News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

To mark New Zealand Music Month our librarians have been thinking about local music memories, albums and artists. Here’s what Svend had to say:

If you’re looking for an introduction to a bunch of good New Zealand music at the electronica/dance/dub end of the spectrum, the LOOP compilations are a great place to start. They were released around the turn of the century, but many of the artists featured on these albums are still making cool music, and the library has a fairly good selection of them; it can be interesting to look at how they’ve changed over time, and interacted with each other.

For example, listening to the first, unnumbered LOOP compilation, the catchy breakbeats of Minuit might catch your ear, leading you to their EP Luck; or you might enjoy Species II from LOOP Select 003 (also on their first album, The 88):

<a href=”http://minuit.bandcamp.com/track/species-ii” mce_href=”http://minuit.bandcamp.com/track/species-ii”>Species II by Minuit</a>

But they haven’t stayed still. For example, if you listened to their recent albums, like Find Me Before I Die A Lonely Death.com, you’d find the expected tracks that menacingly whir and click along, like “Run Run” (with the awesome opening line, “I’m not so brave; I’m just surrounded by cowards…”); but there are also stripped back, almost folksy tracks like “Vampires”:

<a href=”http://minuit.bandcamp.com/track/vampires” mce_href=”http://minuit.bandcamp.com/track/vampires”>Vampires by Minuit</a>

Or there’s the unstoppable Rhian Sheehan, whose dreamy electronic soundscapes are all over the various LOOP compilations. He’s ended up doing a lot of film and television work (and, thanks to an agreement between LOOP and the 48HR Film Competition, can be heard over the credits of a surprising number of ramshackle short films). Here’s a live version of the first track from his album Standing In Silence:

Rhian Sheehan – Standing in Silence Pt.1 (Live) by Rhian Sheehan

Or how about the rambling but funky supergroup Fat Freddy’s Drop, whose first album Live at the Matterhorn (with the iconic Bucket Fountain on the cover) manages to make four tracks jam for an hour. Their album Based On A True Story is slightly less meandering, but no less soulful, as the track “Wandering Eye” demonstrates:

Of course, the other nice thing about Fat Freddy’s Drop is that it’s a springboard into a whole constellation of bands… but it might be better if that was another post.

Take a look at this glorious range of fresh ideas and decorating schemes featured in this selection of craft books. Choose from modern and traditional quilt projects to timeless knitting patterns and draw inspiration from a do-it-yourself guide how to enrich the character of your home with individual panache. Have fun!

Modern minimal : 20 bold & graphic quilts / Alissa Haight Carlton.
“This book is a beautiful collection of 20 modern quilt projects. Alissa’s designs emphasize the use of solid fabrics, negative space, asymmetry, and a simplicity that allows the quilts to make entirely on a home sewing machine. I can’t wait to make at least one of these quilts! This book beautifully showcases the modern quilt aesthetic. Her instructions are clear and concise, great for my beginner/high beginner skill level, and I love how she offers more than one way to quilt each blanket. The quilts vary in size, but I think for quilters with some experience it will be easy enough to make them larger or smaller if you want. Her color choices are beautiful, and the patterns would still look great with some prints swapped in, and still maintain the modern look. I have made “mosaic,” and it turned out great, looking more complicated than it was. I look forward to working though the rest of the quilts.” – (adapted from Amazon.com summary)

