News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

In Rugby World Cup year the New Zealand collection picks take you from grassroots rugby sidelines to World Cup fever and then mixes in a little politics in an edited collection of essays that re-evaluate the legacy of former Prime Minister William Ferguson Massey.

For the love of the game : grassroots rugby in heartland New Zealand / Gregor Paul, text & Gregory Crow, photographs. “For the Love of the Game is a celebration of New Zealand grassroots rugby and the people who make it happen. In words and stunning photographs, it tells the story of a great love affair that is pursued in every corner of New Zealand.” (Summary adapted from Syndetics)

How to watch the Rugby World Cup 2011 / Spiro Zavos. “Since the Rugby World Cup tournament began in 1987, its powerful players, speed-charged runs, soaring kicks, brutal scrums and controversial refereeing decisions have gripped billions of people around the world. In 2011, the tournament returns to its birthplace, New Zealand, where teams from 20 qualifying nations will battle to win rugby’s most coveted prize. For players and coaches, this is the ultimate test. Will Robbie Deans bring the Wallabies to glory? Can Graham Henry’s All Blacks break their 20-year jinx?” (Summary adapted from Syndetics)

A great New Zealand prime minister? : reappraising William Ferguson Massey / edited by James Watson and Lachy Paterson.
“‘Massey’s Cossacks’ — citizens called in to help break the 1913 General Strike — have long been cited as just one of the sins of William Ferguson Massey. One of New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Ministers, his political legacy has not always been treated kindly. However, recent work by historians suggests that a reappraisal of Bill Massey — which this book provides — is overdue. It is clear, a century later, that Massey was Prime Minister at a particularly turbulent time in its history.” (Summary adapted from publisher’s information)

Check out our recent ‘for Dummies’ computer books:

Moodle for Dummies / by Radana Dvorak.
“You’ve heard about the learning content management system with the funny name, and wondered if it’s right for your students. This book explains Moodle and what you can do with it. Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, also known as Moodle, is an online learning management system that creates opportunities for rich interaction between educators and their audience. However, the market has been lacking a simple, easy-to-understand guide that covers all the essentials of Moodle until now.” (Syndetics)

Upgrading & fixing computers for dummies : do-it-yourself / by Andy Rathbone.
“An illustrated, step-by-step guide to repairs and upgrades. Whether you want to prepare your computer for Windows 7, avoid investing in a new one, or just “go green,” this fully illustrated guide has what you need. You’ll learn how to add printers and new keyboards, boost your PC’s performance and increase memory, improve power consumption, rev up your multimedia capacity, and much more. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by photos that show you exactly what you should see at every stage.” (Syndetics summary)

VSTO for dummies / by Bill Sempf and Peter Jausovec.
“Learn to build custom Office applications with this new Microsoft development tool Designed to attract both VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) and Visual Studio developers, VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) is a Visual Studio add-in that makes it easy to create custom Office applications. This book shows developers step by step how to work with VSTO tools to create real-world applications for Word, Outlook, and Excel. VSTO enables developers to easily create custom applications for Microsoft Office.” (Syndetics summary)

iPhone & iPad game development for dummies / by Neal Goldstein, Paris Buttfield-Addison, and Jon Manning.
“”Build an actual game from start to finish; recognize what makes a good game for Apple’s mobile devices; use Objective-C, Cocoa, OpenGL ES 2.0, and other iOS programming tools; connect your app to Facebook, get it into the App Store, and market it”–Cover.” (Syndetics summary)

Visual Studio 2010 all-in-one for dummies / by Andrew Moore. “A comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to Visual Studio 2010
Visual Studio is Microsoft’s comprehensive development environment that encompasses the .NET Framework, various programming languages, and ASP.NET. Programmers love it for developing applications for mobile devices and the Web. Because Visual Studio can be complex, the All-in-One For Dummies format makes it easy for beginners to grasp its different parts and get up to speed.” (Syndetics)

Creating web pages all-in-one for dummies / by Richard Wagner.“Businesses, special-interest groups, families, and individuals are all relying on Web sites to communicate. This all-in-one guide offers one-stop shopping for all the information you need to put together powerful Web pages to get your point across and keep visitors coming back. Nine individual minibooks cover best design practices, online tools, Microsoft Expression Web, Dreamweaver, cascading style sheets, HTML and XHTML, graphics and multimedia, scripting, and Flash, arming you to create professional-looking pages. ” (Syndetics)

Read more about the Wharewaka, and the Taranaki leader Titokowaru, and note the collection of essays by the late Judith Binney.

