Category: books

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books literature popular culture Science resources

Best books of 2013

Some ideas for holiday reading….

Winners of the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards

Looking for some good new books to read in the holidays? Check out this list just released by Goodreads, with nearly 2 million votes cast. 20 categories include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, non fiction, memoir & autobiography, graphic novels, picture books, young adult fiction…Something for everyone! http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2013?utm_campaign=winners&utm_content=logo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=GRCA_2013

Or try Amazon Editors’ Best Books of 2013: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/7728816011

Free ebook: The curious country

From the Office of the Chief Scientist. A collection of essays about the scientific issues affecting Australians today – health and wellbeing, cybercrime, life on other planets, food and water, energy…..Free download from ANU E Press.

http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/2013/11/The-Curious-Country/

The bone season by Samantha Shannon

This paranormal fantasy book has received a lot of hype and yes there is a lot of info-dumping in the first 50 pages, but it is an intriguing, complex and exciting read. In 2059, many cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Nineteen year old Paige Mahoney is a clairvoyant who works in the criminal underworld, scouting for information by breaking into the minds of people. When she is captured she is sent to Oxford – now a penal colony controlled by a supernatural race, and there she must become a soldier in their army. It is the first book in the series of 7 and the film rights have been sold.

“[A] dazzingly brainy, witty and bewitching tale of outrageous courage, heroic compassion, transcendent love, and the quest for freedom…the first in a thoughtful fantasy series by a brilliant young writer.” – Booklist http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bone-season-samantha-shannon/1114205463?ean=9781620401392 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17199504-the-bone-season

The tournament by Matthew Reilly

Reilly’s new historical mystery set in Constantinople. In 1546 Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, invites every king in Europe to send their finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the world. Accompanying the English delegation is young Bess, who narrates the story and witnesses events that will shape her character as the future Queen Elizabeth I. Murder, intrigue, Ivan the Terrible, Michelangelo…sounds intriguing and sure to be a page turner! But where is Scarecrow??

http://www.matthewreilly.com/the-novels/the-tournament

Reilly’s next releases in 2014 are a fantasy novella about trolls and a techno thriller set in China: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/matthew-reilly-returns-with-the-tournament-20131108-2x6um.html

Reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17611937-the-tournament

Review by Aust. author Jack Heath: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/759256355

 

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books censorship Indigenous resources literature websites

Happy Book Week!

It’s Book Week– a great time to celebrate books, writing and reading – in paper or digital form!
The winning children’s books have been announced by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Books for Older Readers are very suitable for college students and other titles are used in Children’s Literature classes. We buy several each year. You might also be interested if you have young children.
Winners: http://cbca.org.au/winners2013.htm
Notable books: http://cbca.org.au/Notables2013.htm

In the library we are running a daily Trivia Quiz with 10 questions posted daily and prizes given to the first correct answers. We are continuing with the Sci-ku poetry writing competition so send us your haiku poems on a science theme.

Looking for good reads? Try these sites:

Dymocks’ best 101 books of all time: 2013 list
Looking for a good read? Try something from this list, as voted by 7000 readers. The Harry Potter series has regained top spot, followed by Pride and prejudice.
http://www.dymocks.com.au/Booklovers/101club.aspx

Australian Independent Bookseller
Weekly Top 10 bestsellers; book news, Indie Awards chosen annually. Winner of this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award: Questions of travel by Michelle de Kretser. http://www.indies.com.au/
Indie Book of the Year: The light between oceans by M.L. Stedman.
Winners: http://www.readings.com.au/news/the-2013-indie-award-winners

Get Reading!
http://www.getreading.com.au/
Formerly known as Books Alive, this is Australia’s largest annual celebration of books and reading, held in September each year. On 1 Sept, the 2013 list of the Top 50 Books You Can’t Put Down will be announced, as well as a list of Australia’s favourite books. The free guide will be available in bookstores and online.
Some great book suggestions – book lists from 2007-2012: http://www.getreading.com.au/50-books-you-cant-put-down/

Banned books
Various banned book lists – interesting and well presented: http://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/banned

