ISSUE THIRTEEN
NOVEMBER 2015 P2. WHAT ARE THE GREATEST NON-FICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME? P4. REVIEWS OF GONE WITH THE WIND, THE GOLDFINCH, ROOM AND THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
P7. REVIEWS OF MOULIN ROUGE, FRANCES HA, BIRDMAN (OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) AND THE STAR WARS SAGA P10. INTROS TO ALAN MOORE AND HORROR P11. REVIEWS OF GYO, WATCHMEN AND DYING WISH P14. NEW! CREDO REFERENCE AND HISTORY STUDY CENTRE INTRODUCED P16. KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH CURRENT AFFAIRS: JOURNAL ARTICLES ON THE REFUGEE CRISIS P17. RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Welcome to this, the first edition of the Glyn Library Reviewsletter for the 2015/16 academic year. This year I’m very pleased to be joined by a brilliant team of students who have volunteered to write reviews of items in our collection for your enjoyment. As way of introducing the team I asked them to write about their favourite fiction book or film from our collection and so we have reviews of Gone With the Wind, The Goldfinch, Room and The Fault in Our Stars in the Fiction section and Moulin Rouge, Frances Ha and Birdman in the Film section (plus my own contribution on my favourite films). I wanted to continue the “favourites” theme across to Non-fiction too but it’s often difficult to pick books out from such a wide ranging and varied collection and so we try and alternative method for identifying the “greatest” titles on our shelves. Brand new for this year is the college Graphic Novel Club and so they’ve offered forth an introduction to the first two of their fortnightly discussion topics; the work of Alan Moore and horror. In the Online Resources section we introduce two sites which have just been added to the library collection. For our Journals section this year we’re trying something a little different. Rather than just advertising what titles we have we want to go beyond the cover and explore the articles within and so in each edition we’ll be taking a current topic and showing the kind of articles relating to it you might find on our shelves. If you enjoy reading the reviews and think you’d like to have a go at writing something yourself please get in touch with us via library@barton.ac.uk Mike Jones – Assistant Manager, Glyn Library
WHAT ARE THE GREATEST NON-FICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME? With the title of “non-fiction” covering such a wide range of genres and types of books it can be difficult to quantify what are the greatest books of all time, so instead of making any kind of attempt to do so we’re going to doff our cap to mathematics and computing and let it be figured out via algorithms. thegreatestbooks.org is a site which draws information from “greatest books” lists compiled from across the internet and presents a combined master list based on how many times a book appears on these. Below are a selection of titles from the non-fiction list that we have in stock here in the Glyn Library… THE CONFESSIONS by Saint Augustine PLACE ON LIST: 2nd ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 270.2092 AUG Widely regarded as the first autobiography ever written, Augustine tells of his sinful youth and his conversion to Christianity. It is not a complete autobiography as it was written in his early 40s but was highly influential on religious and biographical writings for some time after. THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels PLACE ON LIST: 11th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 320.532 MAR One of the world’s most influential political manuscripts, it presents an analytical approach to the class struggle and the problems of capitalism. It summarises Marx and Engel’s theories about the nature of society and politics and their thoughts on how the capitalist society of the time would be replaced with socialism. FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS by Hunter S. Thompson PLACE ON LIST: 24th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY: F/ THO You may ask what this is doing in a list of the top non-fiction seeing as we have it shelved in the fiction section but Thompson’s mix of the real and the fantastical in what became known as “gonzo journalism” deserves to rank high in any kind of list. The tale of one crazy trip (pun intended) to the desert based city of lights. A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN by Virginia Woolf PLACE ON LIST: 31st ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 824.9 WOO A key feminist text, this is an extended essay by Woolf based on lectures given at Cambridge University in 1928. It addresses the role of women in fiction, both literally and figuratively, with one particular highlight being her musings on “Judith Shakespeare” and how the bard would never be as revered if he were a woman.
IF THIS IS A MAN by Primo Levi PLACE ON LIST: 48th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: F/ LEV An account of Levi’s time spent in the concentration camp at Auschwitz from February 1944 until January 1945 following his arrest as a member of the anti-fascist resistance during the Second World War. Levi explained his purpose as being to record what happened so that later generations may ponder upon its significance. I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou PLACE ON LIST: 100th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 824.914 ANG This autobiographical tale is told with all the emotion and beauty that you would expect of one of the 20th century’s most poetic writers despite the often horrific subject matter. An important lament on growing up as a black female in early 20th century America and the power of literature to lift one beyond such inhumanity. THE MAKING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB by Richard Rhodes PLACE ON LIST: 131st ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 358 RHO A Pulitzer Prize winning investigation into the scientific and military context which lead to the Manhattan Project and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. This will interest historians and physicists alike with its depiction of how scientific discovery can be warped into such destructivity. EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVE by Lynne Truss PLACE ON LIST: 352nd ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 421.1 TRU Billed as the zero tolerance approach to punctuation, Truss described how rules relating to punctuation in English and American language have been relaxed in modern times and bemoans the loss of this important aspect of the written form. Written in a relaxed but instructive style it’s a humorous and informative read. HOW TO COOK by Delia Smith PLACE ON LIST: 356th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: 641.5 SMI Long before Delia hit a new level of fame with her drunken battle cry to the supporters of Norwich City, she was revolutionising home cooking with this simple to follow cookery course that took things back to basics and instilled the knowledge of making delicious but nutritious meals in the minds of a new generation. PERSEPOLIS by Marjane Satrapi PLACE ON LIST: 386th ON SHELF IN THE GLYN LIBRARY AT: G/ SAT One of only two graphic novels to break the top 500 (the other being the excellent Maus by Art Spiegelman), Satrapi use the form to great effect in telling her autobiographic tale of growing up in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. It’s a wonderful reflection on war, politics, religion and feminism.
GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell
Reviewed by Polly Halladay
Published in 1936, Gone with the Wind is a historic romance novel that chronologically relays the coming of age of its main character Scarlett O’Hara and her survival through the American Civil War and subsequent era of Reconstruction. Indeed, after reading this novel, all 1037 pages of it, you really feel like you have lived a life. The life of Scarlett in this time and all her trials and tribulations. Being comprised of five parts it is no wonder that you are left feeling this way, though this length makes the story no less hooking and impactful. The book includes an impressive array of themes and events such as slavery, war, romance, passion, jealousy, death and tragedy; and through all this it even ends elusively, giving room for speculation about the future of Mitchell’s richly painted characters. This is seen in the two sequels, Scarlett and Rhett Butler’s People, published more than half a century later. The main character, Scarlett O’Hara is a kick-ass heroine and my favourite aspect of the novel. She is a strong female lead who confidently carries us as readers through her extreme reversal of fortune and wealth. As a modern-day reader I found that I could still relate to Scarlett's passionate and independent spirit, her determination and her obstinate refusal to feel defeated. This suggestion of feminism is significant, as seen in how part of Scarlett tries to rebel against the restraints of a code of behaviour that relentlessly attempts to mould her into a form to which she is not naturally suited. Certainly, there are aspects of her character, such as her deceitfulness, shrewdness, manipulativeness, and superficiality that make her fascinatingly despicable, though no less likable in my opinion. Her main love interest, Rhett Butler, for a romantic like me, is my second favourite aspect of the novel. Equally despicable, he is broodingly portrayed as a scally wag, dandy man, as equally concerned with money and profit as Scarlett and with demons of liquor and prostitutes. These questionable attributes of character and the dark sexuality exhibited in their relationship, for me, act only to add a passionate dimension that helps drive this iconic story. Overall, on finishing Gone with the Wind each setting and character are left drastically altered in comparison to their humble beginnings at the start of the novel, as are we as readers; an impressive literary feet from Mitchell. I, myself felt the need of time to ponder this epic story before I could even think of beginning another book. To conclude, a 2014 poll found Gone with the Wind to be the second favourite book of American readers, just behind the Bible with more than 30 million copies having been printed worldwide. It was the only novel Mitchell produced during her life time and was popular with American readers from the onset. It became the top American fiction bestseller in the year it was published and Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the book in 1937. In 1939 it was adapted into an American film and the novel has been absorbed into American popular culture. Now you can’t argue with that!
THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt
Reviewed by Kirstin Harvey
Any book would be hard to summarise at 864 pages, however this is especially true of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, a novel where most of the intrigue arises through stunning prose - which the subtle, understated complexities of the plot cannot be conveniently described without. That isn’t to say however, that there is no plot, or that it’s entirely overshadowed by prose: the two are perfectly balanced and complimentary, carefully weaving an emotive, yet thoughtprovoking novel. The catalyst of the story is a museum bombing in the pre-teen years of Theo Decker, the central character, resulting in the death of his mother, and his theft of a priceless painting: The Goldfinch. This painting haunts his conscious and subconscious mind, informing his paranoid choices as he enters a world of art crime; echoing across the narrative (even if not specifically referenced). As this painting reverberates through the plot, so do certain characters, such as Boris, his ally through all, and Pippa, a girl he first sees in the museum, his last vision before the bombing starts. Boris continuously appears through coincidence or necessary circumstance, whereas Pippa is at some points seemingly forced into the narrative by Theo’s obsession, perhaps due to his subconscious linking of her and his mother. Donna Tartt writes to provoke a reaction in the reader, even risking to create a restless, somewhat harrowing, tone in some passages, especially, at least for me, at the realisation of Theo’s gradual yet unmistakable downfall. The narrative voice of Theo Decker creates urgency, whether intentionally or not: he grows comfortable with situations you long for him to extract himself from throughout his journey; particularly during the section of the novel set in Vegas. Similarly to The Secret History, another acclaimed novel of Tartt’s total three, the narrator (who is arguably- particularly arguable for The Secret History- the “main” character) is destroyed over the course of the story, from typical and non-remarkable into, well, someone who you’d read a book about. It is, in essence, a Bildungsroman. However, Theo is much more likeable than Richard Papen in The Secret History, and perhaps less self-aware of his own destruction, ensuring you truly mourn his initial character from the beginning of the novel, who has grown- by the endunrecognisable. The Goldfinch is a captivating, enjoyable novel, which I’d wholeheartedly recommend to almost anyone- its plot has such a large scope that at least one factor would have to draw someone in, and if not, then the incredible writing (I cannot emphasise enough how atmospheric Tartt’s almost spiritual description is) may still surprise you, as you are enchanted by this world.
