desmond, a former silent movie actress still longing for the limelight and who sees young screenwriter Joe as her ticket back to the screen. COOL HAND LUKE, directed by Stuart Rosenberg WON BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (GEORGE KENNEDY) in 1967 This Paul Newman starring prison drama fits both of this issue’s theme as an Oscar winning adaptation of Donn Pearce’s 1965 novel. Newman star as the eponymous prisoner who rises to become a figure of adoration for his fellow inmates but it was George Kennedy as gang leader Dragline who took home the award. SHAFT, directed by Gordon Parks WON BEST ORIGINAL SONG (ISSAC HAYES) in 1971 Another Oscar winner based on a book. This is a prime example of the “Blaxploitation” genre that was prevalent in 1970s US cinema. Richard Roundtree stars as the PI on the hunt for the missing daughter of a Harlem gangster. Isaac Haye’s now classic soul/funk title track was rewarded by the Academy. ALIEN, directed by Ridley Scott WON BEST VISUAL EFFECTS in 1979 After Star Wars legitimised science-fiction once again as a film genre, Ridley Scott took it down a darker path, infusing it with horror in Alien. This film rightly won for it’s fantastic visual effects which were no more so apparent than in the now legendary chest burster scene.
GANDHI, directed by Richard Attenborough WON BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR and BEST ACTOR (BEN KINGSLEY) in 1982 A truly epic cinematic masterpiece that cleaned up in all the major categories at the 1982 awards. Ben Kingsley stars as the great Indian peace leader with direction from Richard Attenborough. It is a visually and thematically vast film which stands the test of time well. CINEMA PARADISO, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore WON BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM in 1989 Another example of the Academy’s love affair with industry that it serves. This Italian winner of the Best Foreign Language Film in 1989 tells the story of a young boy’s development through his love of cinema and his relationship with the projectionist at the local cinema. FARGO, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen WON BEST ACTRESS (FRANCES MCDORMAND) in 1996 Anyone who has watched and enjoyed the recent 2 series of the Fargo TV spinoff will be delighted with this, the original film from the Coen brothers that inspired Noah Hawley’s show. It’s darkly a darkly comic tale of hapless criminals with an excellent ensemble cast, within which Frances McDormand shines as a put upon police officer. BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, directed by Michael Moore WON BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE in 2003 Regarded as one of the finest documentaries ever, this not only bought Moore’s work to a wider audience but also gave him a platform to voice his opposition to the US lead invasion of Iraq during his acceptance speech. The film documents the history of gun violence in the US in the wake of the Columbine massacre. PAN’S LABYRINTH, directed by Guillermo del Toro WON BEST ART DIRECTION, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY and BEST MAKEUP in 2006 It’s no surprise that this film cleaned up in the visual categories as it is beautifully shot, both in the recreation of civil war era Spain and in the incredible fantasy world into which main character Ofelia is drawn. The film’s mix of make-up, animatronics and CGI combine to make a textured and tangible fairytale environment. ONCE, directed by John Carney WON BEST ORIGINAL SONG (FALLING SLOWLY by GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA) in 2007 The raw emotional intensity of Best Original Song winner Falling Slowly is matched in the low-fi realism of this budget modern musical. It’s a beautifully uplifting tale of a busker and the Czech immigrant he meets and how they open each other’s hearts to not only song but also the potential to love again. HER, directed by Spike Jonze WON BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY in 2013 In a film climate dominated by big budget franchises, remakes, sequel and book adaptations, films like Her are evermore refreshing. A truly original story from visionary director Spike Jonze about a down on his luck guy who forms a special relationship with his phone’s operating system.