Star struck quilts : dazzling diamonds & traditional blocks : 13 skill-building projects / Barbara H. Cline.
“This book includes complete instructions for 9 wall hangings, which can then be transformed into 27 bed-sized quilts. Barbara shares many valuable life lessons and shows you how to achieve the fine workmanship found in the quilts made in her Mennonite community.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Quilting step by step / Maggi Gordon.
“Patchwork and quilting is all the rage at the moment and, with Quilting Step by Step you’ll be making perfect patchwork in no time. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned stitcher already, find out how to create over 70 inspiring block designs from ‘Lady of the Lake’ to ‘Folded Stars’.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Barn quilts and the American Quilt Trail movement / Suzi Parron with Donna Sue Groves.
“When German immigrants arrived in America, they brought with them a passion for brightly colored geometric patterns that they stitched into quilts that kept them toasty on frigid winter nights. They also decorated their otherwise plain barns with hex signs serving as talismans or as purely exuberant decoration. A decade ago, an enterprising Ohioan combined these traditions and mounted outsize quilt patterns in bright colors on old barns. Others quickly followed suit, and now many Midwestern and Eastern states have quilt trails that tourists pursue in outdoor museums of folk art. Parron and Groves have documented these trails with full-color photographs that show how imaginative many artists have become, incorporating butterflies, horses, flags, and other natural and man-made designs within the more abstract geometries of traditional barn quilts. The text profiles many of the artists whose work dazzlingly enlivens America’s farm country.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Feminine knits : 22 timeless designs / Lene Holme Samsøe ; [translation, Carol Huebscher Rhoades].
“Fall in love with knitting all over again with this intriguing pattern collection that blends captivating designs with flattering, feminine silhouettes. Knitters will be eager to start and delighted to finish each project that includes skirts, jackets, tank tops, pullovers, and accessories. An excellent showcase of texture, lace, and unusual pattern construction, each project is inspired by current and vintage fashion and the mathematical aspect of design. Featuring projects for every season, skill level, time commitment, and occasion, each collection is full of elegant finishing and the kind of impeccable detail that makes transforms each piece into a classic. This manual, packed to the brim with timeless yet fashionable patterns, also features beautiful photographs that highlight the detail and feminine silhouettes of each finished piece.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Knitting everyday finery : practical designs for dressing up in little ways / Mel Clark ; photography by Helen Bankers.
“This book is a comforting treat! Like a cup of tea in the afternoon – an instant pick-me-up! It’s not surprising as its author is Mel Clark. Every page is simply drenched in gorgeous visuals and the projects are little treasures, full of charmingly thought out details. Photography is uncluttered and seductive and the patterns all look to be straightforward, most easy enough for beginners. It’s a bonus that readily available yarns are used for the designs and also information is included about substitute yarns. Some of the favourite projects are: The Heroine Hood: The shape of this hood is super flattering, the pattern has sufficient detail to be interesting but easy enough to be a relaxing knit – especially in the suggested cashmere yarn. It will be perfect for winter to wear outdoors as a hood or indoors as a cowl.The Tweed Hat and Scarf: Men prefer very simple knits – this is the perfect set. Also, who doesn’t love a photo of a lovely young man holding a barnyard bird! Mrs. Lovechild Shawl: A lovely design, easy knitting, perfect size and shape – and a collar! Shiraz Slippers: At long last, felted slippers with a sexy shape. How fun!” – (adapted from Amazon.com summary)

Custom crocheted sweaters : make garments that really fit / Dora Ohrenstein ; [photography, Scott Jones].
“It is possible to go through the whole process of making a sweater, only to find that it doesn’t fit quite right. Ohrenstein guides readers through making sweaters that fit, deflating common fears along the way. She doesn’t just want you to follow instructions; she wants you to grasp the technique of how sweaters are constructed, with the idea that once you understand the concept, you can alter, customize, and even change the project to suit your fit and style. This is not for beginners but, rather, for crocheters who want to take their craft to the next level in combining creativity with technical construction. Included are 10 sweater designs with alterations. Each pattern includes discussion of technique and lessons, with emphasis on understanding how the garment is put together and including helpful side notes. Challenge yourself under the caring guidance of this designer, writer, teacher, and professional singer (also author of Crochet Insider’s Passion for Fashion, 2008, and Creating Crochet Fabric, 2010, and founder-editor of crochetinsider.com).” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Super-cute pincushions : 35 adorable pincushions all stitchers will love / Kate Haxell.
“Create your own pretty and practical pincushions with step-by-step designs for the cute and quirky or the vintage and chic. A pincushion, like any other piece of equipment, should be fit for purpose and the filling is important too! A carborundum or sand-filled pincushion will keep pins sharp and bright and you’ll find a note with each project recommending the best fillings fir it. Work with a range of materials including seed beads, buttons, ticking, felt and ribbon and check out the various techniques and templates.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Living in a nutshell : posh and portable decorating ideas for small spaces / Janet Lee ; photography by Aimée Herring.
“A do-it-yourself guide to transforming the smallest of spaces into fun and functional living areas easily and economically features tips on organization, personalization, and using colors and vintage materials.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

The homemade home for children : 50 thrifty and chic projects for creative parents / Sania Pell.
“Stunning and packed with really inspirational ideas for any parent to make for all age groups of children. I didn’t want to put it down but my 12 year old daughter Isabella got hold of it and ear marked her favourite projects straight away. The design work that Sania Pell has created is something so precious you would want to do if just for a special keepsake.” – (adapted from Amazon.co.uk summary)

The “transit of Venus” is one of the oldest predictable astronomical phenomena, occurring in pairs, 8 years apart, every 105 and 121 years. Thanks to Johannes Kepler and his work in planetary motion , the first transit was predicted to occur in 1631, but was unobservable from Europe. Following some re-working of Kepler’s work, Jeremiah Horrocks was the first man to witness a transit of Venus. From the data he collected he was able to roughly work out the size of Venus, and how far the earth was from the sun.