ROOM by Emma Donoghue
Reviewed by Natalie McGhie Whenever you hear about a kidnapping in the news or in an action film, people often wonder what they would do in that situation. Room, a book by Emma Donoghue, takes the reader into this very situation of a young woman kidnapped and held in a shed for seven years, despite her many attempts at escape. What makes this book quite different from other books with much the same plotline is that we do not see from the point of view of the woman; in fact, we never even learn her real name. Rather, we are looking at the world through the eyes of her young son, Jack, who was born inside the shed and has never set one foot outside of it.
Obviously this immediately gives the narrative a rather naïve perspective: Jack does not realize that civilization exists outside of the shed (or “room”, as he likes to call it), and therefore scoffs at his Ma when she explains to him that she has a family, or when she attempts to tell him how she came to be in the shed in the first place. Ma, however, knows that she and Jack can’t last much longer in their confinement, and so starts hatching yet another escape plan. Although the book is split up into many different parts and chapters, it can essentially be broken down into two sections; Jack’s life inside of the shed, and his life outside of it. The book had me cringing to read at some points, especially as many of the more disturbing parts of the story are very subtle, and might take a while to fully come to light. It doesn’t shy away from any detail, so if you’re easily disgusted or sensitive this might not be the book for you. However, whilst it may not appeal to everyone, this most definitely works in the book’s favour, as it keeps the story sticking in your mind long after you have finished it. It also means it’s great for re-reading; I know that I’ve read it a few times now, and keep finding little details I missed beforehand, details that can occasionally change the entire mood of a scene. It’s in these tiny details that Jack’s ignorance about the world really comes into full play. All in all, Room is quite a quick read, due to the simple language and 5-year-old dialogue. Whilst it’s definitely not the best book in the world, I’d definitely recommend it, as it is one of those books where everyone will take away something different from it. Regardless of whether you love or hate Room, it’s unlikely to be a book you’re going to easily forget.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green
Reviewed by Hollie Cornell
John Green’s The Fault in our Stars will take you through a whirlwind of emotions, you’ll go from laughing to crying in a matter of pages. Although, to this day it is one of the best books I have ever read. The story tells about a young girl, HazelGrace who is battling cancer. She is extremely unsociable and rarely leaves the house. However, when her mum encourages her to go to a support group, she meets Augustus Waters, who has just recently beaten cancer. It is the typical boy meets girl love story but much more touching. Plus, I can guarantee you will fall in love with Augustus yourself! John Green takes us through their love story filled with emotion and passion. He shows us that even the shortest amount of time with someone can mean everything. The way cancer is addressed throughout is very clever, considerate, sensitive and ever so compassionate. This book this beautiful, brilliant and breath-taking. It entertains but most of all educates. It will make you value life itself and realise it’s such a wonderful life.
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MOULIN ROUGE directed by Baz Luhrmann
Reviewed by Polly Halladay
Moulin Rouge!, directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, stands out as one of my favourite movies purely due to the fact that you can watch it over and over and never get bored. Released in 2001, set in a 19th Century Paris it tells the tragic romance of a terminally ill Parisian cabaret actress and courtesan, ‘Satine’ played by Nicole Kidman, and a penniless English writer, ‘Christian’ played by Ewan McGregor. In true Luhrmann style this film exhibits a vibrant visual and auditory feast. It employs all the performance arts - drama, dance and song - to create an intensely unique and memorable cinematic experience. It is what is known as a pastiche-jukebox musical that uses an interweaving collage of previously released popular songs as its musical score. In fact, Moulin Rouge! includes so much popular music, from artists such as David Bowie, U2, the Beatles and Elton John, that it took Luhrmann almost two years to secure all the rights to the songs! Cleverly and sometimes comically these songs are contextualised into the dramatic plot which makes the film particularly accessible; especially to sing along too, I myself knowing most if not all of the lyrics and lines in the film. A bonus as well being that the actors can actually sing! As well as soundtrack, the visual composition and art direction is extremely flamboyant and spectacularly opulent with amazing costumes, set designs and dance routines. The story itself revolves around themes of bohemian revolution, romance, jealousy, tragedy, comedy, truth, beauty, freedom and above all, love. Baz Luhrmann himself states, “the whole stylistic premise has been to decode what the Moulin Rouge was to the audiences of 1899 and express that same thrill and excitement in a way to which contemporary moviegoers can relate.” And he achieves this brilliantly. Definitely, my favourite scene is one which expresses the epitome of Christian’s jealousy in a stunning tango against the song ‘El Tango de Roxanne’ adapted from The Police’s ‘Roxanne’. Moulin Rouge! is marketed in ‘The Red Curtain trilogy’ alongside Luhrmann’s two previous films, Strictly Ballroom and Romeo and Juliet which are equally as good; if you love Moulin Rouge! you’ll definitely like these as well. On its release Moulin Rouge! was selected by the National Board of Review as the best film of 2001, picking up 6 Golden Globe nominations, 13 nominations at the BAFTA Awards and 8 Oscar nominations and winning awards for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction. Overall, I really rate this film! The extravagant cinematography, soundtrack and top performances from Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent create a film that is so exciting and enriching with an ending that never fails to make me cry. That’s the test of a good film I think. You know it’s been good if it’s made you cry. This and its sheer uniqueness and memorability is why Moulin Rouge! is one of my favourite films.