MAKING THE LEAP FROM COMIC TO SCREEN… In recent years there has been an explosion of comic book and graphic novel material being optioned for a screen adaptation and it looks like the trend isn’t going to let up for some time yet so we thought we’d give you a heads up on which of the books in our collection are due an outing in cinemas or on television in the near future so you can read up and draw informed comparisons when they arrive. Will they go for the panel to screen accuracy of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen or perhaps they’ll take the realism approach of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy? Which characters will be next to join the darker element of the Marvel universe as portrayed in their excellent Netflix series? DC are only just getting going with their cinematic output so there’s plenty of time to read up on them. Hollywood is also beginning to look east and make westernised versions of some manga so how will this go down with audiences? It’s a great time to be a comic book fan so let us know which you are looking forward to, or if there are any comic films and TV shows coming that we don’t currently have any books on, get in touch and we’ll fill the gap. DEADPOOL & CABLE by Fabien Nicieza FILM SEQUEL ANNOUNCED Anyone who stayed to the end of the credits of Deadpool will know that a sequel is in the works and that time travelling son of Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey, Cable will be joining the merc with the mouth for his further adventures. This volume collects their first comics team-up so is a good place to start. CIVIL WAR by Mark Millar FILM COMING 29th APRIL 2016 With all the excitement and the Disney/Marvel marketing machine promoting it, I’d be surprised if you weren’t aware of the forthcoming Captain America: Civil War but you may not have read the Mark Millar comic on which it will be loosely based. An ideological split separates the Avengers in a war between Cap and Iron Man. OUTCAST by Robert Kirkman TV SERIES STARTS JUNE 2016 After the success of The Walking Dead it seems natural that other Robert Kirkman penned properties would find their way to the screen. This is the story of a troubled man with a dark past and a priest with a sideline in exorcising demons. The series will star Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) and Philip Glenister (Life on Mars). Y: THE LAST MAN by Brian K Vaughan TV SHOW IN DEVELOPMENT A modern classic of the comic world, this has been gestating in development hell for some time. Initially conceived as a film starring Leonardo Di Caprio, the studio didn’t want to commit to the multiple films that would be needed to do it justice. With the recent success of genre TV it now looks to have found its place on the small screen.
THE PUNISHER: BLACK & WHITE by Nathan Edmondson DAREDEVIL SEASON 2 LAUNCHING ON NETFLIX ON 18 th MARCH 2016 The first Netflix series of Daredevil was fantastic and the trailers for the second run look just as good. Thrown into the mix of Matt Murdoch’s antagonists in this season is Frank Castle, AKA Punisher so now may be a good time to read Nathan Edmondson’s excellent run on the character to familiarise yourself with him. THE GHOST IN THE SHELL by Masamune Shirow FILM COMING APRIL 2017 A classic of the manga world this is due to be turned into a live action, westernised version of the tale starring Scarlett Johansson. It’s set in a post-cyberpunk world where cybernetic enhancements of humans are the norm and Section 9, a group of ex-police and military, work to take down corruption and terrorism. THE WICKED + THE DIVINE by Kieron Gillen TV SHOW IN DEVELOPMENT This tale of Gods masquerading as pop and rock stars who bring enlightenment to world but burn out and die in 2 years, only to return in different form in another 90 is being adapted for TV by comics power couple Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick as part of their deal with Universal. It could well be huge! BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE by Alan Moore FILM COMING AUGUST 2016 Possibly the greatest Batman graphic novel of all time, written by one of comics’ greatest ever writers and now being made into an animated film by Bruce Timm who has been responsible for some of the Dark Knight’s best cartoon output. Sounds like a recipe for greatness, especially with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill on voice duties! AKIRA by Katsuhrio Otomo FILM IN DEVELOPMENT The manga book and anime film against which most others are judged. An epic sci-fi tale, this has been in development as a live action Hollywood film for a long time. Most recently it was announced that Marco Ramirez (who worked on Neflix’s Daredevil) was writing the script and that Christopher Nolan was to have a hand in it. CAPTAIN MARVEL by Kelly Sue DeConnick FILM COMING 8th MARCH 2019 This stands to be Marvel’s first female lead superhero movie, something which is long overdue. They’ve made a fine choice in adapting Kelly Sue DeConnick’s recent update of the character who was promoted from “Ms.” to Captain and a far stronger female role model than previous versions. THE FLASH by Francis Manapul FILM COMING 23rd MARCH 2018 As well as the current TV series DC have a movie in the works as part of the new cinematic universe being launched in Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. This New 52 version of the Barry Allen iteration of the character will be a nice read for fans of the TV show and those interested in the forthcoming film.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB INTRODUCES… Graphic Novel Club have been busy during the last half term, meeting and discussing a wide range of comics and graphic novels. Here they give their recommendations on comics by British writers and artists as well as what they see as the best from the DC/Marvel rivalry… First up, here’s their look at British writers and artists currently working in the comics industry…
Watchmen Featured on these summaries before, any comic fan would be familiar with the gritty take on Superheroes presented to us by Alan Moore. Featuring heroes both eerily familiar and fascinatingly fresh, be ready for a dark ride.
Seven String An indie title, this thrilling comic has weapons, well, to put it better, literal instruments of war. While I confess I don’t know much about it, imagine a bard fighting an army, that seems awesome doesn’t it?
Nemesis Created by Mark Millar, this was teased with the tagline “What if Batman was the Joker”, well, Millar himself gave a more explicit version of that line, explosions, murder and maybe Justice, depends on your point of view I suppose.