Since then transits were witnessed in 1761, 1769, 1874, 1882 and 2004. With each passing transit astronomers have been able to improve upon the original work started by Kepler. Although the advances made in technology since 1882 have lessened the scientific importance of the transit, one cannot understate the importance it had in the early days of astronomy and helping us to understand our solar system…. plus it won’t happen again till 2117!.

Books

Transit of Venus : 1631 to the present / Nick Lomb.
“The transit of Venus across the sun in June 2012 will be the last chance in our lifetime to see this rare planetary alignment that has been so important in history. Rich in historical detail and cutting edge science, along with practical information on how and when to view the transit, Transit of Venus is the must-have companion to this extraordinary astronomical event. From Johannes Kepler’s first prediction of a transit of Venus in 1631, to Captain Cook’s 1769 transit expedition to Tahiti (which led to the European settlement of Australia), and on to our 21st-century quest to find distant Earth-like planets using the transit method, astronomer Nick Lomb takes us on a thrilling journey of exploration and adventure.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

June 8, 2004 : Venus in transit / Eli Maor.
“On June 8, 2004, Venus will cross the sun’s face for the first time since 1882. Eli Maor tells the intriguing tale of the five Venus transits previously observed and the fantastic efforts made to record them. This is a story of heroes and cowards, of reputations earned and squandered, all told against a backdrop of phenomenal geopolitical and scientific change. With a novelist’s talent for the details that keep readers reading late, Maor tells the stories of how Kepler’s misguided theology led him to the laws of planetary motion; of obscure Jeremiah Horrocks, who predicted the 1639 transit only to die, at age 22, a day before he was to discuss the event with the only other human known to have seen it; of the unfortunate Le Gentil, whose decade of labor was rewarded with obscuring clouds, shipwreck, and the plundering of his estate by relatives who prematurely declared him dead; of David Rittenhouse, Father of American Astronomy, who was overcome by the 1769 transit’s onset and failed to record its beginning; and of Maximilian Hell, whose good name long suffered from the perusal of his transit notes by a color-blind critic. Moving beyond individual fates, Maor chronicles how governments’ participation in the first international scientific effort–the observation of the 1761 transit from seventy stations, yielding a surprisingly accurate calculation of the astronomical unit using Edmund Halley’s posthumous directions–intersected with the Seven Years’ War, British South Seas expansion, and growing American scientific prominence. Throughout, Maor guides readers to the upcoming Venus transits in 2004 and 2012, opportunities to witness a phenomenon seen by no living person and not to be repeated until 2117″ – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The transit of Venus : how a rare astronomical alignment changed the world : the collected lectures of the Royal Society of New Zealand transit of Venus series broadcast on Radio New Zealand.
Introduction / Marilyn Head — Search for the lost continent / Hamish Campbell — The road to Stonehenge / Richard Hall — A brillant civilisation / Peter Adds — To the farthest ends of the Earth / Duncan Steel — Voyaging with Cook / Anne Salmond — Travels in time and space / Paul Callaghan.

and for the CD of these lectures :

Transit of Venus lectures [sound recording]
“On Disc 1, Dr Hamish Campbell talks about the origins of New Zealand, especially from the split from Gondwanaland, and the development of our unique flora and fauna; on Disc 2, Richard Hall’s lecture the Tent fires of antiquity: exploring the early origins of astronomy explores the use of the stars by ancient peoples; on Disc 3, Dr. Peter Adds’ lecture Pacific voyaging and navigation explores the use of the stars by Pacific navigators; on Disc 4 Dr Duncan Steele discusses the history and prediction of the Transit of Venus, why it is important to astronomers and navigators, and its importance to New Zealand and Pacific history; on Disc 5 Dame Anne Salmond discusses the importance of James Cook’s 1769 voyage and cultural contact between the Europeans and Pacific and New Zealand peoples; on Disc 6 Prof. Paul Callaghan looks at Voyages of the future: what are the challenges in the search for the dark matter, other life, and other universes.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Websites

• Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand: Has instructions for viewing the transit, what you can expect to see, and viewing times.
• Nasa: The 2012 Transit of Venus: Shows viewing places, and has a nice history of the transit.
• Nasa: Sun Earth day: View a live stream of the transit from a camera on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
• Transit of Venus: This site is packed with history, old diary entries, you can buy transit mechandise and even get an app!!

