Pencil Pal by Kylie 

This is a short but real sweet zine that we picked up at Auckland Zinefest last month by our very own ex zine librarian Kylie. It’s called ‘Pencil Pal’ after a peanuts strip where Charlie Brown wants to write to his pen pal but keeps getting ink all over the page, so he changes to pencil and calls his pen pal ‘pencil pal’ from then on. Cute huh? Well, along with tips on writing and replying to letters, there is also a list of reasons why you should get yourself a pen pal – my favourite is to have people to send cards to that you find in second hand shops. Tell me about it! I have a whole heap! What I found most interesting though was Kylie’s description of her pen pals past and present, including the 7 year old miss who sent back her letters with spelling corrected!

Stephanie

It’s for Cook, Volume 1.  by Emma Boyd 

E mate kai ana koe? Are you hungry?

To show my pleasure, I would have liked to get this little volume mucky on my counter, splodged with beetroot, carrot, and pineapple. It’s a small volume, cute sized and illuminated with photography.

Having only 9 recipes it could seem sparse, but this, it reads like a recipe book but looks like a menu, somewhat wholesome, but not in a yoga -every -day -only -organic- in- big -letters -self -help -self -righteous wholesome.

With much self-control I returned it to the library in the condition I borrowed it, with some cumin seed stuck between my teeth.

Kia mākona. Bon appétit. 

Anita

I Hate Mom’s Cat by Corinne Mucha

I Hate Mom’s Cat is a short comic in which Corinne Mucha does more or less what the title suggests – details how and why she hates her mother’s cat, Teddy. In simple, childlike drawings and sweetly funny text, she outlines Teddy’s many character flaws and compares them to her memories of the saint-like cats of her childhood – against which Teddy doesn’t stand a chance. This is one of six zines by Corinne Mucha that we hold, including the full length graphic novel, My Alaskan Summer.

Jeremy

There are loads of new zines in the Zine Collection, here are some highlights:

Make Your Place: Affordable Sustainable Nesting Skills
Written and illustrated by Raleigh Briggs
This little book has all the intimacy and charm of a hand-written letter. Born out of a series of workshops in Seattle, Washington and previous zines on the subject, it contains all sorts of interesting information on the use of non-toxic materials for First Aid, cleaning, body care, gardening and composting. Many recipes for products are given; the author believing that making these is a spiritual and life-enhancing act, as well as the most basic step we can take to save our planet.
The style is very vernacular, the author addressing the reader as a friend and fellow traveller. The many pen and ink drawings are simple but nicely executed. This is a pleasant and worthwhile publication and one which serves a very useful purpose.
- Reviewed by Sue

Papercutter – issue 10
This issue of Papercutter features the work of Damien Jay, Jesse Reklaw and Minty Lewis. All three have completely different drawing styles and it’s a real treat to have them together in one zine. I especially liked Damien Jay’s comic about a corpse named Willy who won’t rest and won’t let anyone else rest either! It’s melancholy rather than scary, and simply but beautifully drawn.
- Reviewed by Steph

Cardboard Box, issue three
Cardboard box is a breath of fresh air on the NZ zine scene. Now with three issues under their belt it looks as though the Box isn’t going anywhere too soon, and it’s a good thing too. This issue includes a feature on Squam Art Retreat (I really want to go now, who cares that it’s in the States…), a thought provoking article on the NZ news media, and a DIY cleaning chemistry recipe page; who knew cleaning could be so fun?

All this goodness comes along with interviews with hot shot musicians and artists, great illustrations, poetry and blog and music reviews…so much quality packed into a zine-shaped cardboard box.
- Reviewed by Carmel

For more info about the WCL Zine Collection, please visit www.wcl.govt.nz/zines

The staff at Wellington City Libraries, being into all things Kiwi, have come up with a list of the most underrated New Zealand bands or albums of all time.   Check these out, and let us know if you agree with our picks:

Bressa Creeting Cake by Bressa Creeting Cake (more…)

Lonely hearts. ‘Lonely Hearts’ is the sort of solid Hollywood entertainment that slips under the radar. Set in the 1940s it tells the true story of the notorious ‘Lonely Hearts’ killers Martha Beck & Raymond Fernandez (played by Jared Leto & Selma Hayek) who preyed on single women, milking them of their savings & ultimately killing them. Tracking them are two blue collar cops Elmer ‘Buster’ Robinson (played by John Travolta) & his partner Charles Hilderbrandt (played by James Gandolfini). Scarred by the unexplained suicide of his wife, Travolta’s character becomes obsessed with linking the suicide of a beautiful young widow with a confidence scam preying on lonely people who place ads in the newspapers ‘Lonely Hearts’ columns; and together with his partner sets out to bring the confidence artists to justice, uncovering along the way a bloody trail of victims. Travolta is suitably anguished, and the 40’s milieu is convincingly recreated, but full credit goes to Leto & especially Hayek with her chilling portrait of the cold-blooded Martha. Written & directed by Todd Robinson, the grandson of the character played by John Travolta, and the accompanying feature has him recalling memories of his grandfather.”

See more library staff DVD reviews for December on the WCL Movies page.

Bust is a pro-women magazine that is positive, diverse and interesting. They interview dynamic strong women (from musicians to artists to tea shop owners) who are doing exciting things with their lives and publish articles on such varied topics as Indian arranged weddings and the history of airline stewardesses. It includes fashion shoots with healthy (not anorexic looking) women and also have crafty tips and indie music reviews, what more can a girl ask for?