What I love apart from the tea parties, the dandiness and the campy absurdity of it all, is Alexia’s awesome parasol/s. I haven’t read the novels in a long time, though am currently starting Blameless, so I couldn’t remember what it looked like—or on that note, what her dresses were like—so I simply fashioned my own.

This took quite a long time (I didn’t keep track) but boy I had fun in Photoshop.  I took a much more Impressionistic approach than previous artwork. I went rather ker-razy with it all, which kind of fits, I suppose.

I modelled Alexia after Édouard Manet’s Woman with a Parasol (1881) and attempted—keyword attempted—to implement the very characteristic Italian face.

Consider yourself warned—SPOILERS AHEAD.

I prepared myself to have low expectations because over the past four/five months the Pottermore hype just blew out of proportion, and I have to say I am still feeling underwhelmed by the present experience.

Pottermore is the brain child of JK Rowling, designed to enrich the reading experience of Harry Potter, enhanced by interactive media and social networking. It will also officially release the Harry Potter series in ebook and audiobook format. I think the premise is brilliant, and for the most part of what I’ve participated in it’s successful. At first glance the user interface has impressive visual flair and elegance. There is a distinct lack of sound and music score, lagging Flash elements and some navigational frustrations. However, what compensates for these significant flaws are the matte paintings, used for every single Moment in a Chapter. They are simply stunning works of art – magical and evocative in their own right. The UI ...]]> So after a pretty long wait, on early Tuesday morning (3am AEST) I finally got my owl telling me my Pottermore account was ready. Of course, it was another day before I could even get past the busy server (Muggles—can’t trust their technology, really.)

Consider yourself warned—SPOILERS AHEAD.

I prepared myself to have low expectations because over the past four/five months the Pottermore hype just blew out of proportion, and I have to say I am still feeling underwhelmed by the present experience.

Pottermore is the brain child of JK Rowling, designed to enrich the reading experience of Harry Potter, enhanced by interactive media and social networking. It will also officially release the Harry Potter series in ebook and audiobook format. I think the premise is brilliant, and for the most part of what I’ve participated in it’s successful. At first glance the user interface has impressive visual flair and elegance. There is a distinct lack of sound and music score, lagging Flash elements and some navigational frustrations. However, what compensates for these significant flaws are the matte paintings, used for every single Moment in a Chapter. They are simply stunning works of art – magical and evocative in their own right. The UI is still in beta mode, so improvements undoubtedly will be made before it is open to all in October.

What I was most excited about and what I imagine is also the most exciting for other users is the Sorting Ceremony and the visit to a  Ollivander’s (to choose a wand).

In the past when I’ve taken those typical online Sorting quizzes, about 80% of the time I get Ravenclaw, and the rest Gryffindor, with Slytherin and Hufflepuff being marginally behind. So I was quite certain I’d be placed in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Yet to my utter amusement (I literally went HAH! HAH! HAHAHA! at my computer screen when I saw the result) and yes, shock, the dear ol’ Sorting Hat had placed me in Slytherin! Come again?! Clearly I do not know myself well enough.

What is most amusing is the welcome message from the Prefect of the House. In my case, it is Gemma Farley. I’d love to read the other Houses’ messages, but for now I am quite content with my lot as a Slytherin. I appreciate that JKR so wittily and fondly reassures the reader that just because they are placed in Slytherin it doesn’t make them an evil person, or a person with evil tendencies. Although, as an experiment later (after access is available to everyone) I’d like to make another account just to see if I end up in Slytherin again… I could have swung every which way – I have a niggling feeling I was maybe an answer or two away from being a Ravenclaw. I wish I’d recorded how I answered the questions – surely they weren’t all of a Slytherin-like nature? I mean, just because I prefer Black to White doesn’t make me a Slytherin does it? A Hufflepuff could well prefer Black too. I’m very curious about the algorithms used to calculate these variables.

Still, when I consider it now there are a few generic signs that would suggest I’d be suited to the olde house of the dungeons – the ambition, the potential to be great. “We’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.” Even Merlin, the greatest wizard of all, was a Slytherin. Beat that Dumbledore!  Plus, green and silver are such delicious colours. Actually, the colour combination is my favourite out of all the Hogwarts Houses.

What clinched it for me is this passage:

We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You’ll sleep well; it’s very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night.

Ahhh the perks of living down under… ;)

Meanwhile, I am very happy with the wand that chose me: 13.5 inches, hazel with unicorn hair, unyielding. That one word always reminds me of Bellatrix Lestrange (another Slytherin, who turned out severely deranged, but let’s not go there…).

That all being said, this is only a game after all, but unlike other games, it’s also given me a lot of food for thought about me as an individual in a pluralistic society. Not to mention I’ll need to think of inventive ways of crawling into the Gryffindor dormitories to be with Ronald, hah!

Feel free to friend me – I am DreamScale80. Though you’ll need to let me know who you are first!

Do you remember what you were doing on that 21st day of July in the year 2007? Celebrating Harry Potter, I hope.