Te Wiremu = Henry Williams : early years in the North, edited by Caroline Fitzgerald.
“Every since the Reverend Henry Williams (Te Wiremu) translated the Treaty of Waitangi into Māori in 1840, his name has been embroiled in controversy. This is his own story through his private letters and journals. This eye-witness account covers almost twenty years of Henry’s daily life as he lived and travelled with Māori, acted as a peacemaker and successfully saved thousands of lives. An advocate for the Māori language, teacher and surgeon, he travelled the length of the North Island with Māori, spreading the word of peace. ” (drawn from the publisher’s information)

I shall not die : Titokowaru’s War, 1868-1869, by James Belich.
“Straddling the Maori and European worlds of the 1860s, Titokowaru was one of New Zealand’s greatest leaders. A brilliant strategist, he used every device he could to save the Taranaki people from European invasion. When peaceful negotiation failed, he embarked on a stunning military campaign against government forces. … I Shall Not Die has been written not only for scholars but for anyone willing to be excited by the past. It is narrative history at its most compelling.” (drawn from the publisher’s description)

Stories without end : essays 1975-2010, by Judith Binney.
“The stories in this collection flow one into another, filling out histories, bringing people out of the shadows, bringing scholarship to life. They are ‘stories without end’, from a writer who is also one of New Zealand’s greatest scholars.” (publisher’s description)

E tū ake : Māori standing strong, by Huhana Smith.
Based on the exhibition, The book showcases Te Papa’s most prized ancestral taonga (treasures) – carvings, jewellery, weaponry, and more. A superb selection of contemporary works reveals the vibrancy of current Māori art practice. A clear and compelling account of key ideas underlying Māori creative and political expression today – mana, whakapapa, kaitiakitanga, tino rangatiratanga – completes the book.

Tāone tupu ora : indigenous knowledge and sustainable urban design, edited by Keriata Stuart & Michelle Thompson-Fawcett.
Contents include : Developing Māori urban design principles, by Shaun Awatere, Shadrach Rolleston and Craig Pauling; Micro-urbanism : regenerative buildings and the architectural landscape of the pā, by Amanda Yates; Tangata whenua me te kāinga kanohi=tangata whenua and the landscape, by Wiki Walker, and A wharewaka for Wellington : keeping a Māori footprint in the city, by Morrie Love.

Mauri ola : contemporary Polynesian poems in English, edited by Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan.
“Ranging from the lyrical and sensual to the harsh and gritty, from the political to the personal: the poems in Mauri Ola are infused with vivid imagery, claims of identity, laments, rages and celebrations that confront again a colonial past and a global present. Mauri Ola: Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English is the follow-up volume to the highly acclaimed Whetu Moana, the first anthology of Polynesian poems in English edited by Polynesians.” (Summary from Auckland University Press website)

Moon, tides & shoreline : Gillian Karawe Whitehead, a life in music, by Noel Sanders.

Darryn George, [essay by Lara Strongman ; interview with Darryn George by Deirdre Brown].

Matariki.

Here are our latest books on computing:

Practical Android projects / Lucas Jordan, Pieter Greyling.
“Take a practical approach to becoming a leading-edge Android developer, learning by example while combining the many technologies needed to create a successful, up-to-date web app. Practical Android Projects introduces the Android SDK and development tools of the trade, and then dives into building cool-looking and fun apps that put Android’s amazing capabilities to work. Android is the powerful, full-featured, open source mobile platform that powers phones like Google Nexus, Motorola Droid, Samsung Galaxy S, and a variety of HTC phones and tablet computers.” (Syndetics)