Read about the secret history of Australian censorship and prohibited publications….Peyton Place, Brave new world, The catcher in the rye….intriguing! http://blog.naa.gov.au/banned/

Twentieth-century Australia had the strictest censorship of any democratic nation. Publications of all kinds were kept under surveillance and thousands of books were banned as seditious, blasphemous or obscene. Read more: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/exhibition/

List of banned books in Australia: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/exhibition/australia.html

More links: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/

The best 100 opening lines from books: Click on the book covers to reveal the lines from excellent books, old and new.
http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-best-100-opening-lines-from-books/
100 best closing lines from books: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-best-100-closing-lines-from-books
100 best films based on books: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/top-100-films-based-on-books
The 8 darkest fairy tales: http://www.stylist.co.uk/books/the-eight-darkest-fairy-tales#image-rotator-1

Arts and Letters Daily
http://www.aldaily.com/
Highly regarded website with dailyreport of news in literature, language, philosophy, ideas, criticism, history, music, art, culture – includes reviews of new books, essays and articles. Excellent links to other cultural websites and blogs. Something for everyone! eg. A brief history of applause, the Big Data of the ancient world: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/a-brief-history-of-applause-the-big-data-of-the-ancient-world/274014/

AustLit: the Australian literature resource
http://www.austlit.edu.au/
AustLit aims to be the definitive virtual information resource for Australian literary, print and narrative culture. It includes information about fiction, poetry, theatre & film writing, biographical & travel writing and reviews. Some full text creative and critical works are also available. All Aust. teachers have free access.
What’s in AustLit: http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/5961903
Full text collections: Poems, novels, criticism, reviews, children’s literature and early Aust. science fiction. http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/5960585
Full text search: http://www.austlit.edu.au/?ex=FullTextSearch

AustLit includes the BlackWords database. BlackWords provides searchable information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and their published and unpublished books, stories, plays, poems and criticism. It includes works in English and in Indigenous Australian languages. http://www.austlit.edu.au/specialistDatasets/BlackWords

Sydney Review of Books
http://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/
“Sparked by concerns about the dwindling space for literary criticism in Australian media, the Sydney Review of Books is an online review site focusing on Australian writers and writing”. It has reviews and articles about fiction, non fiction, poetry & other feature articles.

Happy Book Week!

 

Categories
books films popular culture TV

Indie Book Awards and film news

Indie Awards 2013

Last week the winner of the Indie Book of the Year Award was announced: The light between oceans by M.L. Stedman. Other category winners: http://www.indies.com.au/BookAwards.aspx

Looking forward to reading the YA winner – Sea hearts by Margo Lanagan, an amazing writer.

Shortlist: http://www.indies.com.au/IndieAward.aspx

I like this website. It always has interesting info. Just noticed I am currently reading #4 in the Indie Top 10 Bestsellers – Gone girl by Gillian Flynn. It is awesome! An unputdownable, intriguing psychological thriller that I blame for too many late nights!! It was highly recommended to me and I can pass that recommendation on. It’s her 3rd novel…will definitely be reading the others! We have purchased a copy for our library – it is fine for senior students, no more gruesome or explicit than the Girl with the dragon tattoo (which is studied as a text here).

http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Girl-Novel-Gillian-Flynn/dp/030758836X

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8442457-gone-girl

Yay….a film adaptation! “American actress Reese Witherspoon’s film production company and 20th Century Fox own the screen rights to Gone Girl for which they paid $1.5 million US dollars. The novel’s author Gillian Flynn has been engaged to write the screenplay. Witherspoon was drawn to the script because of its strong female character and its use of multiple perspectives and non-linear structure. She will produce, but not star, in the film”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Girl_(novel)

The book thief

The film of the acclaimed novel by Marcus Zusak, that spent 230 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has begun shooting in Germany. Director: Brian Percival (Downton Abbey). Stars Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as the foster parents of Liesel, the book thief. I thought Rush would have been perfect as Death, the narrator!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/book-thief-begins-shooting-germany-427216

The secret garden

A new adaptation of the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett is being developed – to be set in southern USA at the turn of the century. Guillermo del Toro will be producer but not director.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36405