Two of the thinking woman’s most popular novelists have produced new books this year and we have recently welcomed them in to the library. In different ways, they explore the difficulty of meeting the many demands of modern life.

The new Anne Tyler is charming, one of her best yet. The characters are so finely realised that it is difficult to realise that they are not living people.

Many women who are tired of trying to be everything everyone expects them to be will empathise with the heroine of Sue Townsend’s ‘The woman who went to bed for a year”. This is British black humour at its best and will will attract an appreciative audience.

Both books are already proudly wearing “Librarians Choice” badges – your guarantee of a good read!!

The beginner’s goodbye : a novel / by Anne Tyler
“Tyler’s bright charm resides in her signature blend of the serious with the larky. Adept at dissecting family life, she is also intrigued by lonely guys, the focus in The Accidental Tourist (1985), A Patchwork Planet (1998), and Noah’s Compass (2009). Her newest variation on this theme is an exceptionally lithe, sparkling, and covertly philosophical tale, set, as all her novels are, in Baltimore. Hampered with a crippled leg and arm, Aaron has always refused to be coddled, fending off his guilt-ridden mother and strong-willed sister. He married Dorothy, a doctor, because he loved her brusqueness and pragmatism. He is devastated when she dies in a freak accident that destroys their house until Dorothy begins returning from beyond. These precious, if mysterious, encounters are all that matter to Aaron. He moves in with his sister, turns his wrecked house over to Gil, a sympathetic contractor, and barricades himself in his office at his family’s vanity press to avoid frilly, cookie-baking, overly helpful Peggy. The press stays afloat by selling its Beginner’s series, little how-to books that Tyler astutely uses to illuminate how ill-prepared we are for life’s relentless demands. As Gil restores Aaron’s home, Aaron slowly rebuilds his life in this funny, sweet, and wise tale of lost and found love.” (Publisher Weekly)

The woman who went to bed for a year / Sue Townsend.
“The day her children leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. She’s had enough – of her kids’ carelessness, her husband’s thoughtlessness and of the world’s general indifference. Brian can’t believe his wife is doing this. Who is going to make dinner? Taking it badly, he rings Eva’s mother – but she’s busy having her hair done. So he rings his mother – she isn’t surprised. Eva, she says, is probably drunk. Let her sleep it off. But Eva won’t budge. She makes new friends – Mark the window cleaner and Alexander, a very sexy handyman. She discovers Brian’s been having an affair. And Eva realizes to her horror that everyone has been taking her for granted – including herself. Though Eva’s refusal to behave like a dutiful wife and mother soon upsets everyone from medical authorities to her neighbours she insists on staying in bed. And from this odd but comforting place she begins to see both the world and herself very, very differently. . .The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year is a funny and touching novel about what happens when someone refuses to be the person everyone expects them to be. Sue Townsend, Britain’s funniest writer for over three decades, has written a brilliant novel that hilariously deconstructs modern family life.” (Global Books)

Enjoy reading these colourful and entertaining books! Some great illustrations and entertaining stories for sharing — have a browse!

Who ate Auntie Iris? Sean Taylor
From the team who created The Grizzly Bear with the Frizzly Hair and Crocodiles are the Best Animals of All, comes a sweet story with echoes of little red riding hood. From Bookseller: “When a young chinchilla goes to stay with her Auntie Iris, she is nervous of her auntie’s neighbours; bears on the first floor, crocodiles on the second floor and wolves on the third floor. Then one day when her auntie takes out the rubbish, she doesn’t come back, and the little chinchilla bravely ventures out to try to find out who ate her” (Staff Member)

Hans and Matilda / Yokococo.
“Hans and Matilda tells the story of Hans, who is a naughty cat that makes too much noise, and Matilda, who sits quietly and cleans up. The artwork is delightfully quirky; Hans’ exploits are drawn on to a black background, while Matilda’s are presented in full colour. Children will love working out who the real mischief-maker is, especially when Hans is forced to remove his hat, mask and whiskers at the end” (Bookseller)

Oh no, George! / Chris Haughton.
This is an amusing new title from the author of A Bit Lost . From Bookseller: “George, an endearing dog, struggles to behave when left on his own. Children are invited to get involved by trying to guess what George would do, but it is the quirky, psychedelic pages that make the book so distinctive. George’s owner Harris is rather charming too.”