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FRANCES HA directed by Noah Baumbach
Reviewed by Kirstin Harvey
Frances Ha is the ultimate movie tribute to female friendships- a real-world phenomenon which is disappointingly underrepresented in movies. It is a comedy, however one with a sentimental, almost rom-com atmosphere at that, despite the refreshing lack of focus on a romantic plot. The movie, directed by Noah Baumbach, is about Frances Halladay (Not Ha- the title does get briefly explained), a 27 year old aspiring- although not particularly talented- dancer, poor and trying to function as “not a real person yet”. Its tone is one of quiet discontent throughout, due to Frances’ precarious living positions and instability, with no particular climax. This- together with its black and white cinematography- could contribute to it growing monotonous and boring, however actually ensures that it feels someone realistic: despite the increasingly common “quarter-life crisis” Frances, like many Millennials, suffers, she is only 27, and has her life ahead of her, the ending begins to suggest, leaving you with a sense of comfortable incompletion. Much like the majority of characters in the film (with the notable exception of Sophie, her best friend), Frances is quirky, artistic, and not quite grown-up, in a weird middle phase between independence and, well, dependence. She appears more detached from reality than her varied friends and acquaintances, reoccurring in brief snapshots, perhaps because she is less “together” than them. However, she doesn’t fall into the “manic pixie dream girl” male fantasy stereotype: Frances, played by Greta Gerwig, is a believable, messy character, who would probably fall more into the category of “annoying” in real life. These aforementioned acquaintances, although nice enough friends (and very varied, italicized characters), have no particular role or significance in her life; they are “coffee” friends or friends of friends, who won’t live up to the devotion she feels for Sophie. Sophie, however, doesn’t feel the same school-ground loyalty to her partner in crime, choosing to move out of their shared apartment and in with her boyfriend- causing the distance which leads to the “breakup” sense of the movie, as opposed to Frances’ forgettable actual boyfriend breaking up with her in one of the initial scenes. Frances Ha is probably a perfect movie to watch with someone going through a break upunlike the typical romantic comedy clichéd to watch in this circumstance, the triumph is overcoming the distance and realising that their friendship is still, invariably important. It isn’t only perfect to watch in that situation; for a generation (to be borderline cheesy) grown up to fear quarter-life failure and reliance on their parents into their late twenties, it is somewhat a comfort, if not just a nice film to watch when you’re feeling down, or tired, or any way.
BIRDMAN (OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Reviewed by Jade Mansbridge BIRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a black comedy directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu that tells the story of an actor, played by Michael Keaton– famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. Battling against himself, his alter ago and the crumbling network of support around him, Keaton attempts to redefine his career and create a name for himself that doesn’t revive his clinging past self as Birdman. Other actors and actresses in Birdman include Edward Norton and Emma Stone, who were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Role.
Winner of multiple Academy Awards such as Best Picture, Best Direction and Original Screenplay, Birdman received lots of praise – but for me, it was the cinematography which really stood out. Iñárritu wanted the film to look as smooth as possible and used interesting transitions between scenes to create the effect that it was shot in just one take, no fast cut editing. In fact, in the whole film, there are only sixteen visible cuts. This, accompanied by Antonio Sanchez’s celebrated musical score, performed almost entirely by drums, certainly works to create a unique and lively atmosphere for the film. There are many difficult feelings and emotions portrayed in this film, such as crumbling relationships, isolation, depression and more. Birdman is not a light-hearted family film – its focus on the hard hitting, inevitable difficulties of life proves this. Granted, Birdman is a love-or-hate film and has often been noted as pretentious and overly complex, but for me, the storyline is one of hope and hard work – and paired with the visual effects and wacky storyline the film is both relatable and bizarre at the same time. To finish, I would recommend Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) for its amazing actor performances, unique and rare storyline, and sheer brilliance of setting and cinematography. Its dark themes and layered characters help to bring emphasis to the struggle in our world to become successful, especially when your biggest competitor is yourself. With its lively and wonderfully over the top dynamism, Birdman sure does put on a show.