Simply laptops / by Kate Shoup.
“If you are serious about getting the most of your laptop, this clear, concise guide is the ideal companion for fast and efficient learning. With full-colour screen shots and numbered, step-by-step instructions, Simply Laptops teaches you not only all you need to know about working with a laptop, but also how to make real-world use of it with pages upon pages of examples in plain, jargon-free English.” (Syndetics)

Designing for the iPad : building applications that sell / Chris Stevens.
“”You’ll also learn how to use the latest coding tech, with insider advice on making your app a hit”–” “iPadDesigning for the iPad presents unique challenges for developers and requires an entirely different mindset of elements to consider when creating apps. Written by a highly successful iPad software developer, this book teaches you how to think about the creation process differently when designing iPad apps and escorts you through the process of building applications that have the best chance for success.”(Syndetics summary)

From idea to app : creating iOS UI, animations, and gestures / Shawn Welch.
“Because iPhone development is so young, right now apps are typically designed, developed and deployed by a single person (or very small development team.) The designers are the developers and vice versa. This book will leverage this distinction by teaching designers how to design on top of native iOS metaphors, tools and UI, while teaching native developers appropriate application design and asset preparation.” (Syndetics summary)

The Photoshop elements 9 book : for digital photographers / Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski.
“This book breaks new ground by doing something for digital photographers that’s never been done before – it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly how to do it. It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure things out on your own. Instead, it does something that virtually no other Elements book has ever done – it tells you flat – out which settings to use, when to use them, and why.” (Syndetics)

Social networking for seniors in easy steps : for the over 50s / Anne Sparrowhawk.
“”Social Networking for Seniors in Easy Steps” starts with a simple explanation of the concept of social networking and what one can do with their computer to take advantage of this phenomenon. This straighforward book guides users though the maze of online social networks, allowing seniors to reap their benefits while avoiding the pitfalls. Here, readers will learn how to choose right network(s) for their purposes, set up an account, connect with other users (and block people they want to avoid), share photos with the family, keep in touch with grandchildren around the world, make the most of business networks, and manage and control privacy.” (Syndetics summary)

Here are some recent additions to CD collections at Wellington City Libraries…

Helplessness blues.
”’It was at times difficult to make this record,’ writes Fleet Foxes’ lead singer Robin Pecknold in the self-penned press release for Helplessness Blues, citing illness, creative doubt and reassessment as factors the Seattle sextet grappled with in following up their massively popular, critically adored debut album. Not that you’d know it from a cursory listen: Helplessness Blues sounds every bit as assured as their earlier work, but given time to unfurl in your consciousness it displays facets of the band hitherto unseen. Peppered with ghostly harmonies and references to aging – even breaking out into free jazz at one point – it is a bigger, braver set than that which precedes it, suffused with both melancholy and sunshine…’’ (description from Amazon.co.uk)

Sing it loud [bonus tracks] / k. d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang.
‘’When in early 2010 the Canadian torch singer released Recollection, a retrospective set, it seemed like a resigned acknowledgement that her glory days were in the past. Which is exactly why ‘Sing It Loud’ is so instantly striking. Recollection could easily have marked the end of the road, but lang has instead turned it into a fresh start. Recording in a band for the first time in a quarter-century seems to have provided a much-needed shot of adrenaline: opener I Confess begins adrift in the same acoustic prettiness which has characterised her later work, before a dramatically slashing guitar jolts the listener awake. And lang is certainly awake: her vocals haven’t sounded this energetic and playful in many years…’’ (Adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

So beautiful or so what.
”Whenever pop songwriters venture in search of profundity, they tend to overreach themselves, their lofty ambitions toppled by hubris and laughable pretention. Not so rock icon Paul Simon, who’s been writing astutely crafted songs, poetic, questioning and rich in meaning, for almost half a century. Conceptually bound by the biggest themes of all – love, God, mortality, and our place in universe – this deceptively casual yet carefully focused collection never struggles under the weight of its ambition. Driven by Simon’s uniquely percussive acoustic guitar, and with his world music leanings embedded naturally rather than overtly, this beguiling album shows him to have lost none of his ability for finding universal truths within the guise of introspection. It’s a profound statement from a master of his craft…” (Adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