The little old man who looked up at the moon / Pamela Allen.
In this touching story, one of Australia’s most celebrated author-illustrators takes young readers on a journey that asks some of life’s big questions. Playful and thought-provoking by turns, The Little Old ManWho Looked Up at the Moon touches on universal themes and will spark many a conversation between young and old. (Staff Member)

Freight train / Donald Crews.
“Presented in blocks of brilliant colors, the multihued train in this Caldecott Honor book undertakes a dazzling journey before disappearing from the final page. ” (Publisher Weekly)

Where is Fred? / Edward Hardy ; illustrated by Ali Pye.
“Fred loves to hide, but finds himself having to be increasingly inventive as Gerald the Crow is intent on having him for his lunch. Children will take great delight discovering where he hides, while adults will love the increasingly frustrated Gerald, who unknowingly ends up wearing Fred as a fluffy white scarf. This is great fun, and Ali Pye’s illustrations offer plenty to look at while enhancing the humour.” (Bookseller)

The duckling gets a cookie!? / words and pictures by Mo Willems.
The Pigeon is back! – This time with an adorable duckling pal:
“Everyone’s favourite grouch of a fowl returns, though the spotlight is firmly fixed elsewhere. Never content to be merely a supporting character, The Pigeon nonetheless takes a backseat in a story in which The Duckling asks for and receives a cookie with nuts. Incensed, The Pigeon proceeds to rant about the various items and impossibilities he has asked for over the years, ignoring point blank the fact that The Duckling got her cookie by asking politely. At the end of the meltdown, the smaller bird reveals that she only got the cookie in the first place so that she could give it to The Pigeon.” (Kirkus)

With this months recent picks, you can learn to build your own time machine, make your own clone, and throughly confuse yourself with physics!!

Build your own time machine : the real science of time travel / Brian Clegg.
“In How to Build a Time Machine, Brian Clegg provides an understanding of what time is and how it can be manipulated. He explores the remarkable possibilities of real time travel that emerge from quantum entanglement, superluminal speeds, neutron star cylinders and wormholes in space. With the fascinating paradoxes of time travel echoing in our minds will we realize that travel into the future might never be possible? Or will we realize there is no limit on what can be achieved, and take on this ultimate challenge? Only time will tell.” (Library Catalogue)

Physics on the fringe : smoke rings, circlons, and alternative theories of everything / Margaret Wertheim.
“Australian science writer Wertheim has an unusual hobby that she freely admits most physicists would wince at. On her office shelves, Wertheim has amassed dozens of manuscripts from fringe engineers and mathematicians touting alternative theories of matter that sharply diverge from those endorsed by mainstream science. In this informative, often witty overview of outsider physicists, Wertheim offers an extended rumination on the role such amateur theorists play in science’s public acceptance. Readers are shown visions of a universe immersed in ether (an abandoned nineteenth-century concept), one that contracts rather than expands, and one that eliminates field theory but embraces a twisted version of quantum mechanics. The crown jewel in her menagerie of eccentric visionaries, however, is James Carter, a do-it-yourself mechanic whose theory of everything has been percolating for five decades. Insisting that physics should be comprehensible to the layman, Carter’s theory features a donut-shaped particle as matter’s fundamental building block. Yet far from belittling Carter, Wertheim uses his inspiring example as a potent reminder that today’s cranks may be deemed tomorrow’s geniuses.” (Booklist)

Masters of the planet : the search for our human origins / Ian Tattersall.
“Tattersall (The Fossil Trail), a noted expert on human evolution and an emeritus curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, offers a concise history of how humans became humans. He explains how the sparse skeletal remains of ancient human predecessors are studied, how the shape of a molar, the tip of a pelvis, the design of the knee or the ankle all offer clues to the genealogical maps of our past. He revisits the usual suspects: the famous three-million-year-old Lucy; the unprecedented (in 1984) hominid structure of the Turkana Boy; and the 400,000-year-old Heidelberg man. Tattersall moves through the complex fossil records effortlessly and with a welcome sense of wonder. He also consistently conveys a deep knowledge of his subject. His discussion of the origin of symbolic behavior and the many theories that seek to explain early humans’ unprecedented leap in capacity, including the acquisition of language, the development of art, and the ability to deal in the abstract, is provocative and illuminating. Tattersall’s combination of erudition and a conversational style make this is an excellent primer on human evolution.” (Publisher Weekly)