The final Potter film was released three weeks ago, during which time I have seen it three times (my review is on the way). Like many fans, in a renewed fit of nostalgia I’ve been going back to my old Harry Potter haunts (waaay back in the day). It’s been so hard to say goodbye to that era. But it’s not goodbye, not really – JK Rowling put it best … “Hogwarts will always ...]]> It’s been just over four years exactly since the last Harry Potter book came out (21 July 2007). I still remember the time as clear as day – waking up at 6am on a Saturday, on one of the coldest July days, dressed in Gryffindor garb to meet up with my friend to be part of the phenomenon, and completely disregarding my other obligations, like homework. I even ended up being on the ABC’s evening news, though I didn’t know about it until after my friend told me. What a day! The following week I caught a nasty cold as I recall it – now that’s commitment.

Do you remember what you were doing on that 21st day of July in the year 2007? Celebrating Harry Potter, I hope.

The final Potter film was released three weeks ago, during which time I have seen it three times (my review is on the way). Like many fans, in a renewed fit of nostalgia I’ve been going back to my old Harry Potter haunts (waaay back in the day). It’s been so hard to say goodbye to that era. But it’s not goodbye, not really – JK Rowling put it best … “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

I found this written entry to my alma mater Monash’s Faculty of Arts competition to write the last page of Deathly Hallows, prior to its release. How could I have said no to a challenge like that?

I’ve pasted it in here in all its speculative glory, with my original author’s note, followed by my current reflection.

“The Last Page”

Word count: 503
© Copyright J. Wu 2007

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT the TRUE ENDING OF HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. Although it’d be super awesome if it was because that would mean everything that mattered happened.

It was so hard writing this since I hadn’t re-read any of the books, only trusty lexicon to help me fill in the blanks, but what’s done is done. It is sent. It is final. End of story. I will not breathe anything more about this until July 16.

If you listen to Fawkes the Phoenix while you read this it would set the perfect mood. ;D Oh yeah, and I tried to be “canon”, ie. I made the final word ‘scar’ just like JKR has.

Ron stood by the cliff overlooking the great lake, its usually animated inhabitants sobered by the series of tragedies that had befallen their world.

At the sound of flapping wings he craned his head upward, only to see the familiar form of Hedwig. She fluttered down onto his shoulder, making hollow sounds, as though deep in mourning.

“Harry never told me what to do with you,” Ron said to the snowy owl, which had now turned silent and solemn. “When we met that first time at the station I thought I’d be lucky enough just to talk to him. And now it’s come to this.

“We knew he’d fight to the end. But to sacrifice himself–”

He turned his face abruptly away from the owl’s amber eyes, unable to bear the sombre understanding glowing through them.

“But maybe we knew all along! Well, my sister knew it.” He gave a fleeting, albeit shaky, laugh. “Do you know, I could’ve gotten used to them two being together!”

Hedwig hooted quite suddenly in agreement.

Ron’s eyes remained fixed on the distance, willing the tears in his eyes not to fall. How much exactly had Hedwig seen in the final moments? It was known that Harry had shouted something inaudible to her, but no one knew what. What had she done for him? Had she known all along that Harry would at last find his peace in the life hereafter?

Innately, Ron knew that it had been his life that was to have met its doomed end. He’d known it since the moment he sacrificed his black knight on the giant chessboard. They hadn’t understood it then but the sequence of their lives, so intangibly linked, had been one chess game – each move holding great significance for all players with only one finale. So, it was all Ron could do, retrospectively, to wonder why he hadn’t perished in the battle, as he had been ready to do.

Ron was broken from his reverie by the faint tread of footsteps, growing louder until they stopped before him.

“It’s time, Ron.”

Ron turned to see Hermione, concern and sorrow all too evident on her pale face, still bearing wounds from the war.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

As Ron took Hermione’s hand in his, Hedwig broke her grip from his shoulder, soaring above the castle and fading into the sky.

She would never be seen again.

***

Although time is too slow for the waiting, too swift for the fearful, too long for the grieving, too short for the joyful, what remains eternal is love: the greatest and oldest magic of all; for without love Lily and James could not have borne their great son, a legend beyond the myths, a champion without the heroics, so that the unsuspecting might live on as they had always done.

The boy who lived has not gone, not really; his legacy remains in the hearts of all that live now, as penetrable and enduring a mark as his lightning bolt scar.

My reflection on the entry now

As you can see, the actual last page was a far cry from this miserable result – except, poor Hedwig. And contrary to the wild rumours, the last word actually was not ‘scar’ but rather, ‘well’ as in ‘All was well’. Suffice it to say, I did not win the competition. Is it because I made Harry die FOR REALZ? I should have known to write a fluffy, newb-fanfic-like 19 Years Later epilogue…

Before I read Deathly Hallows, and perhaps even earlier than that, I always imagined that Harry would ultimately sacrifice himself for his mission. It is what made him; it is what will end him. Much like Batman’s own mission, in that regard. And in a way I was right – Harry died, however briefly.