Born this way.
”Lady Gaga is the greatest thing that Planet Pop in 2011 could ever want. She’s a wise-beyond-her-years phenomenon who’s taken everything that has gone before and cast it into press-stopping new shapes – the fright wig on top, merely a bonus. She’s so far above her chart contemporaries that she’s created her own orbit, around her own world. You’re all welcome here, whoever you are. What you take from it is your own business. It’s probably best to ignore the questionable cover imagery of her third album (or second, depending on your definition of what The Fame Monster was) and focus on the actual music. What’s delivered is a high-octane blend of nods to cheesy Euro-rave (hints of Sash!, Human Resource and Rozalla) and the rock of Springsteen, Judas Priest and Queen. Add a smidgeon of electroclash (Chicks on Speed, Peaches) and giant choruses comparable to ABBA and Ace of Base, and it’s clear the average – if the idea of ‘average’ exists in her world – Gaga tune is designed solely to hook into your brain…” (Adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

I am very far.
“Will Sheff/Okkervil have yet to get the rewards they so deserve. They’re the Wilco waiting to happen. And like Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, arguably his closest comparison, Shefff sounds both world-weary and up for a fight. That said, Okkervil are a trickier, more maverick bunch than Wilco, which probably accounts for the former’s lower profile. This, their sixth album (not counting split albums with Shearwater and Julie Doiron), will surely change that. It’s their most assured and richest, yet also their most bruised and urgent, with Sheff admitting he’d imbibed “the chaotic, powerful energy” that swirled around Roky Erickson when he produced and arranged the psychedelic legend’s ‘comeback’ album True Love Cast Out All Evil last year. But if Okkervil’s palate has expanded – choir and orchestra included, and sometimes a dozen musicians play live in the room, as on Rider – it never sounds crowded or over-baked….” (Adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

Here are some new titles for June (Sports and Fitness) to inspire you to get off the couch and get moving!

Natural Horse-man-ship / by Pat Parelli ; with Kathy Swan ; photographs by Karen Parelli Hagen.
“The horse- and rider-training handbook of an internationally renowned master horseman.” (Syndetics summary)

Blood Over Water / David and James Livingston.
“SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST NEW WRITER CATEGORY OF THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2010. On an overcast April day in 2003, David and James Livingston raced against each other in the 149th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Watched by over seven million people, it was the first time for over a hundred years that brothers had battled against each other in this gladiatorial contest… In Blood Over Water, David and James tell their stories for the first time, giving an intimate insight into one of our best-loved national sporting occasions, whilst also describing a brotherly relationship tested to breaking point. It is an emotional and searching joint self-portrait that looks at the darker side of sibling rivalry and asks just what you would be willing to sacrifice to achieve your dreams.” (Global Books)

Twirlymen : The Unlikely History of Cricket’s Greatest Spin Bowlers / Amol Rajan.
“They are the masters of deception, the jokers in the pack; illusionists conjuring wickets out of thin air with nothing more than an ambled approach and a wonky grip. Not for them the brutish physicality of the pace bowler nor the reactive slogging of the batsman. Theirs is a more cerebral art. They stand alone in a team sport. They are Twirlymen. Having himself failed through a combination of injury and indolence to become a leg-spinner of renown Amol Rajan pays homage to that most eccentric of all sporting heroes u the spin bowler.” (Global Books)

Craig Revel Horwood’s Ballroom Dancing / Craig Revel Horwood ; foreword by Len Goodman.
“Whether you are an absolute beginner, a Strictly Come Dancing wannabe or simply want a fun way to get fit, Craig Revel Horwood’s guide to ballroom dancing offers something for everyone. Learn how to become a ballroom babe or a Latin lover as Craig shows you all the basic moves in a fun, lively and straightforward way…. Each section of dance provides lots of suggestions for great music to strut your stuff to, with helpful tips from Craig to encourage you to practice until you have truly mastered your moves.” (Amazon.co.uk)