Simply Einstein : relativity demystified / Richard Wolfson.
“Einstein’s basic message is so simple that a single English sentence suffices to state it all, promises Wolfson (physics, Middlebury College). It is the implications that are disturbing and can become endlessly complicated. He does use numbers now and then when they can help illustrate an idea, but his approach is narrative.” (Syndetics summary)

Paradox : the nine greatest enigmas in science / Jim Al-Khalili.
“How can a cat be both dead and alive at the same time? Why will Achilles never beat a tortoise in a race, no matter how fast he runs? And how can a person be ten years older than their twin? Throughout history, scientists have been coming up with theories and ideas that just do not seem to make sense.” (Library Catalogue)

The handy physics answer book / Paul W. Zitzewitz.
“In a question-and-answer format, Zitzewitz (emeritus physics and science education, U. of Michigan-Dearborn) explains fundamentals about physics to general readers. Among the sections are motion and its causes, thermal physics, sound, electricity, what the world is made of, and unanswered questions. He has revised the first edition, which was written by P. Erik Gundersen. He has kept the structure and style, and some of the questions and answers, but has altered others and added new ones.” (Syndetics summary)

The velocity of honey and more science of everyday life / Jay Ingram.
“Why does the journey to a new location always take longer than the trip home? What is the science behind the theory of “six degrees of separation?” Why doesn’t honey flow out in all directions? In this delightful and amusing text, Jay Ingram explores the extraordinary science behind ordinary happenings. Ingram, host of the Discovery Channel Canada’s “Daily Planet” and best-selling author of “The Science of Everyday Life” has written an engrossing work which broadens our knowledge of the everyday world and deepens our appreciation for the mysteries of science. Addressing a diverse set of topics and reaching unorthodox conclusions, he explores the science behind proverbial expressions, delves into the uncharted territory of the connection between history and the contemporary scientific world, and highlights mysterious links between the worlds of art and science.” (Syndetics summary)

Unnatural : the heretical idea of making people / Philip Ball.
“Can we make a human being? That question has been asked for many centuries, and has produced recipes ranging from the homunculus of the medieval alchemists and the clay golem of Jewish legend to Frankenstein’s monster and the mass-produced test-tube babies in “Brave New World”. All of these efforts to create artificial people are more or less fanciful, but they have taken deep root in Western culture. They all express fears about the allegedly treacherous, Faustian nature of technology, and they all question whether any artificially created person can be truly human. Legends of people-making are tainted by suspicions of impiety and hubris, and they are regarded as the ultimate ‘unnatural’ act – a moral judgement that has its origins in religious thought. In this fascinating and highly topical study, Philip Ball delves beneath the surface of the cultural history of ‘anthropoeia’ – the creation of artificial people – to explore what it tells us about our views on life, humanity, creativity and technology, and the soul. From the legendary inventor Daedalus to Goethe’s tragic Faust, from the automata-making magicians of E.T.A Hoffmann to Mary Shelley’s Victor Frankenstein – the old tales and myths are alive and well, subtly manipulating the current debates about assisted conception, embryo research and human cloning, which have at last made the fantasy of ‘making people’ into some kind of reality.” (Amazon.com)

To mark New Zealand Music Month our librarians have been thinking about their favourite local music memories, albums and artists. Here are Sam’s favourite releases of the current decade:

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Rising unexpectedly (and for a time, mysteriously) from the ashes of the Mint Chicks, Ruban Nielson’s Unknown Mortal Orchestra provided not only my favourite New Zealand (via Portland I know, but still) release of last year, but favourite musical release period. Every song is packed full of the kind of earworm-y hooks that linger long after the album’s play time and count as Nielson’s best work yet. The video for standout track Bicycle is at the bottom of this post for a preview.

Please turn me into the snat - Connan Mockasin
Connan Hosford’s wide-eyed, psychedelic gem signalled a coming of age as a songwriter, even as the music looked back towards childhood for its’ themes and feel. The sprawling ambition of the record has earned Connan a support slot for Radiohead on their upcoming Australasian tour, and I’m told he’s huge in Paris, well-deserved accolades for one of this quality.