It’s a tenuous decision to make – you can’t kill the very character you created as a saviour, but then again you can make a point by doing so. Harry has always seemed to me a vacuous shell outside of his quest to destroy Lord Voldemort. Aside from his infamous CAPSLOCK rage of fifth year (and even that didn’t elicit much sympathy, except for the poor typesetter) there’s this ambivalent aura about him. He’s … a dull, sexless void. I can’t imagine him being with anyone romantically: woman, man or er – creature. I would be completely open to Harry/Ginny if there was any substantiation for it to happen. For Ginny it has apparently been unrequited since her first year. For Harry, it just happens in sixth year. Of course, they are friends, by virtue of sharing a brother/best friend. This is an almost natural progression – we need only look at Ron and Hermione. However, unlike Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny is a forced relationship, further exacerbated by the film franchise’s mostly clumsy portrayal of it. Dare I say it but even Harry and Hermione would make more sense. I think much of this is a result of JK Rowling’s handling of the romantic elements, but conversely, she did a great job building up the tension between Ron and Hermione (too much delayed gratification, if you ask me!). And then there are Severus Snape and Lily Potter – barely touched on, yet so palpable. But this is another argument for another day.

My point is, technically, Harry died and was between dimensions. He could easily have gone either way, as Dumbledore said. But no doubt JK Rowling did not want to traumatise her ardent fans any more by making her hero kick the bucket. Understandable. But I still think Harry should have died. Even Daniel Radcliffe was hoping for it.

On the other hand, as a designer and observer it pains me to see a disregard for the content within on book cover designs, which could make a potentially iconic work into just another meaningless, dispensable thing. I’ve always aimed to follow the dictum that content dictates style and not ...]]> Jane Eyre is one of the world’s most loved books. It certainly is very special to me. And with the pending film release of yet another adaptation (I’m terrified of seeing it, yet I cannot wait!), there’s been a recent influx of reissues of the classic novel, penned by Charlotte Bronte in the 19th century. New editions of literary classics are a cause for excitement and occasionally dismay – there have been some beautiful redesigns lately, in particular by Penguin. However, I was horrified to to see such classics as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, even Pride and Prejudice, being rebranded as clichéd young adult fiction, which strongly suggests that publishers are trying to cash in on the very loose connection Twilight‘s creator made between her vampire romance series with the aforementioned classics. But hey, if this marketing gimmick gets the kids interested in reading the classics, more power to them.

On the other hand, as a designer and observer it pains me to see a disregard for the content within on book cover designs, which could make a potentially iconic work into just another meaningless, dispensable thing. I’ve always aimed to follow the dictum that content dictates style and not vice versa. Cover designs for YA fiction, indeed genre fiction, are getting, dare I say it, lazy. Genre fiction is restricted by its set characteristics, so by default covers have to follow this logic too; however, I think this homogeneity within genres is so pervasive that now it is very hard to discern one book from the next, which has deeper cultural and moral implications.

So, let’s have a look at what I’m talking about…

HarperTeen’s line of covers of the romantic classics couldn’t be more blatant in their referencing. Good grief, even the colour palette and typography echo the Twilight covers. Got to love an author’s name printed with massive letter spacing!

Tribeca Books’ line-up of covers (below)  bothers me the most – at least HarperTeen tries to include subtle symbolism on each cover. All I see in these designs is superficial beautification. They’re aesthetically pleasing, but distant. Granted, these are stories of a gothic nature, so perhaps that’s fitting. Since when did our modest Jane wear red nail polish and lipstick? What’s the rose for? And let’s not go where those clasping pale hands have been either. Wuthering Heights is less obtrusive, but no less dull. Dark ominous clouds? Check. Dishevelled eyeless beauty in her negligee and random drapery? Check. Originality? Yawn.

Signet Classics’ mind-boggling take on Jane Eyre (left) had me mistaking it for a Jane Austen novel. Where’s the gothic mood? The torment? The passion? Puffin’s interpretation (right) isn’t much clearer. The smoke at least may be alluding to the fire at Thornfield Hall, or passions severed.

To finish off – covers of Jane Eyre that I actually like …

This lovely illustration with its dark palette and thorny flowers and meandering linework has contemporary gothic and moodiness all over it. Click here for more gorgeous designs from White’s line. Wuthering Heights is also a brilliant one. Too bad I couldn’t say the same for the story…

I’d also love to get the illustrated Jane Eyre, with illustrations by Dame Darcy. The scratchy, distorted figures and typography are fantastic.

I also recently got the Jane Eyre paranormal parody, Jane Slayre, which sports a bloody Charlotte Bronte wielding a stake. Zombie classics are in vogue and getting tiresome, but I devour spoofs despite being a purist. Looking forward to sitting down for this one.

For more Jane Eyre cover and illustration love, you’d better go to Jane Eyre Illustrated. Beautiful collection of works – from the pulpy kind to the restrained Victorian!

The last time I participated in a reading challenge was in my final year of high school, for the Australian Readers’ Challenge to encourage literacy in Aborigine communities, but back then I had a generous time span of 6 months to read 10 books. Quite a cinch, right? Wrong! VCE did not allow me to read much other than set Literature texts. Anyway. The same holds for uni, unfortunately.

Now I have a shitload on my to-read list. I keep buying and buying and accumulating and accumulating, until my house nearly tumbles from too many books crammed into too few crevasses. (OK I love to embellish my words, but it’s true, my balcony was on the verge of collapsing at one point but probably not for reasons I imagined…)

Anyway, I’m going to post my progress here periodically during September. So wotcher! Without ...]]> As if I wasn’t already busy with upcoming folio and exhibition preparation, and any leftover freelancing projects to complete, I have decided in my funny head to read as much as possible this month (from the 7th to 30th September) in the spirit of the Books Alive campaign, which is supported by Book Thingo, from which I’m drawing inspiration.