The Bicycle Book / Bella Bathurst.
“A rip-roaring narrative celebration of the 21st century’s great transport success story: the bicycle. Millions of us now cycle, some obsessively, and this glorious concoction of history, anecdote, adventure and lycra-clad pedalling is the perfect read for two-wheelers of all kinds. Two wheels. A frame. Two pedals. What could be simpler than a bicycle? And yet the bike — old, and cheap, and slightly comic — continues to inspire a passionate following…Thousands now cycle to work, and more take it up every day. In trial after trial, it is the bike which reaches its urban destination faster than the car, the bus, the underground or the pedestrian…Acclaimed and prize-winning author Bella Bathurst takes us on a journey through cycling’s best stories and strangest incarnations, from the bicycle as weapon of twentieth-century warfare to the secret life of couriers and the alchemy of framebuilding.”
(Amazon.co.uk)

Healthy intelligent training : the proven principles of Arthur Lydiard / Keith Livingston.
“This book is for all serious middle distance athletes and coaches. The book is based on the proven principles of Arthur Lydiard, the Runner’s World Coach of the Century.” (Syndetics summary)

The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand.
“The Rugby Almanack is New Zealand rugby’s book of record and is widely regarded as the finest publication of its type in the world. Now in its 75th edition, the 2011 Rugby Almanack records another huge year, including the All Blacks’ remarkable Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup victories, the All Blacks end-of-season tour, the ITM Cup, Super 14 and a full summary of women’s rugby.” (Global Books)

Travel guidebooks for June include:

100 countries, 5000 ideas : where to go – when to go – what to see – what to do / [prepared by the Book Division, National Geographic Society] ; foreword by Rudy Maxa.
“100 Countries, 5000 Ideas highlights 100 must visit countries from Antarctica to Zimbabwe. This travel planner features more than 200 color images as well as detailed maps. The guide also contains specific charts and sections, disseminating important travel information such as climate, language, currency, and required travel documents”–Provided by publisher. (Syndetics)

Tips on tipping : a global guide to gratuity etiquette / Carole French & Reg Butler.
“What do you tip the bellboy in Botswana? Should you give a gratuity on top of the service charge in a Parisian restaurant? Is it good practice to pay a Casablanca snake charmer if you wish to take his photo? Everyone who travels, whether for business or pleasure, has suffered the embarrassment caused by not knowing when or how much to tip. Now Bradt’s Tipping offers the answers in a convenient, pocket-sized guide covering more than 150 countries…. Carole French is a BBC-trained journalist, former newspaper business editor, a respected travel and real-estate journalist and the author of several guidebooks. The late Reg Butler enjoyed a long and varied career in journalism.” (Syndetics summary)

Back roads : Australia / contributors, Jarrod Bates … [et al.].
The DK Eyewitness Back Roads Australia driving holiday guide will take you via scenic routes to discover charming Australian towns, local restaurants and intimate places to stay. (Syndetics)

The rough guide to India / written and researched by David Abram … [et al.] ; with additional contributions from Edward Aves.
“A country of breathtakingly diverse landscape, history and culture, India offers unique experiences from peaceful, 1000-year-old temples to chaotic, twenty-first-century cities. The Rough Guide to India gets to the very heart of this fascinating place”–Back cover. (Syndetics)

All aboard : the complete North American train travel guide / Jim Loomis.
“All Aboard – here completely revised and updated – is much more than just a mile-by-mile scenery guide for train travelers. Written for both veterans and novices of rail travel, it will make any trip run smoothly and enjoyably with its insightful tips and information about how railroads operate. Author and expert rail traveler Jim Loomis offers not only well-tested itineraries based on his intricate knowledge of North American routes and the best times to ride them, but he also provides invaluable advice on the nitty-gritty: booking trips, finding the lowest fares, knowing which onboard staff members to tip and how much, packing for an overnight trip, and even maneuvering in those cramped sleeping-car bathrooms. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Bali & Lombok / [written and researched by Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Iain Stewart].
New edition of the best-selling guide to Bali and Lombok on the market. Extended up-front planning information with recommendations by region, month and interest. ‘What’s new’ section for return visitors, plus expanded coverage of the Gili Islands and other emerging hot spots. (Syndetics)

I’ve chosen stories of movie and television stars this time -some glamour and glitz to cheer us through the early days of winter- and a heartwarming story of travel, food and friendship in sunny Italy, featuring Elizabeth Gilbert of “Eat pray love” fame.
Gravitas is added by the inclusion of a study of Noah Webster,the confidante of George Washington and publisher of the famous dictionary, who has been dubbed “the forgotten founding father of America.”