Doctor Who: 50th anniversary 3D special

Screens in Nov 2013. An extended episode written by Steven Moffatt – Matt Smith describes it as “epic” and “hilarious”! And maybe something to do with paintings. The new series of Doctor Who begins 31 March ABC1 – River Song will appear, there will be more answers about the Doctor’s future & the truth about the identity of his new companion Clara.

http://www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a466387/doctor-who-50th-special-is-epic-hilarious-says-matt-smith.html

http://www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a466316/doctor-who-steven-moffat-teases-river-song-return.html

Kickstarter and Veronica Mars

Another example of the power of social media: the crowdfunding website Kickstarter has raised enough funds for a film version of the Veronica Mars cult TV series. More than 30 000 fans pledged $2 million in one day (now over $3.8 million), the biggest film campaign ever on Kickstarter – which funds films, dance, comics, art, design, fashion, technology, music…

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-veronica-mars-kickstarter-20130315,0,5476074.story

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project

Australian crowdfunding site – some interesting creative projects: http://www.pozible.com/

Or maybe you prefer Brad Pitt and zombies….

Possibly the biggest zombie movie ever. Based on the bestselling novel World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks (son of Mel). Directed by Marc Forster (The kite runner; Stranger than fiction; Quantum of solace). A United Nations employee traverses the world in a race against time to stop the zombie pandemic that threatens to decimate humanity. Brad plays the UN guy , not a zombie.

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/world-war-z-biggest-zombie-movie-ever-161702999.html

Fun stuff

You might have seen this short video doing the rounds recently…..iPads vs paper. Long live paper!

http://vimeo.com/61275290

 

Categories
books

Book sales, self-publishing and Wool

I was reading through a (full-size!) Sydney Morning Herald article from January. Interesting to see that the number and value of books sold in Aust. in 2012 decreased (56.6 million sold – a fall of 6.3% from 2011). The top 6 bestsellers were the Fifty shades series and The Hunger Games series. Without the Fifty shades series, the decrease would have been 11.2%. However, Dymocks stated that their 74 shops sold 500 000 more books than previous years – but the average price was down from $23 to $15.60. They noted that the tablet and e-reader have taken over. (Steger, J. 2013, ‘Readers hunger for two trilogies”, SMH, 5-6 Jan, p. 6.).

In the US, many writers are now turning their backs on traditional publishing and each week self-published authors make the ebook bestseller lists, as well as lists by the New York Times, Wall St Journal, USA Today etc. A year ago this was rare.

Self-publishing platforms include:

CreateSpace (Amazon offshoot)

https://www.createspace.com/

Smashwords

http://www.smashwords.com/

Bookpal (Aust. company begun 2002)

http://www.bookpal.com.au/

http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/12/mark-cokers-2013-book-publishing.html

Some ideas for high school fiction collections:

Wool by Hugh Howey

In a dystopian future, a community exists in an underground silo. Their lives are full of rules and regulations, secrets and lies. The dangerous ones are those that hope and dream – their punishment is being allowed outside.

This post-apocalyptic sci-fi bestseller began in 2011 as a “self-pubbed” digital “novelette” that grew into a novel after thousands of online rave reviews. Howey finally agreed to sell the print rights in Dec. 2012 whilst retaining electronic rights and profits – a first in the industry. The print version hits US bookstores 12 March. Available as 8 books & omnibus. Film rights have been sold to Ridley Scott. Howey’s Molly Fyde series also sounds good for young adult sci-fi fans.

Wool series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool_(series)

Book review: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/review-wool-by-hugh-howey-8458669.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2013/03/hugh_howey_and_wool_how_the_self_pubbed_sci_fi_writer_relates_to_fans.html

http://www.hughhowey.com/

Amanda Hocking

US writer of paranormal romance young adult fiction. In April 2010 Hocking self-published 9 novels as ebooks. By March 2011 she had sold over 1 million copies and earned $2 million in sales – previously unheard of for self-published authors. In March 2011 she signed a $2 million publishing contract for 4 print books in the Watersong paranormal series. Other series: My blood approves (vampire romance); Trylle trilogy (urban fantasy); Hollowland (zombie fiction).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Hocking

http://amandahocking.blogspot.com.au/

 

 

Categories
books films popular culture

Some excellent upcoming films!