THE STAR WARS SAGA directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner & Richard Marquand. Reviewed by Mike Jones With JJ Abrams’ Episode 7: The Force Awakens due in cinemas in just over a month and with reviews in this issue introducing our favourite resources in the library it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to preach to you all about my love of Star Wars! Thankfully, we only ever contain articles in the Reviewsletter about items that we have in the Glyn Library collection and so I need make no further mention of the prequels. I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with George Lucas’s space epic, to the extent that during my A-levels my English Language teacher pleaded with my folks at parents evening to ask me to write about any other subject, having compared the language of the script and novelisation for my coursework and written a Star Wars based story for the creative writing element of my mock exam, amongst other scribblings. So what is it about the films that still keeps my interest piqued? For me I think it’s about the richness of the filmic world that Lucas created. It feels lived in, there’s an implied history and a feeling that what we are seeing is just a snapshot of a far larger story, a story that I want to hear every line of. For me, the real stars of the series are the design team. They take very recognisable Earth bound locations such as a desert, a forest, snowy mountains and through the addition of other worldly technology and characters make them seem completely alien. There’s also the way in which they manage to design vehicles and sets which look effortlessly cool yet at the same time completely practical and operational. Key to all of this is maintaining a degree of verisimilitude. Everything feels like it belongs in the world of the film, it seems organic to the galaxy they have created. The other aspect that is integral to the richness of the film is the sound design. Ben Burtt was deservedly awarded a special recognition Oscar for his sound effects work on the first Star Wars film. His sound design brings to life inanimate objects in a way which engages with the audience. He created noises which were unique and are now instantly recognisable, from the hum of a lightsaber or roar of a TIE fighter, to the jaunty beeps of R2-D2 and the textured growls of Chewbacca. This coupled with John Williams’ timeless score creates a complete package that is as much a feast for the ears as it is the eyes.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB INTRODUCES… In a new feature for the Reviewsletter the Graphic Novel Club will be presenting a write up of their discussions at their fortnightly meetings, introducing you to some of the varied selections available in our collection. Here you’ll find write up of their first two meetings at which they discussed one of British comics most lauded writers and a genre which transcends the comic and manga forms… Our first meeting to discuss our chosen topic, Alan Moore certainly didn’t disappoint, as we discussed his weaving tales of oppressive governments, murderous psychopaths, and the definitive appearance of The Joker.
The Killing Joke
A particularly controversial outing for The Joker, he commits some of his worst crimes, soon to be immortalised as the first Batman R rated animation. Beginning with the escape of the madman, we watch as he has a devastating impact on the life of Barbara Gordon, and gain a vital insight into the mind of this psychopath, a theory of his origins, turning this symbol of human evil, into someone bizarrely relatable.
Watchmen
A twist on the typical superhero genre, this dark take takes us away from the gleaming spires of Metropolis, and dumps us into the cold reality, as Moore expertly crafts the story, and it is well worth going back through this one, just to see all the extra details you missed last time. Following the trail of a “Mask Killer”, the shadowy Rorschach takes us into the very depths of human depravity. Thanks to one of our brilliant members, we even got to see the original comics!
V For Vendetta
One of the most detailed of Alan Moore’s works, we are tossed into an alternate future which would be more likely found in Orwellian fiction, than the realm of the comic. We watch as our versatile, verbose “hero” V takes on this sinister government in the guise of Guy Fawkes, what follows is a tale of rebellion. One of the more notable parts of V For Vendetta, is the role which the side-characters play, as it becomes a tangled web which would only lead to destruction.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Another bizarre twist on several genres, as Moore takes characters from completely different universes and mixes them together in a freakish fantasy world. This world is completely bizarre, as we see the end of the greatest detective Sherlock Holmes. From there, it only gets weirder, with stories like War of the Worlds even making an appearance at one point. Another dark work, it has to be said that this is not for the faint hearted.
We also saw mentions of two lesser known works of Moore’s:
Top 10
You’re a superhero, he’s a superhero, everyone's a superhero! In a world where everyone is a superhero, with all the usual trappings of secret identities etc. What really makes this series pop is its many different settings, from superheroes to fantasy to the 1940’s, this is an adventure which is definitely worth your time.
Mogo Doesn’t Socialise
Four words, Planet Sized Green Lantern, which is all you need to know that this is something worth checking out. However, if this still hasn’t convinced you, it is the tale of a bounty hunter and his hunt for the Green Lantern known as Mogo. He arrives on the planet, and begins to search its forests, you can guess the rest. Our second topic, Horror, a bit late for Halloween, yet we push on regardless. We discussed many things, as well as our chosen comics, including which movies we would like to see get a graphic novel adaptation, which then turned a more general discussion around graphic novelisation, with more serie’s having received this treatment than we thought. Our chosen topic for next week is Indie, including any manga, comics and webcomics, however for now, our Horror books:
Outcast
A tale as horrible as it is terrifying, Outcast deals with the subject of demonic possession, and the one man who has the ability to tip the balance. Not one for the faint-hearted, as truly grotesque acts are performed, from the eating of a baby, to the murder of a mother.