The last time I participated in a reading challenge was in my final year of high school, for the Australian Readers’ Challenge to encourage literacy in Aborigine communities, but back then I had a generous time span of 6 months to read 10 books. Quite a cinch, right? Wrong! VCE did not allow me to read much other than set Literature texts. Anyway. The same holds for uni, unfortunately.

Now I have a shitload on my to-read list. I keep buying and buying and accumulating and accumulating, until my house nearly tumbles from too many books crammed into too few crevasses. (OK I love to embellish my words, but it’s true, my balcony was on the verge of collapsing at one point but probably not for reasons I imagined…)

Anyway, I’m going to post my progress here periodically during September. So wotcher! Without further ado, I give you:

Jen’s “Books I’ve Either Borrowed for a Long Time or Bought a Long Time Ago” Reading Challenge

Books I’m Partly Through

My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
Eve of Darkness – S. J. Day
Skeletons at the Feast – Chris Bohjalian
The Thorn Birds – Colleen McCullough
The Russian Concubine – Kate Furnivall YAY!
Wives and Daughters – Elizabeth Gaskell
The Diplomat’s Wife – Pam Jenoff
The Communist Manifesto – Karl Marx
Man Alone With Himself – Friedrich Nietzsche
Breaking Dawn – Stephenie Meyer
Batman: Knightfall — Broken Bat – Doug Moench
JLA: New World Order
Batman: Officer Down

Next up … (I’ll be lucky to reach this point)

Bound By Your Touch – Meredith Duran
The Book of Rapture – Nikki Gemmell
Little Dorrit – Charles Dickens
Lord of the Fading Lands – C. L. Wilson
The Tales of Beedle the Bard – J.K. Rowling (yeah, laugh at me)
Eve of Destruction – S. J. Day
Eve of Chaos – S. J. Day
Burning Bright – Tracy Chevalier
Passion and Pleasure in London – Melody Thomas
Road to Paradise – Paullina Simons
Mine Till Midnight – Lisa Kleypas
Never Dare a Duke – Gayle Callen
As an Earl Desires – Lorraine Heath

Completed

• Duke of Shadows – Meredith Duran.
  Duran really evokes a sense of the time in a turbulent era of British India, married with the intense romance between the two leads, this is quite impressive stuff! I really like the heroine here. Not coincidentally because she happens to be an artist either. :P
  Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
• Bound by Your Touch – Meredith Duran
  Guess I was slightly disappointed by this book’s premise, after reading a very awesome Duke of Shadows, but nevertheless this is still wonderfully written, with strong characters and relationships.
  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
• Not Quite a Husband – Sherry Thomas
  This author is now one of my auto-buys. I was blown away by Delicious, and this one is almost equally as good. I have quite a thing for “renewed and rekindled romance” and this novel has it in spades. Interesting parallel to Duran’s Duke of Shadows, given the location and the political intrigue. On the other hand, it did seem awkward why the couple would break off in the first place; they had such great chemistry when they were first acquainted.
  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
• The Russian Concubine – Kate Furnivall
  I wrote a long-arse review on my Goodreads account which has sort of become a rant (I digress), but I will say here that it was an enjoyable read, and I appreciated (VERY MUCH, in fact) the attention to historical detail, and the touching love story between two people of entirely different cultures and race. And I can’t wait to read the next novel. ;) I think I’m on a roll with the inter-racial romance thing (mainly a Chinese man with a European/Anglo woman) …
  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

• Eve of Darkness – Sylvia Day
  I remember devouring the first third of the novel, thinking what a unique—albeit occasionally confusing—premise this was, and then getting bored towards the end. I’m hoping the next two instalments have more to offer.
  Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

• Mine Till Midnight – Lisa Kleypas
  Wow, I have not read a Kleypas novel for a couple years at least! But now I’m doing major catch-up, and she’s still got it. Appealing characters and taut, amusing narratives of country life. I’ve always thought her forte was in the Gypsy/English (or “lower class” male with “upper class” lady) pairing. Hah!
  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

• My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
  A delightful, light read about Gerald’s eccentric adventures with exotic creatures and people in Corfu, but more interesting and amusing to see are the reactions Gerald’s animals can coax out of his siblings and indulgent mother, who aren’t always as open to the wild menagerie growing bigger and bigger each day. Worth checking out the film too; it’s pretty faithful and captures the whimsical voice of the narrative.
  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

• Batman: Knightfall: Part One — Broken Bat – Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant
  I was pretty much gnawing my fingernails off out of fear for Bruce. He’s perpetually the man of strength and indestructible resilience and stamina, so it’s frightening to see him crushed by another man. A shitty villain like Bane. Oh sure, he deduced Batman’s true identity under a year or so, but that doesn’t make him a worthy villain to me. At least Ra’s al Ghul and perhaps even Hush (the villains who know that Bruce is Batman) has more charisma and showmanship than the steroid-glutting brute. Bane is boring. It’ll be interesting to see how Bruce recovers, and how Gotham will react to the new Bat on the block …
  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