Autumn - The Golden Awesome
Wellington based shoegazers The Golden Awesome played a couple of album release shows over the weekend to celebrate the release of this, their debut, were you there? You should’ve been, because the four of them are making some of the best noise currently coming out of New Zealand. Beautifully hypnotic shoegaze that works equally well up loud at a party, or down low on some headphones as you drift off to sleep.

Bad Luck Man - Delaney Davidson
I first heard the songs off of this album on an incredibly wet and windy night at a show that I nearly skipped for fear of being blown off my feet on the way. Boy oh boy was I glad I went! A masterful blend of folk/country/blues/whatever, all tied together with a perfectly world-weary voice. Standouts include You’re a loser, which was recently nominated for a New Zealand Country Music Award and I’m so depressed, an excellent Abner Jay cover.

Beloved by e.s. Fletschinger

Beloved is a comic’s zine about a grandpa who has just lost his partner. He’s sad and lonely, and getting used to his new life. This zine is really nice because it feels so real. It is a bit sad, but it does have a happy ending. Make sure you come to the library and check it out. It’s quite touching.

A rough guide to bicycle maintenance.

This is the famous DIY Portland based  zine on how to take care of your bike. The zine introduces you to bike-shop-politics, bike parts identification, how to fix a flat, an intro to the tools you will need, brake basics and further literature on repairs and maintenance. This zine is awesome because it is super useful! If you learn some new tips on how to fix your bike you can save lots of cash.

Obsessive consumption: what did you buy today? by Kate Bingaman Burt.

Kate is a really talented illustrator besides being an obsessive consumer. In this cute little zine you will fine drawings of Kate’s daily new acquisitions. This zine is cute funny. You can check out her drawing style here.

How did you get into making zines?

I had contributed to a zine made by a friend of mine (it’s called The Collectivist) and I’d been meaning to make one of my own for a while but never really got around to it. And since I didn’t have a job or any commitments over summer, I decided to put some of my free time to good use.

Can you give us a short bio about you?

Uhh, there’s not much to tell. I’m a socially inept 18 year old, studying English and Political Science at Vic, and I love my cat.

We have read the zine and loved it. In your words could you please explain to us why you decided to make it and publish it?

I always get anxious that I’m taking myself too seriously when I talk about the zine like this, I’ll give it a try. I guess I wanted to explore the way in which we tell stories that seem so personal to us, but at the same time possess this universal quality. So I made the stories anonymous to give the interviewees space to open up and share more than they’d otherwise be comfortable with. And I also tried to find a middle ground between keeping the distinctive voice of each person, while removing a lot of the idiosyncrasies and specifics of the stories, to allow the reader to apply their own experiences or experiences they might be familiar with to each story. I don’t know whether I achieved that, but that was my intent.

Once it was out there, did you get any unexpected reactions?

Most of the people who have read it have been my friends, who have been universally supportive, but they’re sort of obliged to be. I’m not really sure whether to trust their opinions or not. It did make someone cry though, I felt pretty bad about that.

Blogging about romantic experiences can be so much fun; do you have a blog where you update your love life?

I don’t really have a love life to blog about. I have a Tumblr, but it’s mostly just pictures of Tilda Swinton and racist things Rick Santorum has said. Oh, and I have a blog just for Things We’re Not Going to Talk About.

Do you have plans to make any future zines?

I have most of the second issue finished. I just have to take a few more photos and then put everything together. It’s called Arguments I Meant to Finish but Didn’t.

What would you say to other zine makers?

I would say, “I have a dwindling social life and low self esteem, would you like to be my friend?”

Do you have any music/zines/blogs recommendations?

I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to make zines in Wellington and not have a deep respect for Incredibly Hot Sex With Hideous People. My favourite Zinefest finds are probably Family Photos – which is basically a series of photos made from photocopied hands with doodles drawn over them – Cupcake Monsters, and Neighbour Cats.I also adore This American Life podcast. I feel like everyone on the internet constantly raves about it and anything I say will end up detracting from how wonderful it is.

In terms of music, I mostly just listen to Billie Holiday and sob quietly to myself.

We have some great new history books this month from a Kiwi in Afganistan to when U-boats Attack.  Plus revolution in Egypt, a look at the Tower of London, and the assassination of Lincoln.  Enjoy!