Un amico italiano : eat, pray, love in Rome / Luca Spaghetti ; translated by Antony Shugaar.
“”Luca Spaghetti is not only one of my favorite people in the world, but also a natural-born storyteller. . . . This [is a] marvelous book.” -Elizabeth Gilbert When Luca Spaghetti (yes, that’s really his name) was asked to show a writer named Elizabeth Gilbert around Rome, he had no idea how his life was about to change. She embraced his Roman ebullience, and Luca in turn became her guardian angel, determined that his city would help Liz out of her funk. Filled with colorful anecdotes about food, language, soccer, daily life in Rome, and Luca’s own fish-out-of-water moments as a visitor to the United States-and culminating with the episodes in Liz’s bestselling memoir, told from Luca’s side of the table-”Un Amico Italiano” is a book that no fan of “Eat, Pray, Love” will want to miss.” (Syndetics summary)

And God created Burton / Tom Rubython ; foreword by Roger Moore ; prologue by Robert Hardy.
“A sweeping family saga spanning 1898 to 1984, stretching from the mining fields of South Wales to the film sets of Hollywood and from the playhouses of Cardiff to the grand theatres of Broadway – this far-reaching biography examines every detail and every facet of the life of Britain’s greatest ever actor, Richard Burton.” (Summary from globalbooksinprint.com)

Colin Firth : the biography / Alison Maloney.“From the moment Colin Firth took on the role of Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, emerging from the lake in ‘that scene’, he was set on a path from sex symbol to national treasure and Hollywood star. This biography reveals his early life in Nigeria; the secrets of his escape to Canada with actress Meg Tilly, and more.”(Summary from globalbooksinprint.com)

Michael Douglas : acting on instinct / [John Parker].“In the shadow of his father Kirk ’s overpowering fame, Michael Douglas forged a career for himself and became recognised in his own right as an award-winning actor and producer. But fame has taken its toll on Michael ’s personal life. His struggles with sexual addiction, his treatment for alcoholism and drug dependency and the break-up of his first marriage show another side to Michael ’s success.” (Summary from globalbooksinprint.com)

The forgotten founding father : Noah Webster’s obsession and the creation of an American culture / Joshua Kendall.
“American’s own “The Professor and the Madman”: a story of Noah Webster, author of American English. Noah Webster’s name is now synonymous with the dictionary he created, but his story is not nearly so ubiquitous. Webster hobnobbed with various Founding Fathers and was a young confidant of George Washington and Ben Franklin. He started America’s first daily newspaper, predating Alexander Hamilton’s “New York Post.” His “blue-backed speller” for schoolchildren sold millions of copies and influenced early copyright law. But perhaps most important, Webster was an ardent supporter of a unified, definitively American culture, distinct from the British, at a time when the United States of America were anything but unified-and his dictionary of American English is a testament to that.” (Syndetics summary)

From high heels to handcuffs / H. M. Goltz.
“What makes a girl throw away a six-figure salary and a marketing career to enter the Police Service? A mid-life crisis? Trying to escape a failing marriage? The search to reignite her passion for life? All of the above? From High Heels to Handcuffs is for anybody who has ever lost their footing in this world and wondered, “can I start again?”".(Summary from Library catalogue note )

Uncharted terriTORI / Tori Spelling with Hilary Liftin.
“UNCHARTED TERRITORI continues the proven, bestselling formula of her preceding memoirs STORI TELLING and MOMMYWOOD – letting readers share her unique and very public life/misadventures – complete with growing kids, daredevil husband Dean, a tight circle of friends, welcome and invasive cameras and an infamous mother – with humour and welcome candour. The anticipated new volume will offer fans the latest updates on her never-complacent life balancing parenthood with the pressures of living in Tinseltown, including reaction to the tabloid scrutiny of her weight, the truth behind the latest ‘feud’ making headlines, becoming a mini-mogul via her many business ventures and lines, the evolving relationship and health scare of Tori’s baby nurse/surrogate mother-figure Patsy, her marriage to Dean McDermott, a nostalgic visit to the new 90210, and possibly adding another Spelling-McDermott to the growing family.” (Summary from Amazon.co.uk)

If you ask me : (and of course you won’t) / Betty White.
“Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White’s wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood”–Publisher’s description.