It’s time for the Oscars! Some good films nominated that tie in with curriculum areas – Life of Pi (novels, philosophy, psychology – just wonderful); Argo (history; global relations); Silver linings playbook (psychology, mental health – really good film); Zero dark thirty (global relations, psychology, crime & deviance, history); Lincoln (history); Les mis (history, novels, great songs). Good luck Hugh Jackman and Jacki Weaver!
http://oscar.go.com/nominees/
Interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/21/oscars-2013-what-nominations-say-about-america
All the awards through the years – Oscars, Globes, SAGs, BAFTAs etc – IMDB is certainly an excellent site!
http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/?ref_=rto_nb_acd

Other upcoming films to look forward to – good for courses in sci-fi, fantasy, fiction to film, media, popular culture…rather a long list…sorry – film fever!

Star Wars: episode VII
3 new Star Wars films are coming & 2 peripheral movies (since George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Co last year). The first will be Star Wars: episode VII – directed by J. J. Abrams (Star trek 2009, Super 8, Lost – TV series). To be released 2015. Some (including William Shatner) feel that Abrams should not be directing 2 of the biggest franchises – Star wars AND Star trek!
http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite-jj-abrams-to-direct-star-wars-episode-vii.html

Star trek: into darkness
Director: J.J.Abrams. Follow-on from Star trek (2009). Opens May 2013. Stars Chris Pine as a young Kirk and Benedict Cumberbatch as villain John Harrison…aww Sherlock! “After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction”.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WzJXmY2xrg

Beautiful creatures
Now showing. Based on the well-regarded young adult Gothic romance novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, their debut novel. Directed by Richard LaGravenese. Stars Alice Englert (daughter of Jane Campion), Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons. Not Bella and Edward this time, but Lena and Ethan. A young man in a small Southern town falls for troubled new girl Lena – a witch who will be claimed for the light or dark on her 16th birthday. Apparently much better than the Twilight series!
Movie info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559547/
Movie review: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/movies/movie-review-beautiful-creatures/story-e6frf9h6-1226582786824
Book info: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Creatures-Kami-Garcia/dp/0316231673

Oz the great and powerful
Previews look excellent! Prequel to the Wizard of Oz. Directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man). Stars James Franco, Mila Kunis (Wicked Witch of the West) and Michelle Williams (Glinda). Opens 7 March 2013. A small-time unethical magician lands in Oz and is drawn into the problems facing the inhabitants, where he must find out who is good and evil in order to redeem himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1NGnVLDPog

Great expectations
Based on Dickens’ novel about the orphan who becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Directed by Mike Newel. Stars Jeremy Irvine as Pip, Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch and Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham. Opens 7 March 2013.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/toronto-film-festival-great-expectations-review-helena-bonham-carter-369565

Jack the giant slayer
Directed by Bryan Singer. Stars Nicholas Hoult (the cute kid from About a boy), Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor. Opens 21 March. A young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the world of humans and a race of giants, thus reigniting an ancient war.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1351685/

Warm bodies
A paranormal romantic zombie comedy based on the novel by Isaac Marion; directed by Jonathan Levine. Stars Nicholas Hoult (yes the cute kid from About a boy). The film is told from the zombie’s perspective – “R” falls in love with Julie, a living human and love helps him develop some human characteristics again. Extensive voice-overs are used, as zombies have trouble speaking. Opens 11 April.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588173/
JOBS
The Steve Jobs biopic recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival, to mixed reviews. Stars Ashton Kutcher as Jobs and Josh Gad as Steve Wozniak. Directed by Joshua Stern. Opens here June 2013. The film focuses on Job’s life from when he dropped out of college to when the first iPod came out in 2001. They even filmed in the Silicon Valley garage where the first Apple computer was created. Sony Pictures is also planning a separate Jobs biopic, based on Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography and to be written by Aaron Sorkin (The social network).
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/ashton-kutcher-talks-steve-jobs-tech-and-fruitarian-diets-20130201-2doi0.html
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/great-jobs-kutcher-praised-for-biopic-20121205-2avb6.html