Zen under fire : a New Zealand woman’s story of love and war in Afghanistan / Marianne Elliott.
“I am about to be left in charge of the office. I’m not sure I am ready for the responsibility, so I double-check with my boss. He reassures me. ‘You’ll be fine, Marianne. As long as no one kills Amanullah Khan, you’ll be fine.’ By midday, Amanullah Khan is dead.” In 2006 Marianne Elliott, a human rights lawyer from New Zealand, is stationed with the UN in Herat. Several months into her new role an important tribal leader is assassinated while she is in charge of the local UN office. She must try to defuse the situation before it leads to widespread bloodshed. ZEN UNDER FIRE is a vivid and deeply personal account of a young woman’s time living and working as a peacekeeper in one of the world’s most notorious battlegrounds. As well as sharing the incredible details of her UN work in and around Herat and the remote province of Ghor, Marianne tells of the shattering effects of this high-stress, high-danger environment on her and her relationships – and how, amid the turmoil, she begins to find her way back to herself.” – (adapted from Global Books In Print summary)

Tower : an epic history of the Tower of London / Nigel Jones.
“Castle, royal palace, prison, torture chamber, execution site, zoo, mint, home to the crown jewels, armory, record office, observatory, and the most visited tourist attraction in the UK: The Tower of London has been all these things and more. No building in Britain has been more intimately involved in the island’s story than this mighty, brooding stronghold in the very heart of the capital, a place which has stood at the epicenter of dramatic, bloody and frequently cruel events for almost athousand years.
Now historian Nigel Jones sets this dramatic story firmly in the context of national – and international – events. In a gripping account drawn from primary sources and lavishly illustrated with sixteen pages of stunning photographs, he captures the Tower in its many changing moods and its many diverse functions. Here, for he first time, is a thematic portrayal of the Tower of london not just as an ancient structure, but as a living symbol of the nation of Great Britain.” – (adapted from Global Books In Print summary)

Killing Lincoln : the shocking assassination that changed America forever / Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard.Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever
“O’Reilly, the popular and controversial cable news commentator, teams here with Dugard (Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone) to cover Lincoln’s assassination in a simple and morally unambiguous style. They offer no new insights into the death of Lincoln, just a sensationalist retelling of a familiar story. In pages filled with conjecture about the mental states of the protagonists, the authors succinctly describe the closing battles of the Civil War, the assassination, and its aftermath. They frequently speculate on conspiracy theories that involved secretary of war Edwin M. Stanton in the assassination plot, but they never make accusations except to say his behavior was “suspicious.” It will be interesting to see whether fans of O’Reilly’s television show will flock to his first foray into history the way they have to his books on contemporary issues. VERDICT Written from an unapologetically northern perspective, this book is not for academics but may appeal to readers who enjoy fast-paced, conjectural popular history. It includes an appendix reprinting the Harper’s Weekly account of the assassination written soon after.” – (adapted from Library Journal summary)

Cairo : my city, our revolution / Ahdaf Soueif.
“They wanted me to talk to them, to tell them stories about it, to tell them how, on the 28th of January when we took the Square and The People torched the headquarters of the hated ruling National Democratic Party, The (same) People formed a human chain to protect the Antiquities Museum and demanded an official handover to the military; to tell them how, on Wednesday, February 2nd, as The People defended themselves against the invading thug militias and fought pitched battles at the entrance to the Square in the shadow of the Antiquities Museum, The (same) People at the centre of the square debated political structures and laughed at stand-up comics and distributed sandwiches and water; to tell them of the chants and the poetry and the songs, of how we danced and waved at the F16s that our President flew over us. People everywhere want to make this Revolution their own, and we in Egypt want to share it.”
Ahdaf Soueif was born and brought up in Cairo. When the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 erupted on January 25th, she, along with thousands of others, called Tahrir Square home for eighteen days. She reported for the world’s media and did – like everyone else – whatever she could.” – (adapted from Global Books In Print summary)

U-boats attack! : the Battle of the Atlantic witnessed by the Wolf Packs / Jak P. Mallman Showell.
“Jak P. Mallmann Showell is the son of a U-boat diesel mechanic, who died in action. Jak is a full-time naval historian, author and photographer. He speaks fluent German. He is considered one of the leading authorities on the Battle of the Atlantic and has produced more than forty books on naval activity during the Second World War, including Hitler’s U-boat Bunkers, Hitler’s U-boat Warriors and Companion to the German Navy (The History Press). He lives in Kent.” – (adapted from Global Books In Print summary)