Kingdom In a sci-fi world, the north pole has been taken over by giant bugs, and are being fought by Orcs serving a mysterious master. With plenty of twists, this is definitely one to check out for those who like journeys, as one orc crosses continents looking for his promised kingdom.
Kickass 2 For those who haven’t read the original Kickass, imagine Superheroes in real life, well, you’re probably imagining something like Watchmen, more gritty than the shining spires of Metropolis. Don’t. No powers, just a comic book fan and a set of nunchucks, back for more and fighting his nemesis, this is when things get serious.
The following two weeks there was hot debate about the best of the two biggest comics publishers, DC and Marvel. Here’s what the GNC thought.
Civil War
Court of Owls
One of the largest and most subversive Marvel event, this arc saw not heroes fighting Villains, but
Kicking off the list with Batman, a hero who some would argue has taken Superman’s place as the face of DC,
instead we watched as a controversial government bill pitted friend against friend, with the main leaders being Iron vs. Captain America. Sound familiar? Well, that's most likely because a film about it is coming out soon.
this New 52 comic looks at the mysterious Court of Owls, as Bruce Wayne finds that the city he knows so well, holds a secret that might have the chance to end the Caped Crusader.
Avengers vs X-men Had enough of Superheroes fighting Superheroes? Well, we have more as the X-Men duke it out with the Avengers, over a mutant who’s going to gain the power of the Phoenix Force. There are some major twists here, so I won’t say much more
Hush Keeping on with Batman, and the subverting of his fortunes, Hush sees Batman's entire rogue gallery, as they act in ways never seen before, and Bruce is left wheeling as change after change takes effect, even including a fight with Superman and a romance with Catwoman!
Deadpool The reason I put Deadpool as a character, is due to his many appearances, most notably in Deadpool and Cable, Deadpool kills the Marvel Universe and, coming soon, Deadpool and Spiderman. That’s a whole lot of the merc with the mouth, as he kills and chats his way into our memory… He’s also getting a film soon (Or already has depending on when this is published).
The Flashpoint Paradox Another big event in the DC Universe, an event spanning so far that it caused a complete reboot of the DC Universe, becoming what we know as New 52. The Flash is at the centre of it all, as he awakens to find himself in a massively altered timeline, Batman as we know him is one of the most telling, as rather than the Bruce we all know, it is instead Thomas Wayne, with his wife taking the Joker’s place.
Captain America: Winter Soldier From being an icicle to fighting new nazis, Captain America's past is important to him, now, why I add this is only understood if you read the book, or have seen the film, yes yet another Marvel film, but to put it in a spoiler-free way, Red Skull isn’t the enemy this time, but a person from Cap’s past.
Blackest Night No longer with Batman alone, the entire DC Universe clashes as those heroes thought dead and gone, are brought back, as the focus centres on the lanterns and the mysterious Black and White lanterns which hold the key to this zombie apocalypse ramped up to a hundred.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB MEET EVERY OTHER TUESDAY TO DISCUSS COMIC BOOKS, MANGA & MORE, AROUND A CHOSEN THEME. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING EMAIL library@barton.ac.uk FOR MORE INFORMATION.
USEFUL YOUTUBE… I’m sure you are all well aware of YouTube. It’s that website or app that you look at to watch videos of cats doing hilarious things, or to catch up on the weekend’s football highlights or to watch music videos or find out the latest fashion and beauty tips from Zoella and her chums. Yes, it is all of those things but it’s also so much more. There is actually a wealth of academic content on there which can be really useful in supporting your studies, you just need to know where to find it in amongst the fluff! So, we thought it might be useful in this edition of Online Resources to point you towards some of the YouTube channels which are academic in nature and can support and extend the learning that you do in class.
CRASH COURSE A series of videos which aim to offer a full set of lessons on certain subjects. Originally started by John Green (yes THAT John Green of Fault In Our Stars fame) and his brother Hank, the team of teachers has now expanded to regular roster of academics and industry experts. Currently you’ll find videos covering subjects such as Literature, World History, US History, Government & Politics, Chemistry, Astonomy, Economics, Philosophy, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Ecology, Psychology and Chemistry.
BOZEMAN SCIENCE A series of hundreds of educational and inspirational videos from US High School Science teacher Paul Anderson. He was also selected as one of YouTube’s Next EDU Guru’s as someone offering innovative and creative education via the site. The videos are a great introduction to ideas and concepts across the sciences taking in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Environment, Anatomy & Physiology, Earth Science, Physics, Statistics and Practical Science.