The Fifth Estate
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Julian Assange in the drama depicting the early days of WikiLeaks. He looks different with that hair!
Directed by Bill Condon, who explores “the complexities and challenges of transparency in the information age”. Opens late 2013.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9821056/Benedict-Cumberbatch-as-Julian-Assange-in-The-Fifth-Estate-first-look.html
Assange accuses the film of being a “massive propaganda attack”: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/24/julian-assange-attacks-wikileaks-film

The mortal instruments: City of bones
Based on the popular urban fantasy book series by Cassandra Clare. Stars Lily Collins. Opens here Aug 2013. When her mother is taken by a demon in New York, a teenage girl finds out truths about her past and bloodline that changes her entire life.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538403/

Ender’s game
Based on the acclaimed sci-fi novels Ender’s game & Ender’s shadow by Orson Scott Card. Directed by Gavin Hood. Stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, an unusually gifted child, is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future alien invasion. There he is honed into an empathetic killer who begins to despise himself as he learns to fight in order to save Earth and his family. Opens late 2013.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/

Hunger Games 2 : Catching fire
Katniss and Peeta head back into the Games in Nov 2013.

The graveyard book
Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed 2008 children’s book will be filmed as a live-action movie (instead of animated), directed by Ron Howard. The book is the only title to ever win both the Carnegie and Newbery Medals for Best Children’s Book. Young Nobody Owens is raised by ghosts in a cemetery after his family is murdered. As a teen, he is pursued again by the murderer.
http://www.movies.com/movie-news/ron-howard-set-to-resurrect-neil-gaimans-the-graveyard-book/11023

20 000 leagues under the sea
Based on Jules Verne’s 1870 novel. Currently in development with Disney with David Fincher (The social network) to direct in 3D. The Federal Government has offered an incentive for it to be filmed in Aust. – but despite rumours, there will be no Brad Pitt in a wetsuit…
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/pitt-sunk-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-rumours-hosed-down-20130216-2ejqg.html

Relax with a good film – based on a good book!

Categories
books films TV

Cloud atlas and some good TV shows coming up

Cloud atlas

I’m loving this Booker nominated novel – don’t know why I missed reading it in 2004. It’s a great read that mixes spec fiction, dystopian fiction and realistic fiction in an intriguing pyramid-style narrative that spans generations – from the 19th to 24th centuries.
Theme: everything is connected. Cloud atlas is 6 intertwined stories in 6 time periods and genres – an 1849 diary of a Pacific Ocean voyage; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce about a publisher in a nursing home; an interview with a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the memoirs of an old man who lived in a tribal community in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, far in the future.

Book review: “A postmodern visionary who is also a master of styles of genres, David Mitchell combines flat-out adventure, a Nabokovian lore of puzzles, a keen eye for character, and a taste for mind-bending philosophical and scientific speculation in the tradition of Umberto Eco and Philip K. Dick. The result is brilliantly original fiction that reveals how disparate people connect, how their fates intertwine, and how their souls drift across time like clouds across the sky”.
More reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Atlas-Novel-David-Mitchell/dp/0375507256

“The novel is a series of nested dolls or Chinese boxes, a puzzle-book, and yet—not just dazzling, amusing, or clever but heartbreaking and passionate, too. I’ve never read anything quite like it, and I’m grateful to have lived, for a while, in all its many worlds.”—Michael Chabon.

Cloud atlas the movie opens 28 Feb. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, run) and Andy & Lana (previously Larry) Wachowski (The Matrix).

Movie review: “Cloud Atlas is profound in its reach, its visual and acoustic impact, its mesmerizing flow and its completely ground-breaking storytelling, and movie goers will see it and feel it in their guts. It is a movie that is a product of our age of internet-driven universal knowledge and vision, and the freedom we have to travel the world and jump between ages, genres, images and identities at our will. It reminds us that we are human and that we can still hear our heart beat, if we listen.” – C. Lutz

More details, trailer & reviews: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/

Positive review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121024/REVIEWS/121029991
Negative review: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/25/entertainment/la-et-mn-cloud-atlas-review-20121026

Check the multiple characters played by stars (often unrecognisable) – Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_dr#directors

Can’t wait to see it! And I definitely want to read more of Mitchell’s books (all nominated for awards).