Uzumaki
From the legendary Junji Ito , creator of Fragments of Horror and Gyo, this tale of spirals is maddening, as we watch one town’s descent into absolute chaos, as the cycle of the spiral spins. This bizarre manga is very creative in its techniques, don’t go in expecting any normal type of gore, or jumpscare.
The Witching Hour
Intricately crafted, this is a graphic novel you have to read twice to understand. As fascinating as it is horrifying, this story follows several witches and wizards as they go around our world, offering choices and causing either suffering or bliss.
Coraline
An old favorite, the comic of the book, which inspired the movie, don’t go in expecting that charm, or song. This version is much scarier, as it stays truer to its source material, and you are presented with the blunt truth of what Coraline encounters, rather than the, literal, song and dance of the movie.
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.
GYO. Written and drawn by Junji Ito
Reviewed by Matthew Baxter
With a bizarre premise, Gyo is a horror manga by the legendary Junji Ito, who also created the spiral manga, Uzamaki. This is not the first, nor doubtless the last time that Junji has looked to the more bizarre aspects of horror, in Uzumaki it was spirals and in Gyo, well… It starts with fish, fish that can walk on land, fish with legs. No matter how you say it, it seems bizarre, an interesting use of subversion in order to hammer home a real sense of terror, that the creatures of the deep, of the unknown will manage to rise to land in order to defeat us humans. It gets weirder. As the story progresses, the monster of the manga changes, for instance, in a minor spoiler, it is not fish but gas. The story only gets more bizarre from thereon, with circuses, a government conspiracy and even a giant blimp showing up at one point. This assortment of the uncanny is only put even further into the reader’s mind as a horrible, terrifying predicament through the amazing artwork, which really captures the beings that Junji shows us throughout the manga. Of course, as is typical in Junji’s work the love of a young couple is the unifying theme, even as the world around them grows increasingly unrecognisable. Another little bonus can be found at the end of the second volume, a small set of stories which have increasingly chilling stories to tell, including the story of a man who fell under the supporting beam of his own house. I would recommend this manga to any fans of unconventional horror, as no clichéd zombies or ghouls are to be found here. We have both volumes of this short manga in the library, and I would also recommend you to check out Junji’s other work Uzumaki while you’re there, as it’s longer and has a lot more to tell.
WATCHMEN. Written by Alan Moore, art by Dave Gibbons
Reviewed by Matthew Baxter
Far from the gleaming heroes of Marvel and DC, there lies a darker side of the superhero business and this gritty take on superheroes takes us all the way down into the world of the Cold War. From the legendary Alan Moore, responsible for such classics such as The Killing Joke, and V for Vendetta, we see what happens when heroes meet the paranoid minds of post-war America. I’ll begin by telling you a few things about the characters, most of which are retired heroes, starting with the infamous Rorschach. With a mask taking after the ink blot test, this is the brutal vigilante who didn’t go into retirement. His identity is mysterious and his morals are as grey as the overcast sky hanging over the city. He used to be part of a group of heroes called the Watchmen, a group of heroes who came together in order to fight crime. Other members include Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Jupiter and the extremely powerful doctor Manhattan. This group now lies shattered. As for Nite Owl, there are two, one who retired long ago, due to age, and the new one, who retired due to the police strike. With an array of gadgets that mimics Batman’s arsenal, he was the tech side of the group. Ozymandias was the world’s smartest man, retiring before the others, revealing himself and starting his own, extremely successful company. Doctor Manhattan is a mysterious being, with powers that allow him to change anything, to a molecular level, this allows him to do anything from telekinesis, teleportation to even shooting beams of destruction from his hands. He retired and now works for the government, mainly as a deterrent for the Russians. His wife, Jupiter was also a hero, taking after her, now retired, mother.
There is one who I didn’t mention, The Comedian, think J Jonah Jameson meets Rambo. Like Manhattan, he worked for the government, an enforcer notable for his work in Vietnam, the reason I use the word “worked” is because The Comedian is dead. For readers who are faint of heart, they may wish to stay away from this, as it features many dark themes, such as rape, child abuse and feeding little children to a pair of German Shepherds. The art style fits this darkness, and I really have to give Gibbons his due on the art work. In fact, when you’re finished reading, I would recommend you quickly take a look back, as there are many things which you would have missed on the first reading, which are left cleverly hidden. With many motifs it certainly is a treat when an illustrator manages to fit the art so perfectly with the plot. Sprinkled throughout there are also hefty chunks of writing, mainly from the fictional book of the old NiteOwl, detailing his past. If you have the time, I would most definitely recommend reading these, as they deliver a great amount of insight into the previous hero group, the Minutemen. Also, I would advise you to have patience when it comes to the pirate comic interspersed, while it does take a while, the payoff is most definitely worth the wait. Finally, it would be a crime for me not to mention the mystery which continues throughout the novel, when I mentioned The Comedian was dead, it would have been more accurate to say that The Comedian was murdered, this single act leads into a conspiracy which is a joy to behold, with twists and turns at every corner. I give Watchmen my utmost recommendation, as in my opinion, it is a must read for any fan of superhero comics.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: DYING WISH. Written by Dan Slott, art by Richard Elson. Reviewed by Matthew Baxter Ever thought that Spider-Man had no more ticks to play? That the dull and dreary adventures of angst-ridden Peter Parker no longer held any adventure? Well, Dying Wish is a breath of fresh air for the Superhero, as he battles his oldest foe for the last time. In a stunning move, Doctor Octopus, on his deathbed, switches Peter’s mind and his own. In simple terms, Doc Oct is now in Spider-man’s body, with Peter in Doc’s failing one. What follows is one of the most exciting adventure I’ve seen from the web-slinger, as he teams up with other villains to take down “Spider-Man”. Along the way there are revelations, twists and turns, involving well-known villains. The art style is absolutely fantastic, from the locations to the characters, it’s all visually stunning. I have to say, Peter in Doc Oct’s tattered body is one of the best character designs I have seen in a long time, and every time he’s shown he always looks great. Now, I’m about to talk about the ending, so if you don’t want spoilers I’d suggest you stop reading here. For those who are willing, the ending is one of the most subversive and controversial in recent memory. Playing on the reader’s expectations, we assume foolishly that Peter will win, that he would take back his own body… He doesn’t, Peter dies. However, before he leaves this mortal coil, he runs Doc Oct through all his memories, making him see the errors of villainy, and making him a hero. With references dating back all the way to the first ever issue of Spider-Man, it’s an awe inspiring end, as we witness the birth of the Superior Spider-Man!