KHAN ACADEMY The Khan Academy are a not-for-profit enterprise with the aim of providing free education for all via online means. Their YouTube channel is packed with excellent educational videos which again lean towards the sciences and maths. Of particular interest might be their Medicine channel for those of you looking at nursing or becoming a doctor.
Film journals and suggestions for wider reading
Journal review by Steve Squibbs
For this edition of the Reviewsletter we take a look at what the Library has on offer for the film buffs among you… Starting us off, and popular among movie fans, is Empire - a glossy monthly that combines reviews of the latest blockbusters and news of forthcoming releases with interviews with big-name stars and directors. Sight & Sound is the journal of the British Film Institute (BFI) and has a broader focus than Empire, including reviews of world and
If you have enjoyed this month’s ‘Page to Screen’ theme you might want to consider exploring our journal archive for some engaging articles on the subject. Here is a selection to whet your appetite… In the pages of Empire Newman and Smith (2007) guide us through the film and TV adaptations of the work of Stephen King, who lays claim to being the most adapted author of all time. With classics such as The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining and Stand By Me it’s not difficult to see why… Elsewhere in Empire, Williams (2008) flips our theme on its head with a look at the humble bookof-the-film and asks ‘are novelisations ever any good’? In English Review Havely (2010) considers portrayals of India with a comparison of the boxoffice smash Slumdog Millionaire and Vikas
art-house cinema. Articles tend to be of a more academic nature too, making Sight & Sound a good choice for Film Studies students. Screen International offers yet another perspective for movie fans, giving an insight to the film industry itself, from finance and production to distribution and sales. With a strong international focus (hence the name) Screen regularly reports on film festivals and awards from around the world and often produces supplements focusing on the cinematic output of a particular country or region.
Swarup’s Q&A, the novel on which it is based. Also in English Review Bayley (2014) draws on her experiences of creating animated films to explore the relationship between text, image and sound in the poems of Emily Dickinson and Harold Hart Crane. References: Bayley, S. (2014) 'Turning the metaphor into moving image', English Review, 25(3), pp. 32-35. Havely, C. (2010) 'Looking for the real India', English Review, 20(3), pp. 14-17. Newman, K. and Smith, A. (2007) 'Stephen King's Complete Works', Empire, (September, Issue 219), pp. 93-103. Williams, O. (2008) 'The extended extended cut', Empire (April, Issue 226), pp. 98-101.
FICTION, GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA In fiction, the original three volumes of the Jason Bourne series by Robert Ludlum have been ordered and are on our shelves – fans of the films will not be disappointed. We have also bought two fantasy trilogies as suggested by you – Brent Weeks’ Night Angel and Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire. After looking into a request for Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, we thought it looked so good we also ordered copies of Rose Under Fire and Black Dove, White Raven. Nicely juxtaposed, we have purchased second volumes of both the Lumberjanes and East of West. Also purchased for our expanded Graphic Novel area was Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore and Wytches by Scott Snyder and Jock. With plans afoot to give our Manga collection a bit more space we have bought the following titles as suggested by you: Judge, Another, and Volumes 2 and 3 of Case Closed.
FILM We do already stock a number of films featuring Helena Bonham Carter - but in response to a request for yet more we have purchased the gory musical Sweeny Todd, also starring the late Alan Rickman, who puts in an appearance in another of our purchases Love Actually. Also ordered was Bag of Bones – a thriller
based on the Stephen King novel of the same name; but not The Book of Life as it was one we already have in our collection.
NON-FICTION From the For Dummies series of guides we had suggestions for Time management and Windows 10, both of which have already proved popular additions to our stock. We have also ordered The Teenagers Guide to Money by Jonathan Self – unfortunately the similarly titled How to Save Money When You’re a Teenager is only available as an ebook. Hugely influential and credited with bringing ecology into popular consciousness, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is now available on our shelves. Not especially academic, The Amazing Book is not on Fire by D. Howell, does arguably offer an interesting insight into YouTube culture and the modern self-made “celebrity” and has been purchased for stock. The same cannot be said, however, for This Book Loves You by Pewdiepie, which is a mock book of “inspirational” quotes by the YouTuber – sorry, we won’t be getting this. In response to a request for ‘anything specific on violins’ we have purchased An Encyclopedia of the Violin. We couldn’t however find anything suitable on Korean Fashion – if you do know of a good title please come and speak to us. That’s all for now, but please keep your suggestions coming, either via our suggestion boards, online via our Moodle page or just speak to any member of library staff and we’ll do our best to help!