Some good TV shows also coming up this year:

Batavia – 6 hour miniseries on Ch. 10, based on the book by Peter FitzSimons, about the 1629 wreck of a Dutch ship off the W.A. coast. “The book is a sea-faring adventure full of mutiny, love, lust, criminality, slavery and the birth of the world’s first corporation.”- IMDB.

Game of thrones – series 3 starts 1 April (Pay TV). This series of fantasy books by George R.R. Martin went to the top of the best-seller lists after the TV series was aired. Readers say the first 2 TV series follow the books very closely. Many senior students watch the show – it is often rather graphic – schools would have to carefully consider viewing episodes with senior students.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/game-of-thrones/user-reviews/adult

Chris Lilley – new 6 part series to be released in 2013. Let’s hope it’s better than the disappointing Angry boys – his first 2 series were excellent! http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/chris-lilleys-new-series-begins-shooting-20130220-2eqin.html

The walking dead – series 3 starts 12 Feb (Pay TV). Graphically gruesome – not really suitable to show at school, but students are watching it. The series has been nominated for several awards. Yes there are hungry & violent zombies but people are trying to survive as best they can – with the usual social & moral questions. The humans have some success – zombies are slow & they suck at climbing & swimming. Based on the Eisner award-winning graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman and others (popular in senior high school). There is also a web series based on the novels & TV series and video games.

Paper giants: magazine wars – Stars Rachel Griffiths as Dulcie Boling (editor New Idea), Mandy McElhinney as Nene King (editor Women’s Day) and Rob Carlton (Kerry Packer). Explores the rivalry of 2 powerful women in Australian publishing. Coming to ABC.

Power games: the Packer-Murdoch story – Set in 1960-75, the story of how the epic ambitions of Rupert Murdoch and Sir Frank Packer collided as they battled for control of Australia’s newspaper and television industries. Coming to Ch. 9.

The time of our lives – Follows 3 generations of a modern Aust. family. Stars Claudia Karvan, Shane Jacobson, William McInnes & Stephen Curry. Coming to ABC.

 

Categories
books ed tech human rights news popular culture sociology TV websites

Human rights, sociology and top tech news

Human Rights Day was 10 December and the Australian Human Rights Commission presented its awards in 10 categories, including those below. Great to see Ian Thorpe recognised, and also the excellent online news & issues resource The conversation and TV’s informative The project.

 

Human Rights Medal Winner 2012

Ian Thorpe

“Fighting for better services for Indigenous children in remote communities across Australia has delivered the prestigious Human Rights Medal for 2012 to Ian Thorpe OAM. For over a decade, Ian has worked as a passionate advocate for Indigenous people with his Fountain for Youth charity, which works with twenty-one remote communities in the Northern Territory.” He began this charity in 2000 when he was only 18 years old. He is also Co-Patron of Close the Gap campaign.

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/news/2012/131_12.html

Thorpe’s recent autobiography This is me: the autobiography reveals how he has coped with depression and would be a valuable addition to high school collections.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/12/ian-thorpe-swimming-depression

Print and Online Media Award
Professor Sharon Pickering and The Conversation Academic Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers series – Series of 14 articles published in The Conversation between June and August 2012 (details below).