• Batman: Knightfall: Part Two — Who Rules the Night – Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant
  Well, after finishing Knightfall volume one, I had to keep going, didn’t I? Jean Paul Valley (aka Azrael or Azbats) takes over the mantle of the Bat, and pretty much goes even more batshit nutters, becoming more aggressive and brutal than Bruce, crossing the line where Bruce would not, driving Robin away, and even coming up with a new and improved Bat costume. All heavy metal and artillery, yo! The final showdown with Bane is intense, but loses energy by the end when I just wanted it to end, damn it!
  Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

• Batman: Knightfall: Part Three — Knightsend – Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant
  Good grief what a bizarre climax. I’m not sure what I think yet. It was great to see how Bruce manages to rehabilitate himself, emotionally (although never quite to the degree you or I imagine, heh; he’s still psychoBat!) and physically after Bane snapped Bruce’s back. He even approaches the deadly assassin, Lady Shiva, for guidance. Does he cross the line? Knowing Bruce, I think we all know the answer anyway. I’m just glad Bruce kicks some major Jean Paul arse by the end. It was all quite sudden though—when Jean Paul took off the mask; it unhinged him, which I thought was quite a poignant moment. And it just hit home how much I miss Bruce Wayne as Batman in the current DC universe. Where are you Bruce?!
  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

My aim was 10 books for September, and I just made it! Of course, I didn’t finish all the books that are on my currently-reading list, but I’ve taken a lot off the load already.

We haven’t exactly had a great plate of good films this year, but I think the handful of excellent ones make up for all the constant churning of sluggish nonsense (I look at you, Beverley Hills Chihuahua).

Best Film The Dark Knight (hands down) Director, Christopher Nolan completely blows our minds away with an intelligent and action-packed sequel to the ...]]> Seems like every blog’s got to have one, but this year was certainly one to remember. So many good things and bad things, possibly more bad than good, if the media has anything to do with it. We’ve had the best Olympic Games in history (in my opinion, not that I’m biased or anything), some of the worst natural disasters in decades, with alarming frequency and devastation; a phenomenal, an emotional and historic apology to the Indigenous Australians for the wrongs of the past (but no compensation in sight hrmmm), an aggressive but inspiring race between Obama and McCain to the White House and the worst economic meltdown in decades. I feel as though that 2008 still has plenty to offer me, and yet it seemed to pass by so slowly… I wonder at that, but I’m optimistic at what lies ahead in 2009.

We haven’t exactly had a great plate of good films this year, but I think the handful of excellent ones make up for all the constant churning of sluggish nonsense (I look at you, Beverley Hills Chihuahua).

Best Film
The Dark Knight (hands down)
Director, Christopher Nolan completely blows our minds away with an intelligent and action-packed sequel to the dark and soulful Batman Begins with superlative performances from all actors, most notably the late Heath Ledger as psychopath villain The Joker.

Honourable Mentions

• The Painted Veil
• Wall-E
• The Band’s Visit
• Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• Persepolis
• Kung Fu Panda
• Lars and the Real Girl
• Iron Man
• Hellboy II

The music scene has been topsy-turvy; I have pretty much tuned out of the so-called ‘Top 20′ charts and discovered new and exciting artists for myself. Far more satisfying and less grating on the nerves.

Best Album
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
I’m just so glad I enjoyed this album a lot better than the sluggish X&Y. It had a surprisingly soulful and transcendental mood, evoking images of cloudy days, sunkissed memories and ethereal cathedrals.

Honourable Mentions:

• Safe Trip Home – Dido
• Rainism – Rain
• The Story of Us – Ibadi
• Heavy Rotation – Anastacia

Best soundtracks:

• The Dark Knight – Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
• Kung-Fu Panda – Hans Zimmer and John Powell
• Wall-E – Thomas Newman
• Twilight – Carter Burwell
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat

Normally in a year I aim to read 100 books, but I don’t think I managed to reach that goal this year. I blame uni and work. Still, I’ve discovered a lot of new authors to be on the look-out for.

Best Book
Addition – Toni Jordan
It’s essentially chick-lit in terms of formula, but it’s a lot more than that, I feel. It’s made in Melbourne, which is rare, hence the extra love from me, and it’s embarrassingly addictive. I read most of it in one sitting in Borders. And I borrowed the book from uni library, before buying it from a second-hand shop soon after.

Honourable Mentions:

• The Long Halloween – Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
• The Painted Veil – W. Somerset Maugham
• Growing Up Asian in Australia – Anthology, ed. Alice Pung
• The Great Gatsby—a graphic adaptation by Nikki Greenberg – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Lost in a Good Book – Jasper Fforde
• Midnight Rising – Lara Adrian
• Let the Night Begin – Kathryn Smith
• A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray
• Fearless Fourteen – Janet Evanovich
• Mr. Darcy’s Diary – Maya Slater
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard – J.K. Rowling

Best TV Show

Doctor Who (series 4)
This show never seems to lose its vivacious energy and geeky eagerness. Catherine Tate proves she’s a fine, feisty companion to David Tennant’s Doctor. Am just saddened that she never lived to remember all the good times she had with him. The most recent Christmas special, “The Next Doctor”, guest starring David Morrissey, was fabulous! Even though it bordered on melodrama (thus hilarity) it gets away with it quite easily. Why? Simply because the actors are just so into it and having so much fun! Am saddened to see Tennant goodbyeing the Doctor but better to leave now than find yourself waning…