Hey, did you know that some of your favourite glossy magazines began their lives as cut and paste zines?

Example 1: Carla discovered that the glamorous, cutting edge fashion and culture magazine  i-D started its life as a cut and paste fanzine dedicated to street style punk in 1980s London. The first issue (August 1980) was put together by hand in the home of i-D founder Terry Jones and the 2000 copies printed were distributed out of the back of a car!  Check out the first issue. It looks pretty much like a zine, was clamped together with three staples and cost only 50p.

Example 2: Bust Magazine, now a slick, celebrity filled, women’s lifestyle/feminist magazine, started as a photocopied, stapled, black and white zine in 1993.

Example 3: Bitch Magazine, started in 1996 by three friends frustrated by the lack of smart analysis of feminist pop culture – so they decided to create a zine and write it themselves!

These are just 3 examples that we know of but there must be heaps of others. Zine inspiration, yes?

More info and images from i-D magazine can be found in this great book we spotted while on the Arts reference desk the other day: iD : i-D covers 1980-2010 and we have both Bust and Bitch Magazines at the Central Library.

Check out our new Travel books for June:

The wild rover : a blistering journey along Britain’s footpaths / Mike Parker.
“Provocative, funny and written lovingly, this book is a celebration of our amazing network of trails, their sheer antiquity and penetration into every corner of the land – from the Thames Path to craggy mountaintop passes in the Highlands. It examines the chequered, and surprisingly turbulent, history of our precious paths, from the Enclosures Acts of the eighteenth century to the 1932 Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout in Derbyshire; the hard-won post-war establishment of great National Trails like the Pennine Way to latter-day battles by the likes of Nicholas van Hoogstraten and Madonna to keep ramblers off their land.” (Global books in print)

Mezza Italiana : an enchanting story about love, family, la dolce vita and finding your place in the world / Zoë Boccabella.
Zoë grew up in Brisbane in the 70s and 80s trying to be like everyone else, but never quite shaking the feeling of being half and half – half Australian, half mezza italiana. Zoë then travels to Italy and stays in the house that has belonged to her family for centuries.
(Syndetics)

Big Earth : 101 amazing adventures / Russ Malkin ; [foreword by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman].
“Although there are challenging trips for the serious traveller here, you don’t necessarily need months to spare or thousands of pounds to set off on an adventure. Some of these trips you can do in just a few days; race the Isle of Man TT circuit, camel trek in Morocco or sail from Dover to Calais; some you can do in two weeks off work; trek the Inca trail, ride a Harley along route 66 or get an overland truck trough Peru; and a few will take you that little bit longer; ice climb the Mont Blanc Massif, cycle across the Andes or drive from Cairo to Cape Town.” (Global books in print)

The upgrade : a cautionary tale of a life without reservations / Paul Carr.
“In February 2008, failed entrepreneur, struggling journalist and confirmed loser Paul Carr walked out of his flat in London for the last time and caught a flight to New York. By combining a few basic principles of entrepreneurship with some breathtaking feats of bullshit, he managed to blag his way into a suite in one of Manhattan’s coolest boutique hotels and quickly set about gaining access to the city’s most exclusive parties and events. Amazed at how easily he’d doubled his quality of life simply by abandoning the idea of domestic stability, he decided to investigate exactly how well he could live in New York city for what it cost him to survive on cold pizza in London…” (Global books in print)

Brisbane / Matthew Condon.
I keep coming back to the light of Brisbane. If you are born into it, this palette of gentle pinks and oranges at dawn and dusk, the blast white of midday in summer, the lemon luminescence of mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you keep it with you, and measure all other light by it.” (Syndetics)