Saving lives at sea: The Conversation’s asylum seeker expert panel makes its findings and states what it believes to be a fair, humane and workable policy approach. Includes links to the award-winning articles – good authoritative resources for social science & “issues” courses: http://theconversation.edu.au/saving-lives-at-sea-the-asylum-seeker-expert-panel-reports-8601

Includes:

Asylum seekers & Aust: http://theconversation.edu.au/asylum-seekers-and-australia-the-evidence-8173

Infographic displaying global populations of refugees from 1975-2010. Using UNHCR data, every population the UNHCR has counted over 35 years is charted on this spinning globe, highlighting where refugees settled, and where they came from:  http://theconversation.edu.au/infographic-global-refugee-populations-1975-2010-8443

Global refugee facts: http://theconversation.edu.au/refugee-populations-across-the-globe-the-facts-7557

All asylum seeker links: http://theconversation.edu.au/pages/asylum-seekers

Literature (non-fiction) Award
The people smuggler by Robin de Crespigny – Penguin Australia, May 2012.

“The story of one man’s epic struggle to find a safe place in the world. When Ali Al Jenabi flees Saddam Hussein’s torture chambers, he is forced to leave his family behind in Iraq. What follows is an incredible international odyssey through the shadow world of fake passports, crowded camps and illegal border crossings, living every day with excruciating uncertainty about what the next will bring….Eventually he must confront what he has been forced to become.”  http://www.thepeoplesmuggler.com/

Television Award
Age of Uncertainty – The Project – Network Ten – Produced by Hamish MacDonald and Sam Clark – Screened over April and May 2012.

The Human Rights Day Oration was delivered by James Spigelman, Chairman of the ABC and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW: ‘Where do we draw the line between hate speech and free speech?’ (audio & transcript):   http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/news/2012/132_12.html

Some more resources ….useful for sociology, geography, popular culture…

Australia Street

If Australia was a street of 100 households, what would it look like and who would live there? What about employment, religion, education, births, deaths and marriages? All these stats and more are included in this animation:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzAtaZg6ljo&feature=youtu.be

Aust. St explained: http://blog.mccrindle.com.au/_blog/The_McCrindle_Blog/post/Mark_McCrindle_explains_Australia_Street_VIDEO

Julia and the “mummy” bloggers

It was another morning tea this week for Julia Gillard and 25 the country’s most influential female bloggers, whose sites reach 2.5 million people (similar sites were important in the Obama campaign).

“Sites represented included:

Eden Riley (Sydney Writers’ Centre award Best Aust. Blog 2012); Mrs Woog (Woogsworld); Nicole Avery (tips for organising the chaos of family life); the writer of My Mummy Daze (juggling motherhood and a family business); the mother of four boys, one with special needs, who writes allconsuming .com.au; Fairfax’s EssentialBaby (largest online parenting site in Aust.); iVillage (Mia Freedman –Mamamia -has the local licence); Women’s Agenda (created by Crikey journalist Angela Priestley); Kidspot (News Ltd site that aims to simplify parenting and offer mothers a place to talk to each other); and the Fairfax site Daily Life.”

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/pm-cosies-up-to-mummy-bloggers-20121209-2b3gm.html

Eden Riley was crowned Australia’s Best Blogger at the 2012 Sydney Writers Centre Blog Awards. Her blog is called Edenland. She writes of spirit, redemption, addiction, and truth. Eden has been blogging for five years and has been named as a Voice of the Year at America’s largest social media conference for women, BlogHer. http://www.edenriley.com/

CNET: the 100 biggest tech stories of 2012

Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask….iPad mini, Windows 8, Apple maps, MakerBot, Instagram, Google Glass, Zuckerberg, Assange..…

http://www.cnet.com/cnet100/

CNET: the 10 best & most influential tech products of 2012

Galaxy S3 (best device); iPhone 5; Google Nexus 7; iPad Mini; Motorola Razr; Windows 8; Microsoft Surface; the MakerBot 3D Replicator (3D printer that prints whatever you design – toys, jewellery, models etc).

http://www.cnet.com/8301-33506_1-57557848-306/galaxy-s3-beats-iphone-5-for-best-device-of-2012/

Categories
books libraries

Moving from Print to Digtial

There is a lot of talk around this topic and many schools are at various stages of the move. An article on the Education Week website puts forward some interesting thoughts on this issue. The material is US based but the concept of going digital is the same for us all.

