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Showing posts from February, 2018

Nananananana .... Batgirl

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Batgirl: The Greatest Stories Ever Told by Dennis O'Neil Paperback, 160 pages, Published December 21st 2010 by DC Comics The problem with this collection of stories about Batgirl that it represents both the best and worse of the DC treatment of this character. You start with what is perhaps the best known origin story of Batgirl as Barbara Gordon. This was created in the late 60s, is representative of its time but there is hope for Batgirl as character. I mean I did not mind that Barbara Gordon becomes a crime fighter because she likes the excitement and thrill of getting into a scrape with some baddies. From these humble beginnings you could see the possibility of a really interesting character arc in the making. However, that slowly unravels as you read through the decades. It was great that  Barbara, runs for Congress but the motive was appalling.  The further you travel through the decades the more Batgirl becomes tepid and almost ineffective as a crime fighter. The Batgi

Early take on Aussie Terrorism

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The Twentieth Man by Tony Jones Paperback, 482 pages, Published July 26th 2017 by Allen & Unwin Sydney, 1972 two bombs are detonated in the CBD targeting Yugoslavian business owners. Anna Rosen, an ABC journalist, has been investigating alleged war criminals harbouring in Australia who are members of the Ustasha movement is certain that they are responsible for these recent attacks. Complicating matters for Anna is that her former lover, Marin Katich who disappeared two years ago maybe caught up in the workings of the Ustasha due to his father’s involvement. Anna is working under two motives one to discover the story about the Ustasha and the other to discover why Marin left her. Woven through this narrative is the Australian political climate at the time, with the power shift to the recently elected Labor (Socialist style) Government flexing its muscles after many years of the Liberal Party (Conservative) rule. The Attorney General, Lionel Murphy is raging against the Austr

When people ignore the obvious

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Wimmera by Mark Brandi Paperback, 262 pages, Published June 27th 2017 by Hachette Australia Two young lads growing up in a rural Australian town, the sun is hot, the days are long and holidays are spent catching yabbies and playing cricket. Indirectly, the suicide of a teenage girl in who lives near by, for Fab and Ben brings about a slow tragic change in their relationship.   The book is written in a lyrical poetic style as you are drawn into the world of the boys Fab and Ben. The boys try to understand their own sexual awakening and how to interact in the world of adults. There is so much that is left unsaid through out this book. The suicide of Daisy, it would seem that everyone in the town knew what has happening but looked the other way. Just as every one looks away from the alcohol and domestic abuse that happens on a regular basis.  As the boys finish primary school we are catapulted into the future with Fab working a dead end job and using booze and drugs to f

Elliot is the best arsehole ever!

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In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan Hardcover, 432 pages Published August 15th 2017 by Big Mouth House Sometime ago I was watching the ABC Book Show and the author CS Pacat was talking about this novel and highly recommended it. I was intrigued enough to make the purchase and I am glad I did.  You meet Elliot at the same time Elliot discovers that he can see a field in the middle of a field that none of his class mates can. Elliot is offered an opportunity to go over the wall and study in this ‘somewhat’ magical land. On this new land he meets Serene a beautiful elf and Luke who comes from the most influential families. Serene and Luke are warriors, whilst Elliot is a diplomat but in this land it might of the sword that counts.  Let me straight up say this is a corker of a novel. It is character driven and primarily from Elliot’s point of view. As the reader you are standing right next to Elliot and everything reveals itself as he discovers what happens. Normally I fin

The rise of the Cattle King and the demise of Pompeii

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Pompeii by Mary Beard Hardcover, 348 pages Published 2008 by BBC I am a sucker for books on history but inevitably, I find the style to be dry, pitched at the upper levels of academia or aimed at primary school aged children by being overly simplified. Mary Beard does not fall into these categories at all; she has a wonderful, enthusiastic approach to history. With Pompeii, Beard takes you by the hand and guides you through the city streets. You are provided with insights into the daily life of the citizens through their words scrawled on walls and the possessions left behind. Beard provides you with the conventional and opposing views on how archaeologists interpret the discoveries. How many brothels were there? How did the baths actually work? How were the streets laid out? How was a vineyard laid out? While Beard is taking you through this history she is gently challenging the preconceived notions that we have of Pompeii as a city suddenly frozen in time by a volcano. This is