CREDO REFERENCE
CREDO Reference provides access to 688 reference books via a searchable database. It contains dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopaedias, quotations and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific titles covering everything from the arts to accountancy, science to Shakespeare and law to literature. It is excellent for academic definitions of terms and for reading around subjects. Credo also offers a range of tools to help with finding quotations, pronunciation of tricky words and biographies as well as a mind map option. Access is automatic at college - an Athens account is required if accessing from a non-college computer (including smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks). Some examples of titles available via Credo:
HISTORY STUDY CENTRE New online resource - History Study Centre History Study Centre is an online resource providing a vast collection of digitised primary and secondary sources for the study of history. History Study Centre covers global history from ancient times to the present day. Contents include reference books, essays, journal articles, historical newspaper and magazine articles, maps, rare books, government documents, transcripts of historical speeches, images and video clips. History Study Centre provides over 40,000 documents and articles, with over 50 reference works, 3,000 images and links to 2,000 Web sites. Access is automatic from college PCs, from home an Athens account is required. See this link via Google Docs for some highlights
MIGRATION AND THE EUROPEAN REFUGEE CRISIS.
A journal review by Steve Squibbs
This edition of the Reviewsletter looks at a subject that has rarely been out of the news since April this year, when in the space of one week an estimated 1,200 people lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Newspaper coverage of the European refugee crisis over the summer was dominated by alarmist and often deeply offensive headlines, such as the Daily Mail’s “The ‘swarm’ on our streets”. But a popular up swell of support among ordinary people, in response to the heartbreaking image of the body of three year old Aylan Kurdi being lifted from a Turkish beach, marked a u-turn in some papers’ coverage of the crisis. Clearly, the issue of migration and refugees is one that evokes strong emotions, which is why debate should be well-informed and grounded in fact. The following articles from a selection of our journals are not free from bias, but they do often provide a more thoughtful and considered perspective than much of the output contained in the daily press, with more space to develop arguments, consider the statistical data available, or to cover the firsthand accounts of those trying to reach Europe… Two separate articles in the current edition of Geography Review take a broader look at the changing patterns and impact of migration from other EU countries to the UK over the past 20 years (Ferreira, 2015), as well as analysing net migration figures for the UK, including immigration data from non-EU countries (West, 2015).
Elsewhere in Geography Review Richard Black (2015) considers the factors which can influence the personal decisions around migration. Black looks at how future trends might be predicted, by identifying drivers of migration and the way they interact with one another and the human ‘actors’ that are making migration decisions. The complexity of factors that lead people to migrate is also witnessed first-hand by Owen Jones (2015), writing in the New Statesman, when he visits the refugee camp in Calais known as the “Jungle”. Here he discovers that the distinction between refugee and migrant is not as clear-cut as politicians would have us believe. Meanwhile a special feature in The Sunday Times Magazine features two reports that tell some of the human stories behind the headlines - AA Gill (2015) joins Syrian refugees on their long walk through the Balkans, and Christina Lamb (2015) reports from on board a rescue boat in the southern Mediterranean. However, Rodney Benson (2015) writing in Le Monde Diplomatique, argues that while migrants’ stories deserve to be told, too often the focus on individuals is a distraction from the wider political issues at stake. Elsewhere in Le Diplo Hana Jaber (2015) looks at how the numbers of Syrian refugees reaching Europe is far less than that taken in by Syria’s neighbours, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. In
this context Mark Rowe (2015), in Geographical, asks whether the response by European politicians to the crisis is in fact eroding international obligations to help refugees. Articles:
Finally, The Economist is a regular source of reliable information on migration and the current refugee crisis, with an editorial stance that consistently argues for the economic benefits of migration to European countries.