Report: Schools Should Move from Print to Digital Content by 2017

“The textbook was the best technology we had… 50 plus years ago,” said Doug Levin, the executive director of SETDA, during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington. Levin was joined by SETDA officials and representatives from states like Utah and Virginia, which are put forth as case studies for digital content policy in the report, titled “Out of Print.” Levin went on to list the trends changing how instructional materials are designed and delivered, like the Common Core State Standards, budget pressures and student demographic changes, among others.

Categories
books

A river of books in Melbourne

Luzinterruptus, the anonymous art group who highlights the beauty of public spaces using only light and creativity, turned Federation Square into a river of 10 000 books donated by public libraries. They created a similar installation in New York – Literature vs Traffic.

Great Melb. photos: http://molempire.com/2012/09/13/literature-vs-traffic-a-river-of-books-floods-the-streets-of-melbourne/

 

A great place to get some bargains with proceeds to a very worthwhile organisation..….we will be buying some up-to-date non fiction for our library.

Lifeline Spring Bookfair 2012

Books, magazines, games, jigsaws, comics, maps, records, CDs and DVDs. Includes large of science fiction and fantasy specials, from $2.

Friday 21 September – 10am-6pm
Saturday 22 September – 10am-5pm
Sunday 23 September – 10am-4pm

Budawang Building
Exhibition Park
Flemington Road, Mitchell
http://www.act.lifeline.org.au/Bookfair/lifeline-canberra-bookfairs

 

Categories
books films Indigenous resources TV websites

Indigenous resources & Indigenous Literacy Day

Today is Indigenous Literacy Day – Wed 5 Sept. Many schools raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which donates books and funds literacy programs in remote indigenous communities. $340 000 has been donated so far in 2012 with 85 000 books supplied to 230 remote indigenous communities. Some children’s books are also translated into indigenous languages. It is a very successful and worthwhile program.
http://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/

 

The Sapphires

The highly acclaimed film continues its success at the box office, the soundtrack is #1, the weekly free podcast on iTunes is popular as is the iPhone app where Jessica Mauboy helps you sing like a diva!

http://www.hopscotchfilms.com.au/home/

 

The black list: film and TV projects since 1970 with indigenous Australians in key creative roles

Published in June 2010, Screen Australia’s comprehensive reference book The black list catalogued the work of 257 Indigenous Australians with credits since 1970 as producer, director, writer or director of photography. Includes details of the film and TV projects and availability.

Search the Find a Film database: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/research/prod_industry_indig.aspx

PDF of the book: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/documents/SA_publications/BlackList.pdf

Updated chronology of indigenous film and TV 1970 – 2012

http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/documents/SA_publications/BlackListChronology.pdf

 

Creative Spirits

http://www.creativespirits.info/

This comprehensive website has excellent links for  indigenous culture and resources. It is curated by a non indigenous person who has received acclaim for the information provided (part of NLA’s Pandora).

Books and reviews about indigenous culture – art, autobiography, children’s, novels, history, sport, teaching resources etc:   http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/books

Films dealing with indigenous issues – indigenous and non indigenous directors. Includes synopsis of each: http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/

 

Magabala Books

Based in Broome; publishes works which have major Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander involvement (indigenous author, editor or illustrator). Browse categories – new releases, children’s, social history, biography etc

http://www.magabala.com/catalog_new/index.php

 

IAD Press

Based in Alice Springs; a rich catalogue of publications celebrating Central Australian language, art, culture and biographies. All publications represent an authentic indigenous perspective. Includes fiction, children’s, biography, art, land and culture, Aboriginal languages.

http://iadpress.com/

 

Aboriginal Studies Press

Australia’s leading publisher of indigenous studies – the publishing arm of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the world’s premier research and collecting institute of Australian indigenous studies. Publish up to ten new titles annually and choose outstanding writing that promotes an understanding of Australian indigenous cultures.

http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/asp/welcome.html

 

Little red yellow black book: an introduction to indigenous Australia – Bruce Pascoe & AIATSIS (ASP, Canberra, 2008)

Best-selling guide to indigenous history and contemporary culture.

Online teaching resources and links: http://lryb.aiatsis.gov.au/

 

ABC indigenous portal

Excellent links to news, TV programs, online videos, arts reviews, community stories.

http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/