Honourable mentions:

• Mad Men
• House
• Lost in Austen
• Sense and Sensibility

I loved Meridian, Sojourn, and a bit more recently, Ruse (arguably my favourite of all now) and was crushed when news of the falling out came about. Disney has taken over some of the remaining work, but I just discovered that Checker Book Publishing Group are releasing collected works of some series as well, including Sojourn and Ruse. However, what’s perplexed me is that they’re not entirely “collected” per se, but rather, “selected”. Sojourn is known to have 34 issues, while Ruse has 26. I don’t know why. I’m hoping this will be rectified with a follow up second volume, but nothing’s been said about that just yet. So I’m banking on another book, but I’m not going to be buying a copy any time soon until I know for sure that I am going to fully get what’s “left” or when I’ve read enough of other people’s reviews, hah (and since the Aussie dollar is ...]]> So I’ve been reading up on ye olde CrossGen comics. You know how it is when you get nostalgic. If you’re a continental comic buff, you might recall that CrossGen Entertainment declared itself bankrupt a few years ago, owing to poor sales and financial management.

I loved Meridian, Sojourn, and a bit more recently, Ruse (arguably my favourite of all now) and was crushed when news of the falling out came about. Disney has taken over some of the remaining work, but I just discovered that Checker Book Publishing Group are releasing collected works of some series as well, including Sojourn and Ruse. However, what’s perplexed me is that they’re not entirely “collected” per se, but rather, “selected”. Sojourn is known to have 34 issues, while Ruse has 26. I don’t know why. I’m hoping this will be rectified with a follow up second volume, but nothing’s been said about that just yet. So I’m banking on another book, but I’m not going to be buying a copy any time soon until I know for sure that I am going to fully get what’s “left” or when I’ve read enough of other people’s reviews, hah (and since the Aussie dollar is faring very poorly against the US currency, I’m not buying much online overseas any time soon)! Unless by some bizarre miracle the Wonder Team will reunite to finish their series.

Coming Soon

Sojourn Omnibus (issues 1–24)

The artwork is mind-bogglingly beautiful and glossy. Of course, I used to get piqued that Greg Land would somehow always objectify the heroine with raunchy poses (that was later confirmed by other readers’ reports that he “quotes” the poses from porn films and miscellaneous film stills and celebrity shots *sighs*).

Ruse Omnibus (issues 1–17)

I love this series so much. It’s nearly up there with Batman. The fact that it reminds me of the Dark Knight says something, anyhow: a handsome, somewhat stand-offish, elusive detective, but this time in a grisly Victorian setting, complete with old magicks and gargoyles (and Gotham being what it is, a cold, rainy, foggy, gothic city?). It’s been described as an X-Files meets Sherlock Holmes, which isn’t entirely unflattering. The artwork is superlative, the locales and costumes authentic with a touch of the modern sensibility, but above all the characters are just so dishy and smexy. The two protagonists are sardonic and quick-witted, and are equally beautiful to boot (especially in Butch Guice’s pencilling), with an occasional simmering of sexual chemistry. I’m still so upset this series has been cut off so soon; it has super potential. The only thing that annoyed me throughout the earlier issues at least was the writer’s sloppy “British” dialogue. The turn of the 20th century did not have British people saying “Mommy”! Nor today for that matter. Minor issue, but niggling nonetheless. Anyway, I’m lamenting the loss of a brilliant comic series cut too, too short. :(

Next up I’ll have a compilation of funny videos I’ve found, hopefully to make up for the 10 or so Video of the Week segments I’ve missed. Whoopsies! Also will be reviewing Detective Comics #850, which I LOVED SO MUCH (I forgot to mention this earlier :D)!

After sifting through the contents of all these books (and that alone took me three days straight), it took me about an hour to write up a draft of the introduction, and then another two just to spruce it up. In between I watched Blade Runner and a few episodes of ye olde Batman: The Animated Series, after what feels like the zillionth time. *coughs* Yep, I am a bad influence on myself. Just as well I’m not writing my essay exclusively on television itself—I’d be glued to the box if I was! Then again, I do intend to add in a short paragraph or two on The Chaser guys’ antics and the blandness that is Mediawatch.

Oh, I love Alfred so dearly. He is such a great supporting character. There is that perpetually dry, acerbic wit and the stiff British upper-lip thing that entirely endears me to him. Plus, the man has gone through so much shit, what with Bruce being entirely insane and all. And he hardly gets any ...]]> We have progress on the design theory essay front! See below. (Alright so it’s not much at all, but it’s a good start, methinks. Three days before it’s due. Meh.)

After sifting through the contents of all these books (and that alone took me three days straight), it took me about an hour to write up a draft of the introduction, and then another two just to spruce it up. In between I watched Blade Runner and a few episodes of ye olde Batman: The Animated Series, after what feels like the zillionth time. *coughs* Yep, I am a bad influence on myself. Just as well I’m not writing my essay exclusively on television itself—I’d be glued to the box if I was! Then again, I do intend to add in a short paragraph or two on The Chaser guys’ antics and the blandness that is Mediawatch.

Oh, I love Alfred so dearly. He is such a great supporting character. There is that perpetually dry, acerbic wit and the stiff British upper-lip thing that entirely endears me to him. Plus, the man has gone through so much shit, what with Bruce being entirely insane and all. And he hardly gets any credit for it. Alfred, you da man!

[re: Bruce's supposed sighting of leprechauns]
Bruce: You think I’m crazy don’t you?
Alfred: In what sense, Master Bruce?

Hehe.

The Royal Melbourne Show is in its final two days, and the Melbourne Anime Festival (better known as Manifest, such a clever name, eh) has just kicked off. I cannot afford either, nor do I really care for it nowadays… although I should like to go to the latter just for all time’s sake. Or when I come up with a snazzy costume to wear. Perhaps next year. I was checking out the Show’s website which lists the assortment of showbags. Once upon a time, I eagerly waited for the Herald Sun to publish the exclusive liftout. It still does, of course. Just the other week on a busy morning peak-hour train to the city I was stuck between a delightfully hyperactive school girl and boy who were ecstatic when an old man gave them said liftout from ...]]> You know, Melbourne has an awful lot of brilliant independent bookshops, galleries and cultural avenues that I don’t know half about. Well, not really, I just don’t have the means to go to said places. I wish I lived next to Hoddle St, Bridge Rd, Chapel St, Brunswick St, Gertrude St or Clarendon St. Pooh. No, I live in a working-class suburban hole.

The Royal Melbourne Show is in its final two days, and the Melbourne Anime Festival (better known as Manifest, such a clever name, eh) has just kicked off. I cannot afford either, nor do I really care for it nowadays… although I should like to go to the latter just for all time’s sake. Or when I come up with a snazzy costume to wear. Perhaps next year. I was checking out the Show’s website which lists the assortment of showbags. Once upon a time, I eagerly waited for the Herald Sun to publish the exclusive liftout. It still does, of course. Just the other week on a busy morning peak-hour train to the city I was stuck between a delightfully hyperactive school girl and boy who were ecstatic when an old man gave them said liftout from his paper. Oh boy. It was a long ride to Flinders St…

Anyway, I was browsing through the utter crap when I found two Batman showbags (I pretty much surmised these would appear). The lameness and marketing scheming is just the same as it always was. Each showbag has a bunch of rejected factory items, barely dusted off from sitting too long in boxes, with value figures and then a significantly cheaper price.

Methinks the Batman Spy Ear would come in handy. Or the Batman Inflatable Mallet—you never know when you’ll be tempted to give an enemy a thorough pounding! Perhaps the Batman Sweat Band would be for more immediate use, given the fact that spring has sprung its springy self into Australia, and the intense heat is upon us once again.

A window sticker for $3.95? Are you effing serious?

It’s all very confusing, these concoctions of Batman. You have good ol’ Batman, then Batman Dark Knight, oh and don’t forget Batman Gotham Knight. Are there more than two personalities of the Bruce Wayne/Batman identity?

As for Video of the Week, I’m plugging my own! I made this 30 second clip for my digital imaging project; it was made with After Effects CS3 plus some help from Photoshop and Illustrator. The subject matter will surely not be unfamiliar to you:

I like yesterday’s Friday Five, merely for the fact that I can’t answer any of the questions single-handedly:
1. Who is your favorite author?
Why are we only allowed one? I suppose Paullina Simons comes close to being my number one; I’ve pretty much loved all of her books (although I have yet to read Tully, Eleven Hours and Road to Paradise; I is bad, I know!) I have favourites for genres:

- Classics: Dickens, Austen, Gaskell
- Contemporary: Sarah Dunant, Sarah Waters, Tim Winton, Ian McEwan, John Marsden, Tim Bowler, Nick Hornby
- Historical: Irene Nemirovsky, Tracy Chevalier
- Crime/Thriller: Agatha Christie, Janet Evanovich, Alan Furst
- Fantasy/Horror/Sci-fi: JK Rowling, Anne Rice (earlier works only!), Jasper Fforde, Tamora Pierce
- Romance: Kathryn Smith, Sylvia Day, Liz Carlyle, Lara Adrian

This is only a select few; can’t rack my brains right now.

2. What is your favorite book/series?
I cannot stop at one…

North and South – Elizabeth Gaskell
The Bronze Horseman – Paullina Simons
Harry Potter – JK Rowling, for reasons far too obvious
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Thursday Next Series – Jasper Fforde
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Persuasion – Jane Austen
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Girl with a Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier
The Girl in Times Square – Paullina Simons
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Summer Garden – Paullina Simons
The Quantocks Quartet – Ruth Elwin Harris
The Immortals quartet – Tamora Pierce
The Song of the Lioness quartet – Tamora Pierce
The Protector of the Small quartet – Tamora Pierce
The Magic Faraway Tree – Enid Blyton

Hand Job: A Catalogue of Type – Michael Perry
The TASCHEN All-American Ads series – ed. Jim Heimann

3. Who is a book hero you most wish to be like?
I wish I had Elizabeth Bennet’s sparkling wit, Hermione Granger’s sheer brain power, or Mr Knightley’s never-failing courtesy towards everyone, or Tatiana Metanova’s amazing resilience, also the latter’s beauty; not to be crude or anything, but the thought is there when I read the passages, you know. I envision a modest yet goddess-like figure, very beautiful indeed. With an equally gorgeous man. Eh, fiction really makes reality suck in these instances, eh. I am one of those many Asian women blessed with a complete lack of chest, and all height and skinny arms and chunky thighs. *sighs* Moving on…

4. Who is a book character that you envy?
Hermione Granger—she gets Ron Weasley in spades, and she has an incredible brain and resilience in the worst times. But I don’t envy her situation—it truly is hard times.

5. Which book do you wished you lived in?
Ooh, that would have to be Enid Blyton’s Enchanted Wood and the Magic Faraway Tree. I would love to visit the Lands above the Tree, like The Land of Goodies, The Land of Parties, The Land of Take What You Want, The Land of Treats…

Why is iPhoto such a bitch to use? I mean, I can see how powerful its potential is, but I find it altogether quite difficult to operate, especially the fact that I can’t access the raw folder containing all the photos I upload onto the computer. I have to manually go to the Pictures > iPhoto Library, right click and select ‘Open Package Contents’. If anyone has a better solution, I would be so grateful to know what it is!

Meanwhile, I had an excellent walk after dinner with dad. Think we walked 5 km. Mum never joins us — bloody ‘ell; she can’t blame us if she gets sick again because she doesn’t keep fit. Will probably have to use physical force to drag her along with us, although she ends ...]]> Lookie — my art and design reference collection is slowly but steadily growing… I finally made room on my bookshelves for more books. It’s packed to the brim on the shelf next to this one, next to the Harry Potter shrine (yes, I dare you to laugh at me). *sighs* I wouldn’t be surprised if the first floor collapses under the weight of all my books and stuff one day.

Why is iPhoto such a bitch to use? I mean, I can see how powerful its potential is, but I find it altogether quite difficult to operate, especially the fact that I can’t access the raw folder containing all the photos I upload onto the computer. I have to manually go to the Pictures > iPhoto Library, right click and select ‘Open Package Contents’. If anyone has a better solution, I would be so grateful to know what it is!

Meanwhile, I had an excellent walk after dinner with dad. Think we walked 5 km. Mum never joins us — bloody ‘ell; she can’t blame us if she gets sick again because she doesn’t keep fit. Will probably have to use physical force to drag her along with us, although she ends up dragging us behind because she can’t keep up with our pace. Anyway, said walk tonight was excellent because we trekked along the railway line all the way to the next two suburbs (I’m not sure if that’s legal, since someone tore through the barricaded fence, so obviously we weren’t the only people to venture by, but it was fun); it’s used mainly for cargo, and apparently V-line services, although I don’t believe dad’s testimony about the latter since I’ve never seen any passenger trains; imagine if this railway could join along the metropolitan lines, it would be so much more convenient. Logistically there might be a few issues in joining with an existing service, possibly the Sydenham line over the Broadmeadows Craigieburn, but honestly, it can be done! Our infrastructure is choking, and all that’s left is rhetoric.

While I’m on a ranting streak, I’ll continue. I am very frustrated about the wank re: Tibet. It’s sheer Western hypocrisy to propose such things as boycotting the Olympics and Chinese goods or what have you, and if you think that, you know nothing about what’s going on. Human rights, yeah right! Case in point, I was particularly perplexed and outraged by Bob Brown’s careless remark about China’s supposed ‘dictatorial’ conduct in its dealings with the Tibetan rioting. I only have to look at the numerous examples of similar, if not worse, conduct and persecution, and quite frankly, a lack of human rights, in Australian, British and American history, just to name a few countries that proudly promote democracy. Dictatorship was the likes of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Get it right: Mao is dead, Mao is gone, this is an entirely new and different China. In fact, Communism won’t last this century, but we don’t know when … and I digress.

The riots have actually been aimed at Han Chinese, who are entirely innocent of any political agenda (as such); in fact, they have done GOOD to Tibet in bringing the region good economy, tourism and trade, so of course, China must act in some way if they’re being brutally attacked by violent rioters. I’ve given up all hope of any UN intervention — Ban Ki Moon was not the best candidate for the role of Secretary-General — what power or influence can he exert over other national leaders, if he doesn’t give off a sense of strength and conviction? Super powers will just trample all over the organisation, or worse yet take advantage of its weakness. It’s the League of Nations all over again.

Ho hum.

I saw an interview with Zhang Yimou (of Hero and House of Flying Daggers fame) re: his direction of the Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies — he’s very tight-lipped about the whole thing, and so he should be, but it would have been nice to know just a bit of what’s to be expected. I am so excited about this! But there was mention about a Chinese poll that asked the general public what they want to see — so expect some more flying daggers… xD

Full moon last night — no werewolves or vampires near my territory. *sighs* Gee whiz, suburban Melbourne is dull.

And why am I having verbal diarrhoea? I just want to test this WordPress to Livejournal cross-posting plugin. LOLZ. I shall be blogging more at Eveninghour now methinks. It makes me sad to know that I’ve lost contact with most of my blogging friends back in the day (yeesh, it was only 7 years ago?).

Crikey, have I been blogging that long?

Anyhoo, John Simm ??? + Van Gogh ??? awaits!