Benson, R. (2015) 'The story behind the stories', Le Monde Diplomatique, (1505, May), pp. 4-6. Black, R. (2015) 'Understanding migration: can we predict the future?’, Geography Review, 28 (4), pp. 2831. Ferreira, J. (2015) ‘EU migration to the UK’, Geography Review, 29(1), pp. 2-5. Gill, AA. (2015) 'This was never supposed to happen again', The Sunday Times Magazine, (October 18), pp. 12-26. Jaber, H. (2015) 'Neighbouring states', Le Monde Diplomatique (1510, October), pp. 1-3. Jones, O. (2015) '"They forget we are humans"', New Statesman, (14-20 August), pp. 24-29. Lamb, C. (2015) '"My sister died on the boat"', The Sunday Times Magazine, (October 18), pp. 28-36. Rowe, M. (2015) 'The great escape', Geographical, 87 (7), pp. 38-45. West, E. (2015) ‘UK migration trends: analysing the data, Geography Review, 29(1), pp. 29-31.
NOW IN STOCK OR ON ORDER… Fiction: Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant – we weren’t certain that this title would appeal to college students, but have nevertheless ordered the first title in the series... We will monitor issues before ordering any further titles, and would also value your feedback – let us know what you think and if you want us to order more in the series. Manga & Graphic Novels: We have ordered the first 3 volumes of No Game, No Life as well as the first 2 volumes of both Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida and Doubt by Yoshiki Tonogai. Non-fiction: In response to a request for Introductory Nursing course books we have ordered An Introduction to Nursing: theory and practice by Mary Henry and the Oxford Dictionary of Nursing. We have ordered From Gore to Mordor as requested, as well as Peter Jackson: A Film-maker’s journey by Brian Sibley. How to Ace you A Levels is also on order and will be available to borrow shortly. Film: We didn’t hesitate to order the original Footloose starring Kevin Bacon, but if you were actually after the 2012 remake then do let us know. Similarly, we interpreted a request for The Grudge to be for the original Japanese film, which is now on order, but if you meant the Sarah Michelle Geller remake do come and tell us. Anime movie Summer Wars has been ordered as has Pixar’s Inside Out, although the latter is not released until 23rd November. Avengers – Age of Ultron is available on our shelves to borrow now. Journals & Magazines: After repeated requests we have bowed to popular pressure, and taken out a subscription to Vice Magazine – the first copy arrived just before half-term and takes the issue of prisons and incarceration as its theme. You will find it in the ‘Culture’ section on the magazine spinners – enjoy!
SORRY, WE WON’T BE GETTNG THESE, OR WE NEED SOME FURTHER DETAILS… Fiction: Of Mice & Men - We already have 2 copies of the book and a copy of the DVD. Manga & Graphic Novels: Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Unfortunately this manga title is currently out of print and is very expensive to buy, even second-hand. If it comes back in to print we will order a copy. Neither will we be purchasing a copy of Y: The Last Man: Vol. 7 - Library policy is to only ever order the first 6 volumes of any graphic novel or manga title, due to space constraints - sorry! Somebody had left a request for “more manga” – if you let us know the names of titles you would like to see on our shelves we will gladly look at ordering more! Non-fiction: The German Ideology by Marx & Engels – we already have a copy. “Sue Palmer – Response to Revolution: The USA & the Cuban Revolution” - Did you mean Response to revolution by Richard E Welch Jr? Come and let us know and we’ll order it. “Sewing Books” - we do stock a range of books on sewing and embroidery at 746.44 (view a full list here), but do let us know if there’s anything specific you’d like to see added to our collection. Film: “Cinderella” - we already have the animated Cinderella DVD - if you meant another version let us know. “Studio Ghibli Films” – we have a good range of Studio Ghibli films available in the Japanese section in the mobile shelving (view the list here). Let us know, however, if there are any particular titles you’d like to see added. Torchwood - We have series one of the show and don’t currently have plans to add the second. Red Dwarf – We think this might be a bit dated for our students… are we wrong? Let us know… Journals & Magazines: National Geographic – The Library already subscribes to Geographical, New Scientist and Ethical Consumer, which all have a degree of overlap with National Geographic – let us know, however, if there is a particular aspect of its coverage that you feel is not represented by the journals we have cited.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS… “A place to put bags” - This would be difficult to manage securely. Can you tell us why you would like to leave your bag? “Phone Chargers” - There are too many variants of chargers to be able to cater for everyone’s needs. However, if you make sure you are connected to the College Wi-Fi this will help save your battery (and your data allowance!) - ask a member of library staff if you need help doing this.
RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS…
We’d love to hear from you about what you think of the Library services and resources. If there’s a book, DVD, journal or online resource you’d like us to stock let us know. Or if you have any comments about the library service and improvements you’d like to see, again, let us know. Contact us via the following methods…
email us via library@barton.ac.uk
tweet us to @GlynLibrary
fill in the online suggestions talk to our helpful and form via our Moodle site